in cotton; 501,315 in corn; and 3,816 in rice. From these were produced 272,719 hogsheads of sugar; 431,913 barrels of molasses; 402,821 bales of cotton; 11,690,093 bushels of corn; and 34,032 barrels of rice. There were sold of the public lands of the State during the year, 218,097 acres, being 175,319 acres of swamp lands; 12,902 acres of school lands; 2,782 acres of seminary lands, and 27,064 acres of internal improvement lands. Free Banks. - Up to December 31, 1854, four banks had been organized under the Free Banking Law, the Bank of New Orleans, the Southern Bank, the Mechanics and Traders' Bank, and the Union Bank of Louisiana. The amount of notes countersigned and issued to them was $ 2,203,000, and city and State securities to that amount were lodged with the auditor. Louisiana Penitentiary, Baton Rouge. - Prisoners in confinement January 1, 1854, 283; received during the year, 96; in all, 379. Discharged by expiration of sentence, 69; by pardon, 3; by death, 12; in all, 84; leaving in prison January 1, 1855, 295, - 195 whites, 4 of whom were females, 85 colored men, and 15 colored females; and of these 89 were slaves. 52 were convicted of murder; 27 of manslaughter; 3 of poisoning; 19 of assaulting or stabbing white men; 2 of inveigling slaves; 4 of negro-stealing; 6 of horse-stealing; 55 of larceny; 8 of burglary; 24 of robbery. 50 were natives of Louisiana; 131 of other of the United States; and 114 were foreigners. The services of the prisoners are let out by contract. There are within the prison-walls factories for the manufacture of cotton and hemp. Deaf and Dumb and Blind Asylum. - This institution is at Baton Rouge, and embraces both a "mute department" and a "blind department." The buildings for the latter were in process of erection at the date of the last report, January 25, 1855. The mute department is in operation. There have been 31 pupils in the institution during the year, 15 females and 16 males; 29 were natives of Louisiana, and 2 of Kentucky. All the deaf and dumb of the State, between 10 and 30 years of age, and all the blind between the ages of 8 and 25, are entitled to an education, free of charge for board or tuition, in this institution. James S. Brown is the Principal. Insane Asylum, Jackson. — The buildings are not yet completed, although the institution has been open for some time for the reception of patients. January 1, 1854, there were 132 patients in the asylum, 68 males and 64 females; admitted during the year, 116, 74 males and 42 females; whole number, 248. Discharged during the year, recovered, 19, 13 males and 6 females; removed, 6; eloped, 5; died, 88, 55 males and 33 females; in all 188, leaving in the Asylum, December 31, 1854, 130, 64 males and 66 females. The Superintendent says the institution has been more of an almshouse than an insane asylum. The great number of deaths was caused by dysentery, which prevailed as an epidemic. The whole number of patients since the opening of the institution is 441, of whom 72 were discharged recovered; 31 removed; 24 eloped; and 183 died. Of these, 89 were natives of Louisiana, 72 of other of the United States, and 273 were foreigners, 107 being from Ireland. Charity Hospital at New Orleans. During the year 1854, 13,192 patients were admitted into the Hospital; 9,976 were discharged as cured, and 2,702 died. Of the deaths, 352 were from Asiatic cholera; 153 from diarrhea; 75 from dysentery; 1,233 from yellow fever; 206 from consumption. Of the patients admitted, 11,606 were natives of foreign countries, 1,502 of the United States, and 84 unknown. The cost of the maintenance of the Hospital for the year, for all purposes, was $ 103,220.36, of which $ 43,559.44 were for repairs upon the buildings. Its receipts were $117,688.98. The capitation tax on passengers for the use of the hospital amounted to $76,961.51. The sessions of the Legislature are biennial, and are held at Austin, beginning on the first Monday in November. Members receive $5 a day, and $5 for every twenty-five miles' travel. The sixth biennial session met at Austin, November, 1855. JUDICIARY. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and two associates, who are chosen by the people for six years. Sessions are held once a year, at Austin, on the 2d Monday of November; at Galveston, on the 1st Monday of January; and at Tyler, on the 1st Monday in April. The court has appellate jurisdiction only coextensive with the limits of the State; but in criminal cases, and appeals from interlocutory judgments, it is under legislative regulations. The judges of the District Court are elected for six years, and hold a court twice a year in each county. The District Courts have original jurisdiction in all criminal cases, and in all suits, both in law and equity, in which more than $100, exclusive of interest, is at stake. criminal cases, if the punishment be not specifically determined by law, the jury shall determine it. In equity causes, either party may demand a jury. The judges of both courts may be removed by the Governor on the address of two thirds of each house; or upon impeachment, to be tried by the Senate. There is also in each county a County Court, sitting once a month as a Court of Ordinary, and once in three months for the transaction of county business. Justices of the Peace, with jurisdiction to the amount of $100, are elected in precincts for two years. In Abner S. Lipscomb, of Independence, Associate Justice, *The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were elected in 1855. The list of the other officers may be inaccurate. Public Debt. By the act of the Legislature of the 20th of March, 1848, all holders of the liabilities of the late Republic of Texas were required to present them to the Auditor and Comptroller of Public Accounts "on or before the second Monday in November, 1849; and all claims that shall not be presented on or before that time shall be postponed." The claims presented to and acted upon by the Auditor and Comptroller, under the provisions of this law, were to be reported to the Legislature at its next session, "for final adjustment." Those that were not presented and acted upon by the accounting officers before the second Monday of November, 1849, cannot be brought in without further legislative action. The Auditor and