Js in 150 victs Sun the Deni the r of nt at . to fcet ren, the A ms ish , a con. Bridewell and the Jail.-Bridewell and the jail are in the park, near the city hall; and two black, dismal looking edifices they are; one stands at one end of the hall, and the other at the other end: they are both built of stone, and painted black. Bridewell is a small building; in it are confined all those who are committed for trial, also those under sentence of death; likewise the higher class of convicts: besides these, are a number of poor, constantly in bridewell, who are picked up daily by the watch and constables in the streets, and put in here until they can be sent to the alms-house; I saw about 15 of these, whom the keeper told me were brought in that morning! It appears to be the pride of New-York, to have no poor seen in the streets. It contains a hospital, which is regularly attended by a physician, who also attends the jail. Although the sessions are held monthly, they cannot empty bridewell: 170 prisoners arc arraigned on an average, and often 200 tried. I found about 200 in this abode of wretchedness, white and black, male and female, about one half of whom were females. The males presented nothing in their appearance different from their equals in the streets; indeed, I was struck with the innocence and modesty of their looks and behaviour: pointing to one of them, I asked the keeper" if it were possible that one of his interesting appearance, could be guilty of a crime?" his reply was, that he was charged with forgery. But the tender sex, I am sorry for them; in all matters where they and misfortune are concerned, nothing affects our nature so forcibly. To see a friendless female in a gloomy prison, locked in with massy iron doors and grated windows, the mind that can think, and the heart that can feel, must be shocked at the sight, however just it may be, and however necessary for the good of society. But never did 1, till now, feel that degree of compassion for the sex, which the sight of those females called up. Here was a lamentable proof of depravity, of which I thought human nature incapable! There were about forty females in bridewell, for crimes, no doubt, and in the whole of them there is not more prudence, virtue, or modesty, than one ought to possess. They were the er, w would is kep of bric rear o Besid philos fine ar deaf. losop! ing at an couns secret ited to most abandoned, vicious, impudent; they were audaci ty itself, without one particle of aught besides. Alas! once more for human nature-alas! for frail woman. Lost to the blush of shame, no compunction, not one trace of contrition ventures to oppose that double headed monster, vice. They laughed, they romped, they gigled, and saluted me with the familiarity of an old ac quaintance! asked "if I came to keep them company?” I would have suffered the guillotine first. And is this woman? I asked, mentally; can lovely, generous, heav. en-inspiring woman, become such a callous, I was going to say brute, but I will not insult the brute creation by the comparison. And this is the effect of great cities! But what a poor piece of the creation is woman! man, when he comes finally to take leave of virtue, he pauses, he hesitates, he proceeds by degrees; but woman makes one plunge, and is gone forever. Here is an instance before me; some of these females are quite young, not more than fourteen or fifteen years of age. But what most astonishes me is, that vice should be able so com pletely to erase the loves and the graces from the female countenance, and change them into perfect demons, ted as while the same vices have not the same effect on man. Here are men who are said to be guilty of the blackest crimes, even murder, and yet they have some traces of grace left. The Jail.-None but debtors are confined in the jail, but it was at this time vacant! Museum.-The collection in the museum of New York, is nearly similar to that of Philadelphia, so far as it goes; in some things it exceeds it, in others falls short of it. The birds I think are better preserved, and in a neater condition. They have a huge white Greenland bear; but I saw no portraits. I am told it belongs to a Mr. S- whom I had not the honour to see; but with deference to him, he is as far behind Mr. P. in his cata logue, as he is in his title to patronage. I called one day and paid my entrance, but not being sufficiently at leisure then, I returned next day to examine the collec tion at my leisure; when the fellow whom he employs to keep it, demanded another quarter; I paid it, howev classe ties, n: try, na ematic Husba meet 1: the co two br It cou preside The o als, n coins. history vote !! gy, g ology: tuting subjec ed by amoun The. Living mens L which chiefly audaciAlas! Soman. ot one head. they oid ac any Dany?" ་ is this heav ⚫ going tion by cities! ! man, pauses, makes nstance cr, without endeavouring to convince him that the visit would perhaps, be as much for his interest as mine. It is kept in the New-York Institution," a large building of brick, 260 feet by 44, three stories; it stands in the rear of the city hall, in the park, facing Chamber-street. Besides the museum, it contains halls for the literary and philosophical society, historical society, the academy of fine arts, the lyceum of natural history, the asylum for the deaf and dumb, and a dispensary. The literary and philosophical society consists of gentlemen of the first learning and talents, under a president, 3 vice presidents, 12 counsellors, 2 recording secretaries, 2 corresponding secretaries, a treasurer, and curator: the funds are limited to $5,000 per annum. They are divided into four classes, viz.