and surgical cases in the hospitals, was, during the first seven and a half months, 9 per cent. on all treated. For the remaining four and a half months, under the present organization, 4 per cent.

On the discharges, the rate of mortality was, during the former period, 10%, and for the latter, 61.

It is, however, due to those who administered the department in the former period, to add, as observed by the present physician-in-chief, in his report, "that this diminished mortality may have been the result of circumstances other than the change of system;" as the statistics of the city and its institutions show a better state of the general health at one of these periods than at the other. The wards which were filled during the winter, with an average of from 1,300 to 1,500 patients, had, in the latter months of 1855, from 700 to 800, and there was no prevalence of any fatal epidemic. This proportionate decrease was least in the surgical wards, which contained 406 in the beginning of the year, and gradually fell off to 333 at the end.

The surgical practice has been extensive and successful, including many of the most difficult and important operations in surgery. Some of the details are set forth in the reports appended hereto. During the year there were under treatment. 3,517 surgical cases, of which 64 died and 3,120 were discharged, cured, or relieved-thus showing a proportion of deaths on all cases treated of 1 per cent., and on all discharged, or who died, of two per cent.

The present condition of the Medical and Surgical departments is in all respects very satisfactory. The improved insulated hospital wards, erected at different times during the last four years, justify the expectations entertained of their superior comfort and salubrity; whilst the Commissioners are happy to attest to the ability and faithfulness of the physicians and surgeons who have charge of these establishments.

The Commissioners had hoped that their means would have enabled them, during the last or present year, to erect an Insane Asylum on their lands on Ward's Island, where there is more than one excellent location for such an establishment. Their

insane, to the average number of 220, have been received and taken care of in the asylum on Blackwell's Island, and the several county or town poor-houses. With a little expansion of their medical staff, if there had been a suitable building or buildings, these unfortunate persons could be taken care of, with probably less expense than they are now supported at the best of these establishments, and with very much more comfort and probability of cure to the patients, than they are kept in those counties not provided with the proper receptacles for this class of patients.

In common with those engaged in the care or supervision of the support of the poor throughout the State, the Commissioners have felt deeply the evil suffered in consequence of the inadequate provision for this class of poor, including their own. They therefore respectfully suggest, that unless other means are provided for this Commission, enabling them to take charge of their insane poor, such provision should be made in additional asylum accommodation, under State management, as would receive all the insane chargeable to this Commission, on such terms and under such regulations, enacted by law, as may be judged necessary and proper.

Establishment at Castle Garden for the Landing Place of Emigrant Passengers. 3

The Act of April 18, 1855, "For the Protection of Emigrants," having conferred additional powers on the Commissioners to enable them to designate a single landing-place in the city of New York "for the landing of emigrant passengers,' has been successfully carried into effect.

The Corporation of the city of New York having granted a lease of the premises known as Castle Garden, for five years, from the first day of May, 1854, at an annual rent, to a private party, the Commissioners succeeded in obtaining an assignment of the lease, on favorable terms, and possession was given on the fifth of May last, when the fitting up of the premises, in a manner suitable for the purpose designed, was immediately pro

ceeded with.

Owing, however, to the extensive repairs required, and the obstructions thrown in the way by those who, on different grounds, apprehended injury to their private interests, the place was not in readiness for use until the first of August, when it was formally opened as the Emigrant Landing Dépôt.

It is not deemed necessary to allude to the efforts made to obstruct the execution of the law in this instance, further than to state that where that effort was resorted to with the design of rendering nugatory the power conferred, and for the ejectment of the Commissioners from the occupancy of Castle Garden, the courts have sustained the law in its beneficent objects, and the Commissioners in the possession of the premises for the purpose of carrying the law into effect: and that where violence threatened with a strong hand to lay waste and destroy, the police authority of the city, by prudent and decisive action, /effectually checked the thoughtless and lawless in their course, and preserved a valuable property from destruction or damage, and the reputation of the State from disgrace.

