stage of their operation in a plethora in the national treasury, arising from the vast receipts from the revenue on imports and the sale of public lands. Under this state of things, a bill was passed in Congress and became a law, depositing the surplus revenue with the several States of the Union; and that portion which was deposited with the State of New York was, by a law passed at the session of the Legislature (1837-'38), appropriated for school purposes. This became a source of increased and very desirable revenue to the Public School Society, and, the facts being committed to the board by Hon. Gulian C. Verplanck, a committee on the subject was appointed, which reported a statement of the measure, with a copy of the law, and were thereupon discharged. The Common Council had adopted resolutions and taken the preliminary steps for the opening of Centre street to Chatham, the Park at that time extending to an angle which made a circuitous route through Chambers street necessary for all other than pedestrians. The extension required the demolition and removal of No. 1, as that building occupied a position on the line of the opening. The school for colored children, known as No. 1, was located in William street, on lots leased from the city, but which had been vacated soon after the transfer to the Society in 1834, and a new house erected in Laurens, near Broome street. The building in William street was occupied, at the time of the extension, for public purposes, and, on its surrender to the Society, was replaced by a new and commodious house, the schools, in the interval, being accommodated in hired premises. On the 4th of May, the name of the "African" schools was changed to that of "Colored." The average attendance for the year ending May 1, 1838, as reported to the Commissioners of School Money, was 19,982, of which 1,441 were colored children. The increase in the business of the Society by the multiplication of schools, the system of supplies, &c., made it expedient to secure sufficient apartments for the meetings of the board and its committees, as well as to provide for the preservation of the records, and a suitable depository. Only a part of these purposes were originally contemplated in a resolution by which a committee was appointed in November, 1837, to take such steps as might be deemed necessary to procure a hall for meetings of the board. The committee, in 1838, were directed, on their own recommendations, to apply to the Common Council for the use of an apartment in one of the public buildings, but the request was not granted, The committee reported in favor of making an appropriation of not over $1,500 a year for the purpose, which should be expended in rent, or in "interest on the cost," as the case might be. The recommendation was adopted, and the foundation laid for the "Trustees' Hall," now occupied by the Board of Education. The new building for No. 1, erected on the lots occupied as a school for colored children, having been completed and prepared for the reception of pupils, the dedication exercises were held on the 16th of October. The scholars passed a creditable examination, and the audience were highly gratified at the condition of the school. Thirty of the trustees and a large number of visitors were present on the occasion. During the month of October, the friends of education in New York were called to pay their tribute of respect to the memory of JOSEPH LANCASTER, the distinguished and indefatiga-. ble laborer in the cause of popular instruction, and the founder of the system known by his name, which had been so successfully adopted and improved by the Public School Society. Mr. Lancaster took a great interest in the schools, and had commenced a series of visits for the purpose of inspection and counsel. On the 22d of October, an examination took place at No. 7, in Chrystie street, at the close of which he left the school. In crossing Grand street, he was thrown down by a horse and carriage, and very seriously injured. He was taken to the house of a friend, where his physicians attended him, but without avail. He was called to his rest on the 24th, two days afterward, and his remains were placed in the burying-ground of the Society of Friends, in Houston street, between the Bowery and Chrystie street. On the announcement of the death of Mr. Lancaster in the Board of Trustees, Benjamin Clark, Lindley Murray, and Samuel F. Mott were appointed a committee to prepare a testimonial to his memory; which duty was performed, and the following "minute" was directed to be engrossed by a competent pupil of the public schools, and placed in the trustees' room: JOSEPH LANCASTER, THE AUTHOR OF THE MONITORIAL OR SYSTEM OF MUTUAL INSTRUCTION, ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE LANCASTERIAN SYSTEM, WAS BORN NEAR LONDON ON THE 25TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1778, AND DIED AT WILLIAMSBURGH, IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, ON THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER, A. D. 1838. HE TRAVELLED EXTENSIVELY IN BOTH HEMISPHERES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING AND PROMOTING HIS Admirable System of Education: A SYSTEM WHICH IS RAPIDLY AMELIORATING THE CONDITION OF MAN, AND EXTENDING THE BLESSINGS OF EDUCATION TO MILLIONS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE LIVED AND DIED IN THE DARKNESS OF IGNORANCE. IN THE PROSECUTION OF THIS NOBLE AND BENEVOLENT OBJECT HE WAS ON A VISIT TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND HAD JUST LEFT ONE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHEN HE MET WITH THE CASUALTY WHICH IN A FEW HOURS TERMINATED HIS MORTAL CAREER. AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO HIS MEMORY, THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK HAVE CAUSED THIS SHEET TO BE EXECUTED BY A PUPIL OF PUBLIC SCHOOL NO. IN THE school privileges within the reach of the youngest children, many of whom would have been unprovided for, in consequence of the distance of the larger schools from their abodes. The result was much in favor of the departments of the large schools, but the discrepancy was easily understood and recognized, and the committee recommended such a revision of the manual as would not only develop the primary schools and make them more efficient, but would also remove the difficulties which apparently existed in regard to their cost and attendance. The committee were decided in their conviction that moral and physical education are far more important for children under six years of age than instruction in letters, and that frequent intermissions and varied exercises for children of that age are necessary, while the confinement of the scholars to a bench for hours in succession is injurious and improper. The recommendations of the committee were adopted. The experiment of a school for the special instruction of German children had now been fairly tried, and the Primary School Committee was requested to submit a report thereon. They ascertained that, during the first year, 380 pupils had been admitted, of whom 328 entered the first class. Of these, 57 had learned to read, and, out of this number, 15 had removed to the country, and 27 had entered upon some business occupation. The object of the school-which was, to make it introductory to the public schools-had been lost sight of by the teacher, as no transfers had been made, in consequence of the reluctance of the scholars to leave the teacher and the school to which they had become attached, and the apprehension, which was strengthened by the declaration of many, that they would abandon school altogether if so transferred. The teacher desired that certain privileges in regard to advanced lessons might be granted, but the committee were unwilling to concur with the plan, except in a modified form. They recommended a school for German girls in the eastern section of the city, and two other schools, one for each sex, in any locality where they appeared to be required. The schools were to be strictly conducted as primary schools, except that the boys' schools might be under the care of a male teacher, and that minors of any age over four years might be admitted. The committee, on obtaining a suitable place for the use of |