of DOLLAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. TOWA-NDA.: G.itnriKin flbruinn, 3titmarn 12. 185 U. GOVERNOR'S MEBBABE. Read January 2, 1856. V the If norable the. Senators and Members of the Jit use of lie preventatives of the General Assembly: (it NTi.KMUX : —A kind Providence has great v blessed our Common wealth during the past u.ir. No foreigu war, no internal strife have it. rriipted or destroyed the peaceful quiet of ur homes. All the great iuterests of the peo ie lmve been eminently prosperous. The earth, |,i r i r h abundance, has yielded her increase to Mip|lv o,ir wants, and reward with her boun ti... tiic lalior of the husbandman. Labor, iu ~v erv ilejmrtinent of manufacturing and me , l.aiiicstl industry, has beeu stimulated and en ,oumged. The ravages of disease and the horrors of the jtestilencc have been averted froui us; and whilst the cry of human suffer- i from other States, has been heard invok ,jr our sympathy and aid, wc have beenbless . J with health aud permitted to enjoy tlieeom • rt? and happiness of social life. To ilim who ; nth licstowed these blessings u|>on us, and tip .whose care we are constantly dependent, -iiould he ever paid the willing homage of our : _:atcful hearts. The report of the State Treasurer will exhi bit to you, in detail, the operations of his de irtiuent. The results are more satisfactory a i eneoiiraging than were anticipated. The receipts at the Treasury for the fiscal m>r ending November 30, 1855, iucludingthc aiatiec in the Treasury on the Ist day of De adlier, lso4, ($1,240,028 72) amounted to $0,031,402 83. The total payments for the -.. me period were $5,385,705 52; leaving a uianee in the Treasury on the 30th Novem ber. ls.'io, of $1,245,007 31. No loans, teni p.Rtry or otherwise, were negotiated during the ,i>t fiscal year, as they were not required by i:ic wants of the Treasury. The receipts during the past year, from all -mrce-. (including the balance in the Treasure a the first day of December, 1854,) were >'.:i!U1,474 11. The ordinary expenditures r the same period, including the interest on •he public debt, were $4,130,512 28, showing ; ,n rve-s of receipts over ordiuary expendi tures of $1,250,001 83. The extraordinary payments for the year were $2,24 (>,103 24, as follows, viz: To the vmpletion of the new Portage railroad over e Allegheny mountains, $44(5,752 12: to the V.rth Hruneh canal, $87,502 07 ; to the Co iiubia railroad, to re-lay south track, $133,- I |! U 00 :to the payment of domestic creditors, jl.fi'2o 85; to the redemption of loans, $300,- 5u ii(), and to relief notes cancelled, $200.- jss On. Tlie balance in the Treasury will be requir •■•! fir the payment of the interest on the State ulit falling due in February next, and for un "id appropriations. The interest on the fuud- I debt of the Commonwealth, which became ; ;e in February and August last, was prompt- j paid ; and it i- gratifying to state that the interest due in February next will l-ejmid with [•mini promptness. The credit of the State may be regarded as /irmly established, and with •rper economy and a careful arid holiest inan tgeiuent of her finances, an annual reduction flier debt, to a considerable extent, may be '•nnfidently expected. There b due by the Treasury to the Sinking Find the sum of $335,011 39 to be applied to i" redemption of the relief notes now in cir nhrion. ami to the funded debt of the Coiu i nltli. The greater part of the funded •I bears interest at the rate of five per cent. :>er aniitim ; the balance bears a still less rate ' interest. But as the temporary loans,which y law are to be first paid out of the available means of the Treasury, bear interest at the rate "f six per cent., it has been deemed advisable, a matter of economy, to apply the surplus >femii-s to the payment of those loans. When >oii the Treasury for the completion 'tie North Branch canal, the l'ortage rail *'l aud other kindred improvements, the pub ••v debt, instead of being reduced, lias been iu " This increase, with the amount and edition of the debt at different periods, will * "tu in the following statements :—- ■'"" i/ "J the funded and unfunded debt of irf/illh on the first day of Derer/i --k'. 1 *•> 1 , per report of the Auditor Gen■ . rut. viz : 1 ■f' 195,200 00 i0 l mtidH debt, -$39,21fi,707 54 ■ Jelled debt. Viz; V irmlatixn 650.103 00 y *<' -a - ..iitstaiuliiig, 150,231 S2 " unclaimed..... 4.448 38 ' 2B 85 widebt, Dceemlier 1, 1851, 40,114,2:!<; 39 ' thoirivp (he indebtedness of the Com * „n the Ist day of December, 1854, (' tn traTs report : Kr f ". l - $532,101 93 ) 39,08i.<109 97 I T' 3*8,206 00 . 100,IKK) IK) I S^£SS. d Sfc —540,081,9H 90 • irculatirm,... 494,381 00 jwtinrates ■uiixtiind'g 21,857 21 . "n.