WALPOLE. One half is divided among the districts, in proportion to the taxes paid by them; and one half according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Vocal music in two schools.

WEYMOUTH. One half is divided equally among the districts, and one half according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Vocal music in four schools.

Lowest sum, $298 28.

WRENTHAM. One third is divided equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $71 30. Vocal music in three schools.

ATTLEBOROugh.

BRISTOL.

"A definite sum, say $2, is raised and distributed to each scholar in town; and in all districts numbering less than fifty scholars, an addition of 2 cents on each scholar, and increasing in that ratio as the number of scholars decreases." Lowest sum, $31 08. Vocal music occasionally.

BERKLEY. One half is divided equally among the districts, and one half according to the number of persons between the ages of 4 and 21 years, on the first day of December. Lowest sum, $40 00.

DARTMOUTH. One half is divided equally among the districts, (excepting two small districts which are counted as one,) and one half according to the number of families in the respective districts. Lowest sum, $38.

DIGHTON. Money raised by the town and received from the State, is divided according to the valuation. Income from Surplus Revenue is divided equally among the districts.

EASTON. One half is divided equally among the districts. It is not stated how the other half is divided. Lowest sum, $96 89. Vocal music in one school.

FAIRHAVEN. For the last 10 or 12 years, the town has left the apportionment with the committee. They usually reserve a small sum varying from $50 to $300, for aiding the smaller districts; the residue they divide according to the number of persons between the ages of 4 and 16 years. Largest sum, $33 70.

FALL RIVER. The committee did not answer the question.

FREETOWN. Money raised by the town with that received from the State, is divided, one third equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between the ages of 4 and 21 years. Lowest sum, $34 07.

MANSFIELD. Four tenths are divided equally among the districts, and the residue according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $55 65. NEW BEDFORD. The committee did not answer the question. the schools are kept through the year.

Most of

NORTON. Money is divided equally among the districts,-to each $100. PAWTUCKET. Two hundred dollars, (of $1060,) are divided equally among

the districts, and the residue according to the number of scholars. Lowest Vocal music in six schools.

sum, $63 67.

RAYNHAM. Committee did not answer the question.

REHOBOTH. All school moneys are divided according to the number of scholars between the ages of 4 and 16 years. Lowest sum, $9 48. SEEKONK. Money raised by tax is divided among the districts according to the taxes which each paid. Income from Surplus Revenue and from State fund, according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Income from local fund, equally among the districts. Lowest sum, $37 20.

SOMERSET. Money is divided according to the number of families in each district. Lowest sum, $48 89.

SWANZEY. Money is divided "according to the number of houses in each school district, $2 50 being allowed for each house." Lowest sum, $18.

TAUNTON. One half is divided equally among the districts, and one half according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $81 15. Vocal music in four or five schools.

WESTPORT. "The money raised by tax is divided as follows: The summer schools receive $6 per month for the time taught, not exceeding five months, and the remainder is divided equally to all the districts in proportion to the time taught, not exceeding four months. What this falls short of the amount of the teachers' wages, is made up by a tax on each scholar according to the number of days he or she attends school." Lowest sum, $43 91.

PLYMOUTH.

ABINGTON. One half is divided equally among the districts, and one half according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $186 16. Vocal music in three schools.

BRIDGEWATER. One half is divided equally among the districts, and one half according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $86 07.

CARVER. Money is divided according to the number of persons in each district between the ages of 4 and 16 years. Lowest sum, $14.

DUXBURY. One third is divided equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $125.

EAST BRIDGEWATER. One third is divided equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age.

HALIFAX. Money is divided equally among the districts,-$100 to each. HANOVER. One half is divided equally among the districts, and one half according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $96 46. Vocal music in two schools.

HANSON. Money raised by the town is divided according to the number of scholars. Money received from the State equally among the districts. Lowest sum, $54 69. Vocal music in two schools.

HINGHAM. The town is not districted. Most of the schools are kept through the year. Vocal music in three schools.

HULL. No return from committee.

KINGSTON. One third is divided equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $34 82. Vocal music occasionally in three schools.

MARSHFIELD. One third equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $122 29.

MIDDLEBOROUGH. Fifteen dollars are first given to each district, excepting two, which receive only $7 50; the residue is divided according to the number of polls in each district.

NORTH BRIDGEWATER.

One half is divided equally among the districts,

and one half according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $124 65. Vocal music in one school.

PEMBROKE. One third equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $79 75.

