DEAR SIR, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, Boston, May 4, 1849. I transmit to you an attested copy of the "Resolves relating to a Reprint of the Tenth Report of the Secretary of the Board of Education," passed, I believe unanimously, by the Legislature, at its late session; and remain, With great respect, Hon. HORACE MANN. Your obedient servant, W. B. CALHOUN. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Nine. RESOLVES Relating to a Reprint of the Tenth Report of the Secretary of the Board of Education. RESOLVED, That the late Secretary of the Board of Education, Honorable HORACE MANN, be hereby appointed to prepare for republication, so much of his Tenth Annual Report as, with the requisite additions and alterations, to be also made by him, will exhibit a just and correct view of the Common School system of Massachusetts, and the provisions of law relating to it. RESOLVED, That there be printed ten thousand copies of such republication, to be distributed and disposed of in the same manner as is now or may be provided in regard to the annual reports of the Board of Education. RESOLVED, That the Governor and Council be authorized to determine the compensation to be made to Mr. MANN for the foregoing service, and to draw upon the treasurer of the Commonwealth for the amount. Passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 21, 1849. IN SENATE, March 22, 1849. JOSEPH BELL, President. Passed. March 23, 1848.-Approved. GEO. N. BRIGGS. SECRETARY'S OFFICE; Boston, March 23, 1849. I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original Resolves. WM. B. CALHOUN, Secretary of the Commonwealth. To His Excellency, GEORGE N. BRIGGS, GOVERNOR, and the Honorable Council, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: GENTLEMEN;-In pursuance of the Resolves above cited, I have carefully revised the Tenth Annual Report, therein referred to, and superintended its publication. According to my understanding of the Resolves, they did not contemplate any substantial change in the plan or structure of the Report; but only such modifications of its details, as would make it the true representative and illustrator of our Public School system, as it now exists. In conformity with this view, I have subjected the Report to such changes and additions, as the legislation of the State for the last three years has rendered necessary; and have incorporated into it all the leading decisions of the Supreme Court, so far as they interpret and apply the statute law. I have also subjoined to the Report, in a chronological order, all the statute laws of the Commonwealth, now in force, on the subject of Public Instruction. A few enactments that have been repealed or superseded, are also inserted, on account of the light which they throw on existing laws, and on the history and progress of our educational legislation. In this part of the work, it has been my endeavor, wherever a previous statute has been limited, enlarged, or otherwise modified by a succeeding one, to refer to the |