-foimed, 4,448 38 U^^txudincandun -1 a..,, "s *hen funded,. 1,870 97 te,,,,.' |' l, 'T * ''Ttilieates 2,007 01 M>ril 19. 1*53, 500.000 (Ml ■ i,i„ ~ > 450,438 07 "i"l 'l' lit. Ac. . „ 1.538,080 pi ? 11.023,595 74 Brought forward, s4l ,623 ,535 74 To these should he added the following re lief notes, not included in the " relief notes in circulation," viz ; Relief notes made l>y the Lancaster Rauk, not charged on State Treas urer's hooks, $25 ,000 Relief notes put in circulation Sept. 1, 1854, and not redeemed l>ei em ber 1,1854, 50,000 75,000 00 Total public debt, December 1,1854,.,. .41,008.595 74 :. .do do 1851 40.114.236 39 Increase of debt in three years, 1,584,359 35 The funded and unfunded debt, including unpaid temporary loans, on the Ist day of De cember, 1855, the close of the last fiscal year, as per report of the Auditor General and State Treasurer, was as follows, to wit : Funded debt, viz : 6 per cent, loan, $516,154 92 5 do 39,903.445 54 ! 4 J do 3.55,200 00 4J do 100.000 00 Total funded debt, $39,907,800 47 Unfunded debt, viz : Relief notes in circulation,... 258,773 00 Jut. certificates outstanding,.. 29,157 25 Domestic creditors, 1.264 oo Ral. temp, loan April 19, 1853, 525,000 00 do May 9, 1854,. 364.000 00 Total uufuuded debt ■ 1,160,194 25 Total debt. Decemlier 1. 1855 41.067.904 72 Total debt, its above stated, Dec. 1, 1851,.. 41,098,">95 74 Decrease during the fiscal year, 630,601 02 This statement exhibits the gratifying fact that during the fiscal year ending November 30, 1855, the indebtedness of the Common wealth has beeu reduced $030,('01 02. Du ring the same period large appropriations and payments were made for the completion of the new Portage railroad, relaying the track of the Columbia railroad, and for other purposes. These demands upon the Treasury were, with out the aid of loans, promptly paid. Refusing to undertake any new schemes of internal improvement, limiting all appropri ations to the actual demands of the occa sion, practising strict economy in all depart ments of the government, and holding the re ceiving and disbursing agents of the Common wealth to a rigid accountability, will greatly reduce the expenditures, and, under ordinary circumstances, leave an annual surplus of the revenues to be applied to the redumption of the public debt. The estimated receipts and expenditures for the current fiscal year will be presented to you in the report of the State Treasurer. The re ceipts from the usual sources of reveuue,above the ordinary expenditures, may exceed of one million and a half of dollars. These estimates may approximate the true result, but cannot be relied upon with certainty. Ry the thirty-eighth section of the act of the itith of April, 1845, entitled ' An Act to provide for the ordinary expenses of govern ment, the repair of the canals and railroads of the State, and other claims upon the Common wealth," the (tovernor was authorized to cause certificates of State stock to be issued to all persons or bodies corporate holding certificates for the payment of interest on the funded debt of the State, which fell due on the Ist day of Angu.it, 1842, the Ist days of February and August, 1843, and the Ist days of February and August 1844, in an amount equal to the! amount of certificates so held, upou their rie- j livering up said certificates to the Auditor (e --neral. In pursuance of the authority thus giv en, certificates of State stock to the amount of four millions one hundred and five thousand one j hundred and fifty dollars and twenty cents, bearing interest at the rate of live per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually, on the Ist days of February and August in each year, and redeemable on or after the Ist day of August, 1855, were issued. The minimum period fixed by law. for the redemption of these certificates,' expired on the Ist day of August last. No pro vision has been made for their renewal or re demption. Although by the terms of the act authoriz ing these certificates of State .stock, as also by the conditions of the certificates issued in pur suance thereof, the time of payment, after the I expiration of the minimum period, is optional j with the debtor—t lie Commonwealth—yet a due regard to the credit of the State requires that provision should be made for their renew al or redemption. To redeem these certificates a loan would become necessary, and as a loan cannot be effected, in the present financial con dition of the country, on terms mure favorable to the State, than those on which these certi ficates were issued, I would recommend that authority be given to issue the bonds of the Commonwealth in renewal of said certificates, bearing interest at the rate of five per