6

would also suggest that an error is committed in the several
counties and city of Baltimore by sending to the Penitentiary
for a few months only persons convicted of minor offences,
which should be punishable only by confinement in the County
or City Jail, and the county or city defray the expense of the
same, instead of imposing it upon the State at large and re-
lieving themselves of the support of the convict. The pro-
ceeds of the labor could be made equally profitable when em-
ployed by the counties, as by the State, and we concur in the
recommendation of the officers of the Penitentiary that, no
one should be committed to their custody for a term of less
than twelve months.

MARYLAND BLIND ASYLUM.

This charitable and noble institution of which F.D. Morrison,
Esq., is the Superintendent, your Committee found to bo one
of sad interest. The unfortunate class of our fellow humanity
who are deprived of the sense of sight, and seek this Asylum
to be educated to prepare themselves to bo able to do some-
thing to contribute to their support in life, manifested aston-
ishing mental qualifications of the manual labor performed
by the inmates for the benefit of the Institution, your Com-
mittee speak with pleasure, as all whose health will permit,
are engaged in the Manufacture of brooms, ornamental bead-
work and knitting: the revenue thus derived is considerable,
in comparison to the disadvantages under which -the Direc-
tors labor in not having the proper facilities for work, or even in
fact for the proper accomodation and comfort of the unfortu-
nate students. The Directors are much in need of an appro-
priation to enable them to complete their new building, nor
in progress of erection, and your Committee recommend the
passage of a bill for their relief. Notwithstanding the severe
privation of loss of eight, the students in the Asylum seem
cheerful, and greatly interested your Committee by exhibi-
tions of their proficiency in music, and the various other ex-
ercises in which they engaged. We recommend that the Leg-
islature make an appropriation for the purpose of assisting
this institution to complete the building which is now in pro-
gress, and that $ —— be appropriated for said purpose.