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Besides this tabular statement of the condition of the pupils admitted, a description of each child is prepared, giving more details, illustrating their peculiarities.

These, conjoined with the exhibition of our pupils, in school and out of school, will furnish the means of testing the benefits of our Asylum.

I venture, then, with such facts before me, together with the results of daily observation on my own part and that of my assistants, to affirm briefly of the pupils that have been with us for a year past, that there has been a marked improvement in the physical condition of all the members of the school.

That there has been, in the case of pupils of the lowest grade, a great improvement in the habits, in ability to feed themselves, to dress themselves, and take care of themselves in other ways in the use of their senses; in their observation of what is going on around them; in their disposition and in their willingness to be controlled.

That, in the pupils of a higher grade, with a pleasing improvement in manners and deportment, there has been an increasing command of language; a willingness and capability for simple industrial occupations; actual progress and acquirements in proper school studies or exercises, beside the additional power of attention and mental discipline acquired in such exercises; but, above all, the exhibition of greater self-control and an increased perception of social and moral obligation; more evident recognition of the distinction between right and wrong and of the duty of obedience.

That in a few cases, the results already have been of such a character as to warrant the expectation that they will eventually become capable of sustaining ordinary social relations, with credit to themselves; that they will actually emerge from a condition of social disability to which they would have been hopelessly doomed, had it not have been for the special advantages of education this institution has afforded them.

These last, I beg you will observe, are the exceptional cases, and the results anticipated but incidental ones. The aim and scope of our educational system is to secure to the class of idiots the highest degree of usefulness, comfort, and happiness attainable with their limited natural endowments.

I shall content myself, at this time, with this brief general statement of what has been accomplished at this institution during the short period of its existence. Adequate notions of the actual and achievable benefits of a school like ours, can only be obtained by a personal examination. Such examinations are a part of the duties of the board of trustees, and I trust that the members of the Legislature, who are in some sense, ex-officio, the guardians of the asylum, will inspect for themselves its condition and results.

I should not omit to express my complete satisfaction with those engaged with me in the various duties of instruction, management, and training. Industry, fidelity, and a spirit of kindness have prevailed with all. This assurance will be needed by those only who have not visited the asylum.

It will be remembered that the last Legislature acted favorably upon the expressed wish of the superintendent and the recommendation of the board of trustees, by granting a sum of money for new buildings for the use of the asylum.

As we were not able to avail ourselves of that provision as soon as was anticipated; as we were crowded with applications for admissions to the asylum, of the most pressing character, from a misapprehension in the public mind of the nature of the previous legislative action; and as a gradual growth in point of numbers would least disturb our general system of management, some alterations were made in our present quarters that enabled us to accommodate ten additional pupils. We have now, therefore, fifty pupils.

While I confess to some degree of disappointment, that the walls of a new building for our use are not yet up, some of the causes of delay are as obvious as they were unavoidable. No buildings constructed with reference to the education of idiots had ever been erected in this country; principles, therefore, to guide in the proper locations, the general character and the internal arrangements of the building had both to be discussed and decided upon.

Of the principles which have guided you in the preliminary steps already taken, and in the progress already made towards the carrying out of the design of the legislative act of 1853, it is not my province to speak.

As superintendent of the asylum I have, however, been consulted from time to time by the board of trustees; so far, therefore, as my opinions are the result of experience in that official character, it will not be regarded as improper if I give expression to them in this report.

I remark, then, as the result of my conversations with individuals from all sections of the state, members of the Legislature and others, that there was an entire unity of opinion that the new institution should be located in the vicinity of Albany.