cent, per annum, payable semi annually, and redeema ble on or after the expiration of twenty years; and that the bonds be issued with coupons or certificates of interest attached, in sums equal in amount to the semi-annual interest thereon, payable on the first days of Fedruary and Au gust in each and every year, at such place as may be designated. This change in the form and character of the certificates, it is believed, will be so advantageous to the holders, with out increasing the liabilities of the Common wealth, as to induce a willing and prompt ex change, at a premium, for the bonds proposed to be issued. The condition of the public works, their general operation, and the receipts and expen ditures for the past fiscal yeur, will be present ed to you in the report of the Canal Commis sioners. The aggregate receipts at the Treasury from the public works, for the year ending Novem ber 30, 1855, were $1,942,370 71. The ag gregate expenditures, including ordinary and extraordinary payments, for the same period, amounted to $1,838,791, 18, showing an ex cess of receipts, over all expenditures, of $lO3, 585 53. The extraordinary payments for the same year, (excluding $133,100 00 paid for re-lay ing the south tvaek of the Columbia railroad, and $28,000 00 for re-bnilding the Freeport aqueduct) were $090,427 78. The ordinary expenditures were $1,148,303 40. Aggregate receipts, as at>ove stated, ,$1,942,370 71 Ordinary expenditure*, 1,1 H,.{.> !0 Net revenges for this 11-.cal year 791,013 31 This balance exhibits a -mail increase in the PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH. net revenues, as compared with the net reve nues of 1854; and notwithstanding the with drawal of the transportation lines from the main line of the canal, the aggregate revenues for the last year have exceeded the revenues of 1854 by more than $23,000. From the abun dant crops of the past year, the improved con dition of the monetary affairs of the country and the general revival of business, a large in crease in the revenues of the current year mnv be confidently expected. The sum of $101,125 25, has been paid into the Treasury by the Pennsylvania railroad company, as the tax on tonnage passing over their roads. This amount largely exceeds the sum paid by the same companies in 1854. The Delaware division exhibits a satisfacto ry result. The total receipts were $202,0*13 42 ; expenditures, $00,007 80; showing a net revenue of $332,575 50. If all our lines of improvement exhibited a similar balance sheet, the people would have less cause of complaint and inore confidence in the general operation of the system. There has been a large increase in the busi ness and tonnage of the Columbia railroad, and a corresponding increase in the receipts therefrom. The oj>erations of that part of the main line from the .Junction to Pittsburg, including the Portage railroad, do not present so favorable a result. The receipts have great ly diminished, and were not sufficient to meet the ordinary expenditures. The revenues from the main line do not equal the receipts of the previous years. The causes of this reduction are apparent, and some of them have been referred to and enumerated. It is but just to add that the expenditures on this line have been much diminished by the avoidance of some of the inclined planes on the Portage railroad. I regret to inform you that the railroad to avoid the inclined planes on the Allegheny mountain has not been completed as was con fidently anticipated. The delay in the com pletion of this work has occasioned much in convenience to the business of the main line and a loss to the revenues of the Common wealth. The expenditures have largely ex ceeded the original estimates for its construc tion ; and although the sum of $277,730 00 was appropriated at the last session of the Legislature for the completion of this work— a sum covering tlie estimate of the engineer— yet after the expenditure of the whole amount thus appropriated, the road is unfinished ; and to complete it, and pay the debts contracted, the further sum of $177,573 06, as now esti mated by the engineer, will be required. Ei ther tlie estimates have been very carelessly made or large sums of money uselessly and ex travagantly expended in the prosecution of this improvement. As aiding the business of the main line, reducing still further its expendi tures and relieving the Treasury from these constant demands, the announcement of its early completion will be hailed with pleasure bv everv citizen. Although the completion of tlie North Hrauch canal, liefore the close of navigation, was certainly expected, yet this expectation lias not been realized. The efforts of the present Superintendent, Mr. Maflit, during 