Some raw silk of excellent quality has been bought in Japan. Such small quantities as have found their way to this market have met with ready sale, and, although as yet the working of the silk is experimental, the finer kinds will doubtless prove satisfactory and, at fair prices,

come into use.

Some small parcels of manufactured silk goods have also been received, but being of poor quality and indifferent styles, they did not meet with

Officers of the State Emigrant Refuge and Hospitals, Ward's Island. Superintendent, LOUIS DWIGHT PILSBURY; Deputy Superintendent, L. R. WELLES; Chief Physician, GEORGE FORD, M. D.; Chief Surgeon, J. M. CARNOCHAN, M. D.; Assistant Physician and Surgeon, F. SIMROCK, M. D., HERMAN GULEKE, M. D.; Chaplains, Rev. A. MANAHAN, D. D., Rev. THOMAS Cook; Apothecary, JOHN DWYER.

THE year just ended, like that immediately preceding it, was distinguished from all the other years during which the Commissioners of Emigration have discharged the important trust committed to them, by the greatly diminished number of emigrants who arrived at this port, (as well as elsewhere in the United States,) and also by their generally improved state as to health, means and general condition. There was no severe or general epidemic disease prevailing among emigrant passengers either on shipboard or after landing. The number of patients or of entirely destitute and helpless persons, in the hospitals, or otherwise obtaining relief from the funds of this commission, has continued to diminish, even below the lessened number of 1858, whilst the improvements gradually introduced by the experience of the Commissioners and their officers, have placed all the establishments under their immediate charge in a state of order and efficiency. Thus the immediate cares and labors of the commissioners have been materially diminished, and although the decreased number of persons paying commutation continued to keep down the income of the commission much below that of former years, the improved economy of their establishments, and the lessened demand upon them for relief, enabled them to meet the current expenditure of the year, and to diminish considerably the debts contracted in former years, including those to the counties for the support of emigrant poor.

The labors and responsibilities of the commissioners have also been lessened by the operation of the last law, in relation to the removal of the Quarantine.

The number of alien emigrants who arrived at this port during the year 1859, and for whom commutation was paid, or special bonds executed, was 79,322, being 733 more than in 1858, but 104,451 less than in the year 1857, and 63,020 less than 1856; whilst the proportion to the average of former years, since 1846, is much less than half. Of these

emigrants, 32,652 were from Ireland, 28,270 from Germany, and 10,375 from England.

Ward's Island Emigrant Refuge and Hospital.—The commissioners hold in fee one hundred and six acres on Ward's Island, together with appurtenant water rights, and marsh partly covered with water. These lands were purchased, from time to time, at prices much less than that for which adjoining lands are now sold, and were paid for either from the annual income or from funds obtained on mortgage, with which the property, greatly increased in value in itself, as well as by the buildings and other improvements, is still encumbered. A small lot of land, which is entirely enclosed by the former purchases of this board, but had never been owned in fee by them, though in their use and occupation, was purchased during the year, at a cost of $1,000. From its peculiar situation, it is an important acquisition.

The tract has also been increased in size, convenience and value during the last three years, by filling in and building a stone sea-wall along the shore, which was performed chiefly by labor of the inmates. This labor has also been applied by the superintendent to the grading and levelling the grounds, and similar improvements conducive to health and convenience. The buildings and grounds are amply supplied with Croton water, brought by a pipe under the waters of the Sound; and, carried up to a large embanked reservoir, which is kept filled. This, besides supplying the buildings with water, affords security against fire, and gives a plentiful supply of ice. There is a broad, substantial private wharf belonging to the establishment, with spacious sheds, boat-houses and other

conveniences.

The buildings, as constructed now, can accommodate more than double the number that now occupy them. On the 1st January, 1859, there were in the buildings 1,052 inmates; the number on 1st January, 1860, was 764. Some of the many buildings erected in the earlier years of the commission were of wood, and, from want of means, slight in their construction; some of these, being much decayed, have been removed. Those erected since 1850, are of brick, well and durably built, and in perfect order. The hospitals are detached buildings, with a large ward, with its appendages, on each story, with windows on all sides, and large open grounds. They are without architectural pretension, but are believed to be on the best plan for hospital buildings, whenever there is sufficient ground space, and are unsurpassed in convenience and comfort, besides having great security against fire, or the communication of those infectious diseases which often spread widely in large sanitary estab

lishments.

The other buildings, for the reception of aged or chronically diseased poor, for lying-in women, for the nurseries, for wash and bake-houses, for residences for the superintendent and physicians, all of them plain and simple, are convenient for their several purposes, and entirely separate from one another.

