For

Of us outcaft, exit'd, his new delight,

I

Mankind, created" MILTON's Par. Loft. N the Phyfical World, however irregular the operations may appear to a fuperficial obferver, they uniformly correspond in caufe and effect. In the Moral World likewise, individual circumstances may occur, which Philofophy may not explain; and apparent inconfiftencies may be prefented, which Reafon cannot immediately reconcile; but in contemplating the aggregate-the intellectual powers, the various paffions, and different allotments of man, a luminous order is exhibited, and a confiftent harmony is difcovered.

Some, indeed, under every precaution, become liable to mental and corporeal afflictions, whilft others enjoy the flow of fpirits, and the perfection of bodily health; fome are rich and liberal, many more are poor and distressed; and multitudes appear as the mere outcafts of the community; but these immense diftinctions amalgamate to mutual gratification and happiness. Under the vifitation of fickness, the folaces of. fympathy, and the fenfibilities of affection, are generated. To alleviate poverty, the protection and liberality of the rich are extended; hence is excited gratitude on one fide; and fentiments of humanity enrich the other. Thus, from apparent incongruity refult those feel ings which elevate human nature, and dignify character.

It is almoft proverbial, that "it is better to give than to receive;" but this does not infer that one is more pleasurable than the other; for, what conveys to the mind more pleafing fenfations than heartfelt gratitude towards the friend of genuine and unaffuming beneficence? The pleasure of the donor must arife more from a sense of gratitude to "the Giver of all good," who enabled him to exercife beneficence, than from the mere reflection of relieving a fellow-creature. In both inftances, gratitude is the foothing and fenfitive paffion of the mind.

It is not, I truft, prefumptuous in this place to fuggeft, that the Author of the Chriftian Religion feemed defirous of impreffing fentiments of this nature upon every heart, from the frequent examples he afforded of kindness to OurCASTS of every degree. The beautiful and animated allufions to their forlorn ftate upon numerous occafions, and the folicitude he expreffed to have them reftored to the rank and character from whence they had fallen, muft imprefs every Philanthropist and Christian with the importance of a Society eftablifhed for their restoration.

When Jefus had his firft interview with Matthew, he condefcended to accompany him to his houfe, and take a feat at his table, when feveral publicans and perfons of immoral character happened to come in, who fat down and eat with him and his difciples: which the Pharifces obferving, "Why, faid they to his difciples, is your mafter fo familiar with publicans and perfons of immoral character ?" To which Jefus aptly replied, "Those who are in health do not require a

phyfician,

phyfician, but those who are fick; for I am not come to call Saints, but finners*."

66

This gracious fentiment is illuftrated by him in numerous inftances, but perhaps none more forcibly than where he obferves, that, if a man have an hundred theep, and one of them thould go aftray,, do you not think he would leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go to fearch for that which was gone aftray? And if he happen to find it, he would certainly be more gratified by the reftoration of that one, than by the fecurity of the ninety and nine which went not aftray. In like manner, your heavenly Father would not that any perfon fo fituated fhould be lott." He farther declares, that "there fhall likewife be greater joy in heaven for one finner that repenteth, than for ninetynine juft perfons that need no repentance.'

An establishment for the employment and reftoration of OUTCASTS affords a profpect highly gratifying and important in political and economical points of view; and its practicability is. demonftrable from the examples introduced in the following letter; and indeed, from the general and uniform refult of private and individual induftry, it must be obvious, that if labour maintain a family, not only to provide for all the immediate neceffaries of life, but likewife to pay for rent; when, therefore, a house or afylum is gratuitously provided for the employment of Outcafts, the product of labour ought to exceed the expences of the ettablishment; and, even after likewife difcharging the intereft of the principal which the building might have required, a faving on the average of productive labour ought to refult proportionably to that of the private individual; and this surplus might con

* If this, and the fubfequent, quotation are not the exact words of the prefent tranflation, they are analagous to the original, in Matthew ix. 9-13:

ftitute a fund to be appropriated in rewarding Industry, or promoting Virtue.

Without fuch an establishment, or of adequate means of employing the indolent and Outcaft, principles the moft baneful to fociety will be formed; the injuries to the commuuity from fuch individuals, who increase confumption without adding to product, are augmented by the influence of vicious example upon others; and thus the aggregate lofs to the community must be manifold. But were the plan alluded to, of fyftematically employing fuch OUTCASTS, and initiating them into habits of indufry, fully established, a pleafing counterpart would neceffarily refult; which is fo fully demonftrated by my friend NEILD, that with pleasure the sentiments of a man whofe ftudy is the promotion of public and private good are here introduced by

JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM.

