caped; and the result is seen in the present position of her University, at the head of all western Institutions; and though yet young in years, rivalling in strength and influence the time honored Institutions of Harvard and Yale. Possessing regular income of its own of $40,000 per annum, it can claim men of the first talent of the country among its corps of Professors. With free instruction and equally open to all, it invites students from each of the thirty-four United States and receives them from the most. Including those attending the Medical and Law Departments, nearly seven hundred students nave been connected with it during the past year. At its annual Commencement, from which I have but just returned, it graduated a class of fifty-four, representing nine different States. An abstract of the Commencement exercises might be of interest, but this communication is already of sufficient length. At another time, if permitted, I shall be pleased to give you a report of the Michigan Union Schools. Yours, T. D. M.

THE GREAT COMET OF 1861.

The comet first generally observed on the evening of June 30th, 1861, was the most brilliant that has appeared for centuries, and one of the most remarkable on record. The evening of its appearance was, for an hour after sunset, somewhat cloudy; but before nine o'clock the atmosphere had become perfectly clear.* The nucleus, which was in or very near the head of the Lynx, had an apparent magnitude much greater than Jupiter. The tail crossed the Camelopard, Little Bear, Dragon, and Hercules, terminating in the Bull of Poniatowski. Its apparent length, therefore, was about one hundred and twenty degrees—more than one half of which was very brilliant. Its greatest breadth was not less than seven or eight degrees.

The apparent length of the trains of the most remarkable comets that have appeared since the christian era are as follows:

The train of a comet seen in China near the close of the ninth century is said by some of the Chinese Historians to have been nearly two hun. dred degrees in length; but this is probably a great exaggeration. That of the comet of 1861 was the largest of which we have any authentic record.

This comet is one of the very few that have been visible to the naked eye in full daylight. It was seen before sunset on Monday evening July 1st, by the Rev. HENRY W. BALLANTINE, of Bloomington, Indiana.

The body has been observed by the writer on fifteen consecutive nights. It is now (July 15th) becoming very faint. When first visible on the 30th ult., it was supposed by many to be the great expected comet of 1264 and 1556. It was soon apparent, however, that the bodies could not be identical,

Further details are reserved for the September Number. Bloomington, Ind. July 15th 1861. DANIEL KIRKWOOD.

INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS, (Examiners.)

Mr. Burrowes, Superintendent of Common Schools in Pennsylvania, has issued a circular of General Instructions to County Superintendents, which we insert, as it is equally well adapted to our State-the Superintendents corresponding with our Examiners.

"It is desirable that Superintendents, in their School visitations, should make inquiry into all matters affecting the character and operations of the Schools, especially in regard to the following things:

1. THE SCHOOL HOUSE.-Its location, play-grounds, shade-trees and out-houses; materials, plan, dimensions, hight of ceiling, and state of repair; means of warming and ventilating, and neatness of condition.

2. SCHOOL FURNITURE.-Desks and seats-their style, arrangement and convenience; Teacher's desk, situation and convenience; blackboard, maps, globes and other school apparatus; arrangement for hats, bonnets, and cloaks; general condition as to neatness and repair.

3. THE SCHOOL.-Its grade; whole number, average number and punctuality of pupils; classification; whether each pupil is attending to proper number of studies; branches taught, and books used; punishments, whether corporal or otherwise, and how inflicted; intermissions, how often and how long; habits of study, and degree of advancement; order and manners of the pupils; moral tone of school, and interest manifested in school by the community.

4. THE TEACHER.-Age, birth-place, and where educated; terms or

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24.

years engaged in teaching; whether intending to be a pemanent teacher; books and periodicals on teaching read; ability to teach and govern; dress, manner and deportment; use of language.

5. VISITATION.-Number of persons present at examinations and exhibitions; directors' visits, frequency and effect; number and effect of visits by parents and guardians.

6. DISTRICT INSTITUTES.-Whether District Institutes are organized; number of Teachers regularly attending; directors and people attending, how often held; nature of exercises and by whom conducted; whether and how often attended by County Superintendent; mismanagement in conducting, and improper exercises; advantages resulting.

7. MORAL INSTRUCTION.-Number of Schools in which it is given ; whether by use of books on the subject, or by regular oral instruction; number of Schools in which the Scriptures are regularly read, and general effect on the Schools.

8, PUBLIC SENTIMENT.-The prevailing public sentiment in relation to the Common School system in each District; whether favorable or unfavorable, and the prominent cause of either state of feeling."

-We add, Does the Trustee, Director, or District Teacher receive the School Journal regularly? If not, induce them to subscribe.

These matters, reported to the Superintendent and School Journal, would aid the one in his general supervision, and the other in its usefulness as an organ and exponent of Common Schools.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL.

