And two honorary members.
Barrack-master general.
Lieutenant colonel Le Marchant, as lieutenant governor.
General Jarry as commandant of the senior department.
These are the members of the supreme board, and such others may, from time to time, be named.
A secretary to the supreme board.
A president to the college.
The military SCHOOL at Paris, (école royale militaire de Paris, Fr.) This celebrated establishment, which for so many years supplied France with superior talents, and to which Bonaparte is indebted for the solid groundwork of that military knowlege that has astonished and conquered Europe, owes its origin to Henry IV. who first erected a public building in Anjou, for the free education of the children of poor noblemen; it was called the college of La Fléche, wherein one hundred young boys of the above description were supported, &c. at the king’s expence. They were there taught Latin and the liberal arts by the Jesuits, whose learning, and aptitude at teaching others to learn, have been so deservedly admired in every quarter of the globe. This order, however, having been banished out of France in 1770, by Louis XV. because the members interfered with the government (whilst all their crimes consisted in being too virtuous to countenance the debaucheries of that weak monarch); the direction of the college was entrusted to the secular priests, and the number of students was increased to 350. On this occasion it was distinguished by a particular mark of royal favor, and was called the royal college.
In addition to this provincial establishment, Louis XV. instituted the royal military school in the neighborhood of Paris, where 250 young lads received a regular education under the most able masters; particularly in those branches which contributed to military knowlege. During their vacations, and at periods of intermission from classical pursuits, they were attended and instructed by experienced officers. They generally remained until the age of 18, and were after that distributed among the different regiments with appropriate commissions. They were then distinguished by being permitted to wear a cross, which was tied to a crimson piece of riband, and hung from a button-hole in their coat. The cross, on one side, represented the figure of the Virgin Mary; and on the other, there was a trophy adorned with three fleurs de lis. They had likewise an annual pension of 200 livres, (about 40 dollars) which was paid them without deduction, until they obtained the rank of captain, provided they had a certificate of good behaviour from the staff or état major of their corps. They received, moreover, when they quitted the school, a small kitt of linen, a hat, sword, and an uniform coat. They were replaced in the military school by an equal number of youths who came from the college of La Fléche, for that purpose, at the age of 13 or 14.
Both these establishments underwent a considerable alteration during the administration of the count de St. Germain, in April 1776. This minister persuaded Louis XVI. that great public benefit might be derived from increasing the number of these colleges, and admitting youths from every class of his subjects. When these alterations took place in the royal military school, all the young men that were 18 years old were incorporated with the regiments of gentlemen cadets. These enjoyed all the advantages which their predecessors had possessed; with this exception, that they did not wear the uniform of their corps, nor the cross. Those lads who had not reached the period in question, were placed in different corps, and several remained in the military school who were afterwards provided for on another footing. The number of young men was gradually increased, not only by fresh arrivals from La Fléche, but by the admission of several others for whom a yearly pension was paid by their parents. The latter, were not, however, entitled to any advantage or indulgence beyond what was generally allowed.