ing. The Encyclopedia Americana, and several other valuable books for reference have been recently added, and are accessible to the members of the school. There are now in the University at Ann Arbor, a number of students from this school, several of whom entered one year in advance.

The number of foreign pupils connected with the school has increased very much since it was first opened; and during the past year, as our catalogue will show, a large number have been in attendance from different parts of this State, and some few from other States. Our building, which will accommodate from sixty to seventy with rooms for study, has usually been full, and during the fall and winter quarter, several applications for admission have been refused, for want of additional room accommodations in the building. This large number of foreign pupils who have been united with the school, and without any special effort or solicitation on our part, plainly shows that our course of instruction, the method of teaching pursued by our teachers, and the management of the school, are appreciated, and that a school based upon the Union System may compete with the best institutions of our land. Our school year is divided into two terms of twenty-two weeks each, and each term into two quarters of eleven weeks.

At the close of each term there is an examination, at which time the classes are publicly examined in the branches they have pursued, and at the close of the third quarter there is a public examination and exhibition.

There are two literary societies connected with the school, which have regular monthly public exercises, and before one of which, during the past winter, public lectures on different subjects pertaining to popular education have been delivered.

It has been an object in this sketch to state as briefly as possible, the most important features of our school, that the public generally may know what we have accomplished in so short a space as two and a half years, and what may be accomplished in almost every village in our State in the same laudable enterprise. What public spirit has done in Ypsilanti it will do elsewhere; and if others see anything commendable in our example we trust it will be speedily followed in other places, and the advantages of a liberal and through English and classical education be placed within the reach of numbers by whom it cannot now be obtained.

From the success which has crowned our efforts, and the high position which our school has attained in so short a period, we cannot bring this report to a close without urging the friends of education in other places to hazard at least an experiment in the union system; neither do we hesitate to express an opinion that although much our colleges and universities may do in the cause of education, the great work of educatnig the rapidly increasing population of this commonwealth must be performed in and through the influence of union schools or seminaries. Upon these the safety and perpetuity of our national superstructure will mostly depend.

C. JOSLIN, Sec. District Board.

LANSING UNION SCHOOL.

LANSING, May, 1852.

To the Hon. FRANCIS W. SHEARMAN, Superintendent of Public Instruction, &c.: DEAR SIR-Having the cause of popular education at heart, and regarding as I do with deep interest the efforts which are being made from time to time, not only in our own State but also in many others, to bring within the reach of every youth the means of acquiring a thoroughly practical if not liberal education, thereby placing each individual member of the rising generation on the same great democratic platform of equality and intelligence, which is

the basis of our republican institutions, giving to them greater permanency and inciting to a healthy advancement in the cause of human progress, do I most gladly comply with your very reasonable request in transmitting you a brief history of the origin, rise and present prospects of the "LANSING UNION SCHOOL," located in the northern, or as it is termed, the “lower town" portion of this village. School District No. 2, in the township of Lansing, Michigan, was first organized in 1847, comprising at that time five sections of land, (the greater portion, however, covered with dense forest,) including the north one-third part of this village; a school house of ordinary capacity was erected, in which a school has been kept up on an average of six months each year. But owing to the rapid influx of population, the school building soon proved inadequate to the wants of the district, and, as a legitimate result, petty select schools sprung into existence, drawing from the people's school its most effectual aid and care, and finally its influence and character in community.

This state of things could not long reinain unnoticed and without correction, while healthier influences were exerted all about us. The beneficial workings of the Union School system, as put into operation at Marshall, Battle Creek, Jonesville, and other places, had attracted the attention of many of the most active and influential citizens of the district, and not unfrequently was it made the topic of conversation; its applicability to the existing wants of the district was discussed, and its happy effects on community made known. The examination of the merits and feasibility of the plan strengthened the conviction that in every respect it was well calculated to afford to the community at once, an economical and yet thorough system, and means of education, yielding them every advantage to be derived from the best conducted High Schools and Academies, without their attendant evils and expense, fully commensurate with their wants, open alike to all, and within the reach of all.

Such being the light in which the Union School system of education was regarded here, that at the Annual School meeting on the 30th September, 1850, the practicability and expediency of erecting a suitable building and sustaining a "Union School," was fully and ably discussed, and resolutions to purchase a site, to raise the necessary funds, and to enter at once in right good earnest into the work of erecting a large and commodious building, with a suitable bell and school apparatus, were almost unanimously agreed to. A committee was appointed to prepare plans, and estimates of costs, &c., and to report the same at an adjourned meeting in January, then following.

The committee deserve great credit for their earnest endeavors to make the building what it should be, and yet avoid unnecessary expense and outlay of funds, as appears from the plans and estimates submitted at the January meeting, as also have the building committee exhibited much good sense and faithfulness in the carrying of those plans into execution, as the building itself will most clearly evidence. The work has advanced so nearly to completion that the district board have decided to open the school for the reception of pupils about the 7th of June next. The effort is indeed as praiseworthy as the building is beautiful. Erected at an expense (including site, etc.,) of about $5,000, on a most delightful elevation, retired from the business portion of the village, commanding a distinct view of almost the entire village, it is being fitted up with especial reference to health, comfort and convenience, and is sufficiently large to accommodate from 250 to 300 pupils. The building is constructed of brick, two stories high and basement beneath, standing thirty-six by sixty feet on the ground.

The basement will contain the fuel and (in case the original design is carried out) also the apparatus for warming the various rooms by means of heated air conveyed to them in pipes. The first story, twelve feet high, is separated by a hall in the centre into two rooms of equal size. The second story is mainly occupied by one general school room, which will serve also for an assembly room. The north end of this story is divided into two small rooms, one to contain the literary and school apparatus, the other will be devoted to the wishes of the prin cipal either as a private apartment or recitation room. The windows are large and high, and will admit of every requisite ventilation, clearly indicating that physical education has not

been lost sight of by those having its erection in charge. Another feature, too often regarded of little moment, is the arrangement and division of the play grounds; these are entered by separate doors from the rear of the hall, and each surrounded by a high, close board fence, and furnished with suitable out-buildings.

The Board have secured the services of Mr. John S. Dixon, as principal, whose acknowledged ability and ripe scholarship, together with his long experience and success in conducting schools of this character, have gained for him an enviable reputation. They will also employ such number of competent assistant teachers as the wants of the school may indicate. It is earnestly hoped and expected that the institution may in no degree disappoint the expectations of those who have so nobly cared for our village youth, who, as past experience shows, must receive an education somewhere, either at some well conducted school, or amid the haunts of vice and folly.

The course of educatiou will comprise a primary, middle, and classical department, and the Board express the determination that no effort on their part shall be wanting to secure competent teachers, and suitable apparatus to make the school one of the very best in the State; so that the various branches from the primary lessons of childhood, up to the higher and more abstruse branches of a classical education, can be pursued in it, with profit and success. In conclusion, permit me to add that the establishment of such a school in this section of the State is peculiarly gratifying to all who feel a lively interest in the progress of the educational cause. May this system of schools, of which we have good reason to be proud, raise its standard still higher, until there is afforded to the youth of every community throughout the entire State-and all have a moral right to exercise their minds in contemplating all that is grand and beautiful in the vast creation of thought-that intellectual culture and social improvement which will enable them to act well their part in the great drama of life; that as they look abroad on the rich splendors of God's material universe, and investigate more truly the laws which govern matter and mind, they may be only the better prepared to disseminate and make known the rich rewards of a TRUE EDUCATION over the State-the nation and the wide world.

Very respectfully and truly yours,

S. S. CORYELL.

DETROIT LADIES' ACADEMY.

This institution, organized but a few months since, has met with the most liberal encouragement, and it is confidently hoped that the anticipations of those who have manifested so friendly an interest in its success may be realized in its future usefulness and prosperity.

It is the determination of those engaged in the enterprise, to make the Academy, in all respects, a school of the highest order. That they may, by rendering its establishment permanent, the more effectually secure this object, the large and commodious mansion of Dr. Russel, on Fort street, has been purchased, and will be fitted up expressly for this purpose. A competent board of instructors, carefully selected with reference to their experience and ability to teach, will be employed, and the most thorough instruction in all the useful and ornamental branches of education, will be furnished, while, at the same time, the morals, deportment and social habits of the pupils will receive unwearied attention. All Sectarian views will be studiously avoided in the influence exerted by the Teachers over those committed to their care. The young Ladies who are members with the family, will be expected to attend such places of Religious Worship as their friends may specify.

In the Government of the School no more rules are enjoined than are indispensably neces sary, but with these a strict and uniform compliance will be required. A faithful record will

be kept, showing the punctuality, conduct and standing of each pupil in every class, which will be transmitted to her parents or guardian at the close of every term.

The Academic Year is divided into three Terms of fourteen weeks each.

The First Term commences on the second Monday in September; the second on the first Monday in January; and the third on the fourth Monday in April-giving two weeks vacation at the close of the Spring and Fall terms.

There will be an examination of the Academic Department at the close of each term, and a public examination of the whole School at the close of the Scholastic Year, during the last week of July; at which time Diplomas will be granted to all who have completed the entire course of study, and sustained a satisfactory examination in each department.

