nize as a legitimate field of reflection, the efforts which have been made by the national government to reduce to a system the important science of meteorology. The legislature of Michigan has already made an appropriation for the requisite instruments, and provided by law for the keeping of the proper tables, under the forms adopted by the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington. It is also made the duty of the Regents to provide for keeping meteorological records, which are to be hereafter published with the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

ANN ARBOR, 27th April, 1852.

HON. FRANCIS W. SHEARMAN, Superintendent of Public Instruction: DEAR SIR-I accede with pleasure to your request for a copy of the table communicated by me to the Smithsonian Institute, exhibiting in inches and decimals of an inch, the monthly fall of RAIN in this city, for the three years named.

The instrument which I use is De Witt's nine inch Conical Rain Gage, the principle and construction of which you may find described in Silliman's Journal of Science, Vol. XXII., page 321. Tables like the following, sometimes in lude with the rain, an account also of the water of melted snow. It should be observed that this does not.

From this table it would appear that the variation in the annual amount of rain which falls here is large. The quantity which fell the last year exceeded that of 1850 by nearly thirteen inches. Is the rise and fall of the waters in our great lakes due to the varying quantity of rain which falls in different years, in the region which they occupy?

The annual average in this place, for the three years above named, is 28,62 inches. The annual average in Boston is stated to be 39 inches; in the States of New York and Ohio, 36; in Rome, 39, in England, 32; in Paris, 22; in St. Petersburgh, 16; in Calcutta, 81; in Vera Cruz, 278; and in San Luis, 8. A., 280.

The peculiar situation of our State in relation to the great lakes, in addition to those reasons which are common to us with other States, urges to the establishment of a well appointed system of meteorological observations. It cannot be doubted that the faithful prosecution of such a system for a few years, would result not only in a valuable contribution to science, but in the developement of facts and principles of much importance to the agricultural interests of our State.

I am happy to know that the subject has strongly attracted your attention, and can but hope that you may be completely successful in the accomplishment of your utmost desires in regard to it.

Very respectfully yours,

L. SMITH HOBART.

RULES

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF TOWNSHIP LIBRARIES, &c.

NOTE. By section 144, the township board have power to suspend the operations of section 116 of the school law, which provides for the distribution of the books once in three months, and to restore the same. See sections 115 and 144. The following rules are taken from the pamphlet edition of the school laws of 1848:

DUTIES OF LIBRARIAN.

1. The township librarian shall keep a catalogue of all the books belonging to the township library, in a blank book to be provided for that purpose, and he shall be accountable to the township for their safe keeping. In said book he shall enter in a legible hand, the title and number of each book belonging to the library, with such additions as may from time to time be made thereto.

2. He shall label each book belonging to the township library, before it is drawn therefrom, thus.

66

Township Library.

No.

"This book is returnable to the director the last Saturday of every month. The drawer is responsible for all damages done to it while in his possession."

The preceding label should, if practicable, be neatly printed, and snugly pasted on the inner side of the cover. The name of the township to which the library belongs should be inserted The number of the several volumes should be filled with a pen, commenc

in the first blank.

ing with No. 1.

3. Section 51 provides that "the director shall draw from the township library, the proportion of books to which the district may be entitled, and return the same to the township library at the expiration of every three months." The times for drawing books from the township library, and returning the same, shall be the first Saturday of January, April, July and October, between the hours of 12 o'clock M. and 3 o'clock P. M.

According to section 115, the books of the township library are to be distributed by the township librarian among the several districts of the township, in proportion to the number of children in each between the ages of four and eighteen years, as the same shall appear by the last report of the director thereof. But all maps, charts, engravings and lexicons, belonging to the library, shall remain therein, and at all proper times be open to inspection by the citizens of the township. [See section 144.]

4. The librarian shall, in a book to be provided for that purpose, charge every director with the books he may draw from the township library, by their numbers; and in like manner credit the same when they shall be returned.

5. He shall make a written report to the school inspectors, between the 25th and 31st days of March in each year, setting forth the number of books in the library, and their condition. The report shall also state what books have been added to the library during the year; what books have been lost, if any; what injured; and what amount of fines have been imposed and collected; together with such other particulars as the inspectors shall direct; which report shall be placed on file with papers of their office.

