case was one of the few which seemed altogether hopeless in the outset: and it is now several years since he left the Refuge. He was bound out to a trade, but soon ran away from his master, and has at length found a situation in the State Prison, where he ought to have been in a state of discipline long since. But is it just or generous to raise a clamour against an institution of this peculiar description, on account of three or four, or even of a dozen unfortunate cases? There have been eight hundred and thirty Juvenile Delinquents received into the Refuge, since its commencement, six years ago. Six hundred and fifty of these have been disposed of in different ways;and is it to be supposed that in so great a number, a thorough moral reformation could, by human means, have been wrought in every one? Such a general and radical transformation, it is apprehended, however desirable, could not have been produced, save by the immediate and visible interposition of Divine Power. It is to be recollected, however, that when the Refuge was founded, it was an experiment. There was no other institution of the kind in America; and errors both in judgment and practice were to be expected, until time and experience should have enabled the Managers to discover the most wholesome principles upon which to build their moral edifice, and to devise the best practical system for the effective administration of its affairs. When moreover, its doors were first opened, and for a year or two thereafter, many of the larger classes of the delinquents sent to the Refuge, were already adepts in crime, and not a few of them had previously been in the penitentiary, once, twice, and in some cases, even thrice. Was it reasonable, then we repeat, to suppose, that in each and every of these cases, a radical, perfect, and permanent reformation was possible; or, in default of having effected such reformation, in such cases, is it just to question or deny the utility of the institution? If so, the age of human perfectibility might have been considered very near, since nothing more would have been necessary to banish sin and shame, crime and sorrow, than to transform all the dwellings in the world into houses

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of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents. But notwithstanding the disadvantages which all new and untried establishments for improving the moral and intellectual condition of man, must encounter, and in despite of other untoward circumstances, so far from the existence of any just cause of censure or disappointment, the wonder is, that so much has been accomplished; that so many hopeful reformations have taken place; that so much real, substantial, and, to all human appearance, enduring good, has been effected. If the Managers of this institution can already point to hundreds of cases, in which idle and dissolute, and even criminal, children, of both sexes, have been reclaimed-snatched, as it were from the steep leading to inevitable destruction, and moulded into wellbehaved, sober, moral, industrious and modest young artizens, farmers, seamen, seamstresses, &c,-some of them already grown up, married, and respectably settled in life, then surely may the Institution appeal with confidence, to the favor and support of the public. That such have been the fruits of the salutary moral and religious discipline of the House of Refuge, and in very numerous instances, too, its archives are supplied with abundant testimony to prove. A portion of this testimony, which is constantly accumulating, has been laid before the Society, from year to year, in its annual reports; and some additional items of evidence to the same effect, are hereunto annexed. That some of the inmates have proved irreclaimable, and that others, after an apparent reformation-speaking contrition for the past, and promising well for the future,-have again relapsed into immoral and vicious practices, the Managers feel no disposition to conceal or deny. But such cases, they are warranted in saying, are comparatively rare-comprising but a small proportion of the whole number who have fallen under the care of the institution. On the contrary, if the assurances of their officers are to be believed, some of the finest young seaman in the navy, have been taken from the Refuge. Others have been entered in the whaling business, to the entire satisfaction of their employers, and with profit to themselves. There has been general good

conduct among these, and some of them are at the present time engaged as officers in that hardy and lucrative service. Others, again, are seamen, engaged in different branches of commercial enterprise; and one of the reformed inmates of this Institution, has recently sailed from one of our ports, the second mate of an Indiaman. Many are now engaged, under very favorable circumstances, as apprentices in the art of husbandry. The term of service of some has expired, and they have grown up respectable young men. One of these has married, and settled down a good citizen. Some of the number have become respectable mechanics. One of these, a very hard, but ultimately a very interesting case, became decidedly devout while in the Refuge. His whole temper and disposition were changed to mildness and docility. He was bound out to a trade-has acquired it-and having married a respectable girl, is now established, and engaged in the successful prosecution of a lucrative business. Several cases have occurred, where young girls, guilty of different offences, have been thoroughly reclaimed from the paths of iniquity. Of these, some have been bound to service at distant places in the country, where their deportment was in all respects so excellent, that they have married respectably, and are now discharging the duties of affectionate and virtuous wives and mothers. And the reports from great numbers of others, of both sexes, whose periods of service have not expired, are of the most gratifying, and even animating description. With these facts before us, is there not much cause for rejoicing that Providence has in such numerous instances, smiled upon the labors of this institution! And is there not large encouragement for the continuance of our exertions, in a cause which has already been attended with such gratifying results, and which is so rich in promise for the future!