The whole cost of buildings and improvements on Ward's Island is about $260,000. Some portion of this sum, spent in the earlier buildings, (which were useful for the time,) may be considered as sunk; but the

more important works were economically as well as durably constructed, and it is probable that equal accommodation for the objects of such an institution, exclusive of the price of lands, could not now be obtained for a less sum than the whole amount laid out in buildings. An equal accommodation in lands and buildings for similar sanitary or benevolent purposes, could not now be procured in or near the city of New-York for less than half a million of dollars, which is much above the whole cost of the present Ward's Island establishment. The expense of the wharves, grading, supply of water, filling in and sea-wall, have been more than repaid in the increased value of the whole property, as well as in immediate use to the establishment.

Since the 1st of October, 1855, the Ward's Island establishment had been under the charge of AMOS PILSBURY, an officer of long, experience in the government of public institutions, and who had been recommended to the commissioners by his very successful and economical administration of the Albany Penitentiary. He was invested with the full responsibility of the order and discipline of the island, and, to a great extent, of the economy of the Refuge and Hospital. He resigned his office, July 1st, 1859, on being appointed General Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police. The commissioners appointed as his successor, Louis D. PILSBURY, who now fills that office. The general care of the establishment on Ward's Island is confined to a standing committee, appointed for the year, who make frequent visits of inspection, and meet regularly for the management of this business. The island is also visited from time to time by the other commissioners, and occasional meetings of the board are held there.

The whole number of inmates, whether diseased in the hospital, or infirm and helpless in the other departments, during the year, was 4,361, being 2,545 less than in 1858, and 4,178 less than in the year preceding. The average number at any one time was about 676. The net cost of support of the Emigrant Hospital and Refuge was $54,890, being $21,352 less than in 1858, and $53,954 less than in 1857, being only one-half the expense of that year, and amounting to little more than onethird of the expense in 1855, or in several preceding years. The number provided for was indeed less than in those years; but the economy, with equal comfort and liberality of supplies, was much greater than the proportionate diminution of numbers. The whole number of days spent by the inmates of the Hospital and Refuge, during the year, in those institutions, being 246,758, gives an average of 676 persons throughout the year. The average annual cost of support, including the compensation of physicians and surgeons, the salaries and wages of officers and nurses, and all other expenses on the island, was nearly $81 20 a head, or, exclusive of these salaries of medical and other officers, and wages of subaltern employees, about $50 96 per head for their whole cost for the year, including special hospital expenses. This increased ratio of cost over that stated in the report for 1858 is mainly due to the less number of patients, the number and compensation of physicians remaining the same, with some diminution only of subalterns. Of the above average of 676 persons, sustained and aided in the Ward's Island institution, there was about an average of 446 hospital patients, and 230 in the refuge department.

It is difficult to separate the accounts so as to show the relative expense of each class, but the hospital patients, of course, receive much the largest proportional share. Abundant supplies of vegetables, as well as of poultry, eggs, &c., are raised on the extensive grounds, and applied to the use of the establishment, thus so far lessening the amount of money expenditure. The diet is generally better than in many similar institutions, and not inferior to the best. The reduced state in which many patients are received, has made it a principle, as well of economy as humanity, to provide the most nourishing food proper for the case. The whole cost, including in many cases not expensive clothing, &c., it will be seen, is, therefore, during the last year, one dollar and fifty-six cents a head per week.

The following summary gives the aggregate results of the whole of these establishments, including the hospitals proper as well as the refuge department:

Landing-Place for Emigrant Passengers at Castle Garden.-The commissioners have again the satisfaction of reporting, that the experience of a fourth year confirms the opinions expressed by them in their former reports, on the efficiency and usefulness of the establishment at Castle Garden for the exclusive landing-place of alien emigrants, under the authority and direction of the act of April 8th, 1855, "For the protection of Emigrants." The establishment continues to fulfil all the expectations of the legislature.

The commissioners regret to state, that though the establishment is no longer harrassed by legal proceedings, since the decisions of the courts in 1856 and 1857, yet the opposition has continued in constant acts of annoyance, originating with those who have formerly profited by taking advantage of the stranger, ignorant of our country, its laws and usages, and often of its language.

Making ample allowance for the less number of emigrants, yet the still diminished number of those admitted to Ward's Island, or otherwise relieved within a year or two after their arrival, as well as those of this class falling on the charge of the counties, may be properly ascribed, in no small degree, to the salutary effect of the Castle Garden arrangements.

The report of the superintendent at Castle Garden, with accompanying tables, appended to this report, exhibits many interesting and important details, of which not the least valuable and important are the statements of the relative proportions of sailing and steam vessels, bring