fhewn itself in those who have left the house *; and the delicacy of many to keep fecret their connections, has been truly commendable. Senfible of the happiness of their situation, they are truly thankful for the comfort they enjoy, fuperior, as many of them frankly declare, to whatever they enjoyed in any part of their lives. And what wonder? when they are treated with the utmost humanity; are fupplied with all things neceffary to the well-being of foul and body; have an opportunity to attend a regular course of divine worship; and in sickness want neither the beft aids of phyfic, nor the best confolations of a spiritual instructor: while folicitous for their future welfare, the Conductors of the charity, with a truly paternal regard, use all their kind endeavours to fettle them in life with propriety, and to enable them to procure their own bread, with decency and reputation.

The following fhort extract of a Letter from one of the women to another, for whom she had procured a place, may ferve as a proof of the affertion. After directing her to her fervice, she proceeds, "Now, my dear Nancy, as providence has put it in my power to help you to this place, I hope and doubt not that you will be cautious in your behaviour, as my own character will fo much depend upon it. I hope in God it will be in my power to provide for more of my dear sisters. in time; till when I remain, dear Nancy, your fincere wellwifher," &c. &c.

N. B. They are both now in fervice, and behave very well.

They

They are divided, according to the original plan, into feparate claffes; over each of which a Superior prefides, who is treated by thofe in her class with becoming respect, and is accountable for their work and behaviour. Several, who were totally ignorant on their admiffion, have been taught to read by their fuperiors: proper books for inftruction and amufement are fupplied them; and every method is taken to fhew them the excellence of the choice they have made, and to establish their minds in that divine religion, a ferious regard to which, can alone influence effectually their moral conduct. Now, it is but reasonable to fuppofe, that fuch women will be found faithful and excellent fervants, whose woeful experience hath taught them the fad confequences of a deviation from virtue; whofe minds have been diligently cultivated with the best inftructions; and whofe induftrious way of life in, and attendance upon, the business of the house, muft neceffarily qualify them for all menial offices. Nor have we any doubt but the virtuous and humane, nay, and fuch who perhaps can affift this charity no other way, will at least endeavour to affift it, by employing the women in their services; of whom at least they may be affured to have a faithful character, and whofe former way of life may certainly, by proper measures, be preferved an inviolable fecret.

As

As an encouragement to the women who have been difmiffed reputably, and in order to provide them all decent and proper neceffaries, a fum of money hath been usually given, more or less, according to their exigence, merit, or fituation in life,-from two guineas and a half to five guineas,-to the amount of 944 pounds, and upwards and provided they continue a year and a day in their places, to the fatisfaction of their mafters and miftreffes, they are allowed one guinea. As moft of the poor objects who have efcaped from loofe houses, have come almost naked, or with borowed cloaths to appear in, this too hath been a fource of large expence. For it hath been neceffary, on that account, to provide cloaths even for thofe, who have been ignominiously difmiffed; as they could not be fuffered to go out in the Uniform worn in the house. Befides this, the major part of the young women, in a little time after their admiffion, have been ill, in confequence of the great change in the manner of their life, or from the remains of former complaints, imperfect cures, and conftitutions broken by their fatal irregularities. Hence hath arisen a double evil; not only the lofs of their time and industry, but the expence of medicine; which hath annually amounted to upwards of 150 pounds, tho' fparingly adminiftred, and charged very low; and tho' the Phyficians and Surgeons generously give their attendance.

tendance. The neceffary repairs, furniture, &c. of the house and chapel, have, as might be expected, amounted to no inconfiderable height: But the bounty, of the benevolent hath rifen above all these great and extraordinary expences; and we have no reason to doubt, nay we have the utmost encouragement to hope, that, under the divine bleffing, this excellent inftitution will go on to profper and improve.

That it is capable of improvement, the Gentlemen who are fo kind as to undertake the arduous and painful task of admitting the wretched penitents, are but too feelingly convinced. For arduous and painful indeed it is, to receive the petitions of fo many unfortunate and forlorn young creatures, funk in the deepest woe; and to be able to admit fo few! An enlargement of the defign would be like opening the doors of heaven to many deftitute daughters of affliction, who have no place to fly unto, no eye to pity, and no hand to relieve! And in an age, diftinguished for its humanity and compaffion, what may they not reasonably hope? They fee already. miferable fellow-creatures, by means of this many happy Afylum, refcued from forrow, to which they had been introduced by all the iniquitous ftratagems of deceit and feduction; in which they had been detained by a kind of horrid neceffity; from which they had no probable, no poffible retreat; and in which they muft, ere

now,

now, according to all human chances, have perifhed:-perished in the moft deplorable distress! They fee them restored to their God;-to their parents; to their friends ;-to their country;to themfelves;-to health;-to industry-to happiness! And what single, charitable defign, can propofe and effect fo many valuable ends? What charitable heart, what truly chriftian hand, can refufe their generous affiftance, or with-hold their best endeavours, from an undertaking fo laudable and beneficent? who would not wish to add to the number of fouls, preferved from deepest guilt; of bodies rescued from fouleft fhame, and moft afflicting disease? Who would not wish to wipe away the tear from the aged parent's eye, and to prevent the hoary head from going down to the grave in forrow? Who would not wish to give life to the drooping and desponding family? to add to the number of useful and industrious members of the ftate! to add-to the number of the inhabitants of heaven? Happy they who can bear a part; abundantly happy they, who can bear the largest part, in fo truly godlike and chriftian a defign.- But I forbear, that I may not anticipate what I have already urged in the Dif courfes following.

The