Hon. William Willis, of Portland, President; Prof. Parker Cleaveland, LL.D., of Brunswick, Corresponding Secretary; Hon. Phineas Barnes, of Portland, Recording Secretary; John McKeen, Esq., Treasurer; Prof. A. S. Packard, of Brunswick, Librarian; Hon. William Willis, Leonard Woods, D.D., Rev. John S. C. Abbott, Hon. Robert H. Gardiner, and John McKeen, Esq., Publishing Committee; Leonard Woods, D.D., Hon. James W. Bradbury, Prof. Parker Cleaveland, LL.D., John McKeen, Esq., and Hon. Robert P. Dunlap, Standing Committee.

In 1831 this Society published its first volume of transactions, which embraced the histories of several towns, and other exceedingly valuable papers; among which were extracts from Governor Lincoln's MS. on the Indian Language and Catholic Missions; a Journal of the Expedition across Maine to Quebec, in 1775, by Colonel Montressor, with General Arnold's Letters; and original documents relating to the early history of the State. The second volume was published in 1847, the third in 1853, the fourth in 1855, and another volume is now in press, containing the first printed edition of valuable documents relating to the early settlements between the Kennebec and Penobscot rivers, which have recently been discovered in the State Department of New York.

By a grant of the Legislature, made in 1849, the Society received a half township of land, which has since been sold for $6,000. The Library is annually increasing. The collection of manuscripts and pamphlets is a considerable and valuable one.

The annual meeting is held at Brunswick, on the day of Commencement at Bowdoin College. A semiannual meeting is held at Augusta during the session of the Legislature.

PORTLAND SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY.

OFFICERS.

William Wood, President; Geo. H. Preble, Vice-President; James T. McCobb, Corresponding Secretary; S. B. Beckett, Recording Secretary; Edward Gould,

Treasurer; Edward Pennell, Cabinet-Keeper; J. W. Chickering, John Neal, Allen Haines, Edward P. Banks, Gilman Daveis, E. H. Elwell, J. R. Thompson, Associate Managers.

This Society was organized in 1843, with a respectable Cabinet, which had been increased by continued additions of valuable articles, till it contained more than six hundred mounted birds; upwards of four thousand different species of shells, and ten or twelve thousand specimens; more than two thousand varieties of minerals; a large number of rare fossils; several cases of Reptilia, Crustacea, skeletons, and preparations of animals; more than one hundred species of fishes; and numerous other specimens of interest which could not be conveniently arranged in cases. On the 8th of January, 1854, this whole Cabinet, together with the Society's choice collection of books, was consumed by fire. As there was no insurance, the loss of the Society was at least twenty-five thousand dollars. Through the liberality of the citizens of Portland, and other friends of science abroad, a new Cabinet has been formed, and the Society is rapidly approaching its former prosperous condition.

II. NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Capital, Concord. Area, 8,030 square miles. - Population, 1850, 317,976.

IN New Hampshire, a Commissioner is appointed annually, by the Governor and Council, in each of the ten counties of the State. The Commissioners, in their "associated capacity, constitute a Board of Education, with the power of choosing a Chairman and Secretary”; and it is their duty to meet twice in each year, in Concord, at the Capitol, to consult in relation to the educational interests of the State. It is the duty, also, of the Board of Education to "recommend such books as may appear to them most suitable to be used in Common Schools, and such methods of instruction, modes of government, and discipline to be pursued in said schools as may seem best adapted to promote their usefulness."

The law makes it the duty, also, of each Commissioner "to spend not less than one day in each town of his county each year, for the purpose of promoting, by addresses, inquiries, and other means, the cause of commonschool education, and to report his doings to the Secretary of the Board of Education." It is expected that each Commissioner will hold and take charge of Fall and Spring Teachers' Institutes in his county.

The law requires that "the Board of Education shall annually, in the month of June, through their Secretary, make to the General Court a report upon the Common Schools of the State, comprising the substance of the returns from the several towns, and such suggestions and information as may seem useful to said Board." These reports are printed at the expense of the State, and sent into each school district in the State.

From the last Annual Report, prepared by Jonathan Tenney, Esq. (1857), we gather the following information: