ren who ought to be sent to the School of Reformation, he would perform at once for these children, for their parents, and for the public, an invaluable service: a service which, alone, would be a rich compensation for the expense at which it must be maintained. But, though this might be the only authority with which he could be legally invested, in regard to the classes of children of whom I have spoken, the work of thus disposing of these children would constitute but a single branch of the service he might render. Let him be a man of intelligence and energy, of sound judgment and of active kindness, a man who understands and feels what is to be lost by the moral ruin, and what is to be gained by the moral recovery, of a child. Let him take cognisance, as he should, of every child who shall be found out of school when he should be in school, and of every lad over fourteen years of age who is wandering through our streets without employment, and acquaint himself with the parents and friends of these children; and let him offer his assistance to children and to parents to obtain employment, especially in the country, for those who may be sent to farmers and mechanics there, and to restore to our schools the children who have left but who should be in them; and he will thus do as much for the prevention, as, by the authority with which he might be invested by law, he could do for the remedy of evil. I have had some, though a limited experience in each of these departments of service; and I know that very great good may be done in it. Let it be known, that there is a public officer, whose business is the charge of lawless and profligate children, and the immediate effect will be a great and powerful restraint upon those, whose dispositions and tendencies are to

evil, but whose interests and pleasures are not yet so amalgamated with those of their vicious associates, that they cannot be separated from them. Many will thus be induced to retrace their steps, and to return to duty; and many will be kept from entering the paths, the end of which they will perceive is disgrace and punishment.

I may here observe also, that the Directors of the House of Industry, and of the School of Reformation, are not allowed to apprentice, or otherwise to dispose of any of the children in these institutions, except within the limits of the commonwealth. Nor can they even meet all the applications which are made to them for children, by farmers and mechanics in the country, within these limits. Applications, however, are made also from the neighboring states for children of the poor in the city; and a standing advertisement in 'the New England Farmer,' and an occasional one in some of our city newspapers, that boys or children for the country can be supplied by the officer I have referred to, would give him facilities for a greatly advantageous disposition of a considerable number, for whom so good a provision could in no other manner be made. I know not, indeed, how the city government could make a wiser annual appropriation of a few hundred dollars, than for the support of this office. It ought to be filled by one, who will be respected, and trusted in it; who will deserve and obtain the confidence of the parents, whose children may fall under his charge; and by one, who shall be capable of making full and satisfactory reports, both of what he shall learn upon the subjects connected with his office, and of his doings in it. It should not, therefore, be the great question in view of this office, how can it be filled most cheaply? In

my judgment, allow me to say, the question of well or ill paved strects, or of disordered or well conditioned sewers, or even of wise or unwise ordinances and establishments for the preservation of the health of the city, is of minor interest, of secondary importance.* Our School of Reformation is daily becoming more extensively known, and daily rising in reputation among us. Nor have I any apprehension, while it shall be in the charge of its present Superintendent, that it will disappoint any fair expectations that may be formed of its beneficial tendencies. I know, indeed, of no other individual, who could have done what Mr Wells has done in that School; and, in the very important work of making it what it should be, he is scarcely less impor

*The School of Reformation at South Boston was opened in September, 1826. The Rev. Mr Wells took the charge of it in November, 1828.- The number who have been sent to the school is 294. There have been received into it, since it has been in the care of Mr Wells, 202. - There are now in the school 93 children; 84 boys, and 9 girls. Of these 84 boys, 66 are children of Americans, and 16 of foreigners; of 2, the parentage is not known with certainty. Of the American children, 19 were brought from the country to the city, and 45 were born in Boston. Of these boys, 5 were taught in our primary schools, but were not transferred to a grammar school; 25 could not read when they were sent to the School of Reformation; and 53 have been truants from our schools.

I do not think it proper to state the offences for which these boys were sent to the School of Reformation. My object is, to throw some light, if I may, upon the causes which have led to those offences; and, upon the means of their remedy, and prevention. I have, however, the highest satisfaction in being able to say, that, of 136 boys whom Mr Wells has apprenticed, 116 may fairly be viewed as good boys. They are doing well. Doubts are felt concerning 15; and 5 are considered as bad. If these facts will not call forth both private and public favor for this School, I know not how that favor is to be obtained for it.

tant to the institution, than the institution is to the city. But there are yet many among our intelligent citizens, who have no adequate conceptions of the character and objects of this School. It is even confounded, by not a few, with the House of Correction, to which, however, it is scarcely more like, than the House of Correction is to what it should be; and a greater dissimilarity than this can hardly be imagined. Very grateful, therefore, shall I be, if I may do anything to correct any erroneous impressions respecting it; and to awaken in any minds a stronger interest in its prosperity and success. Even as it now is, this School is exerting a redeeming power, which should awaken in our community a universal interest in the cause of maintaining and extending its usefulness. But it is susceptible of great improvements. What it has achieved, is but a strong indication of what it may do. There is, in truth, I be-, lieve, no single means that can be devised, by which so much can be done to diminish the work of our criminal courts; so much to lessen the number of the inmates of our prisons and alms-houses, and the consequent expense of these institutions; and so much at once for the salvation of those who are exposed to moral ruin, and therefore for general order and security, as by the School of Reformation, if it shall be made, what it is not only practicable, but what it will be the truest economy to make it. I have long seen and felt the defects, as well as the excellencies, of this institution. But, unwilling to give you only my own convictions on the subject, I addressed a note to the Rev. Mr Wells, the Superintendent of the School, requesting him to inform me what are the most important changes he would suggest, with a view to its more successful operation.

I feel, therefore, a strong confidence in offering the following propositions, as containing at once the results of his experience in the school, and of my own observations of it.

First. That there should be a distinct Board of Directors of the School, to be appointed annually by the city government.

Second. That the Executive Head, or Principal of the institution, should be, ex officio, a member of the Board of Directors.

Third. That a building should be erected for the institution, which should be suited, as the present building is not, for its various objects.

Fourth. That the city should procure a good farm for the institution. By means of a farm for spring, summer and autumn work, and of work-shops for winter, the boys might almost, or wholly, support themselves.

Fifth. That the Legislature be petitioned for an amendment of the present act for the incorporation of the School, by an act which shall authorize the Directors to receive from any court in this state, and authorizing also all the courts in the state to send to such Directors, any such minors convicted before such courts, as may be deemed and decided to be proper members of the School; the parents or guardians of such children, or in case of their inability the town or parish to which such children may belong, or the state, paying the institution, for the care and education of such children, at the rate of fifty dollars per year. And further authorizing such Directors to examine, and try such minors as may be brought before them, and to send such of them to the School as shall be shown and proved to be proper members of the institution; in such cases the