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213.

institutions which form and guard the habits and the morals of the people; and may the time never arrive when our posterity shall become insensible of the advantages resulting from the district school, the social library and the parish church. Under our systim [system] of free schools the opportunity is afforded to every individual of acquiring such an education, as will enable him, not only to transact the ordinary affairs of his occupation without danger of imposition, but to perform the higher municipal and political duties which may devolve upon him. In some of the States annual returns are made of the situation of the free schools. If the organization of their systim [system] be like ours, the returns might be made annually to the office of the Secretary of State by the Selectmen of the several towns, without inconvenience or expense, and the aggregate would show the number of children instructed in the State, and the amount annually expended in such instruction. Such a return, if sufficiently explicit, would effectually secure the execution of the existing law and prevent any delinquency on the part of towns, should a disposition ever prevail to avoid a compliance with its provisions. It would also form a useful and interesting document, which, in some measure, would indicate the improvement of the age. The subject may be considered of sufficient importance to merit the attention of the Legislature. Our two principal Literary Institutions are diffusing a beneficial influence throughout the State, and are entitled to the favorable consideration of an enlightened community. Whenever the situation of our resources and the circumstances of the people will justify affording them further encouragement, there can be no reluctance, provided their necessities require it. The present annual grant to these institutions is by each faithfully applied to the purposes for which it was intended, and the high character of their