spinning and weaving; and the second, which has greatly occupied my mind, is, a colony, somewhat on the plan of the one in the north of Holland. One on principles yet more simple than even that establishment, might, I apprehend, be formed with ease, in a district of this country, and while it might be made to pay the interest of the capital advanced, might furnish every family in the establishment with the means of comparative prosperity, and healthful occupation.

"Limerick, 2nd mo. 28th. "I believe it will be seen more and more clearly that the prosperity of a whole nation must ever be greatly dependent on the welfare of the labouring class. The prosperity of the manufacturer, or merchant, must rise or fall with the demand for the productions of the labourer, and so must it be also with the proprietors of land. But how will the most extensive and permanent demand be created ? Will it not be by the labouring-classes being themselves in a state above wretchedness and want, a state in which this extensive portion of the community partake, in a healthful and reasonable degree, of the productions of industry, and thus cause an ample and steady demand, with regard to both trade and agriculture. These observations are far from being new to many who have been accustomed to reflect, and to acknowledge that we are children of the same Almighty Parent.

"People have indulged themselves in the vain plea that luxury is good for society,-that it furnishes employment for the poor, and promotes their prosperity. Yet let it be fairly considered whether we may not, in renouncing many super

fluous appendages to a state of competency, which serve no better purpose than to indulge a love of display, and mere selfish gratification,-whether we may not in renouncing these, obtain an increase of power, and come forward to the help of suffering humanity, by promoting the advancement of the poor from a state of misery and degradation, and thus furnishing ample resources for their employment, unaccompanied by the train of evils that ever have been, and ever must be attendant on habits of luxury The unfeeling neglect which luxurious habits have a natural tendency to induce, the hard exactions which luxury demands to supply its own claims, will narrow up the mind in providing for selfish indulgences, whilst the reasonable claims of the labourer, who toils for the supply of these demands are too often slighted, as if unworthy the trouble of thought, or of calculation.

"What I have seen and felt in this country has greatly confirmed my attachment to the solid and salutary principles of our Christian profession. I am deeply convinced that what the world wants for its recovery from the miseries with which it has been afflicted is the prevalence of Christian principles and Christian practice :-the truth, the sincerity, the moderation, the peace, benevolence and love which the Redeemer of the world would lead his people into, were the precious influences of His Spirit but suffered to have their full ascendency in our minds, and His government to prevail."

"4th mo. 3rd. I left Limerick about three weeks ago, accompanied by a friend. At different towns we met committees. The first was at Tipperary, where we staid a day with

a

medical man of benevolent and estimable principles. We had interesting conversation with him on the subject of religious instruction in schools, without sectarianism or proselytism. He is very solicitous for right care in education, and to avoid injudicious proceedings from parties. He wishes much that my two little books of Scripture Selections and Questions may obtain the approbation of the Roman Catholic clergy, as a book of religious instruction for the Free-schools. I have had conversation with the Roman Catholic bishops of Limerick and Clare on the subject of the education of the poor, to satisfaction. Lady O'Brien proposed to me to present the bishop of Clare with the Scripture Selections, which I did, and he has expressed his full approbation of them. The bishop of Limerick, on looking over them, said they appeared to him to be just what was wanted for the public schools. In a neighbouring village some young persons had shown to the priest these books, and he had approved their introduction into a new school of Roman Catholic children. the people here can be induced to adopt a system of religious instruction from the Scriptures, and not insist upon their own peculiar catechisms,either Protestant or Catholic,-but leave these for the different classes of teachers at other times and elsewhere, a very important point will be gained.

If

"A letter has lately been received from Dr. Chalmers on the present associations in Ireland, which he thinks likely to do good, yet he dwells on the localizing system, or thorough cultivation of one small district. This plan I think admirable in itself, yet it wants also the organization of a more extensive scheme to have its benefits widely

diffused. The minds of people in England, Scotland, and Ireland are so much awake to the subject of the best means of improvement for the people at large, that I trust the truth will eventually be more fully known and pursued. I believe that even the collision of sentiment will be the means of eliciting truth, if only people will be patient with each other, and pursue their important object in the spirit of solid and thoughtful enquiry, and not in the pharisaical feeling which trusts in itself and despises others.

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In the various committees we visited we expressed our sentiments on the importance of a right direction of benevolence in inciting the poor to become the agents of their own improvement, and for this purpose to put them in the way of employment.

"I can fully accord with the idea that the influence of circumstances on the conduct and character of individuals ought to be a strong inducement to all who have power to render the circumstances of both children and others as favourable for the cultivation of good feeling and good conduct as possible; yet man is a free agent still, and in a certain degree must be the former of his own character, so far as that can be done by yielding the mind to the influence of that which is good, or neglecting or resisting it.

Were the state of the poor more generally inquired into, and their disadvantages from lack of real Christian instruction in early life considered and deeply felt, many things would be remedied by greater care. There is a serious responsibility attached to those who will not feel but for themselves, or who shrink from going into the wilderness

after that which is in danger of being lost. How precious is the example of our Redeemer in His pity towards the publicans and sinners, and in His will to heal all manner of sicknesses and all manner of diseases."

On her return from Ireland, Hannah Kilham presented a report to the Committee of the British and Irish Ladies' Society, from which the following is extracted :—

"In acknowledging your kind proposal that I should convey, in writing, some account of my late visit to the south and west of Ireland, I feel aware that I am solely indebted to your candour and indulgence, in so far uniting with a proceeding merely voluntary; and which had nothing official in its character, by which it might be recommended to your notice.

Having earnestly desired the opportunity of forming a judgment of the state of the Irish peasantry from actual observation, and well assured that my friends, in Ireland, would kindly aid my inquiries, on a subject on which they had (I knew) felt long and deeply interested, I concluded to pass a few months of the winter in and near the province of Munster, and to visit some of the abodes of the peasantry, both in the cities, and in the more thinly-peopled districts.

"The time thus engaged was, from about the end of the year, until the 5th month, (May,) during which I visited parts of each of the counties in Munster, excepting Kerry, and a few places in Leinster. A little time was spent in Dublin, both on landing, and previous to my return to England.