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It is also equally desirable that the Officers of Cavalry and Artillery should be enabled to avail themselves of a more perfect knowledge of the best systems of discipline for their respective corps. The frequency of courts martial, and the expense incident to military investigations, render it desirable that the causes from which they originate should be obviated so far as may be within the power of legislation. A great proportion of the complaints arise from a misunderstanding of rights and duties which depend more upon usage than positive laws. - These usages by different officers may be understood differently; and so long as there is no written authority to which they can appeal, and to which all opinions must yield, collisions will frequently occur. In most cases, it is believed, there would be less difficulty, certainly less expense, in preventing such collisions by legislation than in settling them by court martial. I lay before you a copy of an agreement entered into between the Commissioners of this and the parent State, under the laws relating to the Separation of Maine from Massachusetts, by which a full and final settlement and adjustment is concluded and division made of all the personal property to a portion of which this State is entitled under and by virtue of the fourth article of the first section of said law, and also for all liabilities for which it is thereby made chargeable. Under this agreement, and in fulfilment thereof, I have received from the Treasury of Massachusetts the sum of fifteen thousand eight hundred and eighty eight dollars and fifty cents. This sum, after deducting the expense of the agent appointed to receive it, and give discharges thereof, and also the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars necessarily expended in securing