PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

NEW HAMPSHIRE ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE-This institution was incorporated July 2, 1838, and the asylum was opened for the admittance of those afflicted with insanity, September, 1842.

The asylum is located in Concord, on Pleasant Street, on an eminence overlooking the village, the rich valley of the Merrimac, and the adjacent country, for several miles in circuit. Adjoining the asylum are more than 120 acres of valuable land, well adapted to the wants of the institution. This is cultivated to good advantage, mostly by the labor of the patients, to whom it affords the best of exercise, and to whose recovery it essentially contributes. The improvements which are in progress on the lands of the asylum lead to the belief, that it will eventually become the Model Farm for the State.

With a single exception, this is believed to be the only strictly self-supporting asylum in the country, and the economy of its management entitles its officers to commendation.

The price of board for patients from this State is as follows:

For the first thirteen weeks,

$2.25

For all subsequent time,

:

2.00

For these terms patients are supplied with board, fuel and lights, washing, medical attendance, use of horse, carriage, &c.

The sum of $1,500 was granted by the legislature, June, 1848, for the relief of the indigent insane.

The friends of those unfortunate persons needing aid, and agreeable to the above grant, should apply therefor by petition, addressed to his Excellency the Governor, to the care of the superintendent of the asylum.

STATE PRISON. - We gather from the annual report made to the legislature, June 1, 1848, that out of 137 inmates, who have left within the last five years, four only have been recommitted here, and but one is known to have been committed to the prison of any other State. The same course of discipline has been enforced as heretofore; that is, mild, but firm.

In reading, writing, and arithmetic, instruction has been given, and with a good degree of success; and in some instances, where the prisoners could neither read nor write at the time of their being placed at the prison, now read and write tolerably well.

The physician, in his report, speaks favorably of the general health of the prisoners, and he further says, there has been no disease of a severe or malig. nant character. He gives great credit to the warden and officers, for their strict care to the ventilation and cleanliness in all of the departments. The chaplain, in his report, speaks of there having been considerable attention and apparent interest in the religious exercises on the Sabbath: most of the convicts having attended from choice. A part of the day was devoted to Bible class instruction and sacred music: books and papers have been furnished the convicts for reading.

All the convicts who are able to work are employed in the different branches of manufacturing, carried on within the outer walls of the prison. For the present, the work carried on is that of cabinet work, shoe making, and smithing.

PORTSMOUTH or NEWCASTLE, situated on the south-west side of inner entrance to Portsmouth Harbor; Lat. 43° 3′ 30′′, Lon. 70° 43'; fixed light; visible 18 miles in clear weather; height of lantern 90 feet above the sea or high water mark.

WHITE ISLAND, situated on the south-western island of the Isles of ShoalsOcean Light; Lat. 42° 58′, Lon. 70° 37′ 30′′; revolving light; visible 21 miles; height of lantern, 87 feet.

WHALE'S BACK, situated on the north and east side of outer entrance to Portsmouth Harbor; Lat. 43° 3', Lon. 70° 41'; fixed light; visible 16 miles; height of lantern 48 feet.

ANCIENT RECORDS.

We are permitted by the learned historian and antiquary, the Rev. Joseph B. Felt, to copy from his valuable "Collections" for the "American Statistical Association," the following dates of Grants, Settlements, &c., of some parts of the State of New Hampshire.

"Between this State and Massachusetts, there was a long discussion relative to their individual boundaries. Before this question arose, though others of a similar kind had been agitated, the whole being chiefly caused by the Patents' largely infringing on each other, all the settlements of New Hampshire had put themselves under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. Portsmouth and Dover, by their own request and previous assignment of their proprietors, became thus subject October 9, 1641. Exeter, having petitioned, Sept. 8, 1642, to be

