in Brazil, of not less fineness than 'ten ounces fifteen pennyweights in the pound,' (895.8 thousandths,) and 415 grains in weight, are receivable at one hundred cents each. The present average fineness and value of these coins, as appearing in our circulation, may be stated as in the ensuiug table, with some doubt as to the item of Central America, whose coinage is very irregular.

"The five-franc pieces of France, if not less than 900 thousandths fine, and 384 grains in weight, are made current at 93 cents. They continue to maintain this average to the year 1852, which is the latest date assayed here.

"It is to be noted that the foregoing valuations of silver coin are based upon the legal rate of the United States, as fixed by the act of 1837. Under the act of March, 1853, the mint has been and is now paying a premium upon these rates to procure silver for coinage; consequently, the laws making them current may be considered nugatory and obsolete. The same remark, for other but obvious reasons, may be applied to all the gold coins mentioned in this report, except those of Great Britain and France.

"I embrace this opportunity to suggest that there is no longer any propriety or necessity for legalizing the circulation of the coins of other countries. In no other nation, except in the case of some colonies, is this mixture of currencies admitted by law, either on the score of courtesy or convenience. When these laws as to foreign coins were passed our coinage was inconsiderable, but during the last few years the pieces struck, in number and value, it is believed, are scarcely inferior to that of any other country. The last year more than seventy-six millions of pieces were struck, of the value of upwards of sixty-four millions of dollars. If this suggestion is approved, and the laws which legalize foreign coins be repealed, it would be proper, by a standing regulation of the Treasury Department, or by legislative enactment, to require an annual assay report upon the weight and fineness of such foreign coins as frequently reach our shores, with a view to settle and determine their marketable value. Such a report would be a judicious substitute for the one now presented."

INDIVIDUAL STATES.

I. MAINE.

Government for the Year ending the 1st Wednesday in January, 1855.

Councillors. -William Buxton, of North Yarmouth; Thaddeus Weeks, of Jefferson; Samuel P. Shaw, of Waterville; Horatio H. Johnson, of Belfast; Theodore C. Woodman, of Bucksport; Charles A. Everett, of Milo ; and Gideon Tucker, of Saco.

The State is divided into three Judicial Districts, denominated the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts; and for the purpose of hearing and determining questions of law and equity, the terms are held for these dis

1,000

1,000

tricts, instead of being held, as heretofore, in the several counties. These terms are held annually in Portland for the Western, in Augusta for the Middle, and in Bangor for the Eastern District. The other cases are tried, as heretofore, in the several counties where they are commenced.

Municipal and Police Courts.

George S. Mulliken, of Augusta; John L. Hodsdon, of Bangor; Jacob Smith, of Bath; Joseph Williamson, Jr., of Belfast; Henry Orr, of Brunswick; George W. Dyer, of Calais; William Palmer, of Gardiner; Samuel K. Gilman, of Hallowell; John H. Williams, of Portland; and John C. Cochran, of Rockland, are Judges at those places respectively. Some are paid by salaries, others by fees.

Amount of expenditures from January 1, 1853, to December 31, 1853,
Balance January 1, 1854, .

434,361.09

92,504.71

62,377.59

30,127.12

To be further reduced by existing appropriations, Leaving a balance for further wants in the Treasury of, Beyond the ordinary demands upon the Treasury, there have been paid during the year for the completion of the Insane Hospital and the Reform School, and for the cash payment to Massachusetts for her lands, as follows, viz. :- Insane Hospital, $24,000; Reform School, $18,000; Massachusetts lands, $112,500.00; total, $154,500. For the lands there were given in addition to the cash, 10 bonds of $25,000 each, with coupons attached, bearing 5 per cent. interest, and payable 1 each year from 1863 to 1872 inclusive.

Pay of the Legislature,

Pay-roll of the Council, Contingent fund of Executive, of Treasurer,

Salaries,

Principal Items of Expenditure.

$44,528.00 School fund, No. 19,

4,393.80 Indian annuities,

1,000.00 Penobscot Indians fund,

of Secretary of State, 200.00 Agricultural products to Indians,

Chief Sources of Income.

$191,139.19 Bank dividends,

10,000.00

42,474.21

92,504.71

5,532.63

1,200.00

3,800.00

$800.00

21,703.36

1,851.37

1,802.04

2,989.98

Public Debt.-The public funded debt of the State January 1, 1854, was $711,500. There are besides funds to the amount of $257,373.93, held in trust by the State, and for which the State must provide the payment of interest. There are other liabilities for un. paid warrants, &c., to the amount of $63,562.59; total, $1,032,436.52. Resources of the State at the same date other than lands, $692,939,90.

