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A regard to the feelings of their parents and the future interest of the children, has induced us not to report the names of the pupils. An accurate list of them and their residences will be exhibited to any member of the Legislature on application to either of the trustees or the superintendent.

The trustees earnestly invite the members of the Senate and Assembly, all public officers, and all citizens to visit the institution and satisfy themselves by personal examination, of the results of this long-needed charity. They will experience feelings of joy and hope at beholding how successful has been the application of the means devised by science in alleviating calamities that were, until lately, supposed to be beyond the reach of human aid; and they well rejoice in belonging to a State whose honored representatives and rulers have so we1l understood and so justly expressed the sentiments of the people, in making such a provision for these children of misfortune.

The same devotion of all the officers and teachers of the asylum to their painful duties, which has been noticed in our former reports, has been unremittingly continued during the past year. The best evidence of their assiduity and fidelity is furnished in the remarkable and almost total exemption of the pupils from disease, there having been but one case of sickness among them, during the year. This is the more extraordinary when we recollect their natural physical and mental debility, and their comparative incapacity to take that care of themselves which is expected from ordinary children. The system must be good, and must be faithfully executed, that produces such results.

The great success of the institution is mainly owing to the remarkable qualifications and unremitted services of the superintendent, Dr. Wilbur. Never was the State more fortunate in the selection of an officer of that description than in this case. His report is transmitted herewith, and is well deserving an attentive perusal.

The destiny of a charity upon which the fate of so many hapless beings depends and which has roused the attention and excited the admiration of the humane and the intelligent throughout our whole country, now rests with the Legislature.

JOHN C. SPENCER,
JAMES H. TITUS,
FRANKLIN TOWNSEND,
HENRY N. POHLMAN,
FREDERICK F. BACKUS,
Trustees.

HORATIO SEYMOUR,
S. E. CHURCH,
E.W. LEAVENWORTH,
JAS. M. COOK,
Ex-officio Trustees.

ALBANY, January 19, 1854.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To the Trustees of the New York Asylum for Idiots:

GENTLEMEN: -- The third annual report of the institution under my charge, according to custom, is herewith respectfully submitted. The close of the year finds all connected with the asylum in the enjoyment of good health nor have we had, during the year that is past, but a single case of sickness of any severity, and that terminated favorably.

The same pupils reported at the asylum a year ago (forty in number) with two or three exceptions, are with us at the present time. Each judicial district in the State has furnished its quota of pupils.

The income from legislative appropriation and from pay pupils, has been adequate to meet the expenses of the establishment.

All who have visited the asylum during the year past have apparently carried away with them the conviction that the system of management, training and instruction pursued is, in the main, judicious and practicable.

But the most satisfactory evidence of the good results already in progress of accomplishment at the asylum has been furnished by the expressed opinions of the parents and friends of the pupils. The value of their testimony will be appreciated when it is understood that most of the children entrusted to our charge have been, by reason of their infirmities, objects of a very strong affection. No place, therefore, away from home, no matter if conducted with the utmost reference to the comfort and happiness of the inmates, would be regarded as a fitting one for their children, as a mere asylum for custodial purposes. They expect an educational system suited to the capacities and necessities of their children, and they look for the evidence of a positive progress in development, to compensate for the trials of separation.

Moreover with a class of pupils like ours, so diverse in their endowments, habits and character, the results of education can only be appreciated, or even approximately estimated, by a comparison, the materials for which will be possessed by those alone who know what was the actual condition of the pupil when received, as well as the manifested acquirements.

That some such basis of comparison might exist beyond the limited circle of the friends, acquaintance and teachers of the pupils in the asylum, provision was made, you will recollect, at the very outset of your labors.

The chairman of your executive committee prepared a circular to be sent to the family physician in the case of every child whose friends made application for his admission into the asylum. These circulars contained questions, the answer to which furnished information as to the history of the case whether resulting from any known predisposing causes in the condition or habits of ancestors, or produced by disease or accident in infancy. These answers gave particulars as to bodily health and condition, mental characteristics and capacities, disposition, peculiar habits, &c., &c. These facts, with such additional ones as may be derived from the parents and friends, are embodied in a register in which are recorded all the names of the pupils received.