1 the past year, to complete and put in successful operation this can*!, deserve the highest com mendation. Everything that skill, energy and industry could accomplish has been done. The labor to be performed was great, and render ed more difficnlt and perplexing by the imper fect and fraudulent construction of the old work and some portion of the new. The largo quan tity of rooks, trees, stumps and roots placed in the bottom of the canal, and the defective ma terial used in ti[e embankments, suffered the water to escape almost as rapidly as admitted, and rendered a rc-construet.ion of the work, in many places, indispensably necessary. Its successful completion, it is hoped, will soon be announced. It will appear by the report of the Com mittee of Ways and Means marie to the llousc of Representatives in 1849, that the entire amount necessary to complete and put in ojiera tion the unfinished {tortious of this canal was estimated at the sum of $1,100,087 00. The amount actually expended on the work since that period, as appears from the reports of the Superintendent, Engineer and Canal Commis sioners, is $1,857,377 22, being un excess of expenditures over the original estimates of $751,340 52 ; and the canal not yet in opera tion. With such facts before us—such evi dence of mismanagement and reckless expen diture as the history of this canal shows, it is not matter of surprise that the Commonwealth and people arc burdened with debt and taxa tion. In pursuance of the act of the St-li of May last, providing for tiie sale of the main line of the public works, after giving the notice recjuir ecl by law, I caused the same to be exposed to public sale, at the Merchants' Exchange, in the citj' of Philadelphia. No offers were made and consequently the works remain unsold. Sealed proposals for the "sale or lease of the main line," were subsequently invited, as di rected by the seventeenth section of the said act, and the proposals received are herewith submitted to the Legislature for their action and final disposition. Having on a former occasion presented my views of the propriety and policy of a sale of this branch of ourpublic improvements, a repe tition of the sentiments then expressed beeomes unnecessary, in relation to this subject my opinion has not changed. On the contrary the experience of the past, and a careful exami nation of the question in its economical and po litical relations, have strengthened and con firmed it. That the State should, long since, have been separated from the management and control of these works, the history of their construction and management clearly demon strates. Public policy and public sentiment demand this separation ; and every considera tion of present and future interests requires their sale. The late financial embarrassments of the country —the imperfect character of sonic of the provisions of this bill authorizing the sale, together with the adverse inlluenee of rival interests, defeated the recent attempt Ito sell. These diftieullicc have been, or an " REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER." be, removed ; and a sale yet effected on terms amply protective of the rights and interests of the people, and at the same time just and libe ral to the purchasers. To reduce the State debt and relieve the people from taxation, are objects worthy the earnest and anxious consideration of the Leg islature. To accomplish these objects speedily and certainly, a sale of the whole or part of our public improvements becomes important and necessary. The revenues of the State, under the present system of management of the public works, are but little more than suffi cient to pay the interest of her debt, and the ordinary expenses of the government. A sale of these works, for a fair consideration, and npon terms just and liberal, would constitute a beginning in the process of liquidation that would free our Commonwealth from debt and her people from consequent taxation. In eve ry '"ensure calculated to produce these desira ble results, I will cheerfully co-operate with Legislature. The currency of the State, in relation tobank ing institutions, and their increase, is a subject that demands careful and intelligent considera tion. From the notice given of numerous in tended applications to the Legislature for new banks and an increase of banking capital, this subject will doubtless lie presented to, and strongly urged upon your attention. Shall the number of banks and the amount of bank ing capital be increased ? and if so, to what extent and in what localities ? are questions of absorbing public interest. Without desiring to assume a general and uncompromising hostility to all banks, or to an ] increase of banking capital, I