ANNUAL REPORT.

AN Institution whose influence is manifested in silent and gradual effects upon the moral and intellectual condition of the community, requires little detail in the Annual Report of its Directors. Its mental receipts and disbursements are indeed accurately and minutely recorded above, but the records must, in a great measure, be read with the eye of faith, whose vision is, perhaps, obstructed and distorted by intervening media.

The general aspects of the Institute, however, arc cheering. Education is becoming more widely diffused throughout the Union; free schools are established in States recently a wilderness; the course of studies, in some of our higher institutions especially, is modified to meet the demands of the age; more commodious schoolbuildings are erected; libraries and convenient apparatus are provided; High Schools are maintained in most of our cities and many of our large towns; Normal Schools and State Institutes are numerous; a spirit of liberality for educational purposes, both on the part of legislators and private individuals, is by no means rare; better qualified teachers are in demand; improved modes of instruction are adopted; and the services of able teachers are more highly prized and more suitably compensated. These

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results are, by no means, all attributable to this Institute. Nevertheless, it is believed that, either in its collective capacity, or through the agency of its individual members, this Association has done more for education than any other having a similar object in view. Even the pioneer, who, with compass in hand, marks the trees and constructs the first cabin, is no unimportant agent of civilization.

One cloud, however, obscures our western horizon. I allude to attempts to organize sectarian schools, maintained at public expense. These, of whatever denomination, are totally inconsistent with the spirit and design of our institutions. We would freely accord to foreigners who seek a home among us, all the opportunities for culture which we ourselves enjoy, but any peculiar privilege we cannot well afford.

The Institute has now reached the twenty-fifth year of its existence; and, although a great number of other educational societies have been formed, and are doing a good work, and perhaps with more concentrated labor, yet ours has not outlived its faculties nor relinquished its exertions. The members attending its recent annual meetings; the interest in its proceedings, and the hospitality towards its members, manifested by the people among whom the sessions have been held; and the distinguished individuals who have encouraged the Institute by their presence, and assisted it with their eminent talents and great experience, give assurance that our endeavors are neither useless nor slightly appreciated.

According to the Report of the Censors, a volume of Lectures, delivered at New Haven last year, has been published by Wm. D. Ticknor & Co., and is offered for sale by that Firm.

From the Report of the Curators, it appears that the

Library is quite safe, but that it is little used, probably from the fact that teachers find copious sources of reading elsewhere.

The Treasurer's Report shows that the funds are in a good condition, and that the balance on hand is $215.46.

All which is respectfully submitted.

THOMAS SHERWIN, for the Directors.

PROVIDENCE, Aug. 8, 1854.

TWENTY-FIVE years since, on the first anniversary of the American Institute of Instruction, I had the honor to appear before you on an occasion like the present. Little did I then suppose that, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, my services would again be required. It would have been better for you had this duty been devolved upon some teacher whose labors, during this long interval, have been attended with greater success than my own. When invited to address you, however, I could not deny myself the pleasure of tendering to my fellow laborers in the work of instruction the welcome of the citizens of Providence, who are always ready to foster any effort which has for its object the well being of humanity, and whose schools bear honorable testimony specially to their zeal in the cause of education. It is their earnest hope that your visit may be as pleasant to you as it will be profitable to them. May a kind Providence

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