Friend P. FISHE REED, the Painter and Poet, has been appointed Professor of Rhetoric and English Composition in Whitewater College, and also Superintendent of the Fine Art Department. This latter, embrac ing Painting and Drawing in all their branches, is a new feature in the college course. Whitewater College is the first, in the West at least, to adopt the plan of Yale in respect to the special department system, which allows a student to pursue a special course and graduate in that without taking a full collegiate course.

The President, Mr. Barnes, has been fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Reed in these departments. Mr. R. is a standard scholar and poet, and as such has a wide reputation. He is author of various essays on English Composition which have attracted the attention of the most eminent critics, and the literati generally.

There is a science above the mechanical principles of language. Liter

ary composition may be a perfect "man of earth," but it must be infused with the "breath of life" if it is to live in the hearts of men. Mr. R. is peculiarly fitted for this field. His analytic mind and extensive reading enables him to comprehend and explain both the mechanical and spiritual phases of our language. We cordially commend him to all our friends in Centerville.

H. H. Y.

RETURNED FROM EUROPE.-Misses Catharine and Mina Merrill and Masters Louis and William Ketcham arrived at home yesterday after an absence of two years in Europe. They came from Liverpool to New York on the Europa, in company with Gen. Eremont, whose acquaintance they formed on the voyage. The party, since their absence from home, have traveled through Ireland, Scotland, England, France and Germany, spending a portion of their time at Berlin, and frequently meeting Ex-Gov. Wright, our Ambassador at the Prussian Court. The Masters Ketcham have learned to speak German with ease, and with almost as much facility as their native English. The whole party have made good use of their time in sight-seeing, in observing the manners and customs of the different peoples with whom they have temporarily resided, and acquainting themselves with their literature. They return home happy to see their frlends but sorry to end a trip that has proved so pleasurable and so profitable.-Indianapolis Journal, July 4.

-Our readers will recognize Miss Catharine Merrill as the author of our "European Correspondence," which terminates with this number. We believe these letters have proved entertaining and instructive to all the readers of the JOURNAL. Some of our exchanges have spoken of them in the most complimentary terms. The Southern Teacher mentions the European Correspondence as "a remarkable feature in a School Journal," and the Pennsylvania School Journal copies entire the letter in our April number.

H. H. Y.

J. F. BIRD, Principal of the Owensville High School, writes, July 8th: "Our school is in a very flourishing condition. During the present term one hundred and sixty pupils have been enrolled. The present term will close on the 10th inst.; the fall term for the third scholastic year will commence September 2, '61. E. C. Gage is assistant, and Mrs. C. A. Bird teacher of Embroidery.

E. C. THORNTON writes from New Garden, June 28th:

"There were only four schools in session in the township the present summer: two were under charge of Directors, and two select schools. Wages, $18, $20, and $25, per month. One male, and three female teachers. For want of suitable schools in our own township, ten of

our young men and women sought instruction in the High Schools in other places."

MR. JOHN M. SNODDY, teacher in the Paragon High School, (not Paragon Collegiate Institute, as erroneously given in our March number,) informs us that his school closed with quite an increase over the previous term, with fair prospects for the coming year.

MR. J. BALDWIN informs us that the Kokomo Normal School will open again in September. Mr. B. has just returned from the War in Virginia, where he has been correcting the unruly cions of Secessia. We welcome him back to Hoosierland.

[Communicated.

GOOD FOR FREMONT!-I do not mean General Fremont, Mr. Editor, but that the good and intelligent farmers within and near the quiet village of Fremont, in this county, have retained, like sensible men, that live teacher, PLEASANT BOND, as their Principal; and he, with two able astistants-Mr. Pinckham and Miss Russell-are to open a Graded School in said village, commencing on the first Monday in October next.

This speaks well for the good citizens of that township; they are determined to make this a model school. They will succeed, for there is not to be found a more earnest and efficient corps of teachers in any of the rural districts in the State. We predict that Decatur Township will ere long be the banner township educationally in the county; as the people do the voting, and their children will go to school. Indianpolis, Aug. 2, 1861.

C S.

PRESIDENT C. E. HOVEY, of the Illinois State Normal University, has tendered the government a regiment of teachers and students. It is accepted, and is called the Normal Regiment.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL has withdrawn from the editorship of the ATLANTIC MONTHLY.

DANIEL ADAMS, of Keene, N. H., although in his 89th year, is said to be preparing for publication a revised edition of his Arithmetic.

GEN. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN has received the degree of LL.D from the Ingham University, of Le Roy, N. Y.

An Institute is now in session at Noblesville, Hamilton county. A Teachers' Institute, representing the counties of Decatur and Rush, will be held at Spring Hill, Decatur county, commencing on the 19th inst. A Teachers' Institute will be held in Cleveland, Hancock Co., commencing on the 12th inst., and continuing one or two weeks. We have not learned who will conduct it, but understand a large attendance is expected. The 6th district is doing nobly.