Occupation.-Farmers 154; merchants 23; attorneys 17; physicians 8; clergymen 6; manufacturers 5; students 4; clerks 4; lumber dealers 2 cashiers 2; mechanic 1; county clerk 1; book keeper 1; hotel keeper 1; no business 1; book-seller 1; iron founder 1; super intendent of State's prison 1; starch manufacturer 1; agent for manufacturer 1; banker 1; drover 1; soapstone dealer 1; stove dealer 1; tanner 1; judge of probate 1; musician 1. Religious Preference.-Congregationalists 60; Methodists 36; No Preference 4); Universalists 31; Baptists 28; Episcopals 8; Free Thinkers 3; Libera's 3; Unitarians 2; Christians 2; Independent 2; Restorationists 2; Presbyterian 1; Religious Student of Nature 1; Protestant 1; Second Advent 1.

Nativity.-Vermont 203; New Hampshire 16; Massachusetts 11; Canada East 1; Scotland 1; New York 6; Connecticut 2, Ohio 1; Ireland 1; England 1.

Oldest member-Josiah Gilson, Cavendish, 71 years. Youngest member-P. C. Ford, Granby, 24 years.

Union-213. Opposition-11.

STATE OF VERMONT.

A

BY PAUL DILLINGHAM, GOVERNOR.

PROCLAMATION.

At the request of the Legislature, in accordance with the custom of the fathers, and in conformity with my own wishes and purpose, I hereby appoint THURSDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF DECEMBER NEXT, to be observed by the people of this State, as a day of PUBLIC THANKSGIVING, PRAYER AND PRAISE TO ALMIGHTY GOD.

Praise is comely; comely indeed when offered to Him whose mercy endureth forever. To any enlightened mind, to each heart of flesh, the mercies of God in Christ, are constantly suggesting innumerable causes of humble gratitude and thanksgiving.

Looking over the year now drawing to a close we are led to exclaim, what hath not God done for us?

The struggle for national existence is closed, the great rebellion is conquered and its foundation destroyed.

Peace with its countless blessings again smiles upon us; and through the darkness of the past, gleams the light of a great hope-hope of a restored Union and lasting concord. In our own State a promising seed time has been followed by an abundant harvest. Honest labor in any department of life has received its full reward.

Our political, civil and religious liberties have been preserved unimpaired.

Free schools, and a free Bible are ours; each in harmony with the other, counteracting ignorance and sin.

For these and the rich and glorious hope set before us in the Gospel of the ever blessed Christ, let us on that day lay aside our usual avocations-assemble in our several places of worship, and there render to God our humble thanks for all the mercies His love has conferred upon us.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, in Executive Chamber, at Montpelier, this seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the Independence of the United States the ninetieth. PAUL DILLINGHAM.

By His Excellency, the Governor,

CHARLES M. GAY, Sec'y of Civil and Military Affairs.

STATE OF VERMONT.

BY PAUL DILLINGHAM, GOVERNOR.

A PROCLAMATION.

A hallowed custom, the dictates of the Christian heart, and our public and individual necessities, alike demand at this season a united recognition of our dependence in all things upon the providence of God. I do therefore appoint FRIDAY, THE 13TH DAY OF APRIL NEXT, to be observed as a day of HUMILIATION, PASTING AND PRAYER, by the people of this State.

And I earnestly enjoin upon them that they then a abstain from their usual employments and

observe the day in the devout spirit of the

Assembling in our respective places of public worship, prostrating ourselves in penitential confession of our manifold sins as individuals and as a people, and imploring forgiveness of the same, let us also on that day offer earnest supplications to Almighty God;

That our hearts may be penetrated with due and humble gratitude to Him who hath given us the great victory, for the preservation of the life of this nation, and for all His numberless and signal mercies;

That He will inspire all those in authority with moderation and forbearance, with firmness in the right, and with wisdom to extricate us from the perils which still remain, and to establish the nation on the lasting foundation of equal and exact justice to all men ;

That He will allay the spirit of strife, restore concord, and revive throughout the land the righteousness that" exalteth a nation;

That He will regard with His favor the people of this State;

That He will dispose all our hearts to the practice of humility, benevolence, temperance, obedience to law, industry, frugality and honesty, and all Christian principles and virtues ; That He will crown the labors of the husbandman with a plenteous harvest, and all honest industry with success ;

That He will stay the pestilence that has recently afflicted other lands, and mercifully spare us from its ravages, granting us the inestimable blessing of continued health;

That He will comfort those who have been bereaved by the calamities of war, and all who mourn, and incline our hearts to relieve the unfortunate and the needy;

That He will preserve our religious, educational and charitable institutions, and our political, civil and religious liberties;

That He will turp from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved ; " and that He will help us upward to the perfect stature of a Christian people.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the State, in Executive Chamber, at Waterbury, this sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eighteen hundred and sixtysix, and of the independence of the United States the ninetieth, PAUL DILLINGHAM.

By His Excellency, the Governor,

CHARLES M. GAY, Sec'y of Civil and Military Affairs. 18

MANUAL OF PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE.

COMPILED BY HENRY CLARK, SECRETARY OF THE SENATE.

QUORUM.

In general the chair is not to be taken till a quorum for business is present, unless after due waiting such a quorum be despaired of, when the chair may be taken and the House adjourned. Whenever, during business, it is cbserved that a quorum is not present, any member may call for the House to be counted, and being found deficient, business is sus pended.

[A majority of each House constitutes a quorum to do business.]

When there is no quorum present, the presiding officer has no authority to declare an adjournment, but must wait for a motion for that purpose.- Cushing.

CALL OF THE HOUSE..

On a call of the House each person rises up as he is called and answers; the absentees are then only noted, but no excuse to be made till the House be fully called over. Then the absentees are called a second time, and if still absent, excuses are to be heard.

Orders for calls on different days may subsist at the same time.

If a motion for a call of the House passes in the negative, a second motion for the same purpose is not in order until after the intervention of some parliamentary proceeding.—Cushing.

Unless a motion for a call of the House is restrained or regulated by some rule, it will take precedence of and suspend any other motion then pending, whether principal or subsidiary. -Cushing.

[During a call, the galleries and lobbies are cleared, the doors closed, and business suspended.

Proceedings under a call of the House may be suspended wholly or in part, when a quorum has been secured.]

SPEAKER.

There are certain duties pertaining to the office of Speaker, which are not necessary to be specified by rule, being so obviously proper and right as to be indisputable. We take the following from Mr. Cushing's Law and Practice of Legislative Bodies as sufficient for the purpose of this work:

1. The Speaker puts all questions and declares the determination of the House.

2. He communicates its resolutions to others, conveys its thanks, and expresses its censures, its reprimands or its admonitions.

3. He is the representative of the House itself in its powers, its proceedings, and its dignity.

4. He announces the business before the Assembly, in the order in which it is to be acted

upon.

5. To restrain the members when engaged in debate within the rules of order.

6. To receive messages and other communications from other branches of the government and announce them to the Assembly.

7. When a legislative body is engaged in its judicial functions, it is the duty of the presiding officer to conduct the proceedings, to put questions to parties and witnesses, and to pronounce sentence or judgment.