VARIOUS MATTERS.
... r.
Malborno Briggs, tho notcil counterfeiter
died in tho Massachusetts state prisbh on
Thursday -week, aged 70.
A project lias been started in tho West
for tho construction tf-a second Canal at
tho Falls of tho Ohio,' ontho Indian shore.
Tho-present canal.'on the Kentucky side,
lias paid a divident foi tho past-year of 13
per cent.
David Darby, formerly assistant Postma's
Jer nt Harbourcreek, Erie county,- has been
convicted of -"purloining money from 'tho
mail, and sentenced twelve year confine
ment irt the Eastern penitentiary.
Largo 6peiations aro doing in tho Chi
nese Mulberry "line. It is rcmorcd the
Princes at their fino gardens at Flushing,
N. Y. havo sold sbirto $30,000 worth re
cently at $25 per 100 cuttings, and that
other large contracts have Veen made.
(Jen. Jesup has 'tinder his command,
4037 regular, 4908 volunteers, 100 sea
men,' and't Indians, Total 0000.
Tho Somiftdiles ire said to number six or
sevctffcundred.
A bill of no small interest to Farmers,
has passed tho assembly ,of New Jersey;
It establishes the bushel of wheat at'GO lbs.
flf rye and corn, at 50 ; of buckwheat, 60 ;
'Of-barley at 84 ; of flaxseed, 54 : and of
clover sed 60. Both buyer and seller
thus know precisely upon what they deal :
and uniformity is established. Heretofore
4 Via- liflVrrifrt In. 1ifltrnnt nt liin Vi Ann
several pounds In the bushel ; and every in
dividual buyer had bright to make his own
standard.
Importation ofJVhtat. "Foreign wheats
aro begining to reach the Baltimore market
days there have been arrivals of not less
than fifty thousand bushels from 'Bremen
and Rotterdam. There can be but little
doubt that the imports will continue.
On the -25fiYtfIt. tho House '6f Rep'rescn-''
tatives of Michigan adopted a resolution, by
a vote of 42 to 1, instructing their Senators,
and requesting their Representatives, in
.Congress, to vote against any measure
which has for its object tho annexation of
Texas to the Union, for tho reasons that it
weuld be unnecessarily extending our tcri
tory, and create discontents which might'
endanger the stability of tho Unidn.
Such is the advance of steam navigation
in this country, that there are now no less
than twenty toihirty steamboats that ply on
the distant waters Of the Upper Missouri.
At the last dates from 'Lois Villa, venison
was selling at two or three dollars' saddle,
pork three and a half cents a pound, and
beef five cents.
A bill has passed the 'lower House of the
Legislature of Louisiana, to increase the
number of Judges of the Supremo Court of
4hat State to five.
Upwards of 350,000 in Specie, arrived at
Now York on Saturday lt frdhx Vera
Cruz.
'The aggregate length of the Steamboats
on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers is Said
to bo about ten miles.
Wo aro informed by a Pittsburg paper,
"that one thousand flat boats left that place
the last year loaded with coal, worth it is
scposed one million bf dollars.
A Paris paper of tho Ist uliimo, says :
"To-night at 12 o'clock, all tho gambling
houses, that'scdtirge of our city, are to be
shut up for good and all, tho Chambers
"having limited thoir existence to the 1st of
January, 1838."
The Board of New York Broker's on
Wednesday last, Voted Five Hundred Dol
lars to 'the Contral Committee, for the re
lief of the pdox o'f the different wards in that
city.
The average number 'hands employed on
the public'works of the State of Indiana dur
ing the last' year was OToSl'. The rate of
wiges wa from $l8.lp 24 pt'r month'.
Tho quantity of oil importtd fnto tho
United 3tstc Juruiy tho last yoar Was
10,002 bbls,ofwhiehJ81.72i wcrespertn.
We copy tho following from tho Buffalo
Obihmcrc'ml Advertiser: , , ...
Gon. Scott tool: his departure for the
northern frontier yesterday afternoon. Of
his future movements wo are nottSivisedr
But this wo aro bound to say, that his ju
dicious and manly course, while on this
frontier, demands the public gratitude.
