صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

of eight thousand dollars a year, which the Managers calculated would be sufficient for the support of the House of Refuge, as it is at present established; and the Commissioners estimated that the Managers might be allowed this sum, and ample funds be left, not only for the support of the Marine Hospital, but to meet all the expense of the very extensive additions and improvements which the Commissioners are making at the establishment on Staten Island.

The Managers have received nothing more from the Commissioners of Health than what is above mentioned: and to show how far the eight thousand dollars a year, which, under the present arrangement the Managers are to receive, will be from encroaching on the contributions of mariners, your memorialists beg leave to submit the following statement:

There was received, during the last year, as appears from the Custom-House books,

From 1465 captains and mates,

From 13,750 seamen,

From coasters,

Making the whole amount received from mari

$1297 50

13750 00

3199 50

[blocks in formation]

And there will be left for the use of the Marine
Hospital,

Whereas the contributions of mariners have
been, as above stated, only,

Leaving,

[ocr errors]

$28,894 26

19,147 26

$9747 00

More than was contributed the last year by mariners. There is every reason to believe, that the proportion of the hospital fund, which will be contributed by passengers, will be greater than it was last year.

The receipts for the current year from passengers have been more than they were in the corresponding months of the last season, and the information from Europe is, that the emigrations from thence will be this year greater than they have been.

The sums collected by the health commissioners are not only sufficient for the support of the marine hospital, and to afford to the House of Refuge all it requires, but will enable the commissioners, from the surplus, to establish a fund to meet contingencies, and pay the expenses of further improvements.

The ordinary expenses of the hospital are, as your memorialists have been informed and believe, less than seventeen thousand dollars a year, so that however pathetic the appeal of the remonstrance in favor of mariners may be, it is obvious, that it was not required by the occasion, nor was the expression of an opinion that an application of the earning of mariners, otherwise than for their benefit, would be unjust, (from which, it is probable, no one would dis

sent,) called for by any circumstances connected with the subject under consideration.

It is ascertained, that by far the greater part of the collections made from passengers, are paid by foreigners, who arrive in this state from different parts of the world. Your memorialists most readily admit, that not only a liberal support should be allowed out of the hospital fund for the Marine Hospital, but that ample provision should also be reserved for contingencies. For all this the law has provided. But when this is done, your memorialists respectfully submit that there could not be a more just or reasonable appropriation of the surplus arising from the contributions of foreign passengers, than to the support of juvenile delinquents, a large proportion of whom are children of emigrants.

When the last annual report of the Managers was made (with a copy of which the members of the legislature have been furnished, and to which your memorialists pray leave to refer) the whole number of subjects received into the House of Refuge from the commencement of its operations, was three hundred and seventyseven, of these, one hundred and forty-nine were the children of foreigners.

The Managers forbear, on this occasion, to urge the advantages or merits of the establishment under their care. This has been done at the several times when the legislature has been induced to extend to the institution its patronage and support. The House of Refuge has more than realized the most sanguine anticipations of its founders and friends. Its benefits are not only felt in our own community, but the influence of its example is extending to every part of the Union, and even to foreign countries. The principles on which it is founded, its management, and the advantages resulting from its operations, have been the theme of the most enlightened jurists and philanthropists, both abroad and at home. Whenever it shall be thought more politic and humane to prevent crime than to punish criminals, asylums for the protection and reformation of juvenile delinquents, must find advocates. In several states, similar establishments are forming wholly at the public expense. The House of Refuge in New-York, grew from, and was for some time supported by, private contributions, which have amounted to more than twenty thousand dollars. But so extensive an establishment can not be maintained at the cost of individuals, and is utterly incapable of supporting itself. If the appropriations made for this object be withdrawn, and no adequate revenue be substituted, the institution must be abandoned. The hundreds of children who have found refuge in this asylum, must be again turned upon society, to pursue a course which must bring them again to the bars of our criminal courts, from thence to be sent to our penitentiaries and state prisons, there to be maintained as irreclaimable criminals at a greater expense to the state, than would be required to continue the support of an institution in which they may receive moral and religious instruction, acquire habits of industry, be reformed, and made useful members of society. Г The Managers of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, can have no other interest in the establishment of which they have charge, than that which ship-masters, mariners,

and every citizen ought to feel. Your memorialists, therefore, cau have no other prayer, than that you will duly consider the importance of the institution, its situation, the consequences of its being abandoned, and that you may do what is right.

By order of the Board of Managers,

CADWALLADER D. COLDEN, President.

New-York, April, 1828.

LETTER TO THE MASTERS.

House of Refuge, New-York,

182

The Managers of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents.

Το

SIR,

We have consented to bind

one of

the children under our care in the House of Refuge, to you as an apprentice, pursuant to powers given to us by an act of the Legislature of this state.

We should not have done this, had not our inquiries, as to your character, induced us to believe, that your example, and your treatment of this young person will be such as may tend to perfect the moral reformation, we have reason to hope, he has experienced since he has been in the asylum under our charge.

Great pains are taken to impress on the children, committed to the House of Refuge, a love of truth, to give them religious instruction, habits of order and industry, and to teach them to be respectful and obedient. We have found from experience, that this may be done by a steady and firm conduct, not incompatible with great kindness. We are persuaded that most children may be more easily, and more effectually, governed by proper appeals to their mental feelings, than by corporal punishments, and that where these are inflicted frequently and with severity, it oftener marks a want of sense or humanity, on the one part, than demerit on the other.

