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The Legislature at the May session, 1855, established two Courts, the "Supreme Court of Errors," and the "Superior Court," and abolished the County Courts. The Supreme Court of Error is to consist of a Chief and two Associates, and the Superior Court of six judges. But now the Supreme Court of Errors consists of the Chief and four Associates, to be reduced to a Chief and two Associates as vacancies occur, and the Superior Court of nine judges, including the present five judges of the Supreme Court of Errors, Judges Wait, Storrs, Hinman, Ellsworth, and Sanford. There are now four judges of the Superior Court, Judges Park, Butler, Seymour, and Waldo. As a vacancy occurs in the Supreme Court of Errors, a new judge will be appointed to the Superior Court, until the number of the judges of the Superior Court amounts to six, i. e. the Supreme Court is to lose two judges, and the Superior Court is to gain two. The senior judge of the Superior Court will preside. Two judges constitute a quorum of the Supreme Court of Errors for the transaction of business, and two terms of the Court are held annually in each county. The terms of the Superior Court are held by one judge, except for the trial of capital offences, and as often as four times a year in each county. Any judge may hold special terms of this Court, but cannot at such term proceed to the trial or determination of any cause unless the parties consent thereto. A legal verdict may be found by any number of jurors, not less than nine, in any civil cause in which the parties so agree in writing before the verdict is rendered. The judges of this Court appoint a State's Attorney in each county, and may remove him for cause. The Judges of both Courts are appointed by the concurrent vote of the Senate and House, and in all cases shall be chosen by ballot, and hold their offices until seventy years of age. In the trial of capital cases, the Court is held by a judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, who presides, and by a judge of the Superior Court. The same act establishes some new rules of practice in civil cases.

The Clerks of the Superior Court, who are ex officio Clerks of the Supreme Court of Errors in the several counties, are as follows:

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Salaries of Executive and Judiciary, 14,058.00 Quartermaster General's Department, 1,254.15 Contingent expenses of government, 56,082.70 Public buildings and institutions, 11,796.42 Judicial expenses,

57,535.22

Expense of supporting State paupers, 2,200.00l

$179,862.56

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Total receipts for year ending March 31, 1855, including balance of preceding year, $216.264.12 Total expenditures during same period,

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179,862.56 $36,401.56

The permanent fund of the State, April 1, 1855, consisting of bank stock not transferable, or subscriptions to the stock of certain banks which may be withdrawn on giving six months' notice, amounted to $ 406,000.00.

The Grand List gives for the 1st October, 1854, the following summary of taxable property: 61,267 dwelling-houses, valued at $ 56,852,707; 2,522,774 acres of land, value $57,490,322; value of mills, stores, &c., $14,113,498; horses, $2,328,263; neat cattle, $5,150,921; sheep, swine, &c., $254,546; farming utensils, $224,348; coaches and pleasure carriages, $887,225; clocks, watches, &c., $ 434,095; piano-fortes and musical instruments, $303,911; household furniture, $1,193,311; quarries, fisheries, &c., $651,076; stocks and bonds, $20,298,195; investments in merchandise, $ 6,918,981; in mechanical and manufacturing operations, $9,673,743; in vessels, &c., $3,382,304; money at interest, $16,164,438; money on hand, $429,185. All other taxable property, $6,988,712; total taxable property, $203,739,831; polls at $10 each, $631,564; total amount of assessment, $6,819,191.59.

Common School Statistics. - Number of towns for year ending March 31, 1852, 148; of school societies, 217; of school districts, 1,642; of children between four and sixteen, 96,382; attending school in winter, 74,100; average attendance, 55,100. Winter schools were kept in 1,530 districts. Number of teachers in winter, male, 1,060, female, 730. Summer schools were kept in 1,410 districts. Number of teachers in summer, male, 670, female, 1,020. There were in the winter 403 private schools of all grades, with 8,100 scholars. Average monthly compensation of teachers in winter, exclusive of board, males, $18.50, females, $8.20; in summer, males, $22, females, $7.50. Of the teachers, 220 had at least 10 years' experience; 430, 5 years'; 500, 3 years'; 570 less than one year's. 45 schools were broken up from the incompetency of the teachers. $73,000 were expended in building and repairing school-houses during the year. But one town appropriated any portion of its annual tax to common schools. The amount of dividends from the school fund for the year was $ 143,693.69; which gives $ 1.35 to every enumerated child. The number of towns for the year ending March 31, 1855, was 153; of school societies, 221; of school districts, 1,644; of children between 4 and 16 years of age, 100,294, which is an increase over the number reported the preceding year of 1,314; capital of school fund, $2,019,953.05; revenue for the year, $144,137.73, giving to each scholar $1.25. The Superintendent of Schools issued circulars in March, 1855, and attempted to obtain full information as to the condition of the schools, but the returns were imperfect and fragmentary. Lecturers are employed to visit the districts, and to lecture upon topics calculated to improve parents, teachers, and scholars, and Teachers' Institutes have been held with marked success in the several counties in the State. 655 members were in attendance.