Should any further difficulty arise, ho has
left Col. Worth in command, who is every
way qualified to meet tho omcrgoitcy.
It may not bo amiss to add, that the
names of Scott and Worth, alone, havo con
tributed more to arrest the border difiicul-
Tio's.ihan tho combined civil authorities of
thq Abtmtry. Hero near the field of their
brilliant achievements in the last war, is an
abiding recollection of their services ; and
no sooner was their arrival announced on
the frontier, than pubKa tranquility was in
a- theasuro restored.
AVe will add also, .that the prompt and
energetic conduct of Col. Worth, in his late
expedition up tho lake, is" worthy of alL
praise. Through his vigilance and alacrity,
tho arms of tho state havo been mainly re
covered, and tho contemplatccHnvasio'n of
Canada entirely frustrated. Tho difficul
ties encountered by him in" ascending to
Detroit, wero overcomo by' 'thfat persever
ance and enterprise, for wliicbJic is so pe
culiarly distinguished,
LATER AND IMPORTANT.
An extnf;om tho office of tho Buffalo
Commercial Advertiser, dated' !7 o'clock on
Friday cvening, gives tho following impor
tant information :
Since our paper went to press wo have
been informed that an express has arrived
from Detroit, bringing the information that
tho patribts, to tho number bPabout 800, arc
assembled in the Tieighborlicod of Blacfc
Swamp, Toledo and Monroe
They aro under the commend of the self
styled Adj. Gen. MLeotl, Sutherland and
others, and arc well sup'pltcd with arms,
munitions, etc.
Tho soldiers here are' to 'leave this eve
ning for Detroit, where it is expected they
win arnvn in uujiours.
Gen. Brady, who is in command at that
point, is an activccfficicnt ouiccr, and will
undoubtedly disarm'the Patriots as soon as
thev come within his reach.
A rumour has been current'here this eve
ning, that the Uritisli near Detroit have fired
upon our side and killed seypral men ; this
we are authorized to say by Col. Worth, is
wholly without toundation.
STATEMENT of the Comtmn. Svhool appropriation due from the Slate lo'tlie
Districts.
irrn 1 "
moom.
HHiVCreck,
Cntawissu, .
Dcrry,
Fishing Creek, ,
Greenwood,',
Hemlock,
Liberty, ,
Limestone,
.Madison,
Mahoning,
Mifflin,
Mount Pleasant,
Roaring Creek, ,
Sugarloaf,
mi. ,t.
1S35
1830
paid.
SG Gl$
14102
paid.
31 GO
paid.
paid.
paid.
. paid.
paid.
paid.
93 34 J
paid,
ipaid.
paid.
SG 61
141 92
paid.
31 GO
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid.
93 345
paid,
paid.
1837
paid.
220 12
323 25
paid.
83 51
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid.
239 54
paid.
208 4G
paid.
1808
paid.
7G9 17
780 48
paid.
291 83
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid,
paid.
837 04
paid.
72S 45
paid.
1339
293 28
220 12
323 35
22G 58
83 51
1G5 72
211 7G
173 50
78 32
195 52
238 25
239 54
95 17
208 40
09 70
Total
"Roaring Lrcclc belonged to Catawissa until 1S32. H87527S
The foregoing statement exhibits not only the dividcnds'of State appropria
tion for the fifth Comirion School year (1839) payable on '6r after the first
Monday ol June, 183S, when that year commences, to all tho districts in the
county, but also those for tho 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th school years, (viz: 1335,
1830, 1837 aim 183S,) now due to such districts as have cither not accepted
or not yet applied in the proper manner for their mone v. The whole amount
of State appropriation yet due each district, since the first year of the system
is exhibited in the last column.
The State appropriation for 1835 or the first school year, was S75,000; for
183G,or ho second, $75,000; for 1837, or the third, S200,000; for 1338, dr
the Jourlh ana present school year, 8700,000 (including the Building Fund
of S500,000;) and for 1839, or the fifth year, it will bo 200,000 if the law
remains unaltered, but if the Legislature add Sl00,000 t will he 3300,000;
making an aggregate given by the State since the commencement of tho sys
tem of $1,250,000 without, or $1,350,000 with the expected increase
Undrawn dividends of the two first years' appropriation arc to be receiv
ed from the county Treasury.