cannot discover the necessity that may lie demanded from the Legislature. The incorporation of new, or the reehartcr of old and solvent banks, when ' indispensably necessary and clearly demanded by the actual business wants of the communi ty in wliich they tinv be located, should not be refused ; under no other circumstances should their incorporation be permitted. The necessity for increasing the number of banks should be determined more by the ac tual wants of legitimate trade, than by the number of applications and the wild fancies of stockjobbers and speculators. Tiie sudden and unnecessary expansion of the currency should lie avoided, aud whatever tends to produce such a result ought to be discountenanced and prevented. In the creation of banks the true interests of the State and people should be consulted ; and a just and honest discrimina tion, as to number, locality and the demands of trade, be exercised by their representatives. Public sentiment does not demand, nor do public or private interests require, the crea tion of numerous banks. In the present condition of the finances, and in aid of the revenues of the State, (iu addition to tlie taxes now imposed by law) a reasona ble premium should lie required to be paid by all banks or saving institutions that may here after be chartered or re-cliartcred by the Leg islature. As appropriate to this subject, and intimate ly connected with it, I cannot forbear to ex press my disapprobation of a practice, that has heretofore obtained to some extent, of us ing the names of members of the Legislature as corporators in bills pending before them for the incorporation of hanks and other com panies. Such a practice is pernicious, and can not be too strongly condemned. It perils the independence of the Legislator—exposes him to unjust suspicions, and stamps with selfish ness, at least, his legislative action in the premises. Legislation should be free, even from the appearance of improper motive ; and every undue and corrupting influence, inside or outside the Legislative J lulls, should be re sisted and condemned. It is a cause of more tliau ordinary con gratulation, that agriculture, the first, as it is the noblest pursuit of man, has, in its progrns? of development, vindicated its own importance and assumed, in public esteem, the honorable position to which it is so justly entitled. Constituting, as it does, the substratum of our great mechanical, manufacturing and commer cial interests, it should cv *r be regarded as the chief sonrce of State and National pros perity. First in necessity, it is the highest in usefulness of all the departments of labor, sustaining and promoting, in their varied and multiplied relations, all the other industrial interests of the country. Our financial and commercial prosperity is largely dependent upon the success of agricultural industry. An interest i o important should receive the encouragement of ail classes of society. No longer a m< re art—an exertion of physical strength, it has reached the dignity of a science; and to its progress and improvement the poo pic and their representatives should cheerfully contribute. State and County agricultural so cieties have done much to promote this cause, and through their agency mnch valuable in formation has been eolleeted and diffused.- Much yet remains to lie done. More informa tion is demanded. More efficiency in the col lection and diffusion of useful knowledge is re quired. To secure this result, the establish ment of an agricultural bureau, in connection with some of the departments of State, would largely c ontribute. The importance of such a bureau, properly organized, as an aid to the advancement of agricultural knowledge and the success of agricultural industry, cannot easily be over-estimated. The subject is earn estly commended to your attention. By an act of the last session, an institution designated as the " Farmers' High School of I'enusylvaiiia" was incorporated. The charter was accepted by the trustees, and the institu tion duly organized. An eligible site for the college has been secured in Centre county, and two hundred acres of valuable and highly cul tivated laud donated to the trustees, for the use of the institution, hv lien. James Irvin.of that county. The citizens of the county, with a liberality highly commendable, have pledged and secured to the trustees, for the use of the college, ten thousand dollars in addition to the land donated. This liberality shows that the farmers of Pennsylvania fully appreciate the importance of such an institution, and will support und u.