In the Report of the General Agent, and the Appendix,— Page 258, Table No. 13. The number at Worcester Hospital, October 1, 1868, should be 96. Page 259, fifth line from the bottom, for "counties," read "countries." Page 383. The "number fully supported" at Westfield should be stated as 20, and the total for the county, 136. SPECIAL NOTE ON THE ERRATA. The same obstacles which have heretofore prevented perfect accuracy in the statistical portions of the Secretary's Report, still render it impossible to avoid occasional discrepancies between the body of the Report and its Appendix. The fact that the former is required before complete returns can be received, and that the latter is revised from subsequent and more.reliable information, is a sufficient explanation of the difficulty. Although every possible care is taken to secure accuracy, yet some discrepancies will inevitably appear in statistics so voluminous and varied, especially when tabulated from incomplete and deficient returns. If, however, any errors have been overlooked in the foregoing Errata, their discovery for future correction will be gladly welcomed. PAST AND PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. [Names of past members in small capitals; of present members in italics.] * Though resigning at the dates mentioned, Messrs. Wheelwright and Sanborn continued to act as General Agent and Secretary of the Board until their successors, Messrs. Wrightington and Clarke, were duly qualified. NOTE.-Messrs. John H. Coffing, of Great Barrington, Edward Southworth, of West Springfield, and Peleg W. Chandler, of Oct. 1, 1868, 31, 1868, Nov. 16, 1868, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES, February 17, 1869. } To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled. The undersigned, members of the Board of State Charities, respectfully present their Fifth Annual Report, and the Reports of the Secretary and General Agent, as required by law. Respectfully, SAM'L G. HOWE, JULIUS L. CLARKE, S. C. WRIGHTINGTON, Members of the Board of State Charities. FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES. The Secretary begins his Annual Report, [herewith submitted,] with a brief sketch of what has been accomplished directly and indirectly, by the labor of this Board during the five years of its existence. It has collected a vast amount of valuable Statistics of Pauperism, Crime, Insanity, and kindred topics; and a great deal of information concerning the classes of defectives and of dependents. These facts have been tabularized and made available for future use; especially as a standard by which the cost and the results of our public Institutions can be measured, and compared with each other, and with those of other States, and countries. Such information affords the only sure base upon which to build. It has done much toward clearing up the obscurity hitherto shrouding the various penal, correctional, and charitable Institutions, and has brought some order out of chaos. It has closed up the unnecessary and costly Hospital at Rainsford Island. It has practically reduced the number of the State Almshouses from three to one; and effected a much better classification of the dependent class. It has converted the establishment at Bridgewater to a State Workhouse; and transferred most of its pauper inmates to the Tewksbury Almshouse, which has been made the receptacle of the chronic insane. It has introduced a new feature into our system by providing enforced labor for the paupers who can work, but will not; C |