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In the early history of the two other State charitable institutions, namely The Blind Asylum and the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, State provision was made for the support and education of a limited number only from each judicial district. All limitation was at last removed. Now, by a consistent and liberal legislation, every blind person and every deaf-mute, of a suitable age, is entitled to an education at the expense of the State, if in indigent circumstances. The accommodations in the way of buildings, in both the eases mentioned, have kept pace with the number of pupils offering.

The trustees of the asylum for idiots, would only ask, then in behalf of the class whose interests they have been commissioned by the State to guard, that the same policy that rules in regard to the classes referred to, may be extended to these.

If their request is granted, and the principle is established that the means of education shall be gradually supplied till the public want in this respect is fully met, a practical question will arise. Shall the present asylum be enlarged to a moderate extent, or shall a new institution be established? In the opinion of this board, the former course should be taken. The superintendent has indicated some of the reasons for this course. We may add, that keeping the institution within the limit that will admit of an efficient and economical administration, the same reasons that prompted the selection of the location of the present asylum originally, would hold good for its enlargement. The site is healthy, central, of easy access from all parts of the State, and the grounds are ample. At no point in the State can the supplies of various kinds needed for its maintenance, on the whole, be purchased to better advantage. The present organization of the asylum is of such a character that a moderate increase in the number of pupils would involve but little change in it. We commend, therefore, the suggestions of the superintendent in this respect to your favorable consideration.*

*The following extract from the annual message of Governor Palmer, just transmitted to the Legislature of Illinois, may be quoted in connection with the suggestion as to the necessity of further provision for their wants here. It may be mentioned that the State of Illinois now provides for the education of as many idiots, in proportion to the population, as does the State of New York:

"The institution for feeble-minded children, established by the act of the General Assembly in 1865, is no longer an experiment; its usefulness is demonstrated, and it must hereafter rank as one of the most interesting of the charitable institutions of the State. The labors of the Commissioners of the Board of Public Charities have developed the unexpected and startling fact, that there are in the State of Illinois nearly two thousand idiotic persons, and that, though many of them are incapable of instruction or improvement. a large proportion may be, by the employment of means adapted to their intellectual condition, made equal to the performance of many of the simpler duties of life. Such a degree of culture and advancement is relatively of the greatest consequence, both to the unfortunates them selves and to those who are responsible for their care. As the proper conclusion to what I have already said, I feel it to be my duty to urge upon the General Assembly to make special provisions for an Institution for a much larger number than are now under training."

The superintendent was allowed a. brief vacation from his duties during the past summer, on account of the ill health of a member of his family. He availed himself of this opportunity to visit some of the institutions for idiots in Europe. This experience can hardly fail to be of service to him in the future management of our own assylum -sic-.

The good opinions heretofore expressed of the various officers of the asylum, of their skill in the management of its immediate interests, and of their devotion to their respective duties, are again repeated by the trustees, in closing the report of the present year.

JOHN T. HOFFMAN, Governor.
ALLEN C. BEACH, Lt.-Governor.
ABRAM B. WEAVER, Supt. Pub. Inst.
JAMES H. TITUS.
HENRY N. POHLMAN.
E. W. LEAVENWORTH.
ALLEN MUNROE.
FRANKLIN TOWNSEND.
LAKE I. TAFFT.
GEORGE F. COMSTOCK.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Trustees of the New York Asylum for Idiots:

GENTLEMEN. -- The twentieth annual report of my administration of the affairs of this institution is herewith respectfully submitted.

I first present a summary of the statistics of the asylum for the past school year. The whole number of pupils connected with the asylum during that period was 150. The average attendance was 140. The number in actual attendance during the whole school year, and receiving their support exclusively from the State treasury, was 116. The number in actual attendance for school year, paying part tuition, was nine. The number paying entire cost of board and instruction was fifteen. The actual cost for board and instruction of each pupil, on the average, was $204.