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 res-, pectably, 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

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.

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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 include 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 parents' 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.

1

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

long voyages to sea, where they will arrive to manhood in this honest and industrious calling-hoping that on their return, those bubbles and toys, that in their youth glistened in their eyes like the diamond, will have lost their charms. Some, it is true, have disgraced themselves, and brought sorrow to the hearts of the managers of this institution, who devote much of their time by day and by night, for the interest of these unfortunate Juvenile Delinquents, without fee or reward, other than the satisfaction they must experience, at having done all in their power to reclaim and to save them, by placing them in a way to obtain a respectable and honest livelihood. Yet, on the other hand, they are cheered to see now and then a hearty and hardy Tar return from his voyage--and passing even his own relatives to come up with his certificate of good conduct from his captain, or the merchant, first to greet his kind benefactors at the Refuge. I now recollect two boys who once afforded but little hope. They are now mates of ships out of this port, one of whom is entrusted with large amounts of valuable property, and is considered to be a young man of the strictest integrity.

"As to the children occasionally returned upon our hands, while we are compelled to say some are unworthy of the stations they were placed in--yet with all the vigilance and industry of our Indenturing Committee, who spare no pains to obtain information, not only of the respectability, but fitness of the families of persons applying to them for apprentices from the Refuge, yet sometimes children are unhappily located-or more is expected from them than it is reasonable to require of children of their age. A striking instance at this moment occurs to my mind. A gentleman of respectability obtained a little girl. His family became so dissatisfied with her, that the gentleman put her out to board for a short time, until he could make application to the Indenturing Committee, and have an opportunity of returning her to the Refuge, which he did with an appearance of strong dislike, &c. All were fully satisfied that his complaints were without just grounds, and after retaining her a few months, another favorable opportunity offered to send her to the West. After she had been out several months the second time, the gentleman's brother came (a few days since) nearly three miles, to tell us how highly his brother and family were pleased with the little girl, and that she was the admiration of the neighborhood.

"From one neighborhood in Massachusetts, we have lately had an account from five boys, who are all doing well, and were very much beloved. In one place in Connecticut, six of our boys are all doing well; and, gentlemen, I could fill a little volume with interesting facts like the foregoing, as we always keep an account of parentage, former life, conduct in the House, reports from their masters after being indentured, and even after they are free, married and settled in business, with great care and precision, and have now rising eight hundred of these histories of cases that have fallen to our care. I will close by furnishing you with a few extracts from the books of the past year, showing the effects of this beneficent public charity.

"Respectfully yours,

N. C. HART."

SELECTION OF CASES AND LETTERS From Apprentices, and from Persons to whom Apprentices have been bound.

9

BOYS.

September 18, 1829.

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C. D., from a court of Oyer and Terminer, held in Albany, in and for the county of Albany, aged 18 years the 11th inst., born on the island of Guernsey, of English parents; his mother died in Guernsey, twelve or thirteen years ago; his father moved to P. several years since. Not long after, moved back to V. Some short time previous to his father's death, he had put C. D. as an apprentice to Mr. where he continued four years; had learned the trade so that he could make cream cups, silver spoons, &c.-became acquainted with a boy about 15 years of age. M. C. proposed leaving that place for the north; C. D. said he had no money; C. replied that he had sixty dollars. They started the 7th of June last. The first stop they made was with P. M. in Broadway, four days; they then went to Albany, put up with Mr. J. They stayed there about a week, and then cleared out without ing their board; went to Troy, put up with Mr. P. three days, paid their board and started for Waterford: put up with Mr. H. F. a short time, and cleared without paying their bill. They then started for Albany, took lodgings with Mr. C., told him they had no money, but they were to write to Washington for some; stopped one week, walked out to Rensselaer Ville, and put up with C. T. Not having any cash, they were asked for money; C. D. pawned his watch, which, according to calculation, would defray their expenses for several days, (subject to be redeemed for $8); but in about two days they arose before day, contrived to get into the bar room, took the landlord's pocket book containing $12 50 cents in cash, and several promissory notes. C., as it rained, helped himself to a cloak, and on they started, (this was the 4th of July.) They were pursued and taken near Coeyman's Landing, with the money on them, having thrown away the pocket book and papers. C. was bailed out for $500; went home, and forfeited the bond. C. D. remained and was found guilty, and sentenced here. He says during the four years that he was with his master, he in a few instances picked up scraps, made gold rings and sold them; his master knew of it twice, but only reproved him. Entered the 8th class.

On the re-examination which took place, I judge about three months after the foregoing, he says that he was a bad boy, would play truant from school, &c.; feels deeply impressed that his bad conduct was the leading cause of his father's death, and shows much contrition for his past misconduct.

When this boy first came here, he was very troublesome, and showed a strong disposition to avail himself of the first opportunity to make his escape, and gave us much anxiety; but in a few months, we can truly say, the Lion became (from every appearance) a Lamb; he became humble and pliable, of a quiet and meek spirit; a lover of his Bible and of his closet; would gather the smaller boys around him during play hours, in the school hall,