of the Beekman patent, "beginning at the north side Digitized by Microsoft® 366 The Hudson River of the Highlands." Adolphe PhiHpse was the son of the lord of the lower manor of Philipsburg, who died in 1702. From him the property descended to his nephew Frederick, who, in 1751, died, leaving the Highland patent to his children, Philip, Susannah, Mary, and Margaret. Margaret died, her share going to the survivors. The first thing these heirs did was to take legal steps to bar the entail imposed by their father. Susannah, who married Beverly Robinson, conveyed her share to William Livingston, who recon- veyed it to her husband. It was in his possession up to the time of the Revolution, but was confiscated after the war. The mansion in which Colonel Robin- son and his wife lived was known as the Beverly house. It stood at the foot of the Sugar-Loaf Mountain until 1892, when it was destroyed by fire. In this house Arnold had his headquarters. There, with Hamilton and Lafayette, just arrived to announce to the Com- mander of West Point that Washington was about to visit him, the traitor received the despatch announcing Andre's capture, and it was here that Washington had the affecting interview with the frantic Mrs. Arnold. Mary Philipse, who, if her admirers did not (and her portraits did) belie her, was a singularly beautiful woman, was the youngest of Frederick Philips 's sur- viving heirs. She it was who married Roger Morris, at the old Philipse house at Yonkers, and went to live in the brave new mansion that her husband built for her on Richmond Hill. Time, the juggler, sent Morris Digitized by Microsoft® en »«j fa a o "^ o ^ ►J ■« g I 2 I o z Digitized by Microsoft® Digitized by Microsoft® Among the Hills 369 a fugitive to the Beverly house in the Highlands, while Washington made his headquarters at the house on Richmond Hill, and finally sent Robinson and Morris, with all who belonged, to them, overseas in exile. The third share of the Patent, which went to Philip Philipse, was left by him to his sons, of whom only one, Frederick, survived. His daughter, Mary, mar- ried Samuel Gouverneur. By them the major part of the estate was sold, only the portion embracing Bull Hill remaining in possession of their heirs. Digitized by Microsoft® Chapter XXIII West Point THE Military Academy at West Point is so much an object of national pride to-day, that it is a little hard to realise the difficulty that at- tended its establishment, or the discouraging apathy with which those who saw the necessity of such an institution had to contend. Washington, among other paternal responsibilities, must father the Military Academy, for the plan was his, though its accomplish- ment was not immediately realised. Indeed, though Washington, in his annual message in 1793, strongly advised the founding of an academy, the necessity for which had been so forcibly demon- strated during the war, when his trained officers were often chosen from among the ranks of foreign soldiers of fortune, yet the recommendation had little or no effect for several years. Congress displayed its accus- tomed dilatory spirit. It is true that some inadequate provision for the instruction of a corps of cadets was made during the following year, and spasmodic re- vivals of the plan occurred at several subsequent dates during the years 1798, 1800, and 1801. The Academy 370 Digitized by Microsoft® West Point 371 may properly be said to have begun its existence in 1802; yet from that date till 181 1 it lived "at a poor, dying rate," part of the time under the tacit opposi- tion of the Secretary of War, till at the expiration of that period, though the country was then on the eve of a second war with England, there were actually no cadets at West Point. Not till hostilities had commenced did our dilatory legislators wake to the necessity of prompt and de- cisive measures for placing the Military Academy on a broad and strong foundation. The number of cadets was fixed, by an act passed in 181 2, at two hundred and fifty, while the corps of teachers was increased. Candidates were for the first time examined for admis- sion to the Academy. Provision was also made for the maintenance of the establishment and the proper instruction of the cadets in all branches of military science. To Major Thayer, appointed Superintendent in 1 81 7, the Academy owes more than to any one man for the ground plan of its system of work and the first great impulse towards its present efficiency. He was Superintendent for sixteen years, during which time 570 cadets were graduated, — men who were soon to test