hibition of street-begging. There can be no reasonable excuse whatever for this practice, more especially if the course of inspection, now recommended, be kept in operation.

5th. To aid, if it shall be deemed expedient, in furnishing employment to those who cannot procure it, either by the establishment of houses of industry, or by supplying materials for domestic labour.

Although this mode of relieving the necessitous may appear to be entirely exempt from the evils arising from gratuitous aid, it will undoubtedly require a judicious course of management, lest it produce a relaxation of concern on the part of the poor to depend on their own foresight and industry, and the same consequent increase of helplessness and poverty. Yet it must be expected, that numerous cases will occur in which employment will furnish by far the most eligible kind of relief. Among the female poor, these cases will be the most numerous. Women have fewer resources than men ; they are less able to seek for employment; they are more exposed to a sudden reverse of circumstances. Of the wants and the sufferings of this class, their own sex are the best judges. Hence, we are of opinion, that the "Society for the Promotion of Industry" deserve the thanks of the community, and that the disinterested and well directed efforts of that society ought to receive an adequate and extended support.

6th. To advise and promote the opening of places of worship in the outer wards of the city, especially in situations where licentiousness is the most prevalent. This subject is considered as one of vital importance. If, as we believe, nine-tenths of the poverty and wretchedness which the city exhibits, proceed directly or indirectly from the want of correct moral principle, and if religion is the basis of morality, then will it be adinitted, that to extend the benefits of religious instruction, will be to strike at the root of that corrupt tree which sheds dreariness and penury from all its branches. That there is a lamentable deficiency of religious observance is extremely obvious. It is questionable whether one man or woman in fifty, of the indigent, enters a place of worship three times in a year. The means are not provided for them, and they are unable to provide them for themselves. Now it has been remarked, that in the immediate vicinity of a church, it is rare to find a house devoted to lewdness or depravity. One half of the sum annually expended in the maintenance of the poor, would be sufficient to build three houses for public worship.

Further, if wretchedness proceed from vice, and vice, among

the poor, be generally the offspring of moral and intellectual darkness, is it not a most reasonable, social duty, which the enlightened portions of society owe to the ignorant, to instruct before they condemn, to teach before they punish? Can there be a more painful reflection in the mind of a humane juror, than the thought of consigning to death, or to perpetual exclusion from the enjoyments of virtuous society, a fellow-creature, for crimes that have evidently resulted from that condition of vicious ignorance to which he has ever been exposed, without any attempts on the part of the community to rescue him from it?

The committee would, therefore, submit to the Society the proposition of endeavouring to effect, as the means may accrue, the gradual erection of buildings for public worship in those parts of the city where they are the most needed, until every citizen may have an opportunity of attending divine worship.

7th. To promote the advancement of First Day, or Sunday School Instruction, both of children and adults. We cannot but regard this kind of instruction as one of the most powerful engines of social reform, that the wisdom and benevolence of men have ever brought into operation.

8th. To contrive a plan, if possible, by which all the spontaneous charities of the town may flow into one channel, and be distributed in conformity to a well-regulated system, by which deception may be prevented, and other indirect evils arising from numerous independent associations be fairly obviated.

It appears highly probable, that if the administration of the charities of the city were so conducted as to obviate all danger of misapplication and deception, those charities would flow with greater freedom, and those funds might occasionally be obtained, which would afford the means of erecting houses for worship, opening schools, and employing teachers, and thus direct, with greater efficacy, those materials which alone can ensure to the great fabric of society its fairest proportions and its longest duration.

9th. To obtain the abolition of the greater number of shops in which spirituous liquors are sold by license.

We trust that four-fifths if not the whole of the intelligent portion of our fellow-citizens will unite in opinion, that the present extension of licensed retailers is equivalent, or very nearly so, as it respects the morals of the city, to the entire abrogation of the law which requires a dealer in liquors to take out a license. While the number of places in the city remains so excessively great, which afford to the poor and ignorant, not only so many

facilities, but so many invitations and temptations to spend their money "over the maddening bowl," reformation will be greatly impeded; poverty and ruin must increase and abound.

If each of the 1600 retailers in the city sell, upon an average, to the amount of 250 cents per day, an estimate which we presume all will consider within the truth, the aggregate amount for the year is S 1,460,000. This enormous sum, extorted from the sweats of labour, and the tears and groans of suffering wives and children, would be sufficient to build annually 50 hauses of worship at $20,000 each, and leave a surplus that would be more than sufficient to erect school-houses, and amply provide for the education of every child in the city. When, with a single glance of the mind, we contrast the difference in moral effect, between the appropriation of this sum to the support of the buyers and sellers of strong drink, and its appropriation to the support of honest and industrious mechanics employed in the erection of buildings which would improve and ornament the city, and to the diffusion of religion and useful learning, who will not rise and exert his strength against the encroachment of so mighty an evil?

