Much the largest portion of this capital consists of the bonds and stock of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company-of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad Company-and the Susquehanna and Tide Water Canal Company.

The committee suppose that, under the most unfavorable circumstances, the capital and credits of the State, which are at this time unproductive, would, if so applied, pay $5,000,000. The debt of the State, then, deducting her productive capital, at present market prices, is, as we have seen, $11,387,284.98

She holds unproductive capital, and credits, which would pay at this time, at least,

Leaving only the sum of

5,000,000.00

$6,387,284.98

And of this balance, there belongs to the sinking fund,

1,160,075.09

Actual debt,

$5,227,209.89

BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.

Receipts for the year ending September 30, 1843.

For transportation of passengers,

freight,

U. S. mails,

From the Washington Branch,

$204,939.79

281,620.15

41,235.11

42,004.59

Revenue on the main road, from January to July, 1843,

329,764.43

1. St. Mary's, Charles, Calvert, Prince George's, Montgo ery, and Anne Arundel, excepting Howard District. Population. 74,737.

2. Alleghany, Washington, and Frederick. Population, 77,840.

3. Carroll and Baltimore Counties, Howard District, and the 12th, 13th, and 14th wards of Baltimore city. Population, 78,452.

4. The first eleven wards of Baltimore city. Population, 79,626.

5. Harford, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Carome. Population. 61,471.

6. Talbot, Dorchester, Somerset, and Worcester. Population, 62,185.

MARYLAND PENITENTIARY.

The total gain by the labor of the convicts, and the commercial operations of the institution, during the year ending on the 30th of November, 1843, was $30,275 29. The expenses during the same period, including the salaries of officers, and charges of every description, amounted to $29,791.63, leaving an excess, or net profit for the year, of $483.66.

The average number of prisoners in confinement during the year was 290; eight more than the average of 1842.

The number received during the year was 97. Of this number, 86 were males, and 11 females; 62 whites, and 35 blacks; 74 Americans, and 23 foreigners, viz: 15 natives of Germany, 1 of Turkey, 1 of Prussia, 1 of Russia, 4 of Ireland, and 1 of France. Of the whole number, 97, 32 were convicted in the courts of Baltimore.

There were discharged during the year-by expiration of their sentences, 67; by pardons, 12; by death, 21; in all 100. There remained in confinement on the 30th of November, 287.

COMMON SCHOOLS.

Each of the counties has for some years been entitled to receive $800 per annum, or more, out of the school fund; but it is variously distributed, and some counties get more. St. Mary's and Charles counties give their share to one institution - the Charlotte Hall Academy, or school. In other cases, the portion of a county is divided between two or more academies or schools, and in some counties it is distributed to the primary schools. Attempts have been made to procure a law to distribute the whole of the school fund to these schools, but, as yet, no such law has been passed.

By an act of the General Assembly, passed Feb. 28, 1826, entitled “ An Act to provide for the public instruction of youth, in primary schools, throughout this State," provision was made for the establishment of primary schools in every county of the State in which, at the then ensuing election for delegates to the General Assembly, a majority of the voters should express their will in favor of the system.

A few of the counties adopted it; and, under various provisions of law, there are primary or common schools in most of the counties.

From a report on the draft of a code for the support of common schools, made to the General Assembly in 1843, we gather some facts illustrative of the condition of public schools in this State. Eight of the counties have made no returns. The following is a part of the information furnished by the other counties:

"In Anne Arundel county, there are twenty-eight primary school districts, of which number twenty-two are in operation. The cost of school houses is about $300 each. There are twenty-three teachers employed. The lowest sum paid to any teacher is $200; the highest $500; the gross

amount of salary paid to all the teachers is $7,065. The number of scholars in all the schools is 525. The amount levied by the county for the support of primary schools is $2,400. The sum levied by the several districts amounts to $3,005.62. The amount received from the State, for the year 1842, was $2,167.82.

"In the Howard district, there are twenty primary schools. The cost of the buildings in which the schools are held, would average $200 each. There are twenty teachers, with an average salary of $300 each. The schools are kept open an average of nine hours. The average number of scholars in attendance on all the schools is 526. The amount levied by the district is $1,800; that received from the State, $1,500.

"In Alleghany county, there are eighty-eight common schools. The supposed cost of the houses in which the schools are held is $25. The teachers of eighty-two of the schools receive from the State $50 each, and those of the six other schools $25 each. In addition to this, the teachers charge $2 per quarter for each scholar, which is paid by the parents. The average number of scholars in attendance upon each school is about 20. There is no levy made by the county for the support of schools; the amount received from the State is about $1,000.

