substantiate them, thus creating a suspicion and weakening its beneficial influence, yet the investigation may have been productive of good, in dissipating the idea which some persons seem to have had, that it was established for a Lying-in Hospital, or a general asylum for all classes of lodgers and vagrants who throw themselves on the charities of a large city. The statistics of the Home for the last year are as fol Lost children restored to their parents or guardians Nurses furnished with situations 8 182 27 Eleven thousand eight hundred and six single meals furnished. The daily business at the office has somewhat increased over that of former years, with the same number of clerks and assistants. Four hundred and sixty-five papers have been made out for new applicants seeking relief. The total number now on the Register is six thousand nine hundred and thirty-six. Number of pensioners on the Trust Funds is now two hundred and eighty-eight. The present occupants of the Charity Building are the Overseers of the Poor, the City Physician, and the organization for "soldier's aid," whose office was removed from the City Hall during the past season. The following private associations- an account of whose history and objects was presented in the last report - still occupy the rooms assigned to them, and are, in their respective spheres of duty, accomplishing much good in the direction for which the building was erected: Boston Provident Association. Industrial Aid Society. Massachusetts Soldiers' Fund. Boston Soldiers' Fund. Boston Sewing Circle. Ladies Relief Agency. Young Men's Benevolent Society. All these societies act in harmony with each other and the Board, and the year closes with the feeling that this department of the city service is discharging the work to which it is assigned in a satisfactory manner, and for the public welfare. Respectfully submitted, in behalf of the Board of Overseers of the Poor. F. W. LINCOLN, Chairman. |