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It combines justice with charity, and dispenses it in a manner that should not wound the feelings of the most sensitive.

As the Asylum for Idiots, however, is an exclusively State institution, there would need to be this modification in the legislation proper to it. There should be no fixed sum per pupil allotted; but such an appropriation for the use of the Asylum might be granted as the Legislature may deem just and proper; and then as many pupils, from each judicial district, should be received and educated, as found practicable with the amount of the appropriation.

I would suggest for the first year the moderate sum of twelve thousand dollars.

When some such system of carefully dispensing and properly graduating the State's bounty to meet the wants of the idiots in the State, is adopted, I shall then look for a better understanding and appreciation on the part of those who avail themselves of it, of the true character of legislation for charitable purposes, upon the basis of en -sic- enlightened and liberal political economy. I trust it will then be understood that the State does not adopt these pupils to the release of the parents and families from parental and family obligations and interests; but only assumes temporarily, for educational purposes and because of their peculiar infirmities, the place of the parent, eventually to return them again, when the ends of education in their case shall have been accomplished, to their natural protectors and guardians.

From my position, one remove nearer to the objects of our common sympathies and duties, I commend, gentlemen, my pupils again to your continued interest and efforts in their behalf.

Respectfully submitted,
H. B. WILBUR, Superintendent.
Albany, January 9, 1855.

APPENDIX No. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUNDS AND BUILDING.

BY THE ARCHITECT.

The Grounds.

The grounds upon which the New York Asylum for Idiots is to be erected are situated a little more than a mile from the centre of Syracuse, in a southwesterly direction. They include a territory of eighteen acres, and were purchased for the use of the Asylum mainly through the liberality of the citizens of Syracuse.

The western and highest portion of the grounds is wood land. The remainder, descending with a fine slope to the southeast, terminates in a terrace of about four acres in extent, upon which the building is located.

This site is an elevated one, being sixty feet above the general level of the plain upon which the city of Syracuse is built, and fifty feet above the public road, which ascent is overcome in the approach to the building by an easy road, winding round the base of the terrace. This road is formed mainly by the rock excavated from the foundations of the building. The position affords a fine view of the city of Syracuse, Sauna, Liverpool, Lake Onondaga, the Central and Binghamton railroads for some distance, and the village of Geddes.

The Supply of Water.

The present supply of water at the building is abundant, although a time of unprecedented drought. It consists of water collected from various springs on the hillside, on the south line of lot, and is elevated to the site of the building by a hydraulic ram. The other and more abundant supply is from a well sunk in the rock, at the north end of the sub-cellar of the building; this was obtained by boring to a depth of twenty-two feet, and the supply bids fair to be inexhaustible. Other borings have been made upon the premises with like results. Water can be obtained from the public water works of Syracuse, if required.

Materials of the Building.

The external walls of the basement and sub-cellar are of lime-stone laid in cement; the basement faced with freestone ashlar; all the division walls are of brick: all the outer walls of the superstructure, sixteen inches thick; the hall walls up to the third story floor, sixteen inches in thickness, and from them up to the roof, twelve inches in thickness; those portions of the walls sustaining great weight, laid in cement; the outer walls are built solid, and will be furred, lathed and plastered. The plastering will be finished to grounds, and will be three coat work; that of the corridors will be "floated work" all other parts, "hard finished." The floors of the principal parts of the building will be double, the upper floor of Georgia pine battens. Three flights of stairs, extending the whole height of the building, in addition to the private stairs to the superintendent's apartments. The main stairs in the centre of the building will be of iron, supported by brick walls on all sides. The roofs covered with tin; all valleys and gutters of copper. The cut stone used upon the building is from the quarries at Fulton, Oswego county.

Drains.

The drains are sixteen inches in diameter, built of hard brick and cement, and of a sufficient depth to take the water from the bottom of the sub-cellar. All the waste water will be conveyed to the main drain, which will discharge the same to the south line of lot, at a point where it can be no annoyance to the building.