Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-03
LOCAL ITE MS.

trict Convention IN nominate 4 wing ana
American candidate for Congress, will meet
/ in this city, this afternoon, at the Lyceum
Hall. at 1 o'clock. Delegates have been APP
n tinted from most of the counties, com
posinp the District, and large attendance
is expected.
ANNUAL REroRT OF THE BOARD OF QUAR-
dams or TIE ALEXANDRIA FREE School
In closing their engagements in connection
will. the Lancasterian, or Free School, for
another year. the Board of Guardians, In
making their report. find but little to COM
municate, by way of information, and but
few suggestions, which they deem it neces-
sary to present, as subjects for consideration
The opcrations of School and that, too,
belonging to the public at large, though by
no means destitute of interest, nor wanting
in the material for pleasant reflection, are,
nevertheless, very far from being prolific IN
varieties of incident, and, by the masses, are
most generally regarded as of trivial impor-
tanrc--an evil no doubt, considered III Its
final issues. while, from the obliquities incl
dent to the nature of humanity, an agency
remedial is difficult to be applied. In an In
stitution like that entrusted to your Board,
this is constantly recurring as source OF
discoura cement: and, without an imperative
sense OF moral obligation, the claims which
it presents for watchfulness and care, there
is reason to apprehcnd, would often be ne
elected.
As it respects themselves, considering the
position which they occupy, in relation to
other departments Of life it is but justice to
saw that. ON the whole, they have done what
they could. The responsibilities involved In
the acceptance OF such a trust. they were per-
fectly aware. were neither tritiing in their ma
turc nor easily to be discharged. But. having
Voluntarily assumed them, after counting the
cost, the Indulgence of complaints, III view OF
difficulties 10 be encountered, and discourage
ments 10 be overcome. would be as unsuitable
TO them as it would be Just to the communl-
~ whose work they had undertaken. What
they were capable of doing, without interior
inr with obligations Of Il higher and more
imposing description, they have done with
chccrfllncss. and now retire from their Ia
bors under the satisfying conviction that.
whether successful or not, they have neither
been unmindful Of their responsibilities, nor
uufaithful in discharging them. They have
visited the school. bv some Of their commit
tees, according to requirement, on each re-
curing month, and have carefully inyestlSa-
ted both its condition aud its wants, while
its semi-unnual examinations have been rs
thorough. it is believed, is was either re-
uuirel bv the character Of the school, OF for
the satisfaction of the community. On all
these occasions. besides the distribution of
various premiums. with the view of reward
INC proficiency and stimulating ambition, the
exercises have been closed by addresses and
cyhortations. with similar intention.
In regard to the School itself, what they
have to report is of the most welcome char
acter. Its present condition is prosperous,
and its prospects for the future i'll high de-
gree cheering. Not only has it increased in
the number OF its pupils, and IN promptitude
Of attendance. but, at the same time, III Stei-
dineSs Of progress in the attainment OF know
ledge: while the manifest growth Oh lce!-
ing of sef-rcspect in the crude material OF
which it is composed, H. well rs an improve
mrnt in all the various proprlrtieS OF lite,
are indicative Of future, as hopeful for the
children as it must be grateful To the public.
At no school in our community is there be-
lieved TO exist greater amount OF regularity
Of attendance, Il greater degree OF stiffness
in the operations of study, or a more graft
fying attention to the great purposes OF the
Institution. 1t is now Il pleasure rather
than otherwise, both to visit and examine 1t;
and the impression is gathering strength on
every renewed occasion Of that description,
that it is beginning to realize the entire whole
of what can lawfully he anticipated from IT..
The number of pupils whose names have
been enrolled, is between sixty and seventy,
and the present average in daily attendance
between fifty and sixty-a number as large
or nearly 50, a. any teacher. who desires To be
successful as well lis faithful, can very well
manage. No one, however, coming with pro-
per credentials from member of the Board,
has. as vet, been excluded, either for that
circumstance or any other: and the hope is
entertained that, by careful classification,
and the occasional assistance OF some OF the
larger and more advanced pupils, measure
So unwelcome will not be rendered necessa-
~ for u long period yet to come; What the
teacher can do, may, we think, be relied
upon with confidence: and. it is but justice
to say. that his cooperation with the Board.
in every measure for the benefit OF the lnsti-
tuition and the welfare Of the children, has
been as hearty in disposition as 1t has been
devoted in action and there can hardly be
a doubt but that the auspicious development
which the school is now making, is to be at
tributed quite as much to this cooperation
on his part, as to the solcitudes that have
been INDUCED and the measures that have
been devised. bv the members Of your Board.
During the last seven months since the pc
Rod Of his appointment, improvement IN
every respect, though not rapid, has been as
steady as il has been encouraging: and the
expectation il fondly INDUCED, that the day
is not distant, when, under his continued
auspices. the Institution will be hailed as IL
great public blessing.
In connection with this we send YOU his
report which will show the condition OF the
school from the time when lie became charged
with il. in relation to all those matters which
NAV interest your body. or be source OF
Qualification to the community at large.
The school building is now in state Of
comfortable repair, and but for the expense
of an occasional pane Of glass. broken out by
accident, hardly dollar would have been
called for during the last year, except tor pri-