its salutary influence. Could we only repeat this year, as formerly, that the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick nursed, provided with medicine and cordials, it were great considering that the late epidemic has nearly doubled the objects of the Society's bounty; greatly embarrassed their circumstances, and left, many of them in a debilitated state, little able for labour. There are now on the Society's books two hundred and one widows, with numerous families.

The managers have provided meal, wood, flannel, shoes; giving nothing to those in health but necessaries; to the sick, meat, fuel, tea, sugar, and chocolate, wine and porter, by order of the attending physician, two thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars, thirty cents: besides very much for the sick from their own pantries, having it cooked in their own kitchens; and, in many instances, giving daily personal attendance.

In the months of January and February, employment entirely failed them; many came forward at that time, who had not asked that in charity, which labour could

procure.

The Secretary has informed you what was then done for their relief. Quantities of flax were given out at the same time that the Ladies exerted themselves to procure work; yet in little more than a month, all was cut and made up: the committee were obliged to extend the sum considerably.

The winter is now past; their humble dwellings, though long threatened, are not dismantled; their few necessaries, and some remnants of happier days, bright and clean, are still in their possession; cheerful spring opens upon them; trade begins to stir, and a gleam of hope breaks through the gloom, that they and their infants may yet eat their

morsels at their own firesides. HOME!

Who can tell the

full import of that word! Will not the recollection, that you have been instrumental in preserving a home to these, sweeten your every comfort, and soothe your heavy hours.

Besides the general and particular good done in the dispensation of the Society's bounty, much misery has been softened through the medium of its members, where, by its constitution, there could be no claim on its funds: a few facts will prove my assertion. An unfortunate French lady, who, with one infant, had escaped the last massacre at St. Domingo, was brought to New York, and placed by the captain of the vessel, in a low boarding-house. She had been nine weeks in this city, unknown and unknowing; had sold some valuable trinkets, and pawned her watch to pay her board, when she was found by one of the Managers of this Society. Mrs. Hoffman visited her, and by the means of her numerous acquaintance, sought out her countrymen, ascertaining her history,, character, and circumstances, and raised by subscription two hundred dollars; furnished her with decent clothing suitable to the climate, and she is now in a comfortable situation.

On every hand, and all around, groans human misery; and Hope, the last to desert the wretched, points from every quarter her votaries to this Society.

Mrs. C, a person of most interesting character, and of a superior mind, not only an unfortunate, but an injured person, without hopes of redress, broken in spirits, and broken in health-was reduced, with her only child, to seek an asylum in the Alms-House; her story was related to this Society. Mrs. Hammond, one of the Managers, took her into her own family, and nursed her with the greatest tenderness for many weeks; but health did not return. Her only chance for life was her native air, (Ireland,) and

she had there relations capable of supporting her. Mrs. R-, another of the Society's Managers, set her face to the arduous task of raising a subscription to defray their expenses home. She succeeded not only to procure a passage for her and her child, but in the cabin, furnished with every necessary, and even with delicacies.

Mrs. R—, one of the Society's widows, and her daughter, were ill of the yellow fever at the same time, in the same room, and in the same bed: the girl died, and by the rude hands of the hearse-driver, was put in a coffin before the mother's eye, and carried out. The mother became distracted to that degree, that she was obliged to be carried to the hospital, and confined in one of the cells. While in her own house, every effort had been made to alleviate her distress, and restore her. She was now given up to another Benevolent Society, where to intrude might be deemed improper. Was she then deserted? Did no friendly voice salute her ear in her solitary cell? Was no attempt made to turn her visionary flights of despair into this soothing channel of hope? Yes, Ladies, yes; Mrs. S-, her neighbour, acted in concert with Mrs. Mills, her Manager, and visited her often; both exerted their utmost ingenuity to prepare for her clothing of such a texture and make, as should elude her attempts to tear them. The last time I saw her was in the month of December: the ground was covered with snow, and the air was piercing cold. When the keeper opened the door of her cell, I held out my handbut such a hand grasped mine-that clay will not be colder, when laid on its last bed. She flew past me to the fire: urged by instinct, though deserted by reason. She asked Mrs. S― for her dead child, and her home to live in her yard. thus to harrow up your feelings.

begged she would take But it is not necessary I left her, convinced that

she could never recover there, and without a hope of bettering her situation. Not so the dear Ladies I have named; they rested not until they had provided a place, a nurse to attend her, and every comfort her situation could admit of. She had been five weeks in the Hospital, when she was removed; fifteen weeks she was at private board; during which time she recovered daily. She is now at her own home, in the bosom of her family, perfectly restored to reason, and recovering health daily.

Let us now turn to a brighter scene; for the God of providence has not withheld from us our pleasant things. Every year he opens some new channel of usefulness, and hearts expand to embrace the opportunity. The Society has always been industrious in filling up every vacancy in the different Charity Schools, and has a great number provided among them, whose parents were members of no church; still a very great number remained without the means of education. Idleness is the mother of vice, and the Society had reason to apprehend, and indeed to observe, that many were already initiated; and to fear that many more would, before its funds were in a situation to prevent it. But our gracious God, who has well verified his promise," Ask and ye shall receive," appeared in this also; and our dear Mrs. Hoffman, whose labours, this winter, have been indefatigable, was made the honoured instrument. She collected seventy dollars for the express purpose of supporting a school: and, emboldened by this unremitting success, and presuming on the continued benefaction of the public, the Society placed twenty-two children at school, fourteen with Mrs. L-, and eight with Mrs. C-. They are both the Society's widows, so that a double end is gained.

Some members of the Society, conversing on the subject, were expressing their thankfulness for this provision, indulging their hopes, and sometimes their fears, respecting those still unprovided for, when a young Lady in the company made the following proposal, That herself, and as many more as should find their hearts so disposed, should associate for the purpose of teaching a select number of little girls, a certain number of hours every forenoon. The patroness of the school was fired with zeal, and remitted not her exertions till she had obtained the end. On Saturday, the 17th of February, thirty young Ladies had given in their names, and met Mrs. Hoffman and myself at Mr. Ogden Hoffman's, Wall-street, for the purpose of being organized.

What a sight! From families, in rank the first in the city, in the very bloom of life, and full of its prospects, engaged in those amusements, which fascinate and engross the mind, tending in general to shut out every idea unconnected with self! A society of young Ladies, in these circumstances, coming forward, and offering their own personal services to snatch these little innocents from idleness, ignorance, and vice-to teach them to know their Father, God; to tell them of a Saviour's love; to point out the example he set, the precepts he recorded for their observance, and his promises for their comfort; and by teaching them to read, to enable them to retrace all their instructions, when their eyes should see them no more: this, indeed, is a labour of love, as superior to the institution which gave it birth, as the interest of the soul is to that of the body.

Let us, Ladies, yield the palm of excellence, and give them the praise. Many daughters have done virtuously,