The dividends of subsequent years are payable by the State Treasurer, on
application lo the Siiperintendant. Tho 'following is the form o'f the necessa
ry certificate, which should be forwarded to tho Superintendant, In every
as tne lacts win jusiity it:
293 28
1,382 G4
1,711 02
22G 58
522 05
1G5 72
211 7G
173 50
78 32
195 52
238 25
1,502 81
95 17
1,145 37
99 70
STILL LATER.
Another revolutionary Movement.
It seems from recent intelligence, that the
Frontier disturbances cannot yet be consid
ered as' fully quieted and adjusted. Tho,
latest rumour lrom tlic north-west is, thru
a large body of men tccrc about to make
a descent upon Canada, near the mouth nf
the river St. Clair, above Detroit. A let
ter from Sandusky' city, dated the Gth in
stant, states that the Patriot army had just
commenced their movemenrfur tho island
opposite that place. General McLeod and
Colonel Star were there, and in command.
The following from the Toledo Ohio
Blade of the 7th inst. probably alludes to the
movement of another section' tff the itiscr
gcntSi "A small .remnant of the disbanded Navy
Islanders arrived in town last evening, pre
ceded by a wagon drawn by four white hor
ses, ntid loaded with 'divers suspicious look
ing boxes. This wagon, left town this
morning for Tccnmseh, with two military
gentlemen mounted on one of the scats or
boScS, one of whom, a tall man with sandy
hair, the knowing ones scrmise to be Van
Rensselaer. Col. Southetland arrived in
town last evening, and had an interview
with this gentleman. We understand that
an advance guard df Navy Islanders, consis
ting of 70, were seen on tho road to Mon
roe tho day beforp yesterday, and that some
three or four hundred more aro behind, with
a small sprinkling of Cattaraugus Indians.
It is conjectured that it is the design of the
galland band' to rendezvous at the outlet
Yjf St. Clair above Detroit with a view of
making a descent into Canada from that
quarter. Tho supposition is also entertain
ed that they may bo joined by an addition
al force from Michigan, Col. 'Sutherland
having recently been on a mission in the
interior to false recruits and organize cor
responding awl contributing committees.
A straggling Navy Islander reports that ho
took breakfast with Van Rensselaer yester
day a few miles from Perrysburg, and that
he was Jo be in Tolodd in the evening on
Ids way to the North.
Flour at Cincinnati By an authori
zed statement in tho last Cincinnati Gazette,
it appears that the quantity of flour which
arrived in that city, by way of the Miami
Canal, during the four months ending with
theJUst Juuuary, 1837, was 18,409 barrels;
and tint for the like period of four months,
muling on the 31st of January, 1838, the
quantity Via tho canal, was 59,071. Re
marking flpon the comparative statomont,
tho Gazette says "this shows a great in
crease. Ycft, it may be caused by and ear
lier pressure into market, and thus but par
tially bear ujJen tho ontiro supply.'
Twelve luuiuVed large ships, hocido8
smaller vessrls, are engaged in till) trade bo-
twoen Orwt ifrttaiu and (Jio provinces of
ca'sc
1 V:.i
"To the Superintendant of Common Schools.
""Sin I do hereby certify that a school tax amonnling to dollars
"cents, has been regularly levied and assessed, for the school year 183 ,
"upon district county; that a warrant for the toliectioii thereof has
"teen delivered to the District Collector according to law, a n't! liat the aforc
"Hahl'Stini is at least equal to this district's annual share of the State appro
"priation.
"I do further certify that of Post Office, county, is the
"lawfully appointed Treasurer of this District.
"Attest, Signed,
Secretary. President.1'
" Post Office, count)', Post Office, county."
13y tho next mail after the receipt of the foregoing certificate at this depart
ment, a warrant on the State Treasurer for the appropriation of the current
year, will be sent to the District Treasurer, together with similar warrants
for all undrawn dividends of former years, remaining in the Slate Treasury.
