Boston, March 14, 1883.
Lieut. J. B. Murdock, U. S. N.,
Corresponding Secretary, &c., Annapolis, Md.
Dear Sir :—The undersigned, in performance of the duty assigned to them by the Executive Committee of the United States Naval Institute, as judges to determine to whom should be awarded the prize and gold medal offered by that Association for the best essay submitted in its competition for the year 1883, upon the following subject, “How may the sphere of usefulness of naval officers be extended in time of peace with advantage to the country and the naval service,” unanimously recommend that the award be made to the author of the essay with the motto “Pour encourager les autres.” The judges also consider worthy of honorable mention the two essays under the following mottoifs respectively: “Semper paratus” and “Cuilibet in arte suâ credendum est.” It is proper to state that all the judges do not adopt in full the recommendations and arguments of these essays in recognizing the ability and felicity of their presentation.
Very respectfully yours,
Alexander H. Rice,
J. G. Abbott,
Geo. Henry Preble.