Two hundred and fifty vessels have landed their passengers at the Dépôt in the five months it has been in operationbringing, in the aggregate, fifty-one thousand one hundred and fourteen persons, during which period no accident of any kind. has occurred. All have been landed safely, without accident to themselves or property. When landed, proper means have been used to secure their comfort and protection. They have been screened from the intrusion of that class of persons who have heretofore abused the confidence of the emigrants, and despoiled them of the means they had provided to convey them to their ultimate destination, and to sustain them after they had reached it, who have long been in the practice of taking possession of the person and property of confiding emigrants, and seldom permitting them to pass out of their hands without damage: in many cases reducing them from comparative affluence to destitution, and making them subjects for relief by the funds of the Commission; but in a larger proportion crippling their means to an extent which has affected their after life.

Every facility is provided at the Dépôt, for those whose destination is to the interior, to proceed without unnecessary delay;

and without need or pretext for intercourse with the class of persons in the city before mentioned. By this arrangement, much for the benefit of the emigrant, the shipper, the Commission, and the community at large, has been accomplished. Among these benefits may be mentioned:

First.--To the Emigrants. In a more safe and speedylanding of their person and effects: In the greater safety of their effects after having been put on shore, depredators being limited to fellow-passengers, and but slight opportunity existing for successful pillage by them. In relief from the importunities and deceptions of runners and bookers. In being enabled to continue their journey without delay from the same wharf where they had just landed. In relief from all charges and exactions from landing, "baggage smashing" and porterage; and where they are proceeding to the interior, from cartages. In being enabled to obtain passage tickets at the lowest rates directly from the various transporting companies. In having their baggage accurately weighed; and in being relieved from excessive charges for that which is extra. In obtaining reliable information relative to the various routes of travel throughout the country. In being relieved from the necessity of transporting their baggage to boarding-houses when exigencies require a temporary sojourn in the city of New York. And thus in being enabled to depart for their future homes without having their means impaired, their morals corrupted, and probably their persons diseased.

Second. To the shipper. In the greater readiness with which passengers are discharged where freight and merchandise do not interrupt the process. In the ship being relieved of its passengers at once, and immediately on arrival. In the consignee being relieved from the supervision of the landing of the passengers.

Third.-To the funds of the Commission. In the increased facility afforded for the discovery of cases liable to special bond. In the opportunity for ascertaining the means of passengers for support. In the reduction of sickness and distress among Emigrants. In the diminished proportional number that will be

come a charge to the Commissioners; and in the means to readily discover paupers and criminals transported hither.

Fourth. To the statistician. In furnishing reliable data of the fiscal means of emigrants on arrival. In developing the points of individual destination; thus exhibiting the number of persons who, at the time of arrival, are destined for each State, and the money-means with which they are provided.

Fifth. To the community in general. In the diminution of human suffering. In the reduction of calls on the benevolent throughout the country; and in the dispersion of a band of outlaws attracted to this port by plunder, from all parts of the earth.

All these results are stated not as merely probable, but as results actually and permanently obtained, the evidence of which is constantly passing under the observation of the Commissioners and of the merchants, and others immediately connected with the commerce and navigation of the port. Table D. accompanying the reports will show in part the working of this system.

Financial Concerns and Condition of the Commission.

In their last annual report, the Commissioners stated briefly the history and causes of their former financial difficulties, and still existing debts consequent thereon, and expressed a confident hope that such embarrassments were now ended, and that the debt was in a train of permanent reduction. This <hope has been disappointed. The causes of much of the present debt arose in the earlier years of the Commission, when, from 1847 till 1850, the tax intended to be provided by law was reduced by refusal to pay on the part of ship-owners and consignees, or payment under protest, on the ground of the unconstitutionality of the tax. Their objections were sustained by the Supreme Court of the United States. In the meanwhile, the moneys under protest having been paid into the State Treasury, or held to meet the issue of the suit, the Commission. was without any adequate income. It was partially relieved y an advance from the State of $60,000, being a small portion