their orations orally. The institution is at present attended by ninety-eight students, forty-eight of whom are in the preparatory department. Of this number about onethird are females.

The students in the college proper are all males and come from twenty-four different States. In 1868 there were four graduates of the college, and in 1869 there were five. It may be mentioned as an interesting fact that these nine graduates are now receiv ing an average annual salary of $1,100 each. One of them is an assistant examiner in the Patent Office, having received his appointment after a competitive examination over seventeen other applicants, one is a microscopist in the Coast Survey office, several are in the different departments of the Government as clerks, but the majority are engaged in teaching. A small library and reading-room are attached to the institution, which is supported by congressional appropriations, made yearly, by the tuition fees of paying pupils, (a small number,) and by voluntary contributions. Twenty-five scholarships are provided by the Government, and the amount annually appropriated by Congress is about $40,000, with occasional extra allowances for building purposes. As it is estimated that there are at least twenty thousand deaf-mutes in the United States, and as all of the different States of the Union have recently established preparatory schools for the education of their deaf-mutes, it is believed that within a short time the National Deaf-Mute College will be unable to accommodate the large number that will apply for admission. But one wing of the college proper has been built, and the friends of the institution are anxious to see the main structure erected as soon as possible.

GONZAGA COLLEGE.

This institution, which was formerly known as the "Washington Seminary," was re-opened for the youth of Washington and vicinity on the 2d of October, 1848. It is conducted by the fathers of the Society of Jesus, (Roman Catholic,) and is located on I street, between North Capitol and First streets, northwest, near St. Aloysius Church. The president is the Rev. James Clark, S. J. This college was incorporated by Congress in May, 1858, under the name of the "President and Directors of Gonzaga Col lege." The college is intended for day scholars only, irrespective of creed or religious profession, is usually attended by about 150 students, whose ages range from ten to eighteen years, and has seven instructors.

WAYLAND SEMINARY.

This institution was organized in 1865, having for its object the education of preachers and teachers for the colored people. Its present location is at the corner of Nineteenth and I streets, but land has recently been purchased for new buildings upon Meridian Hill on Sixteenth street, and the funds for the erection of the buildings are in process of collection among the colored people of the Baptist denomination. The value of the school property at present is estimated at $10,000. The current expenses of the institution are furnished by the Sabbath-schools of the country, amounting to about $6,000 annually. The American Baptist Home Missionary Society has the general charge of the support of the school. The school has three departments, theolog ical, academic, and normal. The number of students during the past year was 70, of whom 60 were males and 10 females. The average age of the students is about twentythree years. Connected with the school is a student's home, where 45 are boarded, the funds for their support coming from abroad, without which aid it would have been impossible to carry on the school. The instructors are the Rev. G. M. P. King, A. M., principal, and two assistants.

THE WASHINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE.

The Washington Business College, H. C. Spencer, principal, is located at the corner of Seventh and L streets, northwest. The instruction includes knowledge essential in all kinds of business operations. The business course comprises practical penmanship, grammar, composition and correspondence, commercial geography, business arithmetic, book-keeping applied to all kinds of business, business practice, business forms, political economy, and commercial law. There are special departments in the college, which include telegraphy, French, German, phonography, and drawing. Hours of instruction from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m., and from 6 to 9 p. m. The average membership is about 200. A membership in this college is good in any of the institutions of "the Business College Association."

THE LYCEUM IN WASHINGTON

has grown rapidly within a few years. Its public discourses have been given by the learned of both America and Europe, and it is estimated that they have been listened to by at least 50,000 people within the past five years. The organizations which have taken the lead in making the enterprise of public lectures a success, are the Grand Army of the Republic and the Young Men's Christian Association.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES

are great educational repositories. Those of national importance are the Library of Congress, the library of the Department of State, the document library of Congress, the library of the Naval Observatory, and the Patent Office library. The Library of Congress now comprises the library of the Smithsonian Institution, the copyright library of the Patent Office, the law library of the Supreme Court, and to it has been added the library of Peter Force, ex-mayor of Washington. Its collection numbers over 230,000 volumes, being the largest in the United States. Congress appropriates $10,000 annually for the increase of the library, and has further enacted that two copies of every book copyrighted in the United States shall be deposited here. Any person is allowed to examine the books, but none are permitted to be taken away, except by the President of the United States, the Vice-President, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, judges of the Supreme Court, cabinet officers, the diplomatic corps, and a few other high officials. A. R. Spofford, esq., is librarian.

The library of the Department of State contains nearly 19,000 volumes, embracing works on diplomacy, international law, &c.

The document libraries of the Senate and House of Representatives contain nearly 100,000 volumes of documents, reports, debates, &c.

The Patent Office library was founded in 1837, and now contains 21,000 volumes, embracing scientific and technical works of all descriptions as applied to the arts. As such, it is believed to be unsurpassed in the world. Its use is restricted to the Department officials, but for reference within its doors it is free to the public. Dr. Ĝ. C. Shaeffer is librarian.

