inmates during the last year was one hundred and eighty-one, while
the building will easily accommodate three hundred; as a matter
of economy then, it becomes desirable that there should be no
waste room in the building, and that there should be means sup-
plied adequate to the expense of full occupation.

Moved by every consideration of humanity, as well as by their
loyalty as citizens of the State, looking back with satisfaction to
the past, and urged forward by a determination to make the future
even more fruitful in good, the Board have no hesitation in lay-
ing before the Legislature their claims for at least the full sum
asked for at the last session. Sincerely grateful for the aid al-
ready afforded by the State, still it is due to themselves and the
cause for which they have devoted their means, their energies
and so many years of their time, very frankly to confess that they
look upon the Institution under their charge, as a creditor of the
State for relieving it of the responsibility of the care of so many
youthful delinquents, and thus striking at the very fountain head
of crime, and cutting off the future supply of the jail and peni-
tentiary. The State, by its statute, has put the Board in the
place of parents to these children of vagrancy and vice. It has
said to us, educate them, reclaim them, and so discipline them in
the ways of honesty and virtue, of industry and obedience, that
they may become good and useful members of the community.
And can the State clothe us with this authority, directing her
courts and magistrates to commit these children to our care du-
ring their minority and holding us to our responsibilities, not in-
deed by penalties—for ours is a free will service—but by our
faithfulness as men whose works must stand before a higher power
for judgment; we say, can the State do all this and refuse to
recognize the claim we present for the support of these un-
fortunate victims of neglect and crime ? We trust not.

To insure success for our plea, we believe that it is only ne-
cessary to understand the true character of the House of Refuge;
to know distinctly what are its aims and how those aims are to
be accomplished, what it claims to do for the individual and for
society and what it has already done in the cause of a wise and
practical benevolence. We believe this, because, among other
gratifying evidences, members of the last Legislature who with
hesitation voted for even the smaller sum and have since visited
the institution, have regretted that even a larger amount than was
asked for had not been appropriated. That a similar conviction
would be the result of an examination of the Refuge in its details,
by every intelligent member of the present Legislature, we can-
not doubt, and it would afford the greatest pleasure to every mem-
ber of the board at any time to submit their charge to such an
examination either to individuals, to committees or to the whole
Legislature as a body.

With these preparatory remarks, the Board would now respect-

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