During a considerable portion of the preceding year, the secretary was engaged in directing his enquiries to every source from which intelligence could be procured, on the subjects embraced in the preceding resolutions.  The important nature of those resolutions, no less than his own sense of duty, induced him to use every exertion for aiding in the accomplishment of an object so deeply interesting to the community, as an inquiry into the cause and nature of the evils of pauperism, and the best means for meliorating or removing them.  The statistical information thus procured, from different parts of this state, and of the United States, he has now the honor of presenting to the legislature, consisting of two parts, in a form as digested and condensed as the subject would admit.

     The first part exhibits the number of paupers in the several cities, towns and counties in this state; the sums of money expended for their maintenance and relief; the sums expended for the costs and fees of justices, overseers of the poor, and constables, in the examination and removal of paupers, and in other incidental services, together with the costs and expenses of instituting, conducting, managing, and defending appeals from orders of removal; the number of paupers removed; the ration of pauperism in each county, and the ratio of taxation imposed on each county for the maintenance and relief of the poor; the amount of taxes raised for that purpose, in the several counties, for the last six years; and extracts of letters from mayors of cities, supervisors and clerks of counties, overseers of the poor of towns, and from other sources entitled to credit; shewing the management, general success, and effect of the various local experiments in the state, for the support of the poor, either by towns or in poor houses.   ...                                                                                                                                                                                     (continued)