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"The Committee trust that the most formidable of their difficulties are now surmounted, and that the measures taking at present will accelerate the progress of the work in a ratio beyond that of any former precedent. The only difficulty remaining is that which they have had to struggle with from the beginning-the want of funds; but they entertain the cheering hope, that as the value of the plan becomes increasingly known, it will meet with proportionate support. On examining the state of the concern at the end of 1814, it appears that, after all that has been accomplished, the debts do not greatly exceed what they were seven years ago; and if the sum of 10,000l. can be raised, the Institution will, for the first time, be brought out of debt, and the Committee will be encouraged to extend their labours with increased spirit and energy. The capital invested in the premises, and in lessons, &c. now furnished by a few individuals, would become the property of the public in general; and if the friends of the cause will generally make a moderate exertion, the whole expense of the establishment may be defrayed within every year.

"The committee cannot allow themselves to believe that this great cause, after all that has been done, will be suffered to sink, or that the public will be satisfied that an object so desirable as the universal education of the great mass of the people, an object which might be accomplished in a few years, should be protracted through half a century, while in the mean time many thousands of innocents must be given up to destruction, to suffer on the scaffold, to perish in jails, or be sent to expiate their crimes (and for which society will be chargeable) at the remotest parts of the earth. It cannot be. The friends to religious liberty, and those grand and liberal principles which are the glory and strength of this country, will surely come forward to place the British and Foreign School Society on a firm foundation, and enable it to extend the blessings of the plan without further loss of time to every corner of the kingdom, and throughout the world.

"In order to raise the sum necessary to relieve the institution effectually, it has been proposed that 100 individuals should each subscribe or undertake to raise 100l. among their friends; and that, as the money shall be received, it shall be immediately invested in the public funds, in the names of Samuel Whitbread, M. P., Sir John Jackson, Bart. M. P., Samuel Hoare, Jun., and William Allen, as trustees; and if in the course of two years, reckoning from the 1st of January 1815, it does not with acumulated interest amount to the sum of 10 000l., the contributors shall receive their principal and interest, if they desire it, or it shall be applied in such way as each shall direct. The following sums have been already paid in and invested:

Amount reported page 78 £1193 16 Brought forward..

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William Horne, Esq.

Norwich

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Clapham

10 10

John Mallet, Esq. Min

Norwich

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Contributions for the above purpose are received by Hoares, Barnetts, and Co., Bankers, Lombard-Street; by the Treasurer Wm. Allen, Plough-Court, Lombard-Street; and the Secretary, Joseph Fox, Argyll-Street, Oxford-Street.

To the EDITOR of THE PHILANTHROPIST.

THE following letter written by Dr. Badeley, an eminent phy

sician in Essex, on a subject in which the happiness of families is deeply concerned, is marked with so much strong good sense, that, although it has been printed in the Chelmsford Chronicle, it deserves to be preserved in the pages of The Philanthropist. Its insertion will oblige

A CONSTANT Reader.

"SIR,-Having frequently met with an instance of superstition. among the common people, which I have seen prove fatal to the happiness of their families; and thinking it probable, that some of your readers may be under its influence, I shall be happy if I can make a part of your useful paper instrumental in subduing it. It has too frequently happened that I have been sent for to patients, just when they were at the point of death, and have found the wives in the greatest distress from their husbands not having made their wills.-Upon inquiry, I have learnt, that the delay was occasioned by the superstitious opinion, that if they made their will, they should not long survive it. Many have been confirmed in this absurdity by their friends having died soon afterwards. This, no doubt, was owing to the example which they were then following, of deferring the necessary duty till they were ill.-It seems hardly credible, that superstition should so far prevail over reason and common sense, as to render it necessary for me to assert, that nobody ever did, or ever will die the sooner for having made his will when in health.-I can assure those who are doubtful still further-that I have seen many, who, by having had this weight of duty removed from their minds just before they were ill, have recovered from diseases which would probably have proved fatal had they deferred it. - Every man, who from superstition, unmanly irresolution, or indolence, neglects this piece of justice to his family till he is ill, should know to what increase of danger he exposes himself, and to what distress he subjects his family.-When he goes between the curtains with his mind intent upon his unsettled affairs, his depressed spirits render him much less able to struggle with his disease-his nights become more sleepless than they would have been from the disease alone-his pulse altered-and his physician unacquainted with the cause-delirium, from the agitation of his mind, much sooner succeeds-and his solicitor is sent for-but the delirium renders him incompetent to the business, and he dies intestate; or, perhaps, when there is a glimmering of returning sense, his solicitor cannot be found, and his will is made by the clergyman, or his medical attendant, or a neighbour. The property, for want of technical propriety, deviates from the intended course-or, some of the disappointed

relations are dissatisfied, and suspect he was not sensible-the will is contested, part of the property is spent in its defence-and the harmony and happiness of the family destroyed for ever. Now, sir, this is not a painting from imagination, but from life; by one who in long experience has seen, and continues to see, the distressing consequences of delay; and who was subpoenaed on two trials at one assize, to substantiate wills, neither of which would have been contested had they been made in health. This train of melancholy events might be made less frequent, if every clergyman would consider it a part of his duty--first to ask himself, and then to take a seasonable opportunity of asking every parishioner, when in health, whether he had made his will. The question may, at first, startle, from its novelty; but a little reflection will prove it not to be less friendly than an inquiry after his health; and certainly in much better time than when sent for to pray by his bedside. Those who have made their wills, like those who have done any other duty, will reply with cheerful satisfaction; and none will be offended, except those whom selfreproach for neglect may have rendered irritable. But should some, with more pride than good sense, accuse the good clergyman of stepping beyond his province, let him produce this letter as an apology, or-what is better-let him produce his motive--which can be no other than the happiness of his neighbours. That, upon all occasions, ought to disarm reproach and silence censure. On that, therefore, I rest my hope of pardon with the public, for having trespassed so much on their time and your paper.

"Chelmsford, Dec. 25, 1814."

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"I am, Sir, yours,

"J. BADELEY.

We copy the following interesting article from a Scotch newspaper, entitled "The Montrose Review."

"BANK FOR SMALL SAVINGS.

"To the Editor of the Montrose Review.

"SIR-To a small pamphlet you lately re-published for me-'AR Address to the Inhabitants of the Town and Parish of Montrose, by a Parishioner,' is added, a view of the abolition of beggary in Edinburgh; and mention is made of other beneficial institutions for the lower classes of society in that city, viz. a bank for receiving the savings of tradesmen, labourers, sailors, servants male and female; in short, of all whom it may suit, to lodge their small savings in a safe place, at four per cent. interest, until they come to something considerable, avoiding the loss by bad debtors, and the temptation to spend trifles upon unnecessary and often hurtful things, because it is in their pocket, and seems not worth laying up. The other is a bank for lending small

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