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to the General Government. The importance of the institu-
tion cannot be too highly estimated by the people of the
State, and I take pleasure in commending it to the fostering
care of the General Assembly, by such liberal acts .of legisla-
tion as may be asked for, from time to time, to extend its use-
fulness and sustain the well directed efforts of those, to whose
care it has been entrusted, in effectually guarding it against
annoyance, and protecting the morals of its inmates.

Steps have already been taken to secure suitable accommo-
dations for the Governor of the State, and proposals have
been received from a number of property holders in Annapo-
lis, offering grounds both with and without improvements.
Some of these it is believed may be acceptable; but the ap-
propriation by the law, being limited to the amount received
from the proceeds of the sale of the Executive Mansion, owing
to the omission to make any additional appropriation, it has
been deemed advisable to recommend a reference of the whole
subject to a Joint Select Committee of the two Houses for
such action as may be called for, in determining both as" to
the location, and character of the proposed improvement un-
der such restriction as the General Assembly may think pro-
per to impose.

EDUCATION.

The Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
reached me at so late a date, prior to making up the details
of this Message, that I find it impossible to do more than com-
mend it to the careful examination of the General Assembly.
It will be found to present a most encouraging and gratify-
ing exhibit of the progress of Education, under the liberal
provisions which has been made for the support of this De-
partment. By the able, active and untiring efforts of the of-
ficer in charge, 'a great work has already been accomplished,
and we may congratulate the people of the State, that no ap-
propriation is likely to result in more practical and substan-
tial benefits to all classes of our citizens. A careful examina-
tion into the details of this system of public instruction, by a
Committee of your Honorable Body, would, I am sure, con-
firm to the fullest extent, the views which I have presented.

St. John's College, after a long period of suspension, has
been re-opened again under the most favorable auspices. It
is believed that few Institutions in this country offer greater
inducements to the youth of our own and other States; and it
is earnestly to be hoped that its means of usefulness will be
extended by the encouraging aid and liberal patronage of the
people of the State.

The Agricultural College has also been reorganized, and
will go into operation early in the ensuing spring.
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