DRAWING BOOKS.

1. No person, except directors of school districts, shall be permitted to draw books from the township library; nor shall they be entitled to draw at any other times than specified above.

Nevertheless the librarian may allow directors who have not drawn books for any quarter, to receive them at other times.

2. None but inhabitants of school districts shall be entitled to draw books from the directors; and no director shall loan a book to any person who is not a resident of his district.

3. No person shall be permitted to draw more than one book at a time, unless there are books enough in the library to accommodate all persons that are entitled to draw therefrom. And in no case shall any person be permitted to draw, at one time, more than one book for himself, and one for each member of his family that is able to read.

4. The library shall be open for drawing and returning books, every Saturday, (except those days when the director returns books to the township library, and draws anew,) from 12 o'clock M. until 2 o'clock P. M., unless the director, with the consent of the district board, shall change the time, in which case he shall give due notice thereof. The director may, at his discretion, allow persons entitled to receive books, to draw them at other times, as may suit the convenience of the parties. But all books, whenever drawn, shall be returned to the director the last Saturday of every month.

5. Different persons wishing any book or books, shall be entitled to draw the same according to the priority of their applications.

FINES AND DAMAGES.

1. For every volume retained beyond the time established by these rules, a fine of five cents shall be imposed for the first day, and a fine of ten cents per week thereafter, until the book shall be returned.

2. For turning down leaves, tearing, greasing, or in any way mutilating or injuring books beyond their natural wear, the director is authorized to impose a fine of not less than five cents, nor more than twenty, for each and every offence. No person, against whom fines stand unpaid, shall be entitled to draw books. But any person dissatisfied with fines imposed by a director, shall be entitled to appeal to the township librarian, whose decision shall be final.

3. Any person losing a book belonging to the township library, shall pay therefor not less than the first cost of the saine, and not more than twice that amount, to be determined by the director; or, if lost by a director, to be determined by the librarian; and if lost by a librarian, to be determined by the board of school inspectors.

4. All fines received by directors shall be paid to the township librarian, who shall pay the same into the township treasury for the benefit of the township library.

RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE MEDICAL COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY, JULY, 1850.

CATALOGUE OF MEDICAL FACULTY.

Abram Sager, M. D.,-Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children.

8. H. Douglass, M. D.,-Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Samuel Denton, M. D.,-Professor of Theory and Practice of Physic snd Pathology. Moses Gunn, M. D.,-Professor of Anatomy and Lecturer on Surgery, &c.

J. Adams Allen, M. D.,-Professor of Materia Medica and Physiology.

OF THE FACULTY AND THEIR DUTIES.

1st. This department of the University shall be styled the "Department of Medicine and Surgery in the University of Michigan."

2d. The Professors now or hereafter to be appointed, shall constitute the Faculty of this Department, who shall be styled the "Faculty of Medicine and Surgery."

3d. The immediate government of this department shall be vested in the Faculty, whose duty it shall be to instruct the students in the several branches of learning taught in this department of the University.

4th. One of the Professors appointed annually by the Faculty, as President thereof, shall preside at stated meetings of the Faculty, and be empowered to call special meetings whenever in his judgment necessary, or upon application of any two Professors.

5th. At all meetings of the Faculty a majority shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of the President, a President pro tem. shall be appointed by the Faculty, who shall discharge the duties of the President. The presiding officer shall be always entitled to a vote.

6th. The Faculty shall annually appoint one of their number Secretary, who shall keep a record of all their proceedings and submit the same to the Regents at the annual meeting, for inspection.

7th. The President of the Faculty shall keep a book in which shall be registered the time of entrance, name, and age of each student, with his place of residence.

8th. The Faculty shall present at the annual meetings of the Regents, a report on such matters touching the interests of the department, as in their view call for the action of the Board.

OF ADMISSION.

1st. Every candidate for admission shall present satisfactory evidence of good moral character, shall exhibit evidence of a good English education, the knowledge of Natural Philosophy, the Elementary Mathematical Sciences, and such an acquaintance with the Latin and Greek languages as will enable him to appreciate the technical language of medicine, and read and write prescriptions.