DEPARTMENTS AND COURSE OF STUDY-PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.

Eclectic Primer, Eclectic Spelling Book, Eclectic Readers, 1st and 2d, Mitchell's Small Geography, Arithmetic, Thompson's First Lessons, Exercises on Slates and Blackboards.

PREPARATORY.

Town's Fourth Reader, Eclectic Speller, Mental Arithmetic-Colburn, Young Analyzer, McElligot, Geography-Mitchell, Grammar-Smith, History United States-Wilson, Arithmetic-Thompson's 2d Book, Botany for Beginners, Parker's Exercises in Compositions.

ACADEMIC COURSE-FIRST YEAR.

Manual of Orthography to Definition-McElligott, Grammar-Brown, Higher Arithmetic-Thompson, Ancient Geography--Mitchell's, Mental Algebra-Tower, Natural Philosophy-Parker, General History-Willard.

Parker's Exercises, Reading and Writing,

SECOND YEAR.

Algebra-Davie's 1st Lessons, Physiology-Lambert's 3d Book, Chemistry-Johnson, Botany-Wood, Book-Keeping-Mayhew, Domestic Economy-Beecher, Natural Theology-Paley, Astronomy-Mitchell's Burritt, Mental Philosophy-Upham, Logic-Hedges. Parker's Aids to Composition.

THIRD YEAR.

Geometry-Davies' Legendre, Geology-Ruschenberger, Algebra-Davies' Bourdou, Paradise Lost-Milton, Rhetoric-Newman, Moral Science-Wayland, Evidences of Christianity, Paley, General Review.

Particular attention given to Reading, Orthography, Pronunciation, Composition and Penmanship, throughout the entire course.

EXPENSES

Tuition in Primary Department, per term of fourteen weeks,.

Board, together with Fuel, Lights, Washing, Furnished Rooms, and Tuition in

84.00

600

8.00

10.00

5.00

12.00

6 00 3.00

150 00 156 00

162 00

Payment each term in advance. No deduction made for students who enter at any time after the commencement of the term, nor for absence after they have entered, unless on account of protracted illness.

MISS S. HUNT.

GREGORY'S COMMERCIAL COLLEGE.

DETROIT, October 6, 1851.

TO FRANCIS W. SHEARMAN,

Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Michigan:

DEAR SIR-Your letter with a copy of your annual report, came to hand to-day. Agreeable with your request, I send the following report, also one of my circulars.

In May, 1850, with the encouragement of a number of the first business men of this city, I organized a school to be known by the name and style of Gregory's Commercial College, myself acting as principal of said institution, with E. C. Walker, Esq., as lecturer on Commercial Law. The object of which is to secure to young men (who never have had the expe, rience of the diversified functions of the counting-room,) a thorough and practical commercial education. The course of study proposed embraces penmanship, book-keeping by doubleentry, commercial calculations, and commercial law. The system of teaching in said institution discards the use of text-books, and relies upon oral and black-board instruction. Pupils are instructed individually and not in classes, so that they may enter at any time and proceed in ratio of their capacity and assiduity. The school, though small at first, has from month to month gradually increased until we have found it necessary to procure assistant teachers. The first year ending June 1st, 1851, the number of students that entered the college was 63. It usually takes young men of ordinary capacity three months to complete the course of instruction as arranged for this class of institutions.

The Commercial College serves as a connecting link between the academic institution and the counting-house of the merchant. The literary and scientific institution contributes to the discipline and general information of the mind, breadth and comprehensiveness of view, and the enlargement of the understanding. While the discipline of the Commercial College contributes directly and largely to these ends, it also enables the possessor of these attainments to apply them to the practical details of business, in one of the most important pursuits of life. Occupying this vantage ground, the beginner in a mercantile career is not appalled or embarrassed by the difficulties which inevitably beset the man who is destitute of a commercial education. A man may have natural sagacity, but without this discipline, or the information which is more speedily obtained by this discipline than is usually obtained by years of experience, he can hardly expect success in business, or an eminent standing in his profession.

In conclusion, the undersigned feels confident, from his experience both in the practice and theory of the subjects of instruction, and with the aid of such assistants as may be required, that he will be enabled to advance those who avail themselves of the advantage offered to the rank of thorough and accomplished accountants.

Respectfully yours,

URIAH GREGORY

METEOROLOGY.

Under article XI. of the revised constitution, relating to Education, it is made the duty of the legislature to encourage the promotion of intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improveinent. It would seem to be the province of the department of Public Instruction to recog