These officers, and the Senators and Representatives, are elected annually, on the 1st Wednesday of April, for the year commencing 1st Tuesday of May.

The Senate consists of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and one Senator from each of the thirty-one towns in the State.

The House of Representatives consists of 69 members. The present ratio is one Representative to every 1,530 inhabitants, and fractions of more than half are represented. Each town is to have one, and no town more than 12, Representatives.

The qualifications of electors are as follows: Every male native citizen of the United States, who has resided in the State two years, and in the town where he proposes to vote six months, who has been registered at the town clerk's office at least seven days before the election, and who has paid within one year a tax of one dollar, or has been enrolled in a military company and done military duty at least one day within the preceding year, shall be entitled to vote; likewise, every male citizen (naturalized foreigner) of the United States, who, in addition to the preceding qualifications, possesses real estate in the town or city worth $134 over all incumbrances, or which rents for $7 per annum.

The Judges of the Supreme Court hold their offices until they are removed by a resolution passed by both Houses of the Assembly, and voted for by a majority of the members elected to each House. The Court of Common Pleas in each of the five counties consists of a Justice of the Supreme Court, who sits as Chief Justice, and two Associate Justices, who are elected for each county. The Justice of the Supreme Court, who sits in the Common Pleas, does not sit in the Supreme Court on appeals from his own decisions. The Associate Judges of the Common Pleas, Sheriffs, Clerks, &c., are elected annually by the Legislature.

During the past year a new code of laws was prepared and published, and it went into effect in Sept. 1844. It contains many important improvements upon the old laws. The rights of married women are effectually secured to certain sorts of personal property. The laws regulating interest are so modified, that, upon a plea of usury, the plaintiff will notwithstanding recover the principal of his debt, with the legal interest.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

By an act of the General Assembly, passed January, 1828, a permanent school fund was commenced, which was invested in bank stock, and now amounts to upwards of $50,000. The sum of $25,000 per annum is paid from the State treasury to the school committees of the several towns for the support of public schools. The interest of this State's portion of the deposit of the United States' surplus revenue, and moneys arising from several other sources, are also applied to the support of public schools.

During the past year, Henry Barnard, Esq. has been actively employed, under the direction of the Legislature, in examining the public schools, diffusing information, and endeavoring to improve their condition. A bill is now before the Legislature, which will probably pass, by which the schools will be placed under the care of a superintendent, and will be in many respects materially improved.

Abstract from the Annual Returns of Public Schools, made to the General Assembly in May, 1844: Number of School Districts,

Do. Male Teachers,

359
342

Number of Schools,

Average number of scholars attending,

428

Paid from the State Treasury for Free or Public Schools,

14,528 $25,095.74

27,918.83

Paid by the towns for the same,

Since 1838, regular returns have been required. The following is a comparative statement of a portion of these returns:

There is a literary institution at Providence, called the "Providence Athenæum," the library of which contains 10,585 volumes. Another, at Newport, called the "Redwood Library," contains 4,500 volumes.

VI. CONNECTICUT.

GOVERNMENT

For the Year ending on the 1st Wednesday in May, 1845.

Salary.

A plurality of votes elects State senators and members of Congress. For all other officers a majority is necessary.

A term of the Superior Court is held by one judge twice annually, in each county of the State, and the Supreme Court, constituted of the five judges, meets annually in each county. The judges of this Court hold their offices until seventy years of age.

County Court. A County Court is held by one judge three times each year, in the several counties. The judges of this Court are appointed annually by the Legislature.