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commissioners shall deem sufficient to authorize admission; nor do the provisions of the act to found the asylum apply to any soldier in the regular or volunteer service who shall have been convicted of felony, or other disgraceful or infamous crime of a civil nature, subsequent to his original admission into the service of the United States. All discharged soldiers (regulars, marines, or volunteers) included in any of the above classes, when applying for admission, must state the company and regiment in which they last served, or the name of the captain and colonel, length of service, and whether a pensioner or not, directly to the Secretary of the Board of Commissioners, Washington, D. C., who, in reply, will inform applicants of the decision of the board relative to claims; and when favorable, will furnish the means allowed by the board for the transportation of each from his home to the nearest branch of the asylum. Invalid soldiers, entitled to pensions for disability incurred prior to the Mexican war, and who have served for a period less than twenty years, are required, by the terms of the act founding this institution, to contribute such pensions to the funds of the institution, during the period they may avail themselves of its benefits; those who have served twenty years and upwards do not contribute their pensions to the fund of the institution.

Such invalid soldiers as receive pensions for disability incurred during the late war with Mexico, being contributors to the funds of the Military Asylum, through the contribution levied on the city of Mexico, retain their pensions, as do all who may receive pensions for disabilities incurred since the passage of the act approved March 3, 1851.

Beside certain prize-money, and some other military sources, the Asylum derives a revenue from the contribution of twenty-five cents a month from each of the prospective benificiaries in the United States Army.

COLUMBIAN INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND.

This philanthropic institution is situated in the northeastern part of the city, or rather in a suburb, known as "Kendall Green," in close proximity with the National Printing Office and the church of St. Aloysius. The best proof of the efficiency of its conductors and the importance of its objects is afforded in the following statement of Hon. J. Thompson, Secretary of Interior in 1860. The number of pupils taught during the year ending the 30th of June last was thirty, of which twenty-four were mutes and six blind. The receipts of the treasurer were $6,509 26, and the payments by the superintendent were $6,895 60, the excess being met by a balance in his hands on the 30th of June, 1859. The State of Maryland has recently made provision for placing pupils in the institution, and accessions have been received and others are expected from that quarter.. Its buildings and grounds are found not to be sufficiently capacious for the attainment of all that is desired in giving instruction in manual labor and the mechanic arts. The reports of the officers do not show the rate of compensation required by the directors from pay-pupils, and those placed in it by the State of Maryland, but the amount received from the United States during the year by the treasurer having been $5,759 26, supporting and educating about twenty indigent pupils from this District, the rate of cost is shown

to have been $287 96 for each, which, at this early stage of the history and progress of the institution, may be regarded as very moderate indeed. This result is only attainable because the management of the funds is intrusted to judicious men, who, from motives of Christian benevolence, not only conduct its affairs without cost, but are themselves constantly making private contributions to its resources. In this state of the case, it appears to be a dictate of wisdom, as well as benevolence, that the institution should be favorably regarded by Congress.

The institution is sustained by appropriations from Congress, from the State of Maryland, and by private contributions. It is open to visitors every week-day (except Saturday), between the hours of 9 A. M. and 3 P. M.

GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

In 1855, Congress enacted a law providing for the establishment of an Institution to be known as "The Government Hospital for the Insane;" and defining its duties to be "the most humane care and enlightened curative treatment of the insane of the army and navy of the United States and of the District of Columbia." A board of visitors, who are to receive no compensation, is appointed by the President of the United States. The Secretary of the Interior is charged with the appointment of a superintendent, who must be a well-educated physician, possessing competent experience in the care and treatment of the insane, and is required to reside on the premises. Private patients belonging to the District may be received into the asylum, by paying the charges appointed by the Board of Visitors.

To this legislation the country is indebted for the magnificent building dedicated to the relief of the various unfortunates who require its assistance. The location is beautiful and commanding, and the accommodations are ample for all the patients that are entitled to admission. The number of inmates has increased from year to year. On the first of July, 1860, there were from the army, 24; from from the navy, 19; from the Soldiers' Home, 4; and from civil life, 120-total, 167.

The grounds around the buildings should be laid off and improved, and the entire tract of land substantially inclosed; and for these purposes some additional appropriations will be needed. The institution has heretofore been managed with great efficiency, and bids fair soon to become a model of its kind in every respect.

AMERICAN

COLONIZATION

SOCIETY.

This society occupies a handsome building, of gray freestone, with iron casings and mouldings, recently erected on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue, at the corner of 4 street. The Colonization Society was established December 21st, 1816, and chartered by the legislature of Maryland, March 23d, 1837. The government is vested in a board of directors, composed of the life-directors and delegates from the different State societies. The republic of Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, has been formed by the labors of this society. It owns a territory extending about five hundred miles along the coast, and indefinitely in the interior, which was purchased from the natives, who are permitted still to reside upon it, and to become citizens of the republic when sufficiently civilized.

About 200,000 of them reside within the limits of the republic and under its government.

The society has removed from the United States to Liberia 10,545 persons. The present population (American) is not more than this number. The independence of Liberia has been recognized by several of the leading European nations. From its beginning up to January 1st, 1861, the society received from all sources $2,247,407.

UNITED STATES

AGRICULTURAL

SOCIETY.

This society claims and is entitled to rank with the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Imperial Agricultural Society of France. The importance of the interests over which it watches was indicated to the foresight of Washington, as is evidenced by his letter to Sir John Sinclair, under date of July 20th, 1794, wherein he says: "It will be some time, I fear, before an agricultural society, with congressional aid, will be established in this country. We must walk, as other countries have, before we can run; smaller societies must prepare the way for greater; but, with the lights before us, I hope we shall not be so slow in maturation as older nations have been. An attempt, as you will perceive by the inclosed outlines of a plan, is making to establish a State society in Pennsylvania, for agricultural improvements. If it succeeds, it will be a step. in the ladder; at present, it is too much in embryo to decide upon the result."

Two years afterward, the same eminent authority made the following statement to Congress: "It will not be doubted that, with reference to either individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population and other

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