of common schools, in the science of education, and in the art of teaching,

This institution is located in the city of Albany, and placed under the direction of the state superintendent of common schools, and the regents of the university. This board appoint an executive committee, of five persons, of whom the state superintendent is one, ex offi cio, to superintend the general interests of the school, to carry into effect the laws enacted for its regulation, and to report to the board annually.

By the regulations of the executive committee, superintendent, and board of regents, each county of the state is entitled to a number of pupils equal to double its representation in the house of assembly, making in all 256 pupils; to be selected by the county and town superintendents. No charge for instruction or for books is made; and each pupil receives a sum sufficient, on a liberal estimate, to defray his or her traveling expenses, to and from the institution,

The board of instruction consists of a principal, a professor of mathematics, a teacher of vocal music, one of drawing, and six subordinate teachers, in the various branches, deemed requisite to the complete preparation of teachers of common schools.

Connected with the institution are two experimental schools, composed of fifty children each, between the ages of five and sixteen, and under the general supervision of a teacher, specially appointed for this purpose. Into these, the more advanced pupils of the normal school pass, in succession, for a period of three or four weeks each, to test their practical abilities, as educators, before their final graduation.

No definite term of instruction is prescribed. Each pupil is required to complete a specified course of studies, to the full satisfaction of the principal and board of instructors, by whom, and the executive committee, diplomas, setting forth that fact, are conferred, semi-annually, in the months of March and September.

The institution is furnished with a large and well selected library, and all the scientific apparatus requisite to a full and thorough course of instruction, in the various branches of a sound, English education. The number of students, of both sexes, in 1846, exceeded two hundred.

CITY SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS.

1. City of New York. In the city of New York, the common schools are divided into three classes, viz: 1st, Public and Primary schools, under the care of the public school society; 2d, Ward schools, under the management of the commissioners, inspectors and trustees of the respective wards; 3d, Corporate schools, conducted by officers, elected under their respective charters.

These are all subject to the general supervision of the county superintendent, and to the inspection and management of the board of education, which consists of two commissioners, two inspectors, and five trustees in each ward. These officers are elected by the people; the commissioners and inspectors hold their offices for two years, and the trustees for five years. They all participate in the public money, and in that raised by the general and special laws, for school purposes.

The Public School Society was incorporated by the legislature, in 1805, and up to the year 1843, had the entire control of all the common schools in the city. They have eighteen public, and fifty-four primary schools, beside two public and four primary schools for colored children. In these schools, in 1846, 22,500 children were instructed, at a cost, for tuition, of a little more than $73,000.

There are three normal schools, also, under the control of this society, intended for the instruction of the monitors, and junior teachers of the schools; these normal schools are held on Saturday of each week, and during a portion of the year, in the evenings of the other days of the week. To each of the primary and public schools, a well selected library is attached.

The ward schools occupy from twenty to twenty-five buildings, comprising upwards of fifty schools, and having more than 25,000 children under instruction. There are, beside, thirteen corporate schools, mostly connected with benevolent institutions, and embracing upwards of 2000 scholars.

The aggregate number of children taught in all the public schools, during some portion of the year, exceeds fifty thousand; and it is supposed that about 30,000 more attend the various select schools in the city.

The amount of public money annually expended for common schools, is as follows:

One twentieth of one per cent. on the valuation of

real and personal property

Raised under special acts

$35,000 00

35,000 00

114,610 63

8,360 66

Total $192,971 29

2. City of Rochester. The common schools of this city are under the control of a board of education, consisting of two commissioners for each ward, annually elected by the people of the several wards, and a city superintendent, chosen by them.

The schools are entirely supported by taxation, no charge being made for instruction or text books. There are in the city, sixteen school houses, all substantial buildings, furnished with ample play grounds, and other conveniences. In these edifices there are between forty and fifty schools, under the care of sixteen male, and thirty female teachers, and comprising about 6000 children, nearly all that are of suitable age, residing in the city.

3. City of Buffalo. The mayor and aldermen of the city are, ex officio, commissioners of common schools; and are required annually to appoint a city superintendent. The schools are free, being, as in Rochester, entirely sustained by taxation. The number of districts is fifteen, and the schools are under the care of fifteen male, and thirtysix female instructors, having, in attendance, about 7000 children.

4. City of Hudson. The members of the common council are here, also, ex officio, commissioners of common schools. They appoint three superintendents, who, together, constitute a board of education for the city. An amount, equal to four times the apportionment from the state funds, is raised by tax, and the remaining ex

penses are defrayed by rate bills, against those who send to the schools..

5. City of Brooklyn. Here, too, the common council are, from their office, commissioners of common schools; the general management of which is committed to a board of education, consisting of two members from each district appointed by the common council. They are divided into three classes, one of which annually goes out of office. The schools are free, deriving their support from assessments on the taxable property of the city.

6. City of Utica. The board of Commissioners for common schools in this city, consists of six members, two of whom are elected annually. They hold their office for three years. The rate bills may not exceed $2.00 per term. The remaining sums necessary for the support of schools, beyond the state apportionment, are raised by taxes.

7. City of Schenectady. The Schenectady Lancasterian school society has the general control of public education, in this city and receives, and disburses the public money applicable to this purpose.

