FIRST EXAMINATIONS BEFORE BOARD OF VISITORS, JUNE, 1840 — MESS HALL AND WATER PROVIDED FOR BY STATE — NEW CADETS APPOINTED — CADET ASSISTANTS PROVIDED FOR — INFLUENCE OF DEMERIT ON CONDUCT — CINCINNATI CLASS, WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
The rough winter of 1839-40 had been successfully passed. As the spring opened, the cadets were in squad and company drills, in their becoming grey coats; more comfort was secured by the completion of the addition to the barracks, the grounds were in good police, a valuable addition had been made to the parade ground by the purchase of four acres of land, the drum and fife from Reuben Howard and Mike enlivened the parades, and every afternoon the Institute Hill was honored by the presence of ladies and gentlemen from Lexington, who came down to witness the military exercises of the cadets. The Board of Visitors met again in June, 1840, to attend the annual examination of the cadets, and to make a general inspection of the work of the year. Two new members had come into the Board:—
Adjutant-General W. H. Richardson, vice Peyton; and Gen. William Ligon, vice Wiley. Every alumnus from 1840 to the day of his death knew the value of the services of General Richardson, in his devoted labors of thirty years to the best interests of the Institute, and who, in his dying breath asked that no monument should be placed over his remains, but a simple stone, with the inscription:—