To Dr. LETTSOM!,

My dear Sir, Chelsea, Aug.27,1804. In one of my former letters I mentioned having received from the Rev. Mr. Whitaker a propofal for establishing an ASYLUM for OUTCASTS. I will now make a few remarks upon what I conceive to be of national utility, and, and religious inftruction, might be the accompanied by well-regulated labour means of reforming the individuals, and inuring them to habits of indufiry.

The common misfortune of public punishment is, that few perfons will receive either man or woman out of a gaol into any fervice or employment whatever; but for which, I prefume, this afylum is meant to provide.

Reformation of prifoners in gaol apnual Reports; which fiate, that, upon pears practicable, by the Dorchester anan enquiry made into the characters of all the Dorfetfhire prifoners on charges of felony, during a period of 14 years, it appears that, out of 393 of both fexes, there have been 242 reclaimed, maintaining themselves by honeft induftry. As much, I have no doubt, might be faid of the excellently-wellregulated gaol of Gloucefter, were its enquiries and Reports published annually. Both thefe prifons are provided

with proper places of feclufion, to difpofe the mind to penitence, and produce a lafting alteration in the principles of the prifoner. Dr. Paley very juftly obferves, "as averfion to labour is the caufe from which half of the vices of low life deduce their origin and continuance, punishments ought to be contrived with a view to the conquering of this difpofition." Few prifons are better confiructed for this purpofe than thofe above mentioned; none under better regulations, or more frequently vifited by their refpective magifirates.

I will fubjoin to this letter extracts, which I have made in my feveral tours of vifitation, from the Prifon-books, that the promoters of this intended excellent INSTITUTION may not be difcouraged in finding it for fome years unproductive, by fuppofing that the profit of the work may be equal to the expence of the afylum.

However this may appear in fpeculation, in practice it is generally found otherwife. The difference is great between involuntary labour and that which is performed, from choice. Though in its infant ftate it cannot fupport itfelf, yet, under proper regulations, it will contribute in a great meafure towards its own maintenance. At Morpeth, Hexham, and Tynemouth, the prifoner committed to hard labour is (if in health) "debarred from any other provifion or fupply; that his fubfiftence, however coarte or penurious, may be proportioned to his diligence; and that he may tafle the advantage of induftry together with the toil." Dr. Paley farther obferves, 'he would meafure the confinement not by the duration of time but by quantity of work, in order both to excite induftry and render it more voluntary.

In many prifons the County allowance is withheld from thofe who refufe to work; whilft in many, very many, prifoners eat the bread of idleness, and no employment whatever provided for those who are willing to work.

This Society for employing Outcafts, however humble in its outfet, cannot fail to waken the attention of the benevolent, and engage them to affift in fo useful an undertaking. What can be of greater confequence to a Nation, more advantageous to Society, more humane and benevolent in its nature, than to prevent the wretched from being still more fo, to reclaim the profligate and abandoned, and to reftore them as ufeful members to the

community; to make the criminal punifhment contribute to the general good of the publick?

The learned writer on the principles of penal law afferts (and I perfectly concur in opinion,) that "every effect of banishment, as practifed in England, is often beneficial to the criminal, and always injurious to the community." He eftimates, that the number of perfons for whom fome mode of restraint and punishment, in lieu of transportation, must be provided, may be eftimated at 1000 annually.

The average number of prifoners in the Houfe of Correction at Prefton, in Lancashire, from October 7, 1801, to October 7, 1802, together with the amount of their earnings, difburfements, and fums paid to the treasurer for that time, as prefented to the Bench of Magiftrates affembled at the quarterfeflions held at Prelion Court-house:Average number of prisoners, 155; total earnings, 1801. 14s.; difburfe ments, 3351. 13s. 8d.; fum paid to the treasurer, 9661. 05. 3d.

Bodmin Bridewell, from £. s. d. Oct. 1802 to Oct. 1803 117 8 0 Chelinsford, from Jan. 1800 to Jan. 1803 (clear profit to the county) Chefter, from April 1803 to April 1804 (manufactory just established) Worcester Gaol, 1796 to

1804

223

8 9

43 5 7

592 0 9 Worcester Houfe of Correction, 1796 to 1804 525 16 3 Manchester, 1801to1802 812 0 0 (The average earnings in this prifon is 9d. per day, the expence of maintenance, 6d.).

Lancafter, from June 1801 to June 1802

One-third of this fum was paid to the prifoners for their fhare of earnings; and, after deducting every expence attending the manufactory, the county treafurer received

675 7 112

287 19 Stafford Gaol and Houfe of Correction from Michaelmas 1801 to Michaelmas 1802:

County allowance of food 293 10 9 Deduct the allowance from Government to convicts under fentence of transportation

Carried over

55 15 0

237 15 9 Brought