It is not necessary to give any detailed account of the later history of the school, but we must remark that disputes have frequently arisen with regard to the best mode of harmonizing its teaching with that of the special schools of application to which it conducts. These disputes have been no doubt increased by the union of a civil and military object in the same school. The scientific teaching desirable for some of the higher civil professions has appeared of doubtful advantage to those destined for the more practical work of war. There has been always a desire on the one side to qualify pure mathematics by application, a strong feeling on the other that mathematical study sharpens the mind most keenly for some of the practical pursuits of after life. We should add, perhaps, that there has been some protest in France (though little heard among the scientific men who have been the chief directors of the school) against the _esprit faux_, the exclusive pursuit of mathematics to the utter neglect of literature, and the indifference to moral and historical studies. Some one or other of these complaints any one who studies the _literature_, the pamphlets, and history of the school will find often reproduced in the letters of war ministers, of artillery and engineer officers commanding the school of application at Metz, or of committees from the similar schools for the mines and the roads and bridges. The last of these occasions illustrates the present position of the school. On the 5th of June 1850, the legislative assembly appointed a mixed commission of military men and civilians, who were charged to revise all the programs of instruction, and to recommend all needful changes in the studies of the pupils, both those preparatory to entrance[9] and those actually pursued in the school. The commission was composed as follows:-- M. Thenard, Member of the Academy of Sciences, and of the Board of Improvement of the Polytechnic School, President. Le Verrier, Member of the Academy of Sciences and of the Legislative Assembly, Reporter. Noizet, General of Brigade of Engineers. Poncelet, General of Brigade of Engineers, Commandant of the Polytechnic School, Member of the Academy of Sciences. Piobert, General of Brigade of Artillery, Member of the Academy of Sciences. Mathieu, Rear Admiral. Duhamel, Member of the Academy of Sciences, Director of Studies at the Polytechnic School. Mary, Divisional Inspector of Roads and Bridges. Morin, Colonel of Artillery, Member of the Academy of Sciences. Regnault, Engineer of Mines, Member of the Academy of Sciences. Olivier, Professor at the _Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers_. Debacq, Secretary for Military Schools at the Ministry of War, Secretary. [Footnote 9: In an Analysis of the Report of this Commission, see page 97.]