PLYMOUTH. Money is divided according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $21 70. Vocal music in seven schools. PLYMPTON. In 1818, the town was divided into six districts, and since that time the money has been equally divided between them,—about $100 to each. Vocal music in two schools, occasionally.

ROCHESTER. Seven hundred dollars are divided equally among the districts, and $1246 73, (raised by the town and received from the State,) according to the number of persons under 21 years of age. Lowest sum, $51 70. SCITUATE. One fourth is divided equally among the districts, and three fourths according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $103 46.

WAREHAM. One fourth is divided equally among the districts, and three fourths according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $50.

WEST BRIDGEWATER. Money has been divided for a few years past, on an "arbitrary" apportionment, varying from $151 71, to $87 05. Vocal music in one school.

BARNSTABLE.

BARNSTABLE. One third is divided equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of "children." Lowest sum, $70.

BREWSTER. Three fourths are divided among the "four principal schools," and one fourth to the other two. Lowest sum, $50.

CHATHAM. Money raised by the town and received from the State is equally divided among the districts.

DENNIS. Money is divided according to the number of persons between the ages of 4 and 16 years, excepting one district, which being entitled, on this apportionment, to only thirteen dollars, receives $25.

EASTHAM. For several years, the money has been equally divided among the districts.

FALMOUTH. Twenty dollars are first given to each district, and the residue is divided according to the number of persons in each district under 21 years of age. Lowest sum $50 57.

HARWICH. One third is divided equally among the districts, and two thirds according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum $75 45.

ORLEANS. Money is divided equally among the districts,-$100 to each. Vocal music in eight schools.

PROVINCETOWN. Money is divided according to the number of scholars. Lowest sum, $23 80.

SANDWICH. Two thousand dollars, together with the interest of the Surplus Revenue, are divided according to the number of scholars; $108 are divided among the districts whose share of the $2000 does not amount to $75. Lowest sum, $56 96.

TRURO. Money is divided according to the number of scholars. Lowest Bum, $36 72.

WELLFLEET. Money raised by tax is divided according to the number of families in town,-all other moneys according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age. Lowest sum, $69 40. Vocal music occasionally in five schools.

YARMOUTH. Money is divided according to the number of persons between 4 and 16 years of age.

DUKES COUNTY.

CHILMARK. Committee did not answer the question.

EDGARTOWN. Money is so divided that all the schools may be kept an equal number of months. Lowest sum, $80 16.

TISBURY. Money is divided according to the number of scholars between 4 and 16 years. Lowest sum, $26 79.

NANTUCKET.

NANTUCKET. All the schools are kept during the year. Vocal music in

seven.

A question now arises, whether these numerous and heterogeneous methods are not susceptible of improvement. If this be decided in the affirmative, then another question comes up, namely; what is the true principle, according to which school moneys should be distributed by towns among their districts? It seems to me that the abstract principle is a clear one,-one,

which the judgment and the moral sentiments of every true friend of his country and his race, ought to approve; but still the practical application of this principle is attended with very serious difficulties. Some districts are very populous, others have but few inhabitants; some are very wealthy, others very poor. The territory of some is very extended, of others, very limited. Probably there are no two districts, in any town in the State, whose circumstances are precisely alike. Those whose duty it is to decide the question of distribution are always more or less interested in the decision they are themselves to make. In all cases this decision must be more or less a matter of discretion, of compromise between conflicting reasons, each of which is worthy to be followed to a certain extent, or up to a certain point; but, beyond that point, each of which will work inequality and mischief. Now it is in this class of cases that our fallible nature is most likely to err,—the selfish propensities working out their will and accomplishing their ends, under the guise, and apparently with the sanction of the moral nature. How difficult, under such circumstances, to do as we would be done by,-to hold the balance in whose opposite scales are our own and our neighbor's rights, with an untremulous hand. Suppose the sum of money raised by a town for the support of its schools, to be two or twenty thousand dollars; suppose this money to be laid in a pile, upon a table, and the whole town, or its authorized agents, to be assembled and seated around, for its partition. Suppose the arbiters of the question to be animated by selfishness alone,-each one intent upon grasping as much as he can, without using the robber's violence, though animated by some of the motives that goad on the robber. Each one, under these circumstances, would draw his imaginary lines across the heap, in such a way as to throw the largest possible share into his own hands; and each also would attempt to adjust his principles to his lines. How many conflicting lines would be drawn; into what different proportions would the mass be cut up! Could a few of the first have the shares they covet, what would be left for the last?

On the other hand, suppose patriotism and philanthropy to be umpires for making the award. Suppose all the children in the