The Agricultural, the Interior, and Treasury Departments have each a library of considerable magnitude. That of the Agricultural Department contains about 8,000 volumes, relating almost exclusively to agriculture and its collateral interests. The collection is yearly swelled by the choicest productions of the foreign, scientific, and industrial press, especially from that of France and Germany. Exchanges are at present made with over 1,500 native and 300 foreign societies.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Washington, and the order of Odd Fellows have libraries of considerable size. The former contains 12,000 volumes, and is under the charge of the "Washington Library Company." It embraces every species of general literature. The books are free to the use of all, in the rooms, but only members or subscribers can take them away. The Odd Fellows' library is of a miscellaneous character, and has 3,229 volumes. It is limited to the use of the members of the order, their widows and children.

The library of the Naval Observatory is noticed under that institution.

THE ENTOMOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM

is located in the building of the Department of Agriculture, and is a novel exhibition of the manufactures from agricultural products, and also shows how these products are affected by different climates, and processes of cultivation, and what insects, birds, and animals are especially injurious or beneficial to them.

THE HERBARIUM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

contains about 15,000 specimens of dried plants. A laboratory is connected with this department, where analyses are made of soils, fertilizers, and agricultural products, and the results communicated to societies or individuals desiring them.

THE CONSERVATORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

was established in 1870. It is intended for the propagation and experimental culture of all plants that may be utilized in the arts, in medicine, or as food. It contains many kindred specimens of plants and flowers, and, in connection with the arboretum attached to the grounds-which represents, by groups, the different genera of trees, and which contains over 1,400 species-is a place of interesting study.

THE BOTANICAL GARDEN,

located west of the Capitol, contains over 4,000 species of plants, from this and other countries embraced within the temperate and tropical zones. A green-house is supplied for plants which require its protection. The garden was established since 1853, and the first plants received were from the Wilkes's Exploring Expedition.

THE CORCORAN ART GALLERY

contains a collection of paintings and statuary, valued at several hundred thousand dollars, donated to the city of Washington by W. W. Corcoran, in 1869. Among the collections is the "Greek Slave," by Powers. The collection is still exhibited at the residence of Mr. Corcoran, on Tuesdays and Fridays, as the building intended for their reception, corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventeenth street, is not yet fully finished.

THE MINERAL CABINET OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE

contains a large number of geological specimens from almost every State and Territory, (some being from foreign countries,) fossils of various kinds, Indian relics, &c., most of which have been contributed, from time to time, by the sub-officers of the Land Office throughout the West. In connection with the cabinet is a laboratory in which analyses are made of soils and ores. The cabinet is located in the Interior Department building.

THE UNITED STATES PATENT MUSEUM OR MODEL-ROOM,

in what is known as the "Patent Office," is located between F and G, and Seventh and Ninth streets, northeast from the Capitol. It is estimatedthat it contains over 160,000 models, of which 30 per cent. failed to receive letters-patent. The three floors of the building, including the galleries occupied by the glass cases in which the models are stored, make a museum nearly two thousand feet in length by about seventy feet in width, from which the observer can learn the wonderful progress of the useful arts.

THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM

is an outgrowth of the great rebellion, and is located in Ford's Theatre building, on Tenth street, between E and F. The collections of the museum are divided into sections as follows:

1. The surgical section, containing 6,000 specimens, showing the effects of missiles of every variety on all parts of the human body.

2. The medical section, containing 1,150 specimens, the majority of which illustrate morbid conditions of the internal organs in fever, chronic dysentery. &c.

3. The microscopical section, contains 4,000 specimens, embracing dissevered tissues, dissevered organs, &c.

4. The anatomical section consists of skeletons, separated crania, &c.

5. The section of miscellaneous articles includes models of hospital barracks, ambulances, and medical wagons, a collection of surgical instruments, samples of artificial limbs, &c.

THE MUSEUM OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

possesses the collections made by more than fifty government expeditions, and thousands of contributions from other sources. They embrace the larger North American and European mammalia, both skins and skeletons; stuffed birds and fish; a series of minerals, meteorites, fossils, rocks, plants, originals and casts of the giant vertebrates of the past and present time, and a display of objects of human art and industry. The value of this museum to the student cannot be estimated.

THE UNITED STATES NAVAL OBSERVATORY,

established about twenty-five years ago for the purpose of making astronomical and meterological observations for the especial benefit of navigators and astronomers. The astronomical observations are made with a view of preparing celestial catalogues, of discovering new planets, and of noting the different changes which take place, from time to time, among the heavenly bodies. Special observations are at present being made for the purpose of revising the lunar theory, and of ascertaining more definite information in regard to the effect of changes in the moon upon the earth. A ne equatorial telescope, which will be one of the largest, if not the largest, in the world. is now in process of construction for the observatory at Cambridge, Massachusetts. The library is specially rich in works of science and the higher mathematics. It is, of course, reserved to the use of the professors and officials of the Observatory.

HIGH SCHOOLS NEEDED.

A special deficiency in the system of public education in this District is the want of high schools or secondary instruction. This is needed not only for the higher training

of those who would receive instruction in no other way, but to tone up and direct the aspirations of the pupils of the lowest grade and in the remotest elementary school.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY LAW GRADUATES.

A marked feature in the educational progress of the District of special interest has been the graduation of a class of young colored men from the law department of Howard University, under the instruction of Professor John M. Langston. In spite of previous disadvantages they gave proof of thorough and excellent attainments in their professional studies. Their addresses were not only in good English, but were well delivered.