-1st. Belles-lettres, civil history, antiquities, moral and political science-2d. Medicine, chemistry, natural philosophy, and natural history-3d. Mathematics, astronomy, navigation, and geography-4th. Husbandry, manufactures, and the useful arts. They meet monthly, when all communications are referred to the counsellors. Gentlemen of all countries are admitted as members. The historical society is divided into on man. two branches, the civil branch, and the natural branch. lackest It consists of a society of literary gentlemen, under a president, secretary, committee, and special committee. The object of the first, is to collect books, MSS., medthe jail, als, maps, prints, paintings, pamphlets, gazettes, busts, coins, and every thing calculated to illustrate the civil history of the United States. The natural branch devote their talents to the study and investigation of zoology, gcology, botany, mineralogy, and vegetable physiology; procuring specimens and illustrations on these subjects, from every part of the world, the whole constituting a complete school of nature. It is richly endowit with ed by the state, and the collection already acquired, amounts to $40,000. at what 0 com. the feemons, aces of New far as Is short nd in a enland gs to a is cata ed one The Academy of Fine Arts was founded by chancellor ently at Livingston. It contains a great number of rare specicollecmens in printing, statues, busts, bass-reliefs, and books, mploys which last consists of views, designs, and drawings, chiefly relating to antique subjects, amongst which, are howev 24 superb volumes, presented to the academy by Napeleon Bonaparte. The academicians and associates must be artists by profession; the former must be 24 years of age, and within one year after his election every academician must deposit a specimen of his talents in the academy, to become its property, otherwise he forfeits his election. Associates must be 21 years of age. The Lyceum of Natural History is a society formed for the express purpose of cultivating natural history, their researches extending to the whole terraqueous globe; they have already made considerable advances in this laudable undertaking, having travelling committees out, who are men of enterprise and talents, in pursuit of the various productions of nature. The Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb.-This institution resembles that of Philadelphia, the pupils mostly being instructed gratuitously as well as fed and clothed. They learn in the same way, but their number is small compar ed with that of Philadelphia, the funds not being suffi cient to extend the design to any magnitude; the funds are limited by charter to $5,000 per annum. It is sup ported partly by the state and partly by private contribution; several of the pupils exhibited before me with surprising facility; their teacher making known to them my name, business, and place of residence, they, in an instant of time, wrote it in a fair hand, upon their slates, and even pointed out the state on the map. Mr. Loof. borrow, the principal, is a gentleman of education, and seems to possess an amiable disposition, of mild and conciliating manners, combining every requisite for his ar duous employment. He is assisted by Miss Stansbury, a lady from Philadelphia, who appears to possess all the sweetness and meek-eyed charity of her native city. Two of the deaf and dumb mutes are likewise assistants. The pupils are fond of their teachers, even to adoration. Mr. L. favored me with a number of their specimens in composition, of which, I have only room for the following:"When I was a little boy in ignorance, the world and all things that are created, were unknown to me. I observed the numerous beautiful stars, and thought they were placed in the heaven by a great man to adorn it, and were moved a posed m was a la thought When I man's fa I did not expected burn me. tion! bu Lord Go planets. Free S constituti of New a book o the encou junds for consists of all su the sever. quisites, of certain ! and were like the candle. I believed the fire of the sun Nap moved around the plain earth, which was fixed. I supmust posed men might be inside of the sky, in which there ars of was a large circular iron wall and very thick door; I cade thought many inhabitants were cruel who belonged to it. the When I looked at the moon, I saw a resemblance of a man's face, and imagined that he was watching the world. Idid not wish him to see me; I was afraid of him, for I for expected to be caught suddenly through the moon to How foolish I was because of my imaginalobe;ion! but I have been taught in school, now I know the this Lord God has created the earth and stars, which are Tout, planets. JOHN H. GAZLAY." I rfeits their burn me. of the Free Schools and Academies.-It would require the suffi funds Ontri in an 66 constitution of Sampson, to visit all the public institutions ution of New York, and to do justice to them is impossible in ing book of this size. The liberality of this state towards They the encouragement of schools, stands pre-eminent. The pands for supporting free schools throughout the state, consists of the proceeds of half a million acres of land! of all surplus monies received into the treasury, from the several clerks of the supreme court for the fees, perwith quisites, and emoluments of their respective offices, and them of certain sums of money directed to be paid into the reasury, by the bank of America, and the City lates, Bank, which, in one year alone produced half a million of dollars, giving a revenue of $36,000!"" These sums have given rise to a vast number of free schools in the late; six of these arc in New-York city, all of which I visited. One of these is at the alms-house, the others are in different parts of the city. The whole of them are conducted upon the Lancasterian plan, that is, a monitor attending each desk; it being understood that those school rooms are much longer than wide. The teacher sits upon an elevated seat, at one end of the room, from whence he can see the whole at a glance, the pupils facing him: these sit on long benches, one behind another, gradually ascending to the last, from the eacher, which is the highest. Each row of benches has a desk before it the whole length, upon which the pupils have their sand, books, and slates. The juniors, that is and со па IS I th The Mr. com and ов hey mits |