State Normal School. This institution is at New Britain, and has John D. Philbrick, the Superintendent of Schools, for its Principal. It was opened for scholars May 15, 1850, and from that time to March 27, 1855, 867 pupils were connected with it. During the last year, 294 pupils have been in attendance. The number is limited to 220 at any one term, selections to be one from each school society. - Tuition free.

State Reform School. -West Meriden. Philemon Hoadley, Superintendent. The buildings of this institution were so far completed, that it was opened for the reception of pupils March 1, 1854. From that time to April 1 of the same year, 15 boys were received. Dur. ing the year ending April 1, 1855, 135 were received, and 11 discharged, escaped, or died, leaving in the school April 1, 1855, 139. Of the 150 committed, 54 were for theft, 7 for bur glary, 41 for vagrancy, and 35 for stubbornness. 89 were committed during minority; 17

Counties.

for two years, 11 for three years, 4 for five years, 3 for six years; 25 were born abroad, 125 were natives of the United States. The average age of the boys when committed was nearly 12.93 years. The grade system is adopted. Records are kept, and the standing of each boy is determined by his daily conduct. The school is divided into four grades, and each grade into four classes. The discipline is maintained by promotion, or degrading, by withholding food, confinement, and, if necessity requires it, corporal punishment. The time is allotted, school, 4 hours; work at some mechanical employment or on the farm, 6 hours; meals and play, 34 hours; the rest in sleep. There has already been gathered a library of 700 volumes. The buildings, when completed, are intended to accommodate from 300 to 350 pupils. The farm has 161 acres of land. The current expenses of the year for 200 pupils are nearly $17,000.

Births, Marriages, and Deaths. An act providing for the registration of births, marriages, and deaths was passed by the General Assembly in 1848. This act was repealed in 1852, by a new law upon the subject, but no returns were required until January, 1854. The following table gives a summary of the registration for the year 1854, but ten towns, embracing one twelfth of the population of the State, according to the census of 1850, made no

returns.

Births.

Marriages.

Deaths.

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69,967 957 907 26 1,890 602 68
65,588 1,325 1,195 232,543
50.263 330 325 23 633
53.633 602 582 30 1,214
26,533 231 246 6 483
37,550 391 362 77 830
18.775 211 205 8 454
16,719 182 153 7 342 160 16

339.0834,259 3,975 205 8,439 2,779 273

93

367 386 376 18 780 196 166 158 1325 279 253

147 161

244 34 531

125 72 358

186 101 103 26 230

57 3,202 2,764 2,592 290 5,646

Retreat for the Insane, Hartford. John S. Butler, M. D., Physician and Superintendent. The whole number of patients, April 1, 1854, was 186, of whom 89 were males and 97 females; 169, 69 males and 100 females, were admitted in the course of the year; making 355 in all, 153 of whom were males, and 197 females. 162 were discharged during the year, leaving in the Retreat, April 1, 1855, 193; 85 of whom were males, and 108 females. Of the 162 patients discharged, 73 were recovered, 38 improved, 34 not improved, and 17 died. The whole number admitted, from the opening of the institution, in 1824, to April 1, 1855, is 2,804. 2,611 have been discharged; of whom 1,404 have recovered, 925 have improved, and 282 have died. The new lodge for the female department was finished in the autumn of 1854, and has since been constantly occupied. In its arrangements and fixtures, it combines all the conveniences and essentials which experience demands for the comfort and speedy restoration of lunatics. The system for heating and ventilating is especially commended. Four halls in the female department have been hung around with choice prints and engravings, handsomely framed, much to the benefit of the inmates. The expenditures of the institution for the year, for the support of patients, were $ 38,061.32.

