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business. They are taylors, shoemakers, weavers, joiners, and 
basket-makers. I saw here a machine to cut out shoe soles and 
heels. Sharp irons are formed according to the shape, which is 
designed for the sole or heel; these irons are placed on a pair of 
wet hides, and brought under an iron press, which is worked 
like those in the mint. The boys who distinguish themselves by 
their industry and good behaviour, are placed in the first class, 
and carry on the left arm a brass plate, with the inscription, first 
class, as a mark of distinction. Those on the contrary, who have 
endeavoured to escape, drag a chain with a heavy iron ball. The 
period of detention in this institution is left to the discretion of 
the commissioners; they may be detained till their twenty-first 
year. 
In order to show me the boys, the director gave notice with a 
whistle, upon which they arranged themselves, according to their 
size. Several large and strong fellows stood on the right wing, 
among which I saw one of a very good appearance, whom I saw 
here last year as clerk. His family had confined him here on 
account of an irresistible propensity to steal, against which, nei¬ 
ther exhortation nor severe corporeal punishment availed. I saw 
two little boys of seven years, on the left wing, who had already 
begun to steal. The biography of every one is written in a se¬ 
parate book, and a journal afterwards kept of his behaviour, 
punishments, &c. The director of the house showed me some 
of these biographies; they are psychologically, exceedingly re¬ 
markable. The greater part of the boys had been induced to 
steal by larger ones, who have been confined on account of this 
offence in the penitentiary or state prison. The director called 
the former of these institutions the academy, and the latter the 
university for thieves. The benefit of this house of refuge is per¬ 
ceived in the clearest manner from these biographies, it is seen 
of what importance it is to anticipate the development of crime. 
It is certainly an effective mode of improving the morality of the 
lower classes. They say that it is more difficult to keep the girls 
in order, than the boys, and that upon the whole, the former are 
much worse than the latter. They are generally seduced, when 
they are but nine or ten years old. When not engaged in re¬ 
ceiving instruction, they are employed in female occupations. 
After leaving this interesting institution, we repaired to the 
alms-house on the East river. With the alms-house they have 
connected the workhouse, in which criminals are confined and 
employed for the benefit and advantage of the city. The in¬ 
stitution was erected at the expense of the city, and consists of 
three long massive buildings, three stories high, with several side 
buildings, designed for hospitals, schools, smithshops, &c. The 
whole is surrounded with a wall, and divisions made in the inte- 