We hope the system we pursue, will have had an effect on the child you will receive from us, which will render him useful to you, and contribute to make him a worthy member of society, when his connection with you shall cease. But this can not be expected, unless you, to whose care he will now be committed, interest yourself in his welfare.

It has not been concealed from you, and ought not to be forgotten, that this child has been a delinquent. We beg, therefore, to remind you that conduct may require more attention than might be thought necessary to one who had never been led from the paths of virtue. Should your kindness and care redeem this child, and make religious, moral, and industrious, you will participate with us in those feelings, which must result from the reflection that we may have contributed to the temporal and eternal happiness of a fellow-being.

It will be very satisfactory to us, to receive from you, from time to time, an account of the conduct of this young person. This is desirable not only as respects the individual, but should

be

will, your favorable report will be serviceWe wish you would encourage

to

have, as we hope able to our Institution. write occasionly to our superintendent. We are happy to say, that the accounts we have had of, and from the children, we have bound out, have been, except in a very few instances, highly satisfactory. When the child's service has expired, it is desirable that should receive from you a certificate, which may express your opinion of conduct while was under your care. With a hope that you may find in your apprentice a worthy and useful servant, and he in you an able instructer and kind master, and with our best wishes for and your happiness and pros

perity, we commit

to your care.

By order and in behalf of the Board of Managers,

Superintendent.

LETTER TO THE APPRENTICE.

House of Refuge, New-York,

182

The Managers of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents,

To

You are about to leave the House of Refuge. You will be bound as an apprentice to a person, who, the Managers believe, will provide for you, instruct you, and if you behave well, treat you with kindness.

We should not have consented to part with you at this time, had not your conduct given us reason to hope, that the religious and moral instruction you have received, since you have been under our care, have disposed you to lead an honest, industrious, and sober life. You are now of an age when you are capable of distinguishing between virtue and vice; you have had experience that must teach you, that if you are good you may be happy, if you are bad you must be miserable. You can not but have perceived how much your welfare depends upon yourself, and upon the observance of the precepts you have seen inculcated with so much pains by your preceptors in the House of Refuge. Among these are the following:-You are always to tell the truth. You are to be obedient to those under whose care you are placed, doing your duty as well as you know how, industriously and cheerfully. You are to be civil and respectful in your manners, and to avoid all bad language. You will find time that you may employ, not only in religious reading and exercises, but in improving your mind, and in acquiring such learning as may be useful to you. If you mean to be a good and respectable man, you will not fail to avail yourself of these opportunities.

Do not be discouraged by what has happened from striving to raise yourself to a respectable station in the world. If your life be hereafter exemplary, the errors of your infancy will be forgiven or forgotten. In our happy country, every honest man may claim the rewards he merits. Many of our most distinguished citizens have been the makers of their own fortunes, and in their childhood were as poor and unprotected as you have been. There is no reason why you, if you pursue the course they have done, may not

command the same good fortune. At all events, you may be sure, that if you make yourself master of your business, are diligent in your calling, establish a character, for truth, honesty, industry, and sobriety, you can not fail to obtain a comfortable living, and to be beloved and respected. Look at those you have seen in poverty, and observe those you will hereafter meet with, who are in want: you will generally, if not always, find, that they owe their condition to bad company, to idleness, and intemperance, which not only debase the individual, but often make all who have the misfortune to be connected with him, unhappy and ashamed to acknowledge any relationship.

When you see a man, and particularly a young man, frequenting bad company, given to drink, and using profane language; when you see that he neglects his business, is wasting his time, and taking no pains to learn, you may be sure he is in the road to ruin; he has no chance to be reputable; he can hope for nothing but to live all his days from hand to mouth, and to earn by mean and hard bodily labor, enough to keep himself alive, and if he should have a family, to save them from starving. On the other hand, if you see a young man attentive to his business, passing his leisure time soberly, but cheerfully, with companions of whom he need not be ashamed; if he loses no opportunity of gaining religious and moral instruction, and is obedient and civil in his manners, you may be sure that when left to make his own way in the world, he will always be beforehand. Instead of leading a life of continual toil and hardship, and of reliance on his daily labor for his daily bread, he will become independent and happy, and may have around him a family and friends who will esteem and respect him, and be proud of their connection with one who is so deserving.

You well know the evil consequences of bad company: there is nothing as to which you ought to be more on your guard. You ought particularly to avoid those with whom you associated before you was placed in the House of Refuge. That you may not be again tempted by these, you should not be too anxious to return to this city, and put yourself in a situation where you may meet with them. When your time of service is out, and you become your own master, you may have a better chance of success in the world, if you will establish yourself where you will have no friends but those you may hereafter make by your good conduct, and where the history of your early life is unknown.

It will always be gratifying to us to hear of your welfare. We shall be pleased to learn that you preserve and often read this letter. We wish you occasionally to write to our Superintendent; you will always find in him, and in us, friends ready to advise and to serve

you.

Committing you to the protection of Providence, and to the care of your master, and repeating our admonition to you, to be religious, to love the truth, to be sober and industrious, and to avoid bad company, we bid you farewell.

By order and in behalf of the Board of Managers,

Superintendent.

1

« السابقةمتابعة »