1 are to remember the counteracting power gained by the increased knowledge of their superiors in rank;-all other classes have gained the good to be gained by education; to impart it to this, is not to violate the proportion of the machine, but to maintain it-to be brief, these are the principles which have always guided the conductors of this charity in the long course of care, and attention, which they have paid to the education of the deserted poor, beginning at the earliest infancy, and ending as you now see it end.-Speaking for them, and thinking with them, I say, we believe, that the labour of the is founded upon their wants;-that God has commanded us to breed them up diligently in the gospel; -that the knowledge we are imparting to them, will protect them from that vice which proceeds from idleness ;—that it will 'soften the hard heart, and teach them to respect wisdom more than strength. We are encouraged by all that has been done before, for the propagation of knowledge, and we feel all that confidence which results from experience; we are convinced there is less toil in teaching duties than in punishing poor crimes;—we think we are bettering all faculties, inspiring vigorous industry, and valuable enterprise, and giving to great understandings a fair range of action. We think the more employment is simplified, the more the mind of man is degraded, and education rendered necessary, and we know that in spreading the word of God, and the mercies of Jesus Christ, we are conferring the most exalted blessings on the poor;-lastly, always, and at all times, we reject ignorance as a dangerous, and disgraceful auxi-` liary, and we say, with the great prophet, on knowledge, and on wisdom, the stability of the times shall rest. |