-iam t! Tlu > uutse of instruc tion will be thorough and practical. Scientific and practical agriculture, with the usual branches of academic education, will be taught, and the effort will be to make good fanners, good scholars, and good citizens. Whilst individual liberality and energy have done much and will do more for this institution, an appropriation by the State, iu such sum us the legislature may deem proper, would not only aid and encourage this laudable enterprise, lint would be an honorable and just recognition of the important interests involved. The laws now in operation, regulating manu facturing and other improvement companies, are in some of their provisions too severely restrictive, and should be modified. Legisla tion on these subjects has heretofore tended to restrain the investment of capital—check in dustry, and curl) the energy of the people in the prosecution of those enterprises that aid the development of our immense resources, and contribute so largely to the wealth and pros perity of the State. Liberal and judicious legislation—encouraging individual enterprise —inviting the investment of capital and stimu lating the various departments of manufactur ing and mechanical industry, would greatly promote the interests of the people—increase our revenues, and give to the Commonwealth that prominence and position, in the sisterhood of States, to which the character of her citi zens and her illimitable natural resources just ly entitle her. To this subject your attention is invited. The report of the Superintendent of Com mon Schools will exhibit to you their condition aud the general operation of the system throughout the Commonwealth, during the past year. To the valuable and useful sugges tions of the report, I would earnestly ask the attention of the Legislature. The operation and results of the system as detailed arc highly interesting. Our educa tional system rs slowly, but surely, conquering the prejudices and gaining the confidence of the people. Under the fostering care of libe ral and enlightened legislation its ultimate tri umph is certain. When the system was first introduced, it was supposed that it could be perfected and forced into general and vigorous operation by the mere will of (lie Legislature. Kxperience has proven, that in this, as in every other great social and moral reform, time and that consent which arises from a radical change in the popular mind, were required. This slow process of the acclimation of the new system to our social and moral atmosphere, lias been in operation for nearly twenty years; and it is now evident that the period for another ef fective interposition of legislative aid and au thority in favor of our noble system of Com mon schools, has arrived. In whatever form this obviously proper and necessary interposi tion may present itself, if calculated to pro mote flic great purpose in view, it shall receive my cheerful support. After a careful examination of the subject, it is my clear conviction that the system is now prepared for and requires increased efficiencx in its general supervision—increased qualifica tion in its teachers, and increased means of support. The experiment of the County Snpcrititen dency wherever faithfully carried out, has not disappointed the expectations of the advocates of that measure. The improved condition of the schools, and the greater efficiency of the system, clearly establish the propriety and utili ty of such supervision. The official visits of an officer of the school department to some of the counties of the State, in connection with the County Snpcrintendcncy, have demonstra ted that the voice of public authority to sus tain, and the presence of an official agent to encourage, have largely contributed to excite and maintain the deep interest now felt by the public in our educational progress and improve ment. The most marked improvement recently ef fected in the system, has been in its cor;is of teachers. With almost unparalleled disinte restedness and devotion to the noble cause in which they are engaged, the common school teachers of the State, have in almost cverv county been using all the means and appliances in their power, for self-improvement. These efforts, so creditable to them, have been high ly beneficial in their results ; and clearly prove the necessity, and point with unerring certainty to tlie establishment of State Normal Schools Teachers' meetings for a day have given place to institutes for a week ; and these again to numerous Normal meetings continuing from one to three months. At every step in this pro gression, it has become more apparent that per manent institutions, with their proper profes sors and appliances, which nothing but the power of the State can provide, are demanded bv, and would meet the wants of the system and the occasion. lii conceding: this boon to our