with all their faculties, are yet too indolent to put them to a right use.

Another institution of great interest at South Boston is the SCHOOL FOR IDIOTS. Of all branches of teaching, this must call for the greatest stock of patience on the part of the instructors: and in this instance, all of them are ladies.

To their credit, however, be it said, the inmates are, by the gentlest of means, taught reading, writing, needlework, &c., exercise with the dumb-bells, and garden cultivation; all of which have a beneficial result, and sometimes lead to a glimmering of returning reason, that cannot fail of gladdening the hearts of their kind instructresses. During my visit a young lady teacher played the piano, and the poor pupils accompanied her with their voices, singing with an accuracy that quite surprised me. One unhappy boy in this establishment especially attracted my attention and pity by the strange deformity of his head, which appeared as if flattened by a vice on either side to such a degree, that there was scarcely room for the parting of the hair; and I only wonder how he could live with a cranium so remarkably formed. I was told that his mind was a blank, all but inaccessible to any instruction. The bedrooms of the scholars are spacious and well ventilated; and attendants sleep close to each ward, in case of violence or accidents among the poor patients. The manageress is a Mrs: McDonald, a very kind and lady-like person; but, in fact, all the teachers were so likewise, and

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presented quite a model specimen of gentle sisters of humanity.

The only other important charitable institution in South Boston, is the HOSPITAL FOR INSANE Paupers, the admirable arrangements of which, and the humane treatment shown to the sufferers, prove the skill used in carrying out the great intentions of the establishment. The wards are formed in the shape of long galleries, the patients' bedrooms opening on either side of the central corridor. When I entered with the physician, I was somewhat alarmed at the patients' clustering around us, and chattering in excited tones; but the medical superintendent's calm look and demeanour, soon had the desired effect of inducing them to make him their confidant, and numerous were the complaints which they made, one of another; some of them ridiculous in the extreme. Yet he patiently heard all, and promised immediate reparation of their supposed injuries. I was told, in answer to my inquiries, that very little physical coercion is required, except in extreme cases, as moral influence has been found more successful even with mad people, than all the brute force that could be employed. One of the patients, a finelooking man, told me confidentially aside, that he had been for years one of the Boston firemen, and had been severely injured by the falling of some bricks on his head, while in the execution of his duty, and he desired me to intercede with his brother for his release; "because,” said he gravely, "although they treat me well here,

I do not like associating with crazy people." I afterwards asked the physician if he had been thus injured. "Oh, no," replied he, "this is the tale he always tells to a visitor." At certain hours of the day, the patients are taken out to exercise in a large garden, and I saw a number of them with a single keeper, working with spades, hoes, rakes, &c. Had not moral influence predominated, this one keeper, methinks, would have stood a poor chance among so many.

The women's department is similar to that of the men, and spite of my deep pity for their misfortunes, I could not help being amused by their repeated curtseying salutations, for not content with doing it once, they followed us through the wards, and repeated it incessantly. In some of these poor unfortunates, however, I noticed a quiet, melancholy sort of insanity, which rendered them wholly indifferent to the approach or notice of strangers, for they paced to and fro in the ward in one continual walk, the very images of despair.

In these wards, while conversing with the physician, and carrying my hat in my hand, I felt somewhat nervous, when on turning round, I observed a bevy of these unhappy fair ones dogging my footsteps, and really began to fear they might have some amorous, or perhaps even sinister designs against me; but ere long, I discovered the reason of their pursuit. They were anxious to possess themselves of a portion of my hat lining, which, after tearing out with great effort, they carried triumphantly off to a distant part of the

ward, and when I again approached in the course of my visit, flourished it with defiant laughs in my face.

This asylum is supported by the State, and has accommodation for some hundreds of patients, each ward being presided over by an efficient officer; and in the women's wards, I was surprised to see with what perfect ease and coolness, as well as immoveable firmness, an apparently very young lady managed upwards of fifty patients under her immediate management. I was the more surprised at this, because I was told that the females are generally more difficult to manage than patients of the sterner sex.

V.-DORCHESTER & ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.

My business having now called me to DORCHESTER, a pretty country town, about five miles from Boston, the reader is invited to the perusal of a few rural sketches. The town stands beautifully situated on rising ground, commanding a fine view of prettily varied hill and dale scenery on one side, while on the other is the island-studded bay of Boston, chequered by the white sails of the vessels that daily and hourly float on its placid waters. The charms of a suburban life can nowhere be better enjoyed than here; and is the resort of some of the wealthiest and most influential, merchants from the neighbouring city, whose handsome

houses and quaint-looking picturesque villas, with their gable fronts, and neatly cultivated gardens, give to the whole neighbourhood a peculiarly pleasing aspect. It may be observed, however, that here, as in most parts of Massachusetts, both garden and field cultivation are laborious and expensive, on account of the extreme rockiness of the country, which scarcely allows a plot of soil to be seen, and must be cleared to some depth by the blasting of gunpowder to prepare it for the processes of horticulture.

A new comer to a quiet country town, the greater part of whose life has been spent in crowded cities, must necessarily feel somewhat dull at first; but, if he be really a lover of Nature, this dulness will soon wear off; and so it was with myself, to whom the picturesque walks and drives, the variety and novelty of everything I saw, seemed to possess a soothing and indescribable charm. An American village is very similar to one in our own country, as regards the curiosity with which they gaze on a new comer(especially if he be an Englishman). The news rapidly spreads, and some of the maturer matrons and gossips of the place then make it their business to ascertain if the stranger is likely to make a permanent stay-if so, whether he is sober, industrious, and of respectable connexions; for no persons throughout the Union are so strict in their moral requirements as the ladies of Massachusetts. However, I suppose, my character must have been written on my face; for though no one