year. We learn from his communication, that about one in five of the whole number of convicts were sick in the autumn of 1844, with typhus fever, making in all about 17 cases, some of which were very severe. Two deaths only have occurred, one with a disease of the lungs, following a severe attack of the typhus fever; the other of pulmonary consumption. Your committee learn from the warden, and others in attendance, that an unusual amount of care and attention were necessarily bestowed upon the sick and infirm, by the physician and chaplain. In regard to the order of the House of Representatives, upon the report of the select committee, who reported that so much of His Excellency the Governor's message, as relates to the State Prison, be referred to the committee on the State Prison, we have only to say that as His Excellency has referred us to the report of the warden, we have endeavored to embody in our remarks upon that report, all which we at this time deem necessary and proper. Under the present government of the prison, by the warden, the care and attention of the physician, and the moral and religious instructions imparted to and impressed upon the minds of the convicts by the chaplain, we have good reason to believe that the pardon and discharge of convicts from our penitentiary, upon suitable occasions, will not have a tendency to enhance crime and endanger society. We therefore do not hesitate to recommend the pardon and discharge of convicts by the executive, in whom alone is vested that power, in all cases where they may deem it expedient, as we are of opinion that it would, in very many instances, not only have a tendency to stimulate, but would have a final and lasting reformation, which is sought, and is so desirable to all friends of humanity. Your committee have farther instructed me to report the accompanying bill and resolutions. S. NAY, for the committee. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE LITERARY FUND. In obedience to the directions of the Revised Statutes, the Commissioners of the Literary Fund respectfully submit to the Hon. Legislature the following REPORT: Cash on hand, being the proportion due several towns and unincorporated places, not distributed, viz: Bean's Grant, Bean's Purchase, Cambridge, Chandler's Purchase, $8 21 1 74 52 66 43 The following Banks have paid into the treasury, the present year, the sum of six thousand, eight hundred forty-three dollars and sixty-six cents, to be paid to the several towns in this State, viz: OF THE STATE TREASURER, OF THE PROBABLE RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS AT THE TREASURY, FROM JUNE 4, TO DECEMBER 1, 1845. RECEIPTS. Cash, balance in the treasury, June 4, 1845, DISBURSEMENTS. For the salaries of Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Travel and attendance rolls of the Hon. Council, Incidental expenses of the session, including print- $7,824 97 9,500 00 18,000 00 1,000 00 1,000 00 Appropriation for deaf and dumb and blind, Bounties on wolves, bears and wildcats, For payment of money borrowed and interest on 2,400 00 100 00 500 00 100 00 10,500 00 For contingencies, orders on legislative resolves, &c., 5 000 00 Deduct receipts, Leaving to be provied for by loan, $48,100 00 7,824 97 $40,275 03 An estimate of the probable receipts and disbursements at the Treasury, from December, 1845, to June, 1846. DISBURSEMENTS. For salaries of officers of government, 8,000 00 For travel and attendance rolls of Hon. Council, 200 00 For contingent fund for Governor, 500 00 For payment of treasurer's notes and money borrowed, and interest on the same, 20,600 00 Note of Thomas Carlisle and others, with interest, Leaving surplus in the treasury, June 1, 1846, Respectfully submitted, JOHN ATWOOD, Treasurer. State of New Hampshire, Treasurer's Office, June 17, 1845. 245 00 $71,345 00 1,445 00 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS. The committee on Claims, to whom was referred the memori al of Laban Page of Concord, for relief, REPORT That having given to the petitioner a full hearing upon his claim, the following facts appeared in evidence, to wit: On the 26th day of February, 1841, the petitioner entered into a contract, under seal, with John Conant and Charles H. Peaslee, building committee of the N. H. Asylum, by which the pe titioner bound himself to do all and every part of the stone work for the foundation of the N. H. Asylum for the Insane, including door-steps and the underpinning wall under the door-stones and steps, and threshold, on certain terms and conditions, among others, the door-stones and steps and threshholds were to be furnished and set for 20 cents per foot, measuring one face, and the underpinning was, by the terms of said contract, to be jointed and brought to a close joint, with two good faces, for 33 cents per foot, measuring one face. It appears from the testimony of Gen. Peaslee, that after the job was completed, and a settlement under consideration, Mr. Page declared that he did not, at the time of making the contract, understand that the work was to be measured in any other than the usual way; that he did not intend to sign such a contract, and was greatly surprised to find that the usual mode of measuring stone of such dimensions, for such purposes, was not to be adopted in this case. Mr. Page's character, as a man of strict integrity, and a faithful, experienced and industrious workman, was fully sustained by satisfactory evidence. John P. Gass, a witness introduced by the memorialist, swore that he was for many years extensively engaged in the stone business, that he was familiar with the mode of measuring stones of all dimensions in use; that he had examined the work of the Hospital repeatedly while Mr. Page was performing the job; that the work was done in the best manner. He also testified that he had, at the request of Mr. Page, examined the work, on the day of the hearing before the committee. He stated that he never knew such work as the door-stones and steps, |