children, through their teachers, we are encouraged I>v tlie example of other countries, and the expe rience of the past. It is a remarkable fact that no State of onr Union, nor nation of the old world, has perfected its system of public instruction, without schools for the professional training of teachers, established and support ed bv the public authority and menus ; and it is no less remarkable, and still more encourag ing, that 110 such institution has ever yet been abandoned. From Prussia, whose experience in this regard, is that of a century and a (|iiar ter, to that of our young sister Michigan, whose existence is as of yesterday, the Normal school has been tried throughout Christendom with unvarying success. The result is in full harmony with the laws of mind and of human society. Teaching is a high and honorable profession; and no profes sion lias more arduous and complex duties to perform—llo one greater responsibilities to meet—and'no one operates 0:1, or with such valuable and interesting material. The most thorough preparation is, therefore, requisite : and as the duties to be jtcrfortneti are not only responsible, but delicate, and may effect the social, political, moral or religious feelings and rights of the citizen, no source is so safe, no authority for their discharge so free from sus picion or bias, sir the L-tate. Tea. hers truiuM by the blute, and representing the vitality of VOL.. XVI. —NO. 31. its republicanism, will be the firm support and sure guarantee of its republican equality. ft is time also that the teaching mind should resume its true place in the schools. In tho communication of knowledge, to l>e effective, mind, in sympathetic contact, must act UJXUI mind, and with living, speaking energy, leave its impress there. The Great Master " himself thus trained the school which was to reform a world. But now the bod: has too much in traded itself between the teacher and tlm taught. The teacher ha too much become the mere exponent of the printed page, and the mind of the learner the impressed copy of the text. In thus saying, the value unortant and interesting, the statistics of those schools should be furnished to the State Superinten dent, that the same might be embodied in the annual report of the department. A mollifi cation of existing laws on this subject, so far as to require tlie controllers of the public schools of Philadelphia, to report to the school department, the number, grade, ami condition of their schoo's—the numlter of pupils, and generally such information in relation to their government as may be deemed useful to tbo cause of cducation.is respectfully recommended. To improve the social, intellectual and moral condition of the people—reclaim tho erring, and ameliorate human suffering, are objects that commend themselves to the con sideration of the philanthropist and the states man. f)ur educational, charitable ami reforma tory institutions arc iustfy the pride of the State, honorable alike to the wisdom that de vised and the liberality that founded and sus tains them. They have strong claims upon the bounty of the people, and I cordially re commend them to your care and the liberality of the Commonwealth. The State Lunatic Hospital, at Ilarrisbnrg, in its objects anil results, merits our highest approbation. The just expectations of its pro jectors and found as have not been disappoint d. Kindness and love, with their softening and subduing influence, constitute tlie rule of its government. Many of its former unfor tunate inmates have been restored to reason, to friends and home, and the enjoyments of social life. Those that remain require our sympathy and aid. They should not be with h Id. The report of the directors will exhibit in detail the op rations of the institution. The nerc sty aid importance of providing additii nil accommodation for the insane of Western Peensylw.uin, have l>eon atronglv pressed npou iny attention. The present ae e unniodatiuns are eleariv insufficient. and tlieso have tieen provided principally bv the contri butions of lienovoleiit citizens. Jt is urged that the rapid advance of our population—the gloomy increase of the insane—and the inade quacy of the present asylumns for their care and ma inurement, render if imperatively ne e vssarv that eifeetive aid should lie given to that portion of the State, for the establish ment of a new and entirely distinct Western Insane Hospital, as a home to thoso of our fellow-citizens, whose only alleviation is to bo found in their ignorance of the frightful mala dy with which they are burdened. The sub ject is worthy of cuitn and dispassionate in quiry. 1 will cheerfully co-operate with the I .eg-ht are, iu all p. oper efforts toaciomel.sh tllia (. 1) 'N't.