of the System,) that there is an evident amendment in the manners, the conduct, and the language of the Parents themselves, who not only express their gratitude for the education bestowed upon their children, but actually derive from it benefit to themselves often, perhaps, without knowing it.

In another point of view the advantages of this System are most conspicuous. The community at large is benefited by it. A greater number of its poorer members are drawn away from the contamination of evil, and not only so, but trained to the knowledge and practice of what is good. They are taught what is useful and proper for their situation in life, and nothing more; what is calculated to guard them from bad example in others, and from setting a bad example themselves; what is necessary to render them a treasure to their employers, an ornament to their station, and a blessing to their country. If the morals of the poor are improved by the inculcation of religious knowledge, and by a correcter view and deeper impression of incumbent duties, the benefits will be felt by every rank of society, and the aggregate of public usefulness and national virtue be abundantly increased. It is an opinion founded in error, that to instil right principles into the minds of the poor, and to open their understandings to a sense of religious responsibility and virtuous obligation, is prejudicial to individuals, or dangerous to the welfare of society; for it is impossible, that the knowledge and feeling of what is true and good should have any other effect, than to promote private happiness and public benefit. Every spot of ground, upon which a proper cultivation is bestowed, amply repays the cultivator for his toil. And I scarcely need remark what all know so well, that the field which is suffered to lie waste, produces only unprofitable thistles and noxious weeds.

But the great advantage of all resulting from this New System is, that it gives increased circulation to the word of Truth, and adds daily unto the Holy Church of Christ. Viewing it in this light, the Christian believer cannot but rejoice at its adoption, and offer up a fervent prayer to God that it may succeed and prosper. It is a positive prophecy, a plain declaration of Scripture, that the Religion of Christ shall grow in the world, that *" the earth shall" one day " be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Fully persuaded that this will be the case, and looking forward to an hour, which indeed I shall not see, but which will most assuredly come, I cannot but view this New System of Education as one powerful ineans to produce, under Providence, the great end that is foretold. The seed is but just sown, but much fruit has already appeared. The work is going on, and virtue, charity, and wisdom are co-operating with laudable zeal and indefatigable exertions to establish, further, and perpetuate the blessing. When we are gone to our rest, and other generations are upon the earth, the harvest of our labours will be reaped in abundance. Although the notion may be deemed visionary, and the expectation sanguine, it is not, I conceive, too much to think and hope, that the annals of future times will be less stained with crime, and the sacrifice of victims less frequently de* Isaiah, xi. 9.

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manded by the laws. Punishment for the violation of laws is necessary, but punishment, though the fear of it operates as a restraint, seldom or never produces reformation. It is a remedy that stays the mischief for a time, but effects not a permanent cure. Prevention, and that founded on religious knowledge, and on the inculcation of right feelings and early habits of useful industry, is more productive of good to society, and more serviceable to the great cause of Christian improvement in the world, than any penal laws or judicial requisitions. This prevention is one grand object of our System, and it is a feature in it, which every wellregulated judgment must approve, and which Christian Charity must contemplate with admiration.

To uphold and extend this System, which promises so wide a circulation of blessings, and which practical illustra tions have already proved, does not promise more than it can perform, is the bounden duty of every man who wishes well, not only to the poor in particular, but to the community in general; not only to this country, but to the whole world; not only to our own venerable Establishment, but to the interests of the Universal Church of Christ. It is truly satisfactory to know that the high and rich are affording not only their encouragement and their wealth to the furtherance of our great National Work, but are actually giving it the advantage of their time and labour; which they would not do, were they not fully convinced, from a knowledge of its practical effects, of the extensive benefits which it is calculated to produce. When the highest worth and first intellect of the land are actively employed in the promotion of a great design, there is every reason to think that the design is good, and worthy of general support.

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It is now my duty, a duty which it is gratifying to my feelings to perform, to apply to you for a portion of your means to enable us to carry on our Work of Charity, and disseminate the blessings of a religious, moral, and useful education; an education, that has a direct and powerful tendency to meliorate the lower classes of society, to improve their manners, to smooth the asperities of their dispositions,

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