6. A record of the contracts, receipts and disbursements
connected with the uniform series of Text Books authorized
by the State Board of Education.

1. Such information concerning private and denomination-
al Schools, Academies and Colleges, as will enable the Gen-
eral Assembly to estimate the extent and efficiency of all the
facilities for education within the State.

8. The progress made in the establishment of the County
High Schools, with such suggestions as may improve the
efficiency of the instruction and increase the benefits which
(these schools are designed to confer.

The information required will be found in the text,
statistical tables, and other documents herewith presented.
The design is to give the fullest practicahle record of the
work of the Department of Public Instruction, that not only
the General Assembly, but every citizen who is interested in
the moral and intellectual progress of the State, and concern-
ed for the welfare of children, may judge of the efficiency of
the existing system of Free Public Schools by the results at-
tained under the zealous and laborious supervision of the
School officers.

Our Free School system is young, and has to contend against
the difficulties incident upon organization. Like every un-
tried scheme it must win its way to public confidence by its
victories, and thus disarm prejudice and secure a place in the
affections of wise and liberal minded citizens so firm, that its
beneficent intentions may, by a cordial support, be fully
realized.

It is by results that the value of this, in common with
every act of legislation, ought to be tested. To the results
attained in the space of twelve months, and in the face of
many obstacles, the rigid scrutiny of every friend of popular
education is invited; that if there be faults they may be cor-
rected; if there be virtues they may have full and free
opportunity for practical development. We wish the School
system of Maryland to be put upon trial and judged accord-
ing to evidence; to have it impartially compared with the
School systems of the sister States; with those States sup-
posed to enjoy greater opportunities than our own, and in
which there has been for many-consecutive years, steady, even
increasing effort to perfect the Public School law. It is
thought that the investigation and comparison will prove
that the Free School system of our State, though young, is a
young giant, and capable of overcoming while in its cradle
the difficulties with which other systems have for many years
been unsuccessfully contending.

Identified as I am with the School Law in its leading fea-
tures; believing it to be a good working law; in all its sec-
tions strictly and efficiently practical, needing very few
amendments, and these chiefly to correct ambiguities of lan-