The fupplies thus provided, let us advert Disc. to the expenditure.

Of the poor, fome are both able and willing to work. When these are forced to beg, because no one will hire them to dig, their lot is truly pitiable. The most excellent method of fhewing charity to fuch is by finding them employment, which at once relieves their wants, and preferves them from temptation. Every scheme that policy can devife should be put in practice at this time, when so many thousands, that have been engaged, at the hazard of their lives, in our defence and protection, by sea and land, muft otherwise be reduced to ftarve, to steal, or to emigrate. Individuals, bleffed with affluence, have a noble opportunity of adorning their eftates, while, with this farther end in view, as citizens they most effectually ferve their country, and as Chriftians they fhall by no means lose their reward. The community should ftrain every nerve in the canfe. Days of peace fhould be days of improvement. De

XII.

DISC. figns of public utility fhould be forthwith entered upon. Returning and increafing commerce will fuggeft many. The encouragement of manufactures, the establishment of new fisheries in different parts of the kingdom, the cultivation of waste lands, of which (strange to tell!) there are thoufands of acres lying within a few miles of the metropolis-these are the objects, which rival statesmen should unite to profecute. Let us hope we shall live to fee the day, when they will do fo! "In the multitude "of the people is the ftrength of the

king." Provide employment, and you will never want people, nor will those people want food. Hands will flock where there is work to be done; and between working and eating the connection is indiffoluble'.

In the fecond class of the poor may be

ranked those who are able to work, but not willing. These compose a band very formidable to fociety. To maintain them • See M'Farlan, p. 416.

XII.

in idleness, is to render them every day DISC.
more fo. They must be inured to labour
by wholesome discipline. You cannot shew
them a greater kindness. Thus, and thus
only can their ferocity be tamed, and their
paffions fubdued; good principles may in
time take the place of bad ones, and habits
of industry by degrees be formed and ma-
tured. To effect this end by thefe means
is the defign (and a moft admirable defign
it is) of one part of those many charitable
inftitutions, for which this great and flou-
rishing city is so deservedly famous through-
out the world, and for which I have the
honour this day to appear as an unworthy
advocate.

Another part of them is calculated to diminish, as much as may be, the numbers of this clafs of poor; it goes directly to the root of the diforder, and endeavours that the good principles and habits above-men'tioned may from the very beginning be im→ planted in the young and tender mind, by a virtuous and well-conducted education,

thus

J

DISC. thus fowing the feeds of felicity for future

XII.

ages.

In the most ample and munificent manner is provision made by others of them for a third class of poor, fuch, I mean, as are willing to work, but not able; for of whatever nature the disability may be, or from whatever cause it may have proceeded, whether from cafual hurt, from the languor of disease, or from a diftempered mind, immediate help is at hand. All the preffing miseries incident to man have here their peculiar houses of reception and relief, where the most confummate skill, medical and chirurgical, that can be obtained by him who is the poffeffor of millions, is readily and cheerfully exerted, for the ease and recovery of the poor-institutions thefe, unknown, unthought of, in the polished ages of Greece and Rome- peculiar to the days of the Gofpel-the boast of Christianity (were it capable of boasting), the ornament and glory of this great em

b`McFarlan, 299.

porium !

XII.

porium!-How effectual they have proved DISC. in answering the several ends proposed, the Report, now to be recited, will beft inform you.

Here the REPORT was read.

The case itself speaks fo forcibly to your feelings, and calls fo loudly for your kind affistance, that it renders needless any long exhortation from the preacher. The expences annually incurred by the several hofpitals you find to exceed their certain revenues; and therefore, they must depend, for fupport, on the farther donations of the benevolent. Suffer not the blaze of charity, which now burns with fo much heat and fplendour, to die away for want of lasting fuel. You have heard how useful these eftablishments have proved; be it your endeavour to make them permanent. Whatever can be fpared (and with proper management much by every one may be fpared), let it be lodged, as a treasure—a treasure to yourselves, as well as to them