The first of proper school hours every day is occupied with the Scriptures by all the school.  The Epistles to the Hebrews and the Romans formed the subject of these lessons until the autumn, when Mr. Calhoun’s revised edition of the “Companion to the Bible” was adopted as a text-book, and the Old Testament has been studied in connection with that work.  The pupils all attend the service at the Mission Chapel, and have lessons appropriate to the Sabbath in the intervals of worship.

“The evening family worship is in Arabic, and is a familiar Bible Class.  All the pupils are present, and not unfrequently some of their relatives and other strangers.  In addition to this religious instruction, the several classes have studied the Arabic and English languages, some of them writing in both, geography and history, arithmetic mental and higher, astronomy, and some of the simple works on natural philosophy and physiology.  Compositions have been required in Arabic and English.  The lessons in drawing, commenced by Miss Whittlesey, have been continued under the instruction of Mrs. Smith, and plain and fancy needle-work have been taught as heretofore.

“To those who have watched the growth of intellect, and in some instances, we hope, the growth of grace in these few pupils, and in the other female boarding scholars in some of the mission families, who have seen the pleasing contrast afforded by Syrian females when adorned after the Apostolic recommendation by good works and a “meek and quiet spirit,” with those who cover empty heads with pearls and enrobe untidy persons in costly array,—­who have rejoiced to see one and another family altar set up, where both heads of the family and the hearts of both unite in acknowledging God,—­this branch of our labors need offer no further arguments to justify its efficient prosecution.

“The library of the Seminary consists of 220 school books, and 148 volumes of miscellaneous books, chiefly for the young.  The school has 6 large fine maps, and 5 of Mr. Bidwell’s Missionary maps, and 16 of Mattison’s astronomical maps.  These maps were the gifts of Mrs. Dr. Burgess and of Fisher Howe, Esq.  The school has a pair of globes, one Season’s machine, one orrery, a pair of gasometers, a spirit-lamp and retort stand, a centre of gravity apparatus, a capillary attraction apparatus, a galvanic trough, a circular battery, an electromagnet, a horse shoe magnet, a revolving magnet, a wire coil and hemispheric helices, and an electric shocking machine.”

The report of the Female Seminary for 1853 is written in the handwriting of Mrs. De Forest, owing to the increasing infirmity of Dr. De Forest’s health, and this report has a sad interest from its being the last one ever dictated by Dr. De Forest.

“A small day-school for girls has been taught by one of the pupils in Mrs. Whiting’s family during the winter, and it is contemplated to continue the school hereafter in the Girl’s School house on the Mission premises, under the instruction of a graduate of the Female Seminary.  The demand for such instruction for girls is steadily increasing.