694 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[1837 



tion of the establishment on Thompson's Island, 

 the board of managers are satisfied that there has 

 been much improvement in the character of the 

 boys who have been committed to the charge of 

 the institution. In the last report of the superin- 

 tendent, 62 boys are placed in the highest or first 

 grade, 40 in the second, 4 in the third, and 1 in 

 the fourth. 



The number of boys on the island at the time 

 of the last report, was 92 ; since that time 18 hoys 

 have been admitled, and three withdrawn. The 

 number on the 1st ot January, 1837, was 107; all 

 of whom, as well as all other persons connected 

 with the establishment on the island, were in good 

 health, and tl\ere has been no death at the insti- 

 tution since the last report was made. The occu- 

 pations and employment of the boys vary with 

 the season. In spring, summer and autumn, the 

 larger boys, in classes, work upon the garden and 

 farm, of whose labor they perform a larg'e part. 

 The younger hoys have small gardens of their 

 own, which afford them recreation when released 

 irom school. In the winter season most of them 

 attend school, where they are instructed in the 

 learning usually taught in our conimon schools, 

 and some of them assist in making clothes and 

 mending shoes. The winter evenings are occu- 

 pied with the study of geography, and the use of 

 globes ; botany, and practical agriculture ; lec- 

 turing on different subjects, singing and reading. 

 The superintendent states that " every boy in the 

 institution is required to be present during the 

 evening exercises, if he is able, which are very 

 pleasing to them, and which we all enjoy very 

 much." 



A large number of mulberry trees have been 

 planted upon the island, and there are many silk 

 worms at the establishment. It is contemplated 

 to improve the advantages of the location in the 

 production of raw silk for manufacture. 



As to the success of the boys in the farming op- 

 erations, Capt. Chandler, the superintendent says, 

 " they have succeeded far beyond my expecta- 

 tions ; 1 think they have done more work, and 

 done it better, than the boys of their age who 

 have been regularly brought up to the business in 

 the country generally do." And as to the com- 

 fort and contentedness of the boys, he says, "they 

 are all conlbrtablyclad with woollen ciothes, shoes, 

 stockings and ca[)s, and appear to be as happy in 

 their present situation as boys generally are under 

 the paternal roof They appreciate their advan- 

 tages, and most of them are grateful to the bene- 

 fiictors of the institution and their fi'iends lor pla- 

 cing them here. The boys are well supplied with 

 books, and keep them in excellent order; our li- 

 brary contains between 4 and 500 volumes of well 

 selected books. I have also an agricultural library 

 containing about 30 volumes, to which the boys 

 have access." 



Opportunities are occasionally offered to the 

 friends of the boys at the institution, of visiting 

 them on the island in the summer months. 



The school is under the immediate charge of 

 Mr. George B. Hyde, and he as well as the super- 

 intendent and all engaged in the establishment, 

 are believed to merit the contiimance of the con- 

 fidence which has hitherto been reposed in them. 

 During the past summer, several |)arties of" la- 

 dies and gentlemen, at the request of the board of 

 managers, visited Thompson'a Island. At these 



visits there have been many persons present, and 

 an examination of the boys in their different stud- 

 ies has been accompanied by some remarks on the 

 objects and prospects of the institution. Among 

 those who have thus visited the island, have been 

 many strangers, who have always expressed 

 their interest and pleasure in its objects and con- 

 dition. 



And how should it be otherwise than an object 

 of interest ? an institution designed to rescue the 

 destitute orphan boys of our city from vice and 

 ruin; to withdraw them from scenes and associ- 

 ates, whose contaminating infiijence would quick- 

 ly destroy the perceptions of conscience, and leave 

 them, deprived of tliat monitor, to pursue the im- 

 pulses of passions which inevitably destroy their 

 victims. Many are the worthy objects of the char- 

 itable institutions among us ; our' hospitals relieve 

 the sufferings of the sick, and restore them to 

 health and usefulness; they are a blessing which 

 may be required by all of us, and we would not 

 detract from their deserts. But we concieve that 

 an institution which is to rescue immortal beings 

 ti'om the stain of sin, which could hardly other- 

 wise be avoided, which is intended to have an in- 

 fluence on tlie youthful mind, and lead it to an un- 

 derstanding of Its own capacities, responsibilities 

 and hopes, deserves the fostering care of an en- 

 lightened, benevolent community, as much as 

 those associations whose aim is to cure the diseases 

 of the body, or to restore the wanderings of intel- 

 lect. Such an institution as the Asylum and Farm 

 School, is in true accordance with the spirit of the 

 pilgrims ; it carries into effect the first objects of 

 their solicitude, the education of the young — of 

 that young whose talents would otherwise be 

 employed to violate the peace and virtue of soci- 

 ety. 



It will be seen by the report of the, finance 

 committee, that the expenses of the institution for 

 the year ending January 1, 1837, have amounted 

 to ,9*3,100, while the receipts for the same time 

 have amounted to 3,500, leaving a deficiency of 

 !Ui2,600. To meet this excess of expenditure over 

 income, and to prevent its recurrence, it will be 

 necessary to appeal to the liberality of the public. 

 The board of managers had intended to have 

 made that appeal in the autumn of the past year ; 

 but 1 he condition of the financial afi'airs of this com- 

 munity induced them to defer it. They would re- 

 commend the subject to their successors as one re- 

 quiring their attention when a suitable time shall 

 have arrived for its execution, with the confidence 

 that the appeal will be cheerfully and promptly 

 answered. 



For the managers. 



WM. GRAY. 



REAL FRIENDS TO AGRICULTT^RE. 



With pleasure we again acknowledge the re- 

 ceipt of one hundred and fifiy dollars, from the 

 Rhode Island Society f(:ir the Promotion of Agri- 

 culture, to pay t()r the New England Farmer, for 

 distribution among its members. Let other agri- 

 cultural societies go and do likewise, and we [iro- 

 mise them that our most earnest endeavors will 

 be to render a fair and full equivalent. — N. E. 

 Farmer. 