To obtain the latter no additional tax is necessary, so that one tax, for the
current year, equal to the District's share of the ordinary annual State appro
priation (8200,000) will be sufficient lo enable it to receive all dividends of
fonn'er undrawn appropriations.
As soon as a District previously non-accepting, accepts the syJlem and re
ceives its money from the State Treasury, it is thereby entitled to all money
remaining for its use in 'the County Treasury, provided it accepts before the
1st o'f November, 1838. In that case it is the duty of the County Treasurer
to pay over such money forthwith to the District Treasurer, on tho order of
the Board of Directors. The best proof of such acceptance and of the receipt
of the money from the Slate Treasurer, is the circular which accompanies the
warrant of the Superintendant, on the production of which the County Treas
urer will be perfectly safe in paying over the dividends in his hands.
Mcceplance. ol the Common bchool system, under the present laws, can on
ly take place by the vote of a majority of such citizens of each non-accepting
District, as assemblo on the day of electing Directors, being in most cases the
third Friday of March. The citizens then assembled have two acts to ner-
form; 1st, to elect Directors, which must be done whether the system is to be
put in operation or not; and 2d, to decide the question whether tho system
shall be accepted or not. This last question is only to be submitted in such
Districts as previously rejected the system, hut not in accepting districts, and
may bo decided in the affirmative by a mere majority of the votes polled.
See the 13th Section of the Common School Law of 1S3G.
Having thus explained the condition of the State appropriations, the man
ner of obtaining tl"" id the mode of accepting the system, the Superin
tendent would respectfully address a word of information and advice to tlic
citizens of such townships, wards and boroughs as have not yet received it.
In doing this ho has no wish officially to become the advocate of the system,
but solely promote the interests of those Districts, by explaining their pre
sent situation in relation to id ,
By the first Common School Law (that or April, lsl is"34,) if any nUmher
of Districts in a county -even one accepted the system, they thereby be
came entitled to the receipt of the whole State appropriation intended for all
the districts in the county for that year. This harsh provision was repealed
by the supplement of April 15, 1S35, which enacts that non-accepting Dis
tricts should have two years, (which of course counted from the date of the
supplement,) within which time they might accept and save the forfeiture
of the undrawn dividends. Before the passage of the supplement, how
ever, the forfeiture contemplated by the act of 1834, had token place in sev
eral counties, so far as related to tho appropriation of tho first school year
(18C5.) 3
Thus the law remained till the passage of the Common Schdol law of June
13, 1S3G, and the declaratory resolution of 27th March, lfi37, "relative to
undrawn balance in 'he School Fund." By the joint operation of these
acts the period of forfeiture was further postpone?! till the 1st of November,
1838, (next November) with this diflerenrid, that tlie forfeited dividends are
not to be distributed among the accepting Districts of the same codnty, but
aro o be added to the principal of tho general Coirimbu School Fund in the
State Treasury, the interest of which only is annually distributable.
But though the law reads thus, tho legal act of acceptance must be per
formed a considerable time before the 1st of November. 1838. Under the
existing law non-accepting districts can only adopt fhc system, by the vole of
me citizens a-ssuuiuien 10 eiect uirectors, which in most cases takes place on
the third Friday in March. Hence it follows that though tho completion of
the forfeiture does not lake place till November, yet that tho act of accep
tance which Can alono prevent it from attaching must he performed for town
ships in March, und for wards and boroughs, nt the time next spring when
tliey elect their proper officers. Nor is the operation of this forfeiture con
fined to the operations of the current year, but embraces those of all ihe years
since the commencement of the system. Seo the 1st and 13th sections.
This being the manner and efiTcctoflho forfeiture caused by continued re
jection, it becomos proper to state the consequences of prosontadoption.
Acceptance of ihe Syslom next Spring will not fasten it on the District
lorever, nut only till the Spring ot 1840, or lor (woicars, at the end of
which time it may be discontinued by the vote ol a majority of all the quali
fled vofers oTlh'o District, If ihe expe?.
imcnt should not prove satisfactory.
