The delegates from the public departments are appointed by the respective ministers; the members of the Academy, the examiners, and the professors are selected by the Minister of War. The real management of the school, so far as the course of instruction is concerned, is in the hands of the _Conseil de Perfectionnement_; it will be seen that of the 18 members composing it more than half are entirely independent of the school, and are men of eminence in the various public services for which the instruction at the Polytechnic is preparatory. One of the chief duties of the Council is to see that the studies form a good preparation for those of the more special schools (_Ecoles d’ Application_) for the civil and military services; and the eminent character of its members gives great weight to the recommendations they make to the Minister of War. The annual expenses of the school, as extracted from the Budget for 1869, are as follows:-- Francs. Pay of staff, professors, &c., 331,850 Instruction, maintenance, examination of candidates, clothing, books, &c., 321,073 Francs. Outfits for 30 new pupils at 600 francs each 18,000 Allowances (_premières mises_) to 25 exhibitioners on admission to the military services at 750 fr. each 18,750 ------ 36,750 Maintenance and repair of buildings, 30,000 ------- Total sum charged in the schools estimate, 719,673 Add regimental pay of 28 officers and non-commissioned officers employed at the school, 85,515 ------- Total expenditure 805,188 Deduct repayments from pupils, 237,000 ------- Cost to the State, 568,188 Or about 22,720_l._ The chief changes that have been made in regard to the course of instruction since 1856, may be summarized as follows: 1. The more elementary portions of chemistry and physics which are required in the entrance examination, but which were formerly repeated at the school, have been omitted. The course of instruction in these subjects is now confined to the more advanced portions which do not enter into the entrance examination.