In conclusion, the Managers have only to express the very great obligations they are under to the ladies who have the supervision of the Female Department of the Refuge, for their continued and efficient services in that interesting branch of this important public charity. It is peculiarly pleasant to contem

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plate the spirit of philanthropy, resting upon virtuous and accomplished women, enabling them, as her ministers, to forego the luxuries and refinements of elegant homes, to watch over the management of an institution like the House of Refuge-filled, as it must be, with beings often rendered loathsome by their vices and their crimes, and seeking to bring back the erring wanderer to the paths of virtue, and to elevate even the most degraded to a state of comparative moral purity. It is woman who invests charity with her most beautiful drapery, while her deeds of beneficence increase her own loveliness. Could there be an excess of true charity, woman would be prodigal; "but in charity there is no excess; neither can man or angel come in danger by it."

To the physicians of the institution, likewise, Doctors STEARNS and CARTER, the thanks of the Managers are eminently due, for their gratuitous services rendered during the past year, in the hospital of the Refuge.

Confidently relying upon the continuance of the public and legislative favor, and determined to spare no exertions themselves to render this institution, if not all that can be desired, at least much more than could, a very few years since, have been anticipated by the most sanguine, the Managers close their sixth year's labors, with the consolation arising from what they have believed a faithful discharge of their public duty, and are prepared to enter upon the seventh with renewed confidence, and with still brighter prospects of success in proportion to their means.

APPENDIX.

LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.

In reply to a note addressed by the Committee appointed to prepare this Report, to the Superintendent of the Refuge, requesting the necessary facts and documents to be incorporated therein, the following letter was received with the other papers. It was not written for publication; but as it embraces many statements proper for the public eye, the Committee have thought it advisable to inelude it in this Appendix.

"You ask, gentlemen, the causes of the commitment of our inmates. I would first refer you to the number of intemperate parents ascertained-doubting not, but if the truth was known, there are many more of this class than the parents of the sixty-three I have mentioned. The consequence is, the children are neglected, and suffered to run about the streets, to form acquaintance and connexion with older and idly trained boys and girls. They next begin to pilfer-sleep out nights, around the market places, &c.; and as their depravity naturally leads them from one step of vice to another, they begin to find the power of money, not only to gratify their appetites, but by degrees are led to different places of amusement, which in their nature are very seducing. Indulgence does but create stronger dispositions to obtain the means for attending Circuses, Theatres, &c., and we rarely receive a child of any years, which is not quite familiar with either the one or the other, or both. We have one of the strongest instances of the infatuation produced by theatrical amusements, in a boy now in the House, that we recollect to have witnessed. He is a youth of highly respectable parentage, and his father had the means and disposition to give him a liberal education. Much pains and expense were expended to qualify him for college, and he actually entered one of those seminaries, where he spent part of two sessions. But while quite young, he was taken to the theatre, by a person unknown to his parents, and continued to attend there for a length of time, before it was discovered by them. When it became known to them, they set their faces strongly against it ;-but such was his propensity thitherward, that, in the first instance, if means could not be obtained, he would sell his school books--then his mother's silver spoons, and books from his father's library; and when these were not obtainable, would change away his best clothes for inferior ones, to obtain the difference, for the purpose of gratifying himself in these amusements. It had such an influence upon him, as to become a perfect infatuation. He would not attend to his literary pursuits, and would stop at nothing to obtain money, that he might indulge his passion. To prevent greater disgrace, his friends interfered, and had him sent here. We have not discovered that this youth is beset by any other propensity. And had it not been for this, there is no probability that his pa rents' hearts would have been wounded in so tender a point, and one of our colleges would doubtless now have had one more respectable and promising young man enrolled upon its catalogue. And while we look over our large family, we see many under our care, who, had they been blessed with sober and industrious parents, would doubtless have made such children as we all would have been proud of, had they been sons of our own. We consider the

inculcation and practice of industrious habits, a powerful means of restoring to a good state of feeling, this young class-connected with those moral and religious precepts taught in the Bible. Notwithstanding we do not always see the fruits of religious instruction; still, feeling the influence of a kind father's precepts and example upon my own mind, we pursue our labors cheerfully, believing the impressions will be lasting and powerful in more mature age.

"Of the larger and more hopeless class, we have sent them on