personal examination into the state of the University, in all its departments, and report the result to the Superintendent, suggesting such improvements as they deemed important."

It was made the duty of the Regents to make an exhibit of the affairs of the University; the amounts of expenditure; the number of professors and tutors, and their salaries; the number of students in the several departments and in the different classes; the books of instruction used and such other information as the Board might require, with an estimate of expenses for the ensuing year. As soon as the State shonld provide funds for that purpose, the Regents were to proceed to the erection of the necessary buildings for the University on the ground to be designated by the Legislature.

It was made their duty, together with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to ESTABLISH SUCH BRANCHES in the different parts of the State as should be authorized by the Legislature, and to prescribe needful rules and regulations. The branches were excluded from the right to confer degrees. In connection with every such branch, there was to be an institution for the EDUCATION OF FEMALES in the higher branches of knowledge, whenever suitable buildings should be prepared. In each of the branches there was to be a DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, with competent instructors in the theory of agriculture, including vegetable physiolgy and agricutural chemistry, and experimental and practical farming and agriculture." Whenever such branch was formed, there was to be in each a department especially appropriated to the EDUCATION OF TEACHERS FOR THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS, and such other departments as the Regents deemed necessary. Whenever the branches were established, or any of them, there was to be apportioned to each, in proportion to the number of scholars therein, for the support of its professors and teachers, such sums as the state of the University fund should allow, and also such sums for the purchase of books and apparatus. The Board were required to procure the best and most appropriate plan for the University building, which, if approved by the Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction, was to be adopted.

By an act approved March 20, 1837, the University was to be located in or near the village of Ann Arbor, in the State of Michigan, upon such site as the Regents should select, which site was to be

conveyed to the Regents, for the use of the State, and for that express purpose, free of cost, and the site was to include not less than forty

acres.

At the extra session of this year, Gov. Mason, in behalf of the Regents, transmitted to the House of Representati ves a communication, asking for the following amendments, which were passed, and became a law on the 21st of June, viz: an amendment to invest the board with power to elect a chancellor, and prescribe his duties-to make the Governor president of the board, and provision authorizing the Regents to create such professorships in the University as they might deem proper, and to establish branches at discretion.

Authority was given to the Regents to expend so much of the interest arising from the University fund, as may be necessary for the purchase of philosophical and other apparatus, a library, and cabinet of natural history. It had, by the previous law of March 21, 1837, been made the duty of the Superintendent to apply the income of the University fund to the payment of such debts as should accrue from the operation of the law establishing the University.

During the year, as an auxiliary to the cause of education, the "Journal of Education" was established in Detroit, under the auspices of the late Senator Lyon, Dr. Pitcher, and H. R. Schoolcraft; and on motion of Hon. J. M. Howard, the Superintendent was instructed to furnish one copy to each board of inspectors, and one to each director of a school district.

1838.

EXTRACT FROM GOV. MASON'S THIRD MESSAGE.

From the report of the Superintendent, you will receive all the necessary information connected with our schools and University. He will present to you the general condition of the common schools, and will at the same time, suggest to your consideration such amendments to our existing school laws, as may appear to hin expedient and desirable. I would, however, recommend, by the appointment of an assistant, the separation of the financial department from the ordinary duties of the office of Superintendent, so as to relieve that officer from duties too onerous, and in themselves inconsistent.

I have so often referred to the subject of education in my former communications, that important as the subject is, I feel indisposed to dwell on it at any great length, sensible that your feelings and interests are alive to its success, and that your most unremitting ex

ertions will be directed to its advancement throughout the State. Every free government is called on by a principle of self-preservation, to afford every facility for the education of the people. The liberty of a people cannot be forced beyond its intelligence. The South American Republics exhibit but alternate scenes of anarchy and despotism. France, in the day of her bloody struggles for freedom, was overwhelmed and plunged in misery, by the very attempt to make her free. In the United States we witness the advantages of education, in the virtue, intelligence and liberty of the people. History points out the ignorance and degradation of other countries, and we are admonished of the duties before us. If our own coun. try is ever to fall from her high position before the world, the cause will be found in the ignorance of the people-if she is to remain where she now stands, with her glory undimmed, educate every child in the land.

