and wretched children of misfortune. Yet, if all its inmates were to be of this latter description, a wise humanity, united with true economy, would dictate that the best possible provision should be made for their comfort and restoration.

Massachusetts, we have said, was early and honorably distinguished in the benevolent work of making public provision for her lunatics: of which her noble Institution at Worcester, (where twelve hundred and ninety-seven of her insane have been cured, and three hundred and eighty-four others improved,) furnishes ample testimony.

Since the erection of that Hospital, however, it is matter of gratitude and joy to every philanthropist, that essential advances have been made, both in the treatment of the insane, and in the architecture of Hospitals for their accommodation. The Committee believe there is yet room for improvement, in these respects: and that, in proposing a PLAN for a new Asylum, the best possible model should be sought and adopted. Accordingly, they deputed several of their own number to go to neighboring States, and examine Asylums of recent construction and high reputation, and collect the best information which those Institutions can furnish. The "BUTLER HOSPITAL,” at Providence, Rhode Island: the "STATE ASYLUM," of New York, at Utica: the "BLOOMINGDALE ASYLUM," near the city of New York: the "NEW JERSEY STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM," at Trenton: the "PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL" for the insane, near Philadelphia: and "the department assigned to the insane in the PHILADELPHIA ALMSHOUSE," were visited and carefully inspected, under the direction of their managers and superintendents, who cheerfully rendered all necessary aid.

Some of those Institutions are new, and all of them are worthy of the high reputation they have gained, or are rapidly acquiring. Each of them has its own excellencies: but, as a whole, the NEW JERSEY STATE LUNATIC ASYLUM, at Trenton, combines more advantages than any other known to the Committee. This, therefore, they propose as the model of our new Asylum.

The PLATE herewith presented, shows the general PLAN

and FORM of the building on the ground: and is that of the first principal story, the basement below it being elevated three steps from the general ground level.

The height of the building, including the basement, is three stories, except the centre and projecting pavilions, terminating the first range of wings on both sides, which are four stories. The basement story, in the centre building, contains a reception room for patients, officers, and domestics' dining-rooms, storerooms, kitchen and scullery. In the first range of wings, on either side, are work-rooms for male and female patients, domestics' lodging-rooms, bake-house, washing, ironing and drying-rooms. Under the portico A, is a carriage-way, to set down patients or others in severe weather.

In the first story, A is the portico; B, the entrance hall; C, the halls of centre and corridors of wards; D, the house-parlor; E, general business room; F, room for visiters to patients; G, office of physician and library; H, are associated dormitories of different sizes, from two to eight beds, and intended to have an attendant either in or immediately adjoining them; I, stairs; K, dining-rooms; L, parlors; M, bath-rooms; N, water-closets; O, clothes-room, with funnel for foul clothes, &c., adjoining; P, passages between the wards; R, attendants' rooms; S, spaces, with large windows from the floor to the ceiling, for light and air. The others are single rooms for patients. In the second story of the wards, the arrangements are similar. The front rooms of the centre are for the physician's family, and one for the assistant physician. The back part will be in one room, for a chapel, lecture or general meeting room of the patients.

In the third story of the centre will be rooms for other officers, &c. In the third story of the pavilions may be infirmaries or associated dormitories. The single rooms are eight by ten feet and eleven high, the corridors are twelve feet wide, and the windows at the ends of them are of the entire width of that space.

The exterior is the simplest style of architecture. A Tuscan portico of six columns marks the centre and entrance. The whole length is four hundred and eighty feet. To render the

establishment complete, detached buildings, for about twenty of the most noisy and filthy of each sex, are required, which may be so located, as to be not far from each extremity of the main building, and in the rear of it.

Such an Asylum, with its equipment, including a farm of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty acres, would cost not less than seventy-five, nor more than one hundred thousand dollars; and would accommodate two hundred and fifty patients, and the necessary attendants.

6. A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE PATIENTS IN OUR ASYLUMS.

This classification,-one of the matters submitted to the consideration of the Committee, refers to the separation of the Irish and other foreigners from the native born patients; and of the curable from the incurable patients. After obtaining all the information to which they have had access, and carefully considering it, the Committee are, unanimously, of the opinion that such a classification is not desirable. To separate the Irish and other foreigners from native born patients would tend to an invidious distinction; a distinction not reconcilable with the humane and tolerant spirit of our country and age; and not in accordance with that lofty design of our institutions, to make all who occupy American soil American citizens. The benefits of such a classification, if any should attend it, would be partial and temporary, and not comparable with its evils.

To separate the curable patients from the incurable, as some have proposed and urged, is a measure uncalled for, and, if adopted, would be unwise. In every Insane Asylum, all the appliances of cure should be found; else it will be nothing more than a great mad-house for custodial uses.

However severe and long-continued the cases of insanity may be, the friends hope they will be benefited, perhaps cured, by being placed in a Hospital; and, under the lively influence of this hope, they are encouraged to make the effort, and incur the expense of trying Hospital treatment. Till such trial is made, and thoroughly made, neither they, nor the best medical advisers, nor any other persons, can decide whether any one of