Various other subjects and modes of relief, tending to the same great object, might be enumerated; but we forbear any further to enlarge our Report by the recital of them.

In the Constitution which we herewith submit for the organization and government of the Society, a door is opened for the adoption of any measure which the Society may deem it expedient to pursue, in conformity to the principal design of its insti

tution..

To conclude: The committee has by no means intended, in the freedom with which it has thus examined the causes of pauperism, and suggested remedies, to encourage the expectation that the whole of these remedies can be speedily brought within the power and control of the Society. A work of so much importance to the public welfare cannot be the business of a day: but we nevertheless entertain the hope, that if the principles and design of this society shall, upon mature examination and reflection, receive the approbation of the great body of our intelligent fellow-citizens, and the number of its members he augmented accordingly, it will be able gradually to bring within its operation, all the important measures suggested in this Report. By what particular mode these measures shall be encountered, whether through the agency of large and efficient committees of this society, or by auxiliary societies, each established, for a specific purpose, under the patronage of the parent institution,

and subordinate to its general principles, we leave to the wisdom and future decision of the Society.

On behalf of the Committee,

JOHN GRISCOM, Chairman.

New York, second month, 4th, 1818.

PROPOSED CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.-This society shall be known by the name of "The New York Society for the Prevention of Pauperism."

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ARTICLE II.-Its objects shall be, to investigate the circumstances and habits of the poor; to devise means for improving their situation, both in a physical and moral point of view; to suggest plans for calling into exercise their own endeavours, and afford the means of giving them increased effect; to hold out inducements to œconomy and saving from the fruits of their own industry, in the seasons of greater abundance; to discountenance, and as far as possible prevent, mendicity and street-begging; and in fine, to do every thing which may tend to meliorate their condition, by stimulating their industry and exciting their own energies.

ARTICLE I-Any person signing this constitution, paying one dollar at the time of signing and one dollar annually, shall become a member of this society.

ARTICLE IV. The business shall be conducted by a Board of Managers, consisting of thirty members, to be chosen at the annual meeting of the society to be held on the last Tuesday in October in each year, and nine of whom shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE V.-Its officers shall be a president, two vice-presidents, a treasurer, and secretary, to be appointed by the board of managers.

ARTICLE VI.-The corporation of this city shall be entitled to appoint any five members of their body, who, when so appointed, shall, ex officio, be members of this board of managers.

ARTICLE VII.-This constitution shall not be altered, except at an annual meeting of the Society, and by two thirds of the members present.

Savings Banks.

WE have received a Tract from Philadelphia, with the following

title: "Articles of Association of the Saving Fund Society, with an Explanation of the Principles of the Institution, and its Objects together with Tables, showing the Accumulations produced by Deposits with the Society."

This is an institution which has been suggested by the establishment of Savings' Banks in this country, and professes to have been erected upon their model. We are happy to be able to lay an account of it before the British public, as an encouragement to those benevolent men who have been engaged in this work of beneficence, who may thus perceive how, in that happy state into which the world is now brought, one good act propagates another, and every part of the world profits by every exertion of every good man who is contained in it.

The following extract explains the only preliminary point which is required for the understanding of the articles or rules.

"It will be observed that the plan of this association differs in one respect from some of those established in England. In the latter a specific interest is not allowed, but in place thereof, such interest is calculated as will be produced from the government stocks at the prices of the days upon which depósits are made,. and the depositor has at his risk the occasional fluctuations. To avoid such uncertainty, as well as to facilitate the calculation of interest, which upon small amounts would be exceedingly laborious,' it has in this institution been deemed most advisable to stipulate the rate of interest whereby all may derive a similar revenue. This rate has been fixed at near five per cent. which is the most that, taking into consideration the interest on public securities, the expenses of the establishment, and the risk of fluctuation in prices, can prudently be allowed. Still, however, should the profits of the business exceed the necessary expenditures, their amount will be divided every three years, amongst the depositors who have remained such during the preceding year."

It will afford a gratifying, and in some respects an useful subject of comparison, if we give in terms the plan of the institution: « ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILADELPHIA SAVING FUND SOCIETY.

"ARTICLE I.—This Institution, under the title of "The Philadelphia Saving Fund Society," is established for the sole purpose of receiving and investing in government securities, or other substan