To the Overseers in the Poor in the Commonwealth:

I have the honor to forward for your use, a copy of the List of Alien Passengers recently preparted by the Superintendent for this city.

It embraces all the names of bonded passengers, as published in sundry abstracts for four years, prior to January 1, 1851, and will be found more voncenient for reference as the names are both alphabetically arranged and much of the original matter omitted.

It is earnestly desired that the overseers will, upon receiving the list, examine and ascertain whether there are any persons in their respective almshouses whose names are borne upon it, and if so, send an accoutn at once to this office, against the vessel in which the pauper arrived.

This course will conduce to the interest both of the town and the Commonwealth, and enable the owners of the vessels to make other provision for the support of the paupers if they choose to do so.

I may here be allowed to revert to the importance of the different items of information required by law to be furnished in regard to each pauper as charged to the Commonwealth in your annual account, viz.: the name, age, birthplace, the date of arrival in the State, and the time when each became chargeable.

It not unfrequently happens that parties are shipped by one name, and enter the almshouse by another.

The age shoude be ascertained if possible, and if not, estimated as neas as can be done, and stated.

The birthplace, at least the country of birth, can generally be ascertained, and should be named in the account.

The time when the party came into the Commonwealth, thouch not so important, is still desirable.

In regard to the time when the pauper became a public charge it is particularly important that the date named should be the one for the present account, and not, as in many cases, the original time.

For example, if the pauper was charged in the account up to November 1, 1850, then the date in the next account should be from November 1, 1850, to November 1, 1851, or some other date prior to that, as the case may be.

Attention to the foregoing suggestions will much facilitate the examination of your accounts, and enable me to pass some which would otherwise be rejected.

David Wilder, Jr., Auditor