.MTkxOQ.MjQzMTE

13 not to increase and is five less at the present time than it was at the same time last year. There has been one death during the past year, and an unusual degree of health has prevailed. Much attention is paid to the moral and religious instruction of the convicts and the interest which most of them seem to take in the Sunday Schools and the improvement which many of them have made is highly commendable. Events are continually occurring in our Country, which demonstrate the indisputable importance of a well organized and efficient Militia. As this subject is now under the consideration of Congress for the improvement of the general system it will not perhaps be advisable to make any essential alterations in our militia laws during the present session. It is regretted that in numerous instances no returns of the state of the Militia have been made during the past year. As the arms received from the United States are in proportion to the number of Militias in the State, and on many other accounts it is important that these returns should be annually made by the Staff officers, as required by laws, and that no pay should be allowed them when this duty has not been faithfully performed. By the last returns, some having been made years since it appears that the Militia of the State amounts to Forty