GOVERNMENT.

The governor, lieutenant governor, and senators are elected biennially, and the representatives annually, the latter numbering 54, and the Senate consisting of 18. These elections are by the people, who, by a late amendment of the constitution, elcct also the judges and cabinet officers. The sessions of the legislature commence annually on the first Monday of January, and the present seat of government is established at Lansing, Ingham county. A residence of only six months in the state, immediately preceding an election, confers the right of voting on all white males who have attained their majority.

EDUCATION.

On the subject of education, Michigan is largely imbued with the opinion of New England, (from whence so many of her sons derive their origin,) that republican government and common school education must proceed or fall together. Her school fund, in 1852, was $575,668; in addition to which is a fund called the University Fund, of $100,000. In 1850, $42,794 were apportioned among the schools, and $81,392 raised by taxation for their support, besides $46,797 raised for buildings, &c. During the same year, 132,234 pupils attended the schools, of whom 125,866 were educated from the public funds. There is a state normal school at Ypsilanti about going into operation, for

the education of teachers, under the control of a board of six persons appointed by the legislature. The township libraries, in 1850, numbered on their shelves 84,823 volumes.

RELIGIOUS STATISTICS.

Of the religious denominations the Methodists are the most numerous. Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics constitute the bulk of the remainder. There are, however, a few congregations of Lutherans, Dutch Reformed, Unitarians, Universalists, &c.

POPULATION.

Michigan, like the other North-western States, is peopled by the representatives of divers lands and races. The natives consist of the descendants of the aborigines, of the first French settlers, and mestizoes, or the offspring of white and Indian progenitors. Among the foreign population are immigrants from Great Britain, Germany, and other European countries; and there are multitudes of settlers from New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Canada. Very few of the African race are found in the state. Population in 1810, 4762; in 1820, 8896; in 1830, 31,639; in 1840, 212,267; in 1850, 397,654; in 1855, 480,000.

11

DETROIT.

Court House, Wayne county. City and port of entry. On the west side of Detroit River or Strait, 7 miles below the outlet of Lake St. Clair, and 18 miles above Lake Erie. It is 132 miles east from Lansing, the capital of the state. Population in 1810, 770; in 1820, 1442; in 1830, 2222; in 1840, 9102; in 1850, 21,028; in 1855, 40,000.

The plan of the city

The ground on which Detroit is built has a gentle ascent from the river as far back as to the main street, and thence, westward, it is level. is rectangular, extending along the river more than a mile, and nearly a mile back. The principal street running through the most dense portion of it, parallel with the course of the river, is Jefferson Avenue. Leading from the river, at right angles with this, is Woodward Avenue. These streets are 200 feet wide. There are several streets or avenues, which are 120 feet in width, and the other streets are 60 feet wide, generally crossing each other at right angles. There are several public squares, the principal of which are the Campus Martius, in the central part of the city; and the Grand Circus, in which five of the great avenues meet. The wholesale stores, and the warehouses for heavy goods, are mostly located on Atwater Street, on the river, and on Woodbridge Street, between this and Jefferson Avenue. On Jefferson Avenue are

located the principal dry goods and fancy stores, with the public and private offices. This is truly an elegant

street, compactly built, and imposing in its appearance. Among the public buildings deserving of particular notice is the building lately occupied as the State House, built of brick, having a handsome Ionic portico, and a dome 140 feet high. The view from the top of this building is at once extensive and beautiful; embracing, with the entire city, the strait above and below, enlivened with shipping and steamboats, Lake St. Clair, and a wide extent of cultivated country around the city and on the Canada shore. The City Hall is a neat brick edifice, 100 feet by 50, which cost $20,000. The lower story is occupied as a market, and the upper for the city courts. The Michigan Bank is a costly and beautiful edifice of polished stone, in the Grecian style, two stories high above the basement. Several of the churches are beautiful buildings, among which is St. Paul's, Episcopal, in the Gothic style; the First Presbyterian Church, with a Grecian portico of six Doric columns; a Baptist Church of the Grecian Ionic order; and St. Ann's Cathedral, of hewn granite, 116 by 60 feet, with two towers in front, and surmounted by an octagonal dome 30 feet in diameter and 30 feet. high.

Among the higher literary institutions of the city are the Historical Society, founded in 1829; the State Literary Institute, founded in 1838; the State Medical Society; the Young Men's Society for Moral and Intellectual Improvement, founded in 1832; a Young Ladies' Seminary; a Young Ladies' Institute; the St. Clair Seminary for Young Ladies, (Roman Catholic;) and several high schools for boys.

Detroit is advantageously located for trade, and is fast becoming a great commercial emporium. The navigation of the river and lake is open about eight months in the year. The Michigan Central Railroad now opens a direct and speedy communication through the most populous portion of the state to the opposite side of the peninsula; and thence, by a few hours' water passage, to Chicago, Milwaukie, and the far west. Other routes of communication are in the process of construction.

Though the history of Detroit as a place of any considerable population and trade, is recent, corresponding to that of the whole western country, yet as a place of military importance it has had an early antiquity among the towns now belonging to the United States. It was founded by the French in 1683. In 1760 it fell into the hands of the British. In 1784 it became by treaty a possession of the United States, which maintained a garrison there from 1796 until within a few years past. It was first incorporated as a city in 1802. In the war of 1812 Detroit was captured by the British, and recaptured by the Americans the next year. In 1815 it received a new charter of incorporation. The city has twice been extensively devastated by fire; first in 1805, when it was nearly destroyed; and afterwards in 1837, when there was also a great destruction of property. Number of inhabitants in 1855, 40,000.