9th inquiry. The subject of the general management of such a school is of primary importance, and demands much consideration and reflection.

Occupation is one of the first matters for consideration; for no one should be idle whose health will permit him to labor. Agricultural and horticultural employments are amongst the best for persons of this character; and if it shall be decided that all shall work at trades, who are competent to learn them and pursue them to advantage, then will there still be a large number incompetent to learn them, so as to do any profitable labor at them.

The difficulty of furnishing employment in winter will make it necessary to introduce, as extensively as practicable, trades and mechanical labor. Some, who work on the land in summer, may be employed, in some department of mechanical labor, in winter.

The trades that can be advantageously introduced, are shoemaking, tailoring, cabinet-making, blacksmithing, machinemaking, mat-making, stocking-weaving, &c. For girls, making garments, mantua-making, straw-braiding, and domestic labor in all departments of housewifery.

These trades may be easily learned, and should be pursued, partly to furnish healthy and useful employment, but principally to prepare those engaged in them for the means of future support and usefulness. Few men prefer idleness to industry, and fewer, still, a career of vice to honesty and respectability, who have been educated in good, industrious habits.

So far as regards discipline, system is every thing in such an establishment. This should be strictly and closely adhered to in every thing. Rotation of labor, instruction, recreation, eating and sleeping, may occupy the whole time, so that it will not pass heavily; and habits, thus formed, will be easily continued, and produce, after a while, an established character.

In cases of delinquency, admonition, advice and reproof should be fully tried, with kindness of manner and affectionate interest, before severity be resorted to.

Punishment, if it must be admitted, should be, in the first place, privation of privilege, loss of caste, solitary confinement

:

for a short season, accompanied by every encouragement of which the case will allow, and restoration to all former enjoyments and privileges, on a promise of reformation.

In a few cases, corporal infliction, of some sort, may be necessary; but these must be rare, if other appliances to produce amendment are conducted in a judicious manner, and with a proper spirit

If punishment must be inflicted, let it be executed in solitude, with none present but officers and instructors.

Witnessing punishment hardens the heart, arouses the animal spirits, and awakens combativeness. So, also, the presence of companions often increases stubborness, excites a bravado spirit, and makes the victim of misrule more unyielding and

perverse.

In short, punishments should be as rare as possible, and yet should be inflicted, whenever they are threatened, with decision and promptness. Obedience to proper authority is essential to government, whether of families or kingdoms, and nowhere more necessary than in schools; - and in this, certainly, no less than others. But punishment should always be inflicted when the mind is calm, and the feelings kind and equable. Commencing in the right, those who execute punishments should never suffer themselves to get in the wrong, by allowing passion to have any influence upon their tempers.

The name of school is very appropriately applied to this institution; for training and educating the intellect and moral powers should be the principal object of the establishment.

For this purpose, the schoolmaster must be introduced. Every individual should be instructed; none should leave till they can read and write, and understand common arithmetic.

A portion of each day should be spent in the school, as well as in the workshop and on the farm; and no suitable occasion should be lost to inculcate right principles upon the mind, and to enforce truth and honesty as the only guide to happiness.

The Bible should be in the hands of all who can read, and reading of a portion of it, daily, be enforced as a duty.

The institution should not commence without a chaplain, who, at first, at least, may be the teacher. Besides regular services on the Sabbath, he can do much good by conversing with individuals or groups, and enforcing moral and religious truths.

Much judgment and discrimination are necessary, in this department of discipline. It requires much wisdom to know when to urge moral truths, and when to withhold; too much effort to enforce such subjects upon the mind sometimes produces reaction, and sometimes a lasting prejudice and distaste for religious teaching.

Great reliance, however, may be placed on religious instruction, if suitably and judiciously enforced, to win the affections and quicken the conscience, -not to alarm and agitate, but to exhibit the beauty of holiness, the excellency of virtue; to inspire self-respect, respect for others, and right feelings towards our Father in Heaven, and a just estimate of our relation to

Him.