Common Schools. -The method of supervision of the schools is again changed. Instead of a Commissioner in each county in the State, there is now appointed by the Governor a Superintendent of common schools for the State, to hold office for three years. His duty is "to devote his time to the improvement of common schools and the promotion of the general interests of education in the State." He is to hold annually in each county a teachers' convention, for one week at least, of which he has the charge, and he is to employ suitable instructors and teachers to assist him therein. To defray the expenses of these conventions $2,000 are to be appropriated annually.

School Fund.-The permanent school fund is $116,946.96. The amount apportioned for the year 1853 was, $44,027.89; being bank tax, $37,063.44, and interest of school fund, $6,964.45. The number of scholars was 233,736. The amount apportioned since 1833 is $660,317.56. The bank tax for the support of schools is one half of one per cent. on their capital. The apportionment is made ratably among towns making returns. Towns are obliged by law to raise annually an amount of school money equal to 40 cents for each inhabitant.

In June, 1854, the banks had $806,690 of bills in circulation under five dollars. At the last session of the Legislature twelve new banks were incorporated, and the capital stock of twenty-one old banks was increased.

Insane Hospital, Augusta. Henry M. Harlow, Superintendent, Theodore C. Allan, Treasurer and Steward. Nov. 30th, 1852, there were in the Hospital 84 patients, 50 males and 34 females; received during the year, 124, 65 males and 59 females, in all 208. 89 (54 males and 35 females) have been discharged; of whom 45 (28 males and 17 females) were recovered; 14 (8 males and 6 females) were improved; 15 (7 males and 8 females) were unimproved; and 11 males and 4 females died; remaining,. 119, 61 males and 58 females. Of those admitted 31 men and 36 women are married; 33 men and 15 women are unmarried; 1 is a widower, and 8 are widows. 35 are under 30; 62 between 30 and 50; 23 between 50 and 70, and 4 over 70.

Since opening the Hospital in 1840 there have been 1033 patients. 404 of these have recovered; 190 improved; 234 were unimproved. Of the 1033, 194 relapsed, and were admitted a second time; of these 79 recovered, 43 improved, 33 did not improve, 18 died, and 21 now remain. 50 have been admitted the third time; of these 26 recovered, 2 improved, 7 did not improve, 2 died, and 13 remain. 17 have been admitted the fourth time; of these 10 recovered, I improved, 3 did not improve, 2 died, and I remains. 11 have been admitted the fifth time; of these 8 recovered, 2 improved, and 1 remains. 5 have been admitted the sixth time; of these 4 recovered and 1 improved. 5 have been admitted the seventh time; of these 2 recovered, 2 improved, and 1 remains. 2 have been admitted the eighth time; of these 1 recovered and 1 died. 1 has been admitted the ninth time, and was discharged unimproved.

Receipts from all sources during the year, $9,948.25; expenditures, $9,612.86; balance of receipts, $335.39.

State Prison, Thomaston. Number of convicts, December 1, 1852, 77; received up to December 1st, 1853, 21; discharged during the same period, by expiration of sentence, 19, and by pardon 6, in all 25, leaving 69 in prison. 45 are committed for larceny, 5 for manslaughter, 1 for forgery, and 2 for arson. 9 are employed in the lime-quarry, 9 in the smithshop, 28 are shoemakers, 14 are wheelwrights. There is little demand for the labor of the prisoners. The labor of the shoemakers is let at 30 cents per day. The cost of "keeping" each convict is about 11 cents per day. The cost of clothing is $5 per year for each convict. Receipts for the year, $9,020.13; expenditures, $15,718.09; balance against the Prison, $6,697.96. Since July 2, 1824, 1,079 prisoners have been received. Of these there have been discharged, by expiration of sentence, 790; pardon, 179; death, 28; escape, 8; removal to Insane Hospital, 4; writ of error, 1.

State Reform School. — - This school is at Cape Elizabeth, and is under the superintendence of William R. Lincoln. The first boy was received November 14, 1853; from that day to April 4, 1854, 25 inmates were received and 1 was discharged. 6 were from Kennebec County; 11 from Cumberland; 4 from Penobscot; 2 from Oxford; and I each from Hancock and York. 21 were committed for larceny; 3 for breaking and entering with felonious intent, and I as a common runaway. 23 were Americans, and 2 foreigners; average age 13 years. Each boy is employed six hours of each day at some mechanical, agricultural, or domestic labor. The farm connected with the school contains 160 acres.

II. NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Government for the Year ending on the 1st Wednesday of June, 1855.

John Wadleigh,

Adjutant-General,

J. Everett Sargent,

of Meredith,

of Wentworth, Pres. of the Senate, $2.50 per day.

400