cious expenditures for carrying on the business that necessarily devolves upon city officials; but costly and uncalled for luxuriousness meets everywhere with disapprobation. Let us strive, then, not to fall into any disgraceful errors; but by a strict adherence to all the proprieties of our positions, let us earn for our present administration a reputation for business excellence, municipal economy, and courteous deportment.

Boston is rising most rapidly in importance, in regard both to its maritime relations and its inland trade. Situated, as it is, with one of the best harbors of the western continent, possessing facilities of a superior character for communicating with all the great marts of the world, populous with citizens of enterprise and energy in all the numerous business relations, noted for its capitalists as well as for its manufacturers and mechanics, and distinguished preeminently for its institutions of science, the arts, and good learning, it is fairly on the way for a most remarkable and illustrious future. We can look back the past few years with just pride at the great advance it has made in all the arts of civilization. Particularly can we rejoice in reviewing our progress of the last year. Business has been everywhere in

creased under the most liberal encouragements; thoroughfares for travel and transportation have been made more ample, and extended; old avenues have been improved, and all made free from tolls; new avenues have been built, and business conveniences established; and efforts for the general welfare of our people have been made without stint. Our tide-waters have been most intimately united with the back country by the connecting bonds of the railways; our harbor has been improved to a degree that places it amongst the best in the world; wharf room and dockage have been increased in a very remarkable degree; and, although foreign vessels may aid us in the transaction of business, and transport our people to and from foreign shores, why should not Boston also rejoice in her constant and perfect commercial communication with all the great markets of the world by means of her own, bearing the unconquered, and therefore the respected and honored colors of our own independent nation? Let our vessels pass over every ocean, ornament every harbor, and enrich and reward the energy, enterprise, ingenuity and industry of our citizens. To aid in this is our duty. Let no energy of ours be left untasked to accomplish an achievement so

desirable, and which will redound so much to our credit and honor.

Since the annexation of Roxbury and Dorchester to our territory, a great desire has been manifested by other neighboring municipalities to unite their destinies with ours, to gain what advantages may accrue to them by a comprehensive city government, and offering to us in return, wider fields of labor, as well as a more extensive domain. Charlestown, which made such a vigorous and unsuccessful attempt last year, is now again making ready to urge the same cause before the legislature, hoping that a constant and abundant supply of water from Mystic Pond will compensate our city for the benefits that can be conferred on our part. The same desire for annexation appears to be strongly exhibited in the neighboring towns of Brookline, Malden and Somerville. Some of these have already given notice of their intentions to petition the legislature for the acts necessary for the accomplishment of their wishes; and, undoubtedly, some action in reference thereto will be required on the part of this city. Whenever such necessity becomes apparent, it will be my duty to communicate with you more particularly on the subject.

The additional labors which devolve upon the city council, and more particularly on the Board of Aldermen, by the increase of territory and population, and the large number of new and diversified interests which consequently arise therefrom, demonstrate the necessity of establishing bureaus for the safer and more convenient manner of managing many of the important matters connected with the government of a large city like ours; and I feel constrained again to urge for your consideration the establishment, by ordinance, of some of the most important of these. The most needed, at the present time, are in relation to health, and for the laying out and altering streets. The duties in respect to these departments are almost exclusively within the power of the Board of Aldermen, after the appropriations have been made; and the labors consequent on a proper and satisfactory administration of these duties are too great to be expected of small committees, who have much other business to attend to, and whose reward is confined solely to the honor that should follow good and faithful servants of the city. A candid consideration of this suggestion is demanded by the great advantage which would accrue to the city, and particularly

to those persons who have dealings with it in the departments especially alluded to; and it is to be hoped that in a matter of so much importance your action will be on the broad ground of public benefit alone.

In striving to manage the great affairs of the city with promptness, and in a manner that will secure the greatest economy with the most efficiency, we must not lose sight of those of a ́more humble and less ostentatious character. We must never forget the debt of gratitude we owe to those who, in the hour of our country's greatest danger, manfully stepped forward for our defence and relief. These demand our warmest sympathies and our most generous aid. Let no mean nor niggardly hand, then, deal out pitiable charity to those whom it is our most sacred duty to protect from want and relieve from suffering. We must ever bear in mind the virtuous and worthy poor whose necessities require attention, and whose comfort and welfare should not be disregarded at any time. We must always keep in remembrance the interests and just rights of those who toil that others may reap the large harvests resulting from profitable labor. The honest and industrious laborer, whether man, woman, or child, has a demand upon