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alike privileged, was received at the session of May 10, 1643. Under such circumstances, Massachusetts passed the ensuing order in 1652. On perusal of our Charter, it was this day voted by the whole Court, that the extent of the line is to be from the northernmost part of ye River Merrimacke and three miles more North, where it is to be found, be it an hundred miles more or less from the sea, and thence vppon a straight line east and west to each sea, and this to be the true interpretation of the terms of the lymitte Northward, granted in the Patent.' Subsequent to this action, they empowered two commissioners to run these limits with assistance of two surveyors. The report of this survey is as follows. At Aquedahtan, the name of the head of Merrimack, where it issues out of the Lake called Winnapuscakit, vppon the first day of August, 1652, wee observed and by observation found, that the lattitude of the place was 43°, 40', 12", besides those minutes which are to be allowed for three miles more North, which run into the Lake.' This took place while the regal government of England was suspended, while there was no probability that Parliament would allow the patent of Mason, which was of doubtful authority, and while our colonists were clearing themselves, as much as they could safely, from subjection to the mother country. It was done, also, when the population of New Hampshire were anxious to remain under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, as a security against misrule among themselves, and inroads from expected foes without. As soon, however, as Charles II. had ascended the throne, and began to show his dislike of the Bay Colony for their anti-royal sentiments and practices, Mr. Mason renewed his suit. A decision was made in his favor 1675, when New England were exerting their greatest energies to escape the utter extermination, plotted against them by the natives, under the guidance of Philip. Edward Randolph, a kinsman of the claimant, and ever ready to visit our shores with unwelcome messages, came over the next year. He went to New Hampshire and published the wishes of Mr. Mason to the people there. Some, as in all such emergencies, were forward to denounce Massachusetts, and make capital of the change for the promotion of their own interests. But the far greater portion regarded his tidings with no emotions of joy. The inhabitants of Dover 'protested against the claim of Mason; declared that they had bona fide purchased their lands of the Indians; recognized their subjection to the government of Massachusetts, under whom they had lived long and happily, and by whom they were now assisted in defending their estates and families against the savage enemy.' They petitioned the King that they might remain unmolested. Portsmouth responded in similar thoughts, and sought for like relief from his majesty. Still the political foes of Massachusetts, whose intrigues were favored by the King, succeeded with him in council, so that he ordered New Hampshire to become a Colony in 1680. Even then the principal inhabitants there, knowing that such a change was to compass other ends, than their benefit, reluctantly withdrew from the care of Massachusetts.

"Such an alteration trenched of course upon the previous limits of the latter Colony, by withdrawing from them the following Towns. The dates, suffixed to the towns, denote their incorporation: nallis express their Indian names; and Roman letters their former English, maльея.

PORTSMOUTH. 1633. Pisostomaack Strawberry Bank-Settled under David Thompson, 1623. patronized by Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. John Mason and others. The first house was bor at Little Harbor, called Mason Haii. It was incorporated by a charter of 1633.

DOVER. Sept. 8.1642 Cochecho, and act. Hilton's Point. Northam. -Settled under Edward and William Hiron. 1623. by order of an association in England, denominated the Company of Laconia. The proprietors of Dover and Portsmouth assigned their jurisdiction over these places to Massachusetts. June 14. 1641.

EXETER. Mav 10, 1643. Soomscot, Falls) - Settled 1638, bv Rev. John Wheelwright and others, exiled from Massachusetts for professing the antinomian principles of Anne Hutchinson.

HAMPTON, Sept. 4, 1639. Winnacunet or Winicowett. By order of Massachusetts a house was erected here. as a sign of possession. 1636. by Nicholas Easton, commonly called the Bound house. It was settled in 1638. OYSTER RIVER, May 17, 1675. -Part of Dover. It is now Durham. Its inhabitants petitioned to be a town in 1669.

GREAT ISLAND, Oct. 15, 1679.-Part of Portsmouth. It is now New Castle.

"When New Hampshire thus became a separate jurisdiction, Oyster River appears to have been again considered as a part of Dover, and Great Island again as part of Portsmouth. In addition, Massachusetts, October 16, 1672, granted Portsmouth a village, about Dover bounds, which seems to have been Newington. While Charles II. allowed Mason's claim to New Hampshire, he also allowed his claim to the territory which was between Merrimac River and Naumkeag River in Salem, and called Mariana.

"A large tract of land, subsequently assigned to New Hampshire, was sold by Wanalanset, chief sachem on the Merrimac River. This was done November 5, 1685. The purchasers of him were Joseph Dudley, Samuel Shrimpton and Richard Wharton. The tract, so bought, embraced not less than six miles east and six miles west of the Merrimac River, and in length, from Souhegan River on the one side, and Brenton's Farm or Littleton on the other, up to the south end of Winnipiseogee Lake. A reservation of three miles square, laid out by order of Massachusetts for certain Indians, was made. The title so acquired was for a company of twenty proprietors, who were to hold equal shares. For this purpose they obtained of Robert T. Mason, April 15, 1686, a relinquishment of the claim he made to it, and entered into a mutual contract, May 12, 1686, for the regulation of the whole concern. This was denominated the million acre purchase.

"After protracted consideration in the General Court of Massachusetts, the Council agree, June 14, 1728, that the vote of the House, relative to townships in New Hampshire, Dec. 13, 1727, should be carried into effect. The vote was, that for the security of the inhabitants, and to lessen the charges of defence in war, Committees lay out townships, each of six miles square, in a