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them with great emulation in making their preparations.
Nothing affords children more exquisite pleasure than to
have an opportunity to exhibit their talents and acquire-
ments. It is also equally salutary in arousing a professional
pride among the teachers. And it continues to stimulate
teacher and pupil throughout the whole school term. It
also affords parents an opportunity of judging of the pro-
gress of their children ana the qualifications of the teachers.

School Houses—Present the same appearance of dilapida-
tion as they did years ago. They have nothing to recom-
mend them but their antiquity. The tenements are uncom-
fortable and destitute of all pretentious to good taste. In-
deed, I do not think I use language too strong when I
say they are disgraceful to the communities in which they
are located. Ami in most instances there is a perfect adap-
tation of furniture to the appearance of the antiquated ex-
terior. All the schools are devoid of globes and maps, and
in many instances, of even black-boards. Nothing, in my
opinion, would contribute more to the permanency of our
new system, than to be able to substitute for the tumble-
down huts, now occupied as school houses, comfortable and
attractive edifices.

Mental Exercises.—Almost every school in the County has
daily exercises in Familiar Sciences, and some have intro-
duced Mental Arithmetic. It is the plan of some of the
teachers in the examinations in Mental Arithmetic, to en-
gage the pupils in the lower and more advanced classes at the
same time. The great rapidity and facility with which
they solve the numerous questions propounded to them,
reader it a deeply interesting exercise.

Text-Books,—The universal introduction of Text-Books is
attended with much trouble and vexation. It occurs in some
instances from, opposition, and frequently for the want of
ability to purchase books, as they are required.

It is a desideratum in the consummation of this beneficent
scheme of education to introduce some plan by which every
child may be supplied with Text-Books; and one by which
the poorest children, as recipients, may not be subjected to
the humiliating imputation of being considered paupers. If
some delicate plan for gratuitous distribution could be
adopted, I am confident it would lead to the development of
many bright intellects.

Impediments.—Many still exist to retard the progress ot
our new system in this County. The most prominent is the
adverse interpretation of the law by the County authorities,
in reference to the imposition of an additional school tax,
Tim result has been the curtailment of our financial ability,
which has rendered us unable to pay ear teachers the sala-