It gradually became enlarged, but lingered along, with no great improvement, till 1817, when Capt.

Patridge was dismissed from the superintendency, and Col.

Thayer put in charge.

From this period we date the commencement of the success and reputation which the Military Academy has since enjoyed.
This institution, as now organized, consists of one cadet from each congressional district, and a few at large, making an average of two hundred and thirty-seven.

The course of instruction is four years, after which time the cadet is sent to his regiment or corps, with higher rank if there are vacancies, but if there are no vacancies, he goes as a cadet, with the brevet rank of the next higher grade.
The examination for admission to the institution is a very limited one, being confined to the elementary branches of an English education.
The annual course at the academy is divided into two distinct periods, the first extending from June till September, and the second from September to the following June.