AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.

THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS.

CONCORD, N. H., August 25, 1863.

THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION commenced its Thirty-Fourth Annual Session at the South Congregational Church in the city of Concord, at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon.

A. P. Stone, Esq., President of the Association, in the Chair.

Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Cummings, of Concord.

Henry E. Sawyer, Esq., of Concord High School, in behalf of the Board of Education and the citizens of Concord, welcomed the members of the Institute to the hospitalities of the city, as follows:

WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTE BY H. E. SAWYER, ESQ., OF

CONCORD.

MR. PRESIDENT AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE IN

STITUTE:

The President of our Board of Education being detained from the meeting at this hour by unforeseen engagements, it is left to me to utter those words of welcome which

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would be uttered more forcibly by him. The task, however, is a pleasant one. It is pleasant to be made the medium of expressing the gratification which the citizens and schoolofficers of Concord feel in the fact that you have selected this city as the place of your annual meeting. For we recognize the fact that the Institute was established years ago by wise and good men, thoroughly anxious to promote the revival of learning. To-day we see no signs, in the indications before us, of diminished interest or a diminished usefulness. A great number of institutions have been established, having for their end the same general purpose; and yet we recognize this as the chief and prince of them all.

We welcome you here selfishly, not because we can contribute to your pleasure or improvement, but because we hope to learn, from your instructions and lectures, and from our intercourse with you, very much which shall be useful to us, and to receive much of pleasure and gratification from your visit here. We confidently expect this. We cannot boast of cabinets or museums of curiosities. These things with us are small and few in number. The natural scenery of the place is not, perhaps, uninteresting, and we think we can tell you of warm hearts and hospitable entertainment. It is a little unfortunate for us that the return of some regiments from the war, and the unusual number of people in the city, who are not members of the Institute, render it more difficult to give you the ample accommodations we desire; but we will do what we can. The various objects of interest about the city you will discover.

You will notice that we do not meet in the published place. The occupation of the City Hall as a hospital for disabled returning soldiers, renders it necessary to meet in this place, which will not be found inconvenient. In closing,

I beg leave to extend to you a hearty welcome, and to introduce to you his Excellency, Governor Gilmore.

GOVERNOR GILMORE'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

His Excellency, Governor Gilmore, was greeted with applause on rising, and he proceeded to welcome the Institute as follows:

MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : -

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I have not come here to make a speech, or to attempt such a thing, for that is not in my line of business; but I have come to bid you a cordial welcome to the capital of New Hampshire, and to the noble city of Concord. And I desire to say to you that we are glad to see you, and will do what we can to make your visit among us pleasant, and I hope profitable. I wish it were in my power to take you to places of interest and amusement, as my friend Governor Andrew would, were you assembled at the capital of that glorious old Commonwealth, Massachusetts. And would to God I could address you as he would on an occasion like this. I again say, we are glad to see you," and when I say this I say just what I mean, for the hearts of the people of New Hampshire are as firm and true as the granite hills of their native State. I have always felt a deep interest in the cause of Education. There is no one that enjoys a good dinner like a hungry man, and it is equally true that no one feels the need of an education like the man who is without it. I have felt and said, within the last six months, that I would give all I possess for a good, thorough, liberal education. Forty years ago, in my own native State, amid the green mountains of Vermont, (and I am proud to own her,) I had no such advantages as are enjoyed at the present day.

In my message to the Legislature, a short time since, I stated that the people of New Hampshire were willing to be taxed for schools and schoolhouses, and I say the same now. Give us good schools, good schoolhouses, and good teachers, and pay them liberally for their services. We cannot make a better investment of our money. It is better than silver and gold, even if they do command a high premium.

You will allow me to close my remarks by thanking you most cordially for your visit; and let me assure you that I will do anything in my power to make your stay at the capital pleasant, and I hope beneficial to us all.

THE PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE.

The President of the Institute, A. P. Stone, Esq., responded as follows:

MR. SAWYER, AND YOUR EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR GILMORE:

In behalf of the members of the American Institute of Instruction, I thank you most sincerely for the very cordial welcome we have just received at your hands, and it gives me great pleasure to do so in their behalf, for your friendly greeting inspires us with the deepest gratitude for your kindness, and with the most pleasing anticipations for the success of our meeting. We are very happy in this opportunity to visit your State and city. This is the third session of the Institute which has been held in New Hampshire, and the second in your place. Sixteen years ago we held a meeting in what was then the town of Concord. Your town has since become a city; and the active members of the Institute are mostly a new generation of men.

You are doubtless accustomed to have in your midst conventions and public gatherings of various kinds, and for various purposes. You have political conventions, where