Whilst the fund will be sufficiently great for the support of the University, on the broad scale intended by the Legislature, if applied to that object alone, it may fall short of that purpose when directed to the numerous branches which seem to be demanded by the people. I would therefore suggest that portions of the seventytwo sections of the salt spring lands be set apart by the Legislature as an exclusive fund for the support of the branches of the University.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

The Superintendent refers to the following acts as comprising what might be termed the "MICHIGAN SCHOOL SYSTEM," viz: the act to provide for the disposition of the University and primary school lands; the act to provide for the organization and government of the University with branches; and the act for the establishment and support of the primary schools.

No change was recommended in the system of primary schools. The previous laws were during this year prepared and arranged into a code. The commissioners were not authorized to make alterations, however, and the school laws, with all other laws, were consolidated in the revised statutes of 1838. A question of great importance was brought before the Legislature, by the Superintendent, relating to the policy of granting

CHARTERS FOR PRIVATE COLLEGES.

This question, in the view of the Superintendent, involved the highest considerations of sound public policy as affecting the State in all time to come.

"When this decision is finally made," says the report, "it will not require the inspiration of a prophet to determine whether the State shall

eventually assume the first rank in the Republic of Letters, by founding and rearing up an institution of noble stature and just proportions, worthy alike of the State and of learning, and equally worthy the name of University, or whether the State shall ultimately sink to a low level in the world of knowledge, having institutions under the imposing name of colleges, scattered through the length and breadth of the land, without funds, without cabinets, without apparatus, without libraries, without talents, without character and without the ability of ever maintaining them. If one is granted, others must be, and there is no limit. If one village obtains a charter for a college, all others must have the same favor. In proportion as they increase in number, just in that proportion will be their decrease of power to be useful.”

In aid of this view of the question, the opinions of distinguished scholars were obtained, among whom were the names of Dr. Wayland, Edward Everett, President Humphrey, President Mellvaine and others. The question was submitted to these distinguished gentlemen in a letter of the Superintendent requesting "the result of their observations as to the effect produced on the higher branches of literature and science by the multiplication of universities and colleges in the United States. In the creation of the higher institutions a question has arisen, in the commencement of our existence as a State, whether we shall grant to an indefinite number of private associations the right of conferring degrees, or for the present concentrate our energies in one university." To this, President Wayland replied: "that so far as he was qualified to judge, the plan of concentrating your energies in one university, is incomparably preferable to that of granting university charters to an indefinite number of private institutions. By a great, number of small and badly appointed colleges you will increase the nominally educated men, but you will decrease the power of education, because it will be little else but the name." The reply of Mr. Everett was in substance, that supposing the condition of Michigan to be the same as most other infant political communities, he should think that one institution of a high order would be as much as we could expect to found and sustain at the first. "You will not understand me," says Mr. Everett, "as at all underrating the importance of acadamies and schools. I deem them quite as important as colleges. Good common schools are the basis of every wise system of popular education. But it is not useful to grant to academies and schools the privilege of conferring degrees.

Harvard college in Massachusetts, was founded in 1636. There was no other college in New England till 1700, when Yale was founded. If the question is between one well endowed and amply provided institution, and several languishing on an inadequate public and private patronage-which, if several are attempted, will be apt to be their condition—it is scarcely necessary to say the decision must be for the former."

President Brown, of Pennsylvania, was of the opinion that much depended on circumstances-the public fund, the character and number of the inhabitants, the probability of uniting in the patronage of one-people of different talents, prejudices, literary taste, and especially different moral and religious sentiments. If all these could be concentrated harmoniously, it might be best to confine their energies to one, for a time--that if all religious men were excluded, the institution would become infidel. Serious people would not send their sons to such an institution; that no amount of funds per se created a college, and that any amount of talent would not alone command success-that there must be harmony and co-operation, and he sugges ted "that the Legislature should, for the present, look to the formation of only one State University, to receive the ample endowments the State is able to afford; that they should, from the commencement, guard against the evils of an undue multiptication of colleges, and in order to do this, that no charter should be granted to any association, only on the condition of having procured such an amount of funds as will secure respectability by supplying able professors, and the proper college accommodations. President McIlvaine considered that with the property devoted to college education in Michigan, the State had a noble opportunity of taking and holding dignified ground on this subject: of building a breakwater against the winds and waves, by which other less independent institutions are in danger of being overwhelmed, and recommended that it be improved by having but one place of degrees in Michigan.

From these opinions and others similar, the Superintendent expressed the opinion that "the multiplication of institutions under the imposing name of universities and colleges, was to be regarded as an evil of great magnitude, as exceedingly detrimental to the interesta of literature, science and the arts," and recommended that the Re