The law of kindness should be the all-pervading code of this establishment. No officer should be allowed to use any harsh or violent language, and profanity and vulgarity should be entirely excluded. So should, also, all intoxicating drinks, tobacco, and every such evil habit, by the strictest regulations.

Courtesy between officers, and between officers and inmates, should be inculcated; kind words cost nothing, but are of great value in inspiring respect, and have much influence in rendering government easy.

The subject of health is of great importance in such an institution, and should be constantly in view, from the first commencement of architectural arrangements, to the completion of the code of laws that are to govern the establishment.

A plain, simple, substantial diet should be established, consisting of considerable variety of healthful food.

Animal food should be used once a day; and bread, of the best quality, should be dealt to the inmates, with an unsparing hand. Tea, coffee or cocoa warm, with milk, is a better drink, with cold food, than cold water; water is the best drink for the thirsty man when at labor, and is altogether suitable, with warm food. Fruits should be allowed, when in abundance, every day.

Nothing so frequently produces discontent and a rebellious spirit, as a deficiency of food or an improper diet. "Hunger will break through stone walls." Persons in confinement often complain, with reason, of their diet; too little attention is given to it, by overseers of such institutions; the food is too frequently of a bad quality, badly cooked, or served cold.

Baths are also of importance to health, and should be used frequently, especially by those who pursue dirty trades; each individual, in health, should have a bath once a week; and, in warm weather, a daily bath is healthful and agreeable. At the lake may be easily constructed baths of every description, at a moderate expense.

In most places of confinement, too little attention is paid to clothing and bedding; they are often insufficient, and, more frequently still, dirty and even filthy. Too much attention cannot be paid to this important matter of health. Amusements, recreation, and holidays are not to be overlooked, in their influence upon health and contentment of mind.

I have written hastily, and, to some extent, bunglingly, but I have no time to copy. If you find, in this long and tedious communication, sufficient to induce you to read it, and single suggestion worthy of the consideration of the commissioners, I shall be rewarded for the time devoted in writing it.

Very truly and respectfully yours,

S. B. WOODWARD.

Letter from SIMON GREENLEAF, LL.D., Professor of Law in

Harvard University.

(COPY.)

BOSTON, November 16, 1846.

GENTLEMEN, -Your circular of September 19 did not reach me in season for a reply so early as October 15, but I now avail myself of the first leisure for that purpose, in the hope that it may not yet be too late. I do not propose to trouble you with any thing more than the results I have come to upon the questions you propound, in their order.

1. As to the plan of buildings, it is out of the range of my pursuits.

2. I doubt the propriety of admitting any persons above fifteen years old, into an institution for juvenile offenders, unless in special cases of conviction before a criminal court. I think that former character should be taken into account, at least so far as to exclude second offenders, and, perhaps, so far as to exclude persons previously convicted of any crime.

3. I would admit males only.

4. I think the institution should be open to all classes of offenders, i. e., without distinction as to the nature of the of

fence.

5. Let courts commit, after conviction; and give justices of the peace and judges of probate power to commit, upon petition of parents or selectmen, &c.

6. This can be better answered by those acquainted with the state of the criminal calendar. But, to hazard a guess, I should say one hundred, at first, with capacity for enlargement at diminished expense.

7. I think that no lad should go from the establishment without a merited testimonial of good conduct, nor without either a paternal home to go to, where he will be properly cared for, or being put out as an apprentice, or under some equivalent relation; never to be sent out at large without "a place."

8. As the object is "reformation," I think no one should be discharged till "reformed."

In regard to the last general request for suggestions, I am of opinion that the government should be paternal, with no other than fatherly correction. The trades I would suggest, are agriculture, and light but useful handicrafts, not requiring much outlay of capital. For instruction, I would have the Bible an indispensable daily reading book, to be read with the particular seriousness which is due to it as God's own word and will. It is my firm belief, the result of more than forty years' observation, that to the daily and reverent use of the Bible in our common schools, as the inspired revelation of the will of God, we

1