Provided, these literary requirements shall not be insisted upon for the two first years, until the student becomes a candidate for the degree of M D.

TERMS OF STUDY-SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION, &c.

1st. The course of study in this department shall commence the first Wednesday in October, and continue until the first Wednesday in April.

2d. There shall be four Lectures daily, (Saturdays excepted.)

3d. Each Professor shall daily examine the class upon the subject of the lecture of the previous day.

4th. All text books used shall be selected by the Faculty, subject to the revision of the Board of Regents.

5th. Candidates for graduation shall announce themselves as such at the close of their first course, or the commencement of their second, and shall be examined upon the subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Materia Medica, and chemistry.

6th. Candidates for graduation shall be required to write a thesis upon some Medical or Surgical subject, once in two weeks, which thesis shall be read and defended before the class, on such Saturdays as may be appointed by the Faculty.

OF INITIATION FEES.

1st. Every student on entering shall pay the sum of ten dollars, as an initiaton fee, which money is to be appropriated to the increase of the Library, Museum, and other means of illustration.

2d. Clergymen, members of the legal profession, and graduates of other respectable medical institutions, may be permitted to attend the course of instruction, as honorary members of the Medical Department.

DEGREES.

1st. All degrees shall be conferred by the Board of Regents, upon the recommendation of the Medical Faculty.

2d. In order that a student may be recommended for the degree of Doctor of Medicine, he shall exhibit evidence of having pursued the study of Medicine and Surgery for three years, with some respectable practitioner of Medicine; must have attended two courses of lectures, the last in the Medical Department of the University of Michigan; must have submitted to the Faculty an original thesis on some Medical subject, and have passed an examination, held at the close of the second course, satisfactory to the Faculty.

3d. An allowance of one year from the term of study may be made in favor of graduates of the departinents of Science and Arts, and of other respectable literary colleges, and respectable practitioners, of four years' standing, may be admited to the degree of M. D., by attendance upon one course of lectures, on passing the requisite examination.

Adopted at the annual meeting of the Board, July, 1850.

E. N. WILCOX, Secretary.

As an incentive to effort on the part of the student, a regulation to conform to the following has been authorized by the Board of Regents.

The Medical Faculty transmitted the following communication which was read, and the Faculty authorized to make the regulation recommended:

The Medical Faculty beg leave to add to their report as presented, the following recom mendation, viz: to provide for the publication of one or more such thesis as may be selected by the Faculty, at each annual commencement of this Department.

Adopted July, 1851.

TEXT BOOKS.

The law does not make the recommendation of the Superintendent imperative upon school officers to adopt the books. Nor is it believed that good policy would require it to be so, for evil might ensue, by its arbitrary force upon those who are indeed good judges and good teachers, but who might be of opinion that they could be more successful in adopting and teaching from books other than those recommended. Without the cordial co-operation of school officers, teachers and parents, neither the law nor the recommendation would result in any practical good. It cannot be expected, however much it might be desired, that all can agree upon the merits of the same book or books, any more than all can agree upon one system of belief in matters of faith, or upon the merits of an agricultural implement. The best book, like the best farming utensil, eventually gains its way into use, recommendation or no recommendation. The examination and recommendation of a person whom the legislature deems to be competent, it was supposed, would not be without its benefits, in facilitating information and presenting useful books to the view of teachers and others, thus making way for their gradual introduction into schools, not in a forced, imperative manner, but by eliciting the examination and investigation of all interested. Nor can this be viewed in any other light than the requirement of a good policy, which ensures improvement and pregression. For, if it be urged that each successive officer is to recommend the same series, without reference to his own judgment, or that the same officer is to perpetuate his own recommendations, there is an end to all further advancement. Our scholars and our schools, in the next quarter of a century, would be found far back in the path of retrogression and behind the light of the age.

It does not follow, that in consequence of the recommendation of a list or series of books, different from those which may have been recommended, that the books which are in our schools are to be thrown promiscuously out of the doors of our school houses-that parents are forced to the necessity and expense of furnishing new books-that teachers are to close their lessons from before the eyes of their pupils; all this would be confusion, and far from the object intended by the law. The useful results anticipated, will be found in throwing out