The Batch Agricultural Colonies: 
803 
the undisturbed occupation of the cottage allotted to them, 
provided their conduct was good. He did not seem to be 
averse to emigration, but thought the Society would render a 
very questionable benefit to its proteges if it compelled them to 
leave the colony after a few years to make room for others. 
He insisted very strongly upon the beneficent work of the 
Society in educating the children of the colonists. He regarded 
the highest and noblest duty of the Society to be the training 
of the children to become useful citizens, and pointed to the 
large number of well-ai'ranged schools that had been instituted 
to teach them trades and handicrafts. When the children were 
started in life, the Society continued to look after the parents if 
they were still living, and supported them entirely if they were 
too old or infirm to work. This system was, he admitted, very 
expensive, and restricted greatly the number of families that 
could be relieved ; but he did not see how, under the general 
principles of the Societj^'s work, it could be improved upon, nor 
how the Society could now change its system. 
The subject is one which it is perhaps beyond the scope of this 
Journal to discuss at any greater length ; but it certainly appears 
to an outside observer that the admission of only about six new 
families a year, in face of an annual deficit on the working of 
over 1.000?.,^ merits the careful attention of those responsible for 
the management of the institution. 
For everything else coucei-ning the Colony no one can 
have anything but praise. The district committees are proud 
of it, and interested in its work. Its devoted Director spares 
no pains, thought, or time to ensure its success. The colonists 
look happy, contented, and prosperous, and the land (once a 
desert) is now smiling with comparative plenty. 
The Beggar Colonies. 
The Beggar Colonies at Veenhuizen, near Assen, capital of the 
Province of Drenthe, and at Ommerschans, in Overyssel, are 
maintained by the Government as reformatories for vagrants, 
drunkards, and other delinquents who are not actually criminals. 
The estates comprise 12,500 acres, and, as stated above, formerly 
belonged to the Maatschappij van Weldadigheid, by whom they 
were sold to the Government. There arefour " colonies," namely, 
three for men and one for women, and there are about 2,000 
male and between 400 and 500 female colonists. About 2.500 
■ It is only fair to say that 600/. of this deicit is represented by interest 
on a loan contracted with a Mortgage Bank, which will be repaid in about 
twenty years. 
