agers should have the power to lengthen the term, when they consider any individual unfit to be discharged, and that he would, if free, resort to criminal courses; but their decisions, in such cases, shall be subject to the approval of some person appointed to examine into them.

9. The service of the house should be performed by the inmates in rotation; there should be as many trades as practicable introduced, in order that the children may have a choice of work, and they should be allowed to vary their occupations, even several times in the same day, going in classes from the school to the farm, and thence to the work-shops, and from one shop to another. The farm should be carried on as much by manual labor as possible, so as to be more like a garden than a farm. I am convinced that better resu'ts to the inmates can be obtained by having the whole under the general superintendence of a woman, than if the chief manager were a man. My opinion on this point is founded on the results obtained, or said to have been obtained, in prisons, and on the greater influence of women over boys, who will constitute the larger proportion of the inmates. The subordinates, having charge of the various departments, to be male or female, as the case may be, but these stations to be filled by the inmates as soon as practicable. I would, if possible, have some system adopted by which the inmates shall receive pecuniary benefit from their labor, and be incited to industry and good conduct by the hope of laying up some provision for themselves, to be available when discharged. I can make no better reply to the general question un 'er consideration, than in the words of an esteemed friend of great experience :

"I would suggest that the entire management of the institution be based on the idea of attracting to improvement by the increase of privileges, and not on the usual theory of deterring from wrong by prohibition and penalty. Corporal punishment ought not to be allowed in any form, under any circumstances. Seclusion and the loss of customary privileges should, in my judgment, be the only consequences of improper conduct. But, above all, have the system of reward, reward for every bad habit broken, for every deficiency overcome. I would have access to a pleasant library one of the privileges granted for certain improvements and performances. I would have the privilege of witnessing curious experiments in Natural Philosophy, with simple explanations, another reward for good conduct. I would have a singing school and teaching on instruments; and have the concert-room open twice a week to those who had dome as well as they could."

I will only add, that, to answer the questions contained in the circular with accuracy, so that the answers would themselves be of service, would require more practice and experience than has been my lot, and I have not attempted it. I offer the foregoing solely as hints, and very crude ones, from which I hope something of good may be gathered.

That such may be the case, and that, from the information in possession of the Commissioners, they may produce a plan worthy of the great and important subject committed to them, is, dear sir, the sincere wish of

Your friend and servant,

FRANCIS GEORGE SHAW.

Resolves for erecting the State Reform School Buildings.

Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint a Board of three Commissioners, who shall cause to be erected, on such site, upon any part of the farm in Westborough, recently obtained by gift to the Commonwealth, as they may judge best, a building or buildings suitable for the accommodation of a Superintendent and Steward, with their families, and a Teacher or Teachers, and capable of accommodating three hundred boys; and that said Commissioners shall have power to make all necessary contracts for, and to appoint agents to superintend the erection of the same. And said Commissioners shall present all their accounts to the Governor and Council, to be by them audited and allowed, from time to time, as they shall deem just.

Resolved, That, for the purpose of defraying the expenses to be incurred under the previous resolve, his Excellency the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, to draw his warrants, from time to time, upon the Treasurer of this Commonwealth, for the necessary sums of money, not exceeding, in the whole, thirty-five thousand dollars, in addition to the sum already appropriated by a resolve passed on the sixteenth day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.

Resolved, That the sum of one thousand dollars, remaining in the hands of the Commissioners, being the balance of the donation of ten thousand dollars to the Commonwealth, be appropriated for permanent improvements for the benefit of said school, and be expended under the direction, and at the discretion, of the Trustees.

Resolved, That, for the purpose of stocking, improving, and cultivating said farm at Westborough, for the current year, the sum of one thousand dollars be appropriated; and his Excellency the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, to draw his warrant upon the Treasurer of the Commonwealth for the same. [Approved, April 9, 1847.]

An Act to establish the State Reform School.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECT. 1. There shall be established, in the town of Westborough, in the county of Worcester, on the land conveyed to the Commonwealth for the purpose, a school for the instruction, employment, and reformation of juvenile offenders, to be called the State Reform School; and the government of said school shall be vested in a board of seven trustees, to be appointed and commissioned by the Governor, by and with the advice of the Council.

SECT. 2. It shall be the duty of said board of trustees to take charge of the general interests of the institution; to see that its affairs are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Legislature, and of such by-laws as the board may, from time to time, adopt, for the orderly and economical management of its concerns; to see that strict discipline is maintained therein; to provide employment for the inmates, and bind them out, discharge or remand them, as is hereinafter provided; to appoint a superintendent, a steward, a teacher or teachers, and such other officers as, in their judgment, the wants of the institution may require; to prescribe the duties of the superintendent and other officers; to exercise a vigilant supervision over the institution, its officers and inmates; to remove such officers at pleasure and appoint others in their stead; and to determine the salaries to be paid to the officers respectively, -subject, in all cases, to the approval of the Governor and Council. The trustees shall also prepare, and submit to the inspection of the Governor and Council, a code of by-laws, which shall not be valid until sanctioned by them. The by-laws may subsequently be enlarged or amended by the assent of five members of the board of trustees, at any legal meeting of said board, and not otherwise; but no alteration shall be valid, until it shall have been approved by the Governor and Council.

SECT. 3. As soon as the Governor shall have been notified, by the commissioners to be appointed under a Resolve "for erecting the State Reform School Buildings," that said buildings are prepared for occupancy, he shall forthwith issue his proclamation giving public notice of the fact.

SECT. 4. After proclamation shall have been made, as provided in the third section of this act, when any boy under the age of sixteen years shall be convicted of any offence, known to the laws of this Commonwealth, and punishable by imprisonment, other than such as may be punished by imprisonment for life, the court or justice, as the case may be, before whom such conviction shall be had, may, at their discretion, sentence such boy to the State Reform School, or to such punishment as is now provided by law for the same offence. And if the sentence shall be to the Reform School, then it shall be in the alternative, to the State Reform School, or to such punishment as would have been awarded if this act had not been passed.

SECT. 5. Any boy, so convicted and sent to said school, shall there be kept, disciplined, instructed, employed, and governed, under the direction of said board of trustees, until he shall be either reformed and discharged, or shall be bound out by said trustees, according to their by-laws, or shall be remanded to prison under the sentence of the court as incorrigible, upon information of the trustees, as hereinafter provided.

SECT. 6. If any boy shall, upon any conviction, be sentenced to said school, and the trustees, or any two of them in the absence of the others, shall deem it inexpedient to receive him, or if he shall be found incorrigible, or his continuance in the school shall be deemed prejudicial to the management and discipline thereof, they shall certify the same upon the mittimus by virtue of which he is held, which mittimus, together with the boy, shall be delivered to the sheriff of any county, or his deputy, or to the constable of any town, who shall forthwith commit said boy to the jail, house of correction, or State prison, as the case may be, in pursuance of the alternative sentence provided for in the preceding section of this act.

SECT. 7. All commitments to this institution of boys, of whatever age when committed, shall be for a term not longer than during their minority, nor less than one year, unless sooner