Comptroller, November 12, 1851, made a report to the Legislature upon the debt of Texas, which has been recognized and adopted by the State. The ostensible or face value of all the claims filed according to law is $ 9,647,253, of which the par value is $4,807,764; and the whole amount not filed $2,789,738, worth $ 2,019,514; making the total ostensible debt $ 12,436,991, or $6,827,278 par. This includes interest. The debt is classified as follows:- - First Class. Consisting of audited or ascertained claims. Second Class. Claims sufficiently authenticated to be admitted to be audited under the laws of the Republic. Third Class. Claims not sufficiently authenticated to authorize their being audited under the laws of the Republic. Amount of First Class, Third Class, Ostensible. $8,587,132.92 Par. $3,817,321.64 962,445.12 97,675.10 $9,617,253.14 892,767.63 97.675.10 $4,807,764.37 Totals, The first class embraces all consolidated fund, funded debt, treasury bonds, and audited paper, including the claims for naval vessels, loan from United States Bank, &c. The second class embraces claims not audited, but for debts contracted by the government under the sanction of law. The third class embraces claims not provided for by law, though many of them are highly meritorious. Among them are many claims for losses sustained during the war, from the appropriation or destruction of property by the Texan army or that of the enemy. $1,114,144.64 of the public debt has been paid. The act of Congress of September 9, 1850, provided that, as an indemnity for lands ceded by that act, for public property ceded by annexation, and for relinquishment of all claims upon the United States, the United States should pay to Texas $10,000,000, in 5 per cent stock, redeemable at the end of 14 years, with interest payable half-yearly. $5,000,000 of this stock was not to be issued "until the creditors of the State holding bonds and other certificates of stock of Texas, for which duties on imports were specially pledged, shall first file in proper form, at the Treasury of the United States, releases of all claims against the United States on account of said bonds or certificates." The United States has decided that all the public debt of Texas created prior to the act of Congress of that republic of the 14th of January, 1840, and all the debt of said republic made receivable for all public dues, are debts of Texas for which the duties on imports are specially pledged, and that releases of all claims against the United States for or on account of such debts should be filed in the Treasury Department of the United States before the President will be justified in issuing any of the second five millions of stock to Texas, as provided in the act of Congress of the 9th of September, 1850. The receipts for the year ending October 31, 1853, were nearly: Balance of cash, October 31, 1852, Received of dues to the late Republic, . Revenue of state, - Taxes and interest, and premium upon U.S. bonds, The expenditures were: Paid on Treasury warrants, $4,261,651.20 3,635.87 244,278.70 $ 4,509,565.77 $346,694.90 116,460.52 $3,628,000.00 418,410.35 Debt of late republic from proceeds of United States bonds, . Specie,. 4,046,410.35 $4,509,565.77 For the act of the last session of Congress in relation to the public debt of Texas, see Titles and Abstracts of Public Laws, No. 39, p. 145. ELIAS N. CONWAY, XXI. ARKANSAS. Government for the Year 1856. Salary. of Little Rock, Governor (term of office expires November, 1856), David B. Greer, A. S. Huey, of Little Rock, Sec. of State & School Commissioner, Perquisites and 1,000 of Little Rock, Aud. of Pub. Acc'ts, A. H. Rutherford, 66 Fees and 1,200 Fees and 800 Treasurer, President of the Senate. of Arkansas Co., Speaker of the House. State Land Agents. Isaac C. Mills, Pine Bluff; Jesse A. Jackson, Helena; C. W. Board, Jacksonport; John A. Jacoway, Dardanelle; Bernard F. Hempstead, Washington. Salary, $800 each. The Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer are elected by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly. The term of office of the present members ends in November, 1856. The Legislature meets biennially at Little Rock. The last session commenced in November, 1854. Number of Senators, 25; of Representatives, 75. Their compensation is $3 a day during the session, and $3 for every 20 miles' travel in going to and returning from the seat of government. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction only, except in particular cases pointed out by the constitution. It holds annually two terms at Little Rock, in January and July. The judges are elected by the General Assembly, by a joint vote of both houses, for eight years. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal cases not expressly provided for otherwise by law; and exclusive original jurisdiction of all crimes amounting to felony at common law; and original jurisdiction of all civil cases which are not cognizable before justices of the peace; and in all matters of contract, where the sum in controversy is over $100. It holds annually two terms in each circuit. The judges and prosecuting attorneys are elected by the people, the former for four, and the latter for two years. Of this balance, $53,771.87 were in specie, and of the specie $29,257.58 were applicable to State expenditures, the rest being due certain funds. The receipts are chiefly from taxes. The principal items of expenditure were,-Legislature, $33,766; Executive and contingencies, $25,683; Judiciary, $26,520; Reports, $3,066; Special appropriations, $6,976; Penitentiary, $ 26,248. State Debt. Outstanding bonds issued to the Real Estate Bank, principal, $1,473,389.77 Interest accrued and unpaid, October 1, 1854, Total debt on account of Real Estate Bank, October 1, 1854, Interest accrued and unpaid to same date, Total debt on account of Bank of State, 1,134,519,25 $ 2,607,909.02 713,665.01 1,652,665.01 $4,260,574.03 By its charter, the Real Estate Bank is bound to pay the interest and redeem the principal of the bonds issued to its use, and the State took for security a mortgage from the 180 stockholders of 141,980 acres of land, valued at the time, by commissioners under oath, at $2,603,932.32, which mortgage it now holds. It is thought that from the increased value of |