8. City of Albany. The public schools of this city are under the supervision of a board of commissioners, nine in number, appointed by the Mayor, Recorder, and such of the Regents as may reside in the city. The members of this board, hold office for three years, one third going out of office each year.

The schools are not entirely free, the sum raised by tax being only twice the amount received from the state; but the indigent are exempted from the payment of rate bills; and a certain number of indi. gent pupils, who have attended the district schools at least two years, are supported at either of the academies of the city, or at the state normal school. Instruction in vocal music is provided in all the schools. The number of school districts is ten, and children instructed about 3000.

The city of Troy, and the villages of Poughkeepsie and Williamsburgh, have separate local systems, similar to those above described.

UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND ACADEMIES.

Regents of the University. These institutions are, by law, placed under the supervision, and subject to the visitation of a board, organized by the legislature in 1784, under the title of " Regents of the University of the state of New York." This board consists of twenty-one persons; of this board, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are, ex officio, members, and the others are appointed by the legislature, and hold office, during its pleasure.

Its officers are, a Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected by the board. It is their duty to examine, and report to the legislature, the modes of education, discipline, number of students, course of study, funds, debts, &c., of the institutions under their charge.

They are also empowered to fill vacancies in the offices of president or principal of these institutions; to confer degrees, under certain circumstances, above that of Master of Arts; to apportion the annual income of the literature fund, among the several senate districts; and to incorporate academies, on compliance with such terms as they may prescribe.

The Literature Fund, appropriated to the support of this class of institutions, amounts to $268,990 57, consisting of state, bank, and insurance stocks, and money in the treasury, besides 9625 acres of land, valued at $4300. It yields an annual revenue of about $75,000. Of this amount, $40,000 is divided among the academies of the state; $9000 to the university of the city of New York; $7000 to Geneva college, including its medical department; $3000 to Hamilton college; $1000 to the Albany medical college; $2300 to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary; $10,000 to the state normal school, and the balance to the purchase of books and apparatus for the various academies, in pursuance of the provisions of an act passed in 1834.

Universities and Colleges. There are at present, in this state, four incorporated universities, viz: the University of the city of New York, organized in 1832; the Madison University, at Hamilton, Madison county; the Rochester University, and the Buffalo University; the three latter incorporated in 1846.

There are also four colleges; Columbia College, in the city of New York; Union College, at Schenectady; Hamilton College, at Clinton, Oneida county, and Geneva college, at Geneva, in Ontario county.

The

In addition to these, there are five medical schools, viz; the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city; the Medical Department of the University of the city of New York; the Albany Medical College; the Medical Department of Geneva College, and the Medical Department of the Buffalo University, organized in 1846. Academies. There are 179 incorporated academies in the state, comprising upwards of 25,000 pupils of both sexes. aggregate value of the land and buildings belonging to these institutions, exceeds $1,000,000; the value of the libraries belonging to them, $60,000, and of their apparatus, $56,000. The aggregate amount paid for tuition, during the year 1845, was over $200,000; the number of teachers employed, over 600; and the number of students gratuitously instructed, over 200.

The branches of study taught, embrace, in addition to those ordinarily pursued in common schools, the higher departments of mathematics and natural Philosophy, with their various applications to practical uses; the languages, ancient and modern; the physical sciences; moral and intellectual philosophy; history in its widest and most comprehensive range; natural theology; political economy; vocal, and occasionally, instrumental, music; drawing, and other accomplishments.

There are several female academies and seminaries; among which, the Albany Female Academy, and Female Seminary, the Troy, Rutgers, in the city of New York, Poughkeepsie, Amsterdam, Schenec tady, Clinton, Utica, Auburn, Ontario at Canandaigua, Batavia, Le Roy, Seward, and Rochester Female Seminaries, are the most prominent.

Theological Seminaries. Of these there are nine, viz: the Ham. ilton Theological Institution, now forming a department of the Madison University, in Hamilton, Madison county, under the patronage of the Baptist denomination, but open, without distinction, to students of every religious denomination, designing to prepare themselves for the gospel ministry; the Oneida Conference Seminary, founded by the Methodists, and located in the village of Cazenovia, Madison

county; the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, Livingston county; Auburn Theological Seminary, (Presbyterian ;) the Hartwick Theological Seminary, (Lutheran ;) the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church of New York, at Newburgh, Orange county; the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, located in New York city; the Union Theological Seminary, in the same city; and the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Seminary, at Rose Hill, in Westchester county. Collegiate Schools. There are seven of these institutions, located in different sections of the state. St. John's College, a Roman Catholic institution, pleasantly situated at Rose Hill, Westchester Co., about twelve miles from New York city, numbers 115 pupils; St. Paul's College, St. Thomas' Hall, and St. Ann's Hall, at Flushing, Long Island, are under the patronage of the Protestant Episcopal denomination; the latter is specially designed for the education of young ladies; the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School, is located in the flourishing village of Poughkeepsie, and has a high reputation; the Black River Literary and Religious Institute, is a well ordered and flourishing seminary, situated at Watertown, Jefferson county, and averages about 200 pupils; and the New Brighton Collegiate School, situated on the heights, overlooking the village of New Brighton, on Staten Island, six miles from New York.