In Caroline county, there are 24 common schools. The average number of scholars in attendance upon each, is 12. The amount received from the State is about 3,441. The county makes no levy for the schools. "In Charles county, there are twenty-nine primary schools. The average cost of the buildings in which the schools are held is $300. There are twenty-nine teachers with salaries averaging from $200 to $450 each. The schools are kept open about eight hours per day. The county is by law required to levy $3,000 annually upon the property within its limits. The amount annually received from the State is about $3,200. There are taught in the schools of this county between 700 and 800 scholars. "In Cecil county, there are no primary schools. One third of the schools are kept in private houses and in churches. The cost of houses built expressly for schools is, on an average, $75, and they are built by subscription. There are about forty teachers in the county, who receive from $2.50 to $3 per quarter for each scholar. The county makes no levy for the support of schools. The amount received from the State is about $3,000 per annum. This fund is paid to the orphan's court, and by

it is distributed to the several election districts.

"In Dorchester county, there are forty-four primary schools. They are generally held in churches and private buildings, erected prior to the adoption of the primary school system in the county. Where houses have been erected, the cost has been from $150 to $200 each. There are usually about forty-four teachers in the county, independently of those engaged in the three academies in the county. The sum paid to teachers is from $150 to $200; and where there is a good teacher, the parents, by subscription, increase the allowance of the county. As to the number of

hours the schools are kept open, our informant says, 'no mortal man can answer the inquiry. It is intended they should be open in the forenoon from 8 to 12, and in the afternoon, from 2 to 5 o'clock; but in some of the districts, I am informed, they are not open over two hours in the day, and in several of the schools, not over one or two days in the week; yet they (the teachers) receive their draft, and obtain their money. Some of the schools have in attendance forty scholars, others ten, average about twenty. The amount levied upon the county is $4,000; that received from the State, about $3,000. The clerk of the commissioners of the county, speaking of the want of qualification on the part of some of the teachers, observes, 'I have receipts from some (of them) that a Philadelphia lawyer could not read.'

"In Frederick county, there are eighty school districts. The cost of school houses, from $450 to $800; the two buildings in Frederick city cost - the one, $1,400, the other, $1,700. There are seventy-four teachers in the county, who receive from $60 to $100 per annum each. The number of scholars is from 2,500 to 3,000. The total number of scholars in the county is estimated at 9,000. The amount received from the State was, in 1841, $2,840.57, in 1842, $2,314.95. Amount levied by county has been, heretofore, $8,000."

The public schools in the city of Baltimore are popular, and in a flour. ishing condition. Each scholar pays one dollar a quarter for tuition. The amount required from the city treasury, for the support of these schools, in 1844, was $29,372.79. The amount of tuition fees received in 1843, was $9,725 13. The whole number of public schools in the city was 24, and the number of scholars, 3,455.

XII. VIRGINIA.

GOVERNMENT.

JAMES MCDOWELL, of Rockbridge, Governor, (term ends

Jan. 1, 1846,)

John Rutherfoord, of Richmond, Senior Councillor of State,

Salary.

$3,333%

W. H. Richardson, of Henrico Co., Secretary of the Commonwealth,

The Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, and 2d Auditor are, ex officio, members of the Board of Public Works, Literary Fund, and North Western Turnpike. They do not receive compensation for this service.

The judges are entitled to receive, in addition to their salaries, 25 cents a mile for necessary travel. The Court of Appeals holds two sessions annually; one at Lewisburg, Greenbriar county, for the counties lying west of the Blue Ridge, commencing on the 2d Monday in July, and continuing 90 days, unless the business shall be sooner despatched; the other at Richmond, for the counties lying east of the Blue Ridge, commencing at such times as the Court may from time to time appoint.

General Court.

The State is divided into ten Judicial Districts, and each District into two Circuits, except the 4th, which comprises three. The third Circuit of the 4th District is the 21st District of the State, containing but a single Court, called the "Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for the county of Henrico and city of Richmond." In this Court, there are two judges; one on the law side, with a salary of $1,800; the other on the chancery side, with a salary of $2,000. On the death, resignation, or removal of either of the two judges now attached to this court, his duties are to devolve on the other, without any increase of salary. In all the other circuits, the chancery and common law jurisdictions are blended in the same judges, each of whom has a salary of $1,500, and $4 for every 20 miles of necessary travelling.