See Sec. 13, 3
Present acceptance will prevent the
forfeiture, not of oite, but of four or
five years' State appropriations, includ
ing, that of next school year, amount
ing in tho aggregate to about $4 to
each taxable inhabitant, or to $2,000 in
a District containing 500 taxablcs,
without counting any thing on a prob
able increase of appropriation by ihe
present Legislature.
Acceptance next Spring, and the
consequent receipt of the above accu
mulated dividends, will only burthen
each District next year, with a school
tax equal to G43 cents on each taxable.
This tax, however, is not to be paid in
that proportion by each taxable, in tho
manner of a poll lax, but will bo asses
sed on the property, professions and
persons that pay county rates, and on
such personal property as paid State
tax. Tho School tax on a township
having 500 tdxables, and receiving
452,000 of State appropriation, would
be something less than $325.
But in reality, acceptance w,ill not
add much, if any thing, to the burthen
of taxation, in the populous counties.
It is known that in many Districts tho
tax collected bv the Com
for the education of poor children, is
equal to the sum which would be ne
cessary to entitle those Districts to the
roceint of thn flnmmnn Qniir.nl ir,i.
j " w,.nuui j.- uiiua,
if they should adopt thc'System. Nor
would it be necessarv. in mnut rno
to levy a lax beyond the lowest amount
necessary to secure the Slate aid, be
cause their accumulated Stath nnnm.
priation of four or five years, will be
sufficient to build or otherwise nro-
vidc uood school houses, thus leaving
the current year's tax and appropria
tion wholly annlicable to inslr'riefinn.
for which purpose it would be nearly
SU1UCICIU.
IfthcSvslcm henflnnled novt nrinn-
only one other tax, after that of next
year, must necessarily he paid by the
Districls, before they will have an op
portunity of discontinuing thn S
nt the tri-ennial election on the 1st
Tuesday of May, 1840. The payment
oi mis tax, equal to u-ia cents tor each
taxable, will probably entitle them,
besides relieving them from the poor
school tax, to a State appropriation
equal to Si for each taxable for the
second year. So that the payment of
$1,30 for each taxable, from the State,
in ine same time.
Ileilco It senms in hn fnr llio 5 nlnr-
est of thd non-ace'entinf Distrirf 4. th
take, the matler scri'ously into delibe
ration, independent ot all considera
tions arising from the merits or de
merits of the Common School System.
Thoudi the System is vet in its in
fancy, it has produced some decided
and salutary changes in the Districts
which nave auopteu it.
1 he School llottses aro generally
mnr.il imnpniroil linn... .tltiju. . . . '.11
well repaired, and more equally .ami
convicntlv located than formerlv.
The compensation of Teachers is
increased fully one third, and the pro
fession is rapidly and proportionately
rising in usefulness and independence.
The number of Children taught in
tho Common Schools, is at least dou
ble that of the schools which preceded
them in tho same Districts.
The duration of teachutg in each'
year is about the same,
The kind of instruction is in all
cases aj good; and in most better than
in the old schools.
The cost of teaching, notwithstand
ing Ihe increased compensation of the
teachbrs the improved condition of
the house, and tho better order and,
kind of instruction, is only one half of
what it was before the system went
into operation. Formerly it was S2 23
on an average over the State, now it
is $1 12 j for each pupil per quarter.
In the bid Schools some paid for
thoir own education, and some were
educated at the expense of the county
This unpleasant distinction is nol
found in the Common Schools. All
receive the same kind of instruction,
paid for outof the same common stoci?.
There is no room, therefore, for par
tiality on tho part of the teacher for
wards particular pupils, or of distinc
tions among the scholars.
But it is not on account of these, its
undeniable fruits, that the non-accepting
districts are now addressed.
These fapts are alluded to merely to
show that there is no danger in the ex
periment. The object of tho Super
intendent is to lay the whole matter '
before those Districts, that they may
act understandingly on the subject,
when they make their final decision
next Spring.
Aa a friond, ho would ad viso all to
accopt tho System for the next two
yfarn, because at the end of that time it