The terms of admission are, for patients belonging to the State, with the usual accommodations, $3 per week; for those belonging to other States, $4.00 per week. Extra accommodations and attendance are furnished at a corresponding additional charge. No patient is admitted for a shorter term than three months, and payment for that term only must be made in advance. Subsequent expenses are payable quarterly to the Steward. For admission, apply to either of the Managers, or to the Superintendent. The Managers are Gideon Welles, William T. Lee, and Albert W. Butler, of Hartford.

Total.

American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, Hartford. - Rev. William W. Turner, A.M., Principal. The number of pupils for the year ending May 12, 1855, was 217; of whom 117 were males, and 100 females. Of these, 28 were supported by friends, 37 by the State of Maine, 18 by New Hampshire, 18 by Vermont, 75 by Massachusetts, 5 by Rhode Island, and 36 by Connecticut. The cost for each pupil, for board, washing, fuel, tuition, and the incidental expenses of the school-room, is $100 per annum. In sickness, the necessary extra charges are made. Payment must be made six months in advance, and a satisfactory bond for punctual payment will be required. Applicants for admission must be between 8 and 25 years of age, of good natural intellect, capable of forming and joining letters with a pen legibly and correctly, of good morals, and free from any contagious disease. Applications for the benefit of the legislative appropriations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts should be made to the Secretaries of those States respectively, stating the name and age of the proposed beneficiary, and the circumstances of his parent or guardian. In the State of Rhode Island they should be made to the commissioners of the funds for the education of the deaf and dumb, and in Vermont and Connecticut, to the Governor. In all cases, a certificate from two or more of the selectmen, magistrates, or other respectable inhabitants of the township or place to which the applicant belongs, should accompany the application. The time of admission is the close of the summer vacation, on the third Wednesday of September.

State Prison, Wethersfield. William Willard, Warden; A. S. Warren, Physician; P. Brockett, Chaplain. The whole number of convicts, August 1, 1854, was 186. During the eight months ending March 31, 1855, 31 were received, and 43 discharged; leaving in confinement, 174. 37 were discharged by expiration of sentence, 3 were pardoned, and 3 have died. Of those remaining in prison, 163 are males (135 white, and 23 colored), and 11 are females (6 white and 5 colored). Of the 174 prisoners, 14 were committed for murder, 4 for manslaughter, 9 for arson, 8 for attempt to kill, 38 for burglary, 21 for theft, 15 for horse-stealing, 2 for adultery, 5 for rape, 9 for attempt at rape, 4 for passing counterfeit money, 3 for forgery. 132 are natives of the United States, 42 are foreigners. The males are employed in making cabinet-work, cutlery, and shoes; and the females in washing, cooking, making and mending clothing, and binding boots. By an act of 1852, the labor of 20 convicts was let out for five years at 45 cents each per day, to be employed in the manufacture of school apparatus, and to be paid for in the same apparatus. There is a library belonging to the prison of about 1,000 volumes, which are circulated among the prisoners every week. Instruction in the rudiments of learning is also given them. There is a Sunday school connected with the prison. The receipts for the eight months were $ 12,252.53; the expenditures, $10,299.66; excess of receipts, $1,952.87.

VII. NEW YORK.

Government for the Year 1856.

MYRON H. CLARK, of Ontario Co., Governor,

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Henry J. Raymond, of New York, Lieutenant-Governor, $6 a day.

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The Senate consists of thirty-two members, who are elected for two years, one from each senatorial district. The Assembly consists of one hundred and twenty-eight members, elected annually. The pay of Senators and Representatives is $3 per day for not over 100 days, and $1 for every 10 miles' travel.

JUDICIARY.

1. Court for the Trial of Impeachments.

This court is composed of the President of the Senate (who is president of the court, and when absent the chief judge of the Court of Appeals presides), the Senators, or the major part of them, and the judges of the Court of Appeals, or the greater part of them. It is a court of record, and, when summoned, meets at Albany, and has for its clerk and officers the clerk and officers of the Senate. If the Governor is impeached, the Lieutenant-Governor cannot act as a member of the court. Two thirds of the members present must concur for conviction. The judgment of the court extends only to removals from or disqualifications for office, or both; the party being still liable to indictment.

2. The Court of Appeals.

This court has full power to correct and reverse all proceedings and decisions of the Supreme Court, or of the old Supreme Court and Court of

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