The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-10
VISIT OF TIE LEGISLATURE
TO THE
CITY OF N Il w TOR X.
DINNER AT BIACKwaLLs ISLAND
s p E e c H e S
&C., &C., DO.

gislature ~ invitation of the Board OF Ten Governors,
visited tie ous char alb inst tutons on BackwelPs
and Rondas Islam At 10 O'Clock the company, to
The number Of two assembled at the pier foot
OF Bellevue Hospital among whom we noticed the Presi
dent pro I'm of the senate the Speaker of the Assembly,
his Honor Recorder Tou the different members Of the
Legislature the greater portion Of the members Of the
Board Of Aldermen and Common Councilman, and seve-
ra exoldermen together with many Of the most emf
members of the bar. Some delay having been oc-
casioned the steamboat did not arrive as soon as was
announced, and the company kept waiting for
Iy an hour but the day being beautiful one the time
was spent pleasantly in surveying the grounds attached
to Bellevue Hospital and in discussing the merits and
dement's Of the Maine law.
THE SCENE AT RANDALL's ISLAND.
At IL O'Clock the loud ringing of bell announced that
the steamboat coming alongside, and all fastened
down to the waters edge and proceeded on
board the steamboat Independence chartered for the
occasion by the Governors Of the Amshouse Dodworths
Band having struck up national air. the steamboat got
under way and sailed up the East river far Eighty
sixth street, where number Of the invited guests had
by mistake gathered the end of the pier. Here
about hundred and fifty persons taken board
among whom several ladies' and children Leaving
this point of Manhattan island, the boat without delay
for Randals Island where the company met
by the Randas Island boys all dressed in uniform, who,
with hearty cheering, display OF handsome banners,
and the music of the fife and drum welcomed the dis
tinguished visitors to the happy homes provided for
them by the benevolence of the good people of Gotham
All having discmbarked, the company marched to the
delightful strains of the music, along well laid plank
road to the nursery which the first building this
island they visited. Here were assembled about
hundred little children varying in age from three to six
years all neatly dressed delighted with the of the
band in attendance and evidently happy with their stu
alton in life.
After examining the nursery and primary schools the
boys belonging 10 the island drew up in front of the
assembIage, with their banners streaming in the wind
and their little band playing avorte airs in y creda
BILE style.
SIMEON DRAPER, one Of the Ten Governors, thus ad-
dressed the boys the music had ceased
BoYs-We came here to- day along with the LegisIa-
to show them the condition of poor frendess boys
this island, and how they taken of in the
great city of New York am sure that you have some
thing to when such important and distinguished
body have come here to see you to-day.
JOHN HUGHES, one of the boys about seven years of
age then got up STOOL and delivered the following
reply ert-npore which made some Of the rural mem
bers open their eyes
We are happy to you, gentlemen We are grateful
that distinguished body of the Legislature
with their presence and should be ungrateu
welcome you this occasion We feel grateful for the
benefits conferred on us SO conducive to our vel
by the bountiful liberay of the city of New York
Oncs We were poor ragged and friendless but now by
the agency OF these institutions quite changed
clothed and fed, and comfortably provided for
Once we were paupers and destitute; but now we
the children of New York. and the Board of Ten Cover
nors are our fathers friends and relations We are pro
ved with good teachers to prepare situation
which may hereafter be called upon to fill in after life
We grateful for the gifts have received On
right the stars and stripes and the left banner
fnely made. These emblems of condition pre-
scented to us by noble body of fremen Neptune Com
pany of Albany. Gentlemen, shall not detain you
any longer but bid you welcome to our island Grateful
let us give three hearty cheers for the Legature Of the
Empire State cloud eheering)
RoyERr H. PRuyN the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, then addressed the boys follows
BoYs-I am desired by my fellow members to say that
are happy to see many boys congregated here,
looking happy, appearing to be well cared for Civ
ing such high PROMISE OF these days, of being
that you live in country where all stand the same
broad PLATFORM where all are Free and where have
smother but where the poor sustained at the expense
of the wealthy. All may aspire to fame-a may aspire
to the highest position in the gut OF the peope-only
funty afforded by the people of New York and that
you should listen to kind eachers-that you should
qualify yourselves for the situations may be hereaf
Ter called upon to ell II is not impossible that there is
in your company boy who aspire to be Governor of
the Stae-yea the President Of the United States
and it may be possible that Of you may yet be
of the Ten Governors Of this institution. will not say
anything more You said you had good instruction but
will teach you one thing Whenever you have said all
that you have had to say stop cloud cheering by the
boys)
The children then through their various exercises
and sung two three songs The next thing that at
troced the attention Of the Legislature large
Der Of little girls, Who with smiling faces and clappng
of hands and the singing Of pretty songs welcomed the
distinguished guests to their happy homes
The company visited the building in progress
ef erection called the Asylum for the Reformation of
Juvenile Delinquents" the corner stone of which
laid nearly year ago. This is capacious edace, five
hnptr ands " One
and, being built in highly artistic style the subject
of great admiration On each end and in the centre are
cupoas constructed in the Oriental style of architecture
from the top of which splendid view of New York and
the surrounding scenery is obtained
VISIT TO BLAcKwELL's ISLAND.
No building being left uninspected Randalls Island
the company embarked board the steamboat and
took their departure for Backwes Island passing by
Wards Island on their way down the river The boat
made landing at the north end of Blackwels Island and
all having safely got ashore the handsome edice called
basement TO the fourth story Everything presented
ceanly appearance and many were the glances OF pity
bestowed the unfortunate insane by the distinguished
ps,ters they departed from this invaluable institu
1ion.
From the Lunatc Asylum they next resorted to the
Madhouse where the patients were in the greatest
state OF excitement at the large number of ysers and
nose OF the band and II deemed advisable by the
hccors not to admit any one except merely the members
pf the legislature, consequently the members of the
Iommon Council the heads Of departments and all others
Invited refrained from examining the building and its
occupants until favorable opportunity presents
Itself
The new Workhouse next visited. This building Is
equal size to the Asylum for the Reformation Of Juve
nile Delinquents Randalls Island and Is somewhat
Landowner and substantial edce being construct
ej Of stone One wing yet remains to be Finished and
days ago appropriation OF $40 900 made for
its completion, and when finished will be one OF the
b. yhtcst ornaments of the Empire City.
The Almshouse the next object that attrac-
ted their attention Here five six hun.
dred emigrant paupers,' Of all nations and Chimes
met the eye Of the visitor and their seemingly comorta
Bile condition impressed upon the minds the Legisla
the usefulness with which money raised by for
charitable purposes expended in the city of New
York
The Hospital next inspected whore hundreds lay
on beds Of sickness pinDg to breathe the fresh air
more In good health and spirits Their wants were how
over well attended to- and nearly all Of them, except
those infrm with age, in a far way Of recovery
The visiters had no hesitation whatever in passing
Through the wards of Sickness being deeply impress
I'D with the soemny of the to heed the infection