Lots 3 and 4 lay directly west of 1 and 2, with the quarter of section 2 on their rear, making a tract of 457 acres, fronting over half a mile on the river upward from near the mouth of Swan Creek, and extending back on both sides of said Creek about one and one-fourth miles. It includes all the high land (except a few rods at the point,) between Swan Creek and the Maumee, directly against the "middle ground" where the railway improvements are located. Upon it also, is situated the magnificent hotel recently erected.

The half of section three, which accompanied the above, was farther back, but within two miles of the river, and is now crossed by the railroads to Chicago, Detroit, and Jack

son.

The remainder of the University lands at Toledo, were situated still farther west, and adjoining the above men tioned tracts. The whole, comprising lots 7, 8, 9 and 10, is now within the city limits. These lots, when accepted, were supposed to contain 515 acres; but a survey made in 1848, showed them to contain 621. The first sales were made in 1849; and in that and the following year, all were sold except one lot of 44 acres, which was a marsh or wet meadow, extending into the river, and at that time considered of no especial value. At the time of these sales, Toledo containined a population of seven to nine thousand souls, and was rapidly growing in importance. Its commerce at that time exceeded that of any other port save one, upon Lake Erie. The lands were sold for twelve to twenty-five dollars per acre-but one lot of twenty-seven acres going above the last named sum. That sold for $30 per acre. The average price was $19 62 per acre. These lots are now valued at $300 to $1,000 per acre.

The 44 acres above mentioned, was claimed by an indi vidual on a pre-emption right. A suit had been instituted in the Courts of Ohio, and a judgment was rendered in his favor. An appeal was taken, which was pending in 1855;

when a citizen of Toledo proposed to give $1,000 for the tract, and himself assume all risk as to the title. It was. accordingly sold for that sum-closing up the ownership of the University in the Toledo lands.

When these lands were selected, they were not in Ohio, but in the Territory of Michigan, as bounded by more than ane Congressional enactment. But the State of Ohio

wished to possess the outlet of the Maumee, as well as to have within her borders the important commercial citywhich it was seen must grow up upon its banks. The old boundary, of a line drawn due east from the south end of Lake Michigan, ran some three miles south of Toledo; and when the people of Michigan Territory began to talk of organizing a State government, the citizens of Ohio claimed that their State extended five or six miles north of Toledo, and attempted to exercise jurisdiction over the Territory in. dispute. The history of that contest is familiar to all.. The people of Michigan raised an army, and prevented the holding of a Court in the disputed Territory.

When the Territory was admitted into the Union of States, Ohio influence was sufficient in Congress, to obtain her demands, and the line, as claimed by her, was declared to be the Southern boundary of the State of Michigan. As a virtual confession however, that Michigan was robbed of the Territory in question, the whole "Upper Peninsula," was thrown in as an offset, to appease the outraged feelings of the Wolverines.

The University lands were then de facto, if not de jure in the State of Ohio, and subject to her taxation. Our State officers, whose duty it was to attend to the business, neglected to pay the taxes, and they were sold, and bid in by the State of Ohio. This was in 1839. Thus the matter stood till 1842, when the authorities of Ohio, having doubts as to the legality of the forms under which they were sold, determined to sell them again. The taxes, interest, &c., then claimed, amounted to $550 79. When it

was found that the lands (comprising all the original tract save lots 1 and 2) were in danger of being lost, an appeal was made to the Legislature of Ohio, which remitted the amount. From that time, the lands were looked after, and the Commissioners of the Land Office reported upon them from year to year--advising that they should not be soldtill 1849; when they were required by the Legislature to be appraised and offered at public sale. They were appraised at the average price of $19 66 per acre. One hundred and ten acres sold at auction, at an average price of $24 19 per acre. The Commissioner of the Land Office reported that the time was "not far distant when the lands would be worth three times their present value," and approved of their sale at the time, only because they were situated in another State. Nine years have passed, and they are worth fifteen or twenty times the sum for which they were sold.

Such is the history of the University lands at Toledo. All the Fund has realised therefrom, is $17,311 37; or about $17 00 per acre, for what is now worth on an average, more than THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS per acre! Thus narrowly did the University of Michigan escape from becoming rich!

THE OBSERVATORY.

The Observatory, in connection with the University, but recently added to its other attractions and means of influence, by the liberality of the citizens of Detroit, may appropriately be noticed in this place. Such is the magnitude of this Department, and such the interest that can but be felt by the public in its explorations among the heavenly bodies, that it seems befitting to give its history, and to place on record the munificence of the generous donors who have borne the expense of the enterprise. At the request, therefore, of the Superintendent of Public

Instruction, the following statement has been prepared by Mr. James C. Watson, the Assistant Observer :

The project of erecting an Astronomical Observatory originated with Dr. Tappan, of the University. In his inaugural address delivered on the 21st of December, 1852, he showed how advantageously private munificence might be admitted into a State Institution. The same day, after his inauguration, he recieved a visit from Hon. Henry N. Walker, of Detroit, who expressed his deep interest in the University, and his wish to do something for its advancement, in accordance with the suggestion of the inaugural address. Whereupon Dr. Tappan inquired whether the citizens of Detroit would subscribe money for establishing an Observatory, to which Mr. Walker promptly answered in the affirmative. An appointment was then made to meet friends of the enterprise at the Michigan Exchange, in Detroit, a few days afterward. At this meeting Dr. Tappan unfolded the project, addresses were made by several gentlemen, and much enthusiasm was manifested.

The result of the meeting was the following subscription:

"DETROIT, December 29, 1852.

The undersigned, being desirous of obtaining the erection of an Observatory on the University grounds, at Ann Arbor, to be connected with the University of Michigan, do hereby agree to pay to the President of the University the sums set opposite our respective names, to be paid one half on or before the first day of July next, and one half on or before the first day of October next, to be expended under the direction of the President of the University, in the erection and furnishing of an Observatory to be called the DETROIT OBSERVATORY, to be forever connected with the University of Michigan; such payments to be made only in case at least ten thousand dollars is subscribed for that purpose. [Signed.]

Henry N. Walker,

.$500 00

The plan originally proposed, as may be readily inferred from the amount of money contemplated to be raised by subscription, was to purchase only a large telescope and erect a building sufficient for its accommodation. The unexpected liberality, however, with which the project was received by those who were both willing and able to carry it into effect, soon induced President Tappan to enlarge