nation, and been the blessed means of relieving thousands in extreme distress and misery, of which, in this highly favoured country, it is scarcely possible to form an adequate idea. Hundreds on the verge of the grave, through actual famine, have been rescued from the horrors of starvation, and impending death. Independent of this beneficent result, those succours produced, according to the testimony of Dr. Howe, an important moral effect upon the nation:

"They were spread far and wide, not only among those in large towns and on the sea-coast, but penetrated into the interior, and were partaken of by thousands of those wretches who had escaped the massacre, and fled from their burning villages to the caves of the mountains. Even those who did not partake, were cheered in their misery by the thought that their sufferings were known and commiserated, and that they were considered worthy of having the hand of charity stretched out to them, across the globe. This wide-spreading feeling encouraged the people to persist in their noble cause -nor was it unaccompanied by gratitude to the donors. Thousands who had never heard of the name of America, learned to pronounce it for the first time with blessings—and Greece will never forget the kindness done her in her hour of necessity."

It ought to be distinctly understood, that although the battle of Navarino rescued the Greeks from the most horrible slavery, and probably the greater portion of them from extermination, which, judging from the ferocity of the Turks and Egyptians at Scio, Cyprus, Missolonghi, and elsewhere, would probably have been their fate; their sufferings at present for want of shelter, of food, and of clothing, are as awful as ever, and will continue for some time to come. Therefore, whatever sympathy or aid their case called for last year, is equally required at present. And it is highly honourable to the nation, and indeed to human nature, that their calamitous situation has aroused anew the generous feelings of the citizens of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, where contributions are raising on a liberal scale. The ladies, always conspicuous in works of mercy,* most honourably distinguish themselves on this occasion, particularly in the city of New York. It is hoped Pennsylvania will not allow herself to be outdor in this noble career; and that the ladies of Philadelphia will do themselves the high honour of exerting their benignant influence in favour of this interesting people. The committee

* The ladies of Baltimore are entitled to high commendation for their noble efforts in this cause last year. They raised about $2000 in a few days, by the sale of a great variety of articles produced by themselves

make no doubt there are thousands of our citizens, who from various causes, have not yet contributed towards the Greek fund, but who are as liberally disposed as those who have. They therefore earnestly recommend the renewal of a general subscription through the state-and respectfully suggest, that the appointment of a new committee, after the plan adopted in New York, would probably secure that degree of increased zeal which usually characterizes new recruits in public undertakings. A strong belief that this would produce salutary results is the sole reason for the suggestion.

They conclude with offering their most fervent prayers to heaven, to shower down its choicest blessings on those humane and benevolent individuals, whose agents they have been in this pious work of feeding the hungry-clothing the naked-and comforting the comfortless-that it may inspire to new exertions in this humane course-prosper the efforts of this brave and oppressed nation, in its perilous struggles-and finally render it fit to assume a rank among the family of nations, not unworthy of the descendants of Miltiades, Thrasybulus, Pelopidas, Timoleon, Themistocles, and Epaminondas. Philadelphia, April 2, 1828.

P. S.-The amount of the contributions in this state to the present time, has been in cash

In provisions of various kinds, clothing, medicines, surgical instruments, &c.

$24,056 71

1,429 11

$25,485 82

$23,700 00

1,785 00

Thoughts on Infant Schools, respectfully submitted to the Liberal and Humane of both Sexes.

Philadelphia, June 18, 1827.

A large portion of the poorer classes of society, male and female, particularly the former, are obliged to leave their homes daily, to labour for support in the houses of those by whom they are employed. When thus absent, their children, as soon as able to walk, spend the chief part of their time prowling about

the streets-a seminary, where it would be almost miraculous, if they did not imbibe the seeds of every species of vice and wickedness of which human nature is capable. These, as they progressively advance in life, germinate luxuriantly-produce copious harvests of crime, from petty larceny to highway robbery, and murder-and furnish our criminal courts and penitentiaries with the crowds which they unfortunately exhibit. This seminary, alas! does not afford the smallest chance of the acquisition of a single countervailing virtue.

The case of the children of the poor whose employments do not require them to leave their homes, though not quite so deplorable as that of those above referred to, is not very materially better. For however attentive the parents may be to their duty, however watchful over their offspring, it is impossible to restrain them from spending a large portion of their time in the streets, exposed to the same contamination as the children of the other class.

The object of the proposed plan is to lay the axe to the root of this evil, by the establishment of a school or schools, for the reception and tuition of children below six years of age, in which they will be habituated to order and regularity-taught whatever may be suitable to their capacities-inspired with correct principles-and rescued from the perilous situation in which they are placed at present. Those who have attended to the development of the faculties of children, must have observed that their susceptibility of impressions, good or evil, calculated to produce lasting effects, commences at a far earlier period, than is usually supposed. Most of the benevolent and malevolent propensities-of the virtues which adorn, of the crimes which disgrace human nature-flow from circumstances, apparently of little importance, which take place at two, three, four, or five years of age.

The salutary effects of Sunday schools, on the morals and manners of the rising generation, are acknowledged by those who were the most sceptical on the subject before their institution. This circumstance places in strong relief the beneficent results that may be expected from the establishment of infant schools; as the former redeem but one day in the week from the allurements of vice and crime-whereas, the latter redeem the other six.

The rescue of the offspring, although the chief object, is by no means the only advantage of the proposed plan. It will

greatly relieve the parents from the waste of time and the anxiety attendant on the care of their children-it will thus increase the capacity to earn subsistence, and the comfort and happiness, of a very useful, and, let me add, in general, a very deserving class of our inhabitants. Attention to their children, although necessarily but very imperfectly afforded, must occupy important portions of the time which ought to be devoted to that labour whereon they depend for the support of themselves and families-and which, it is to be regretted, even when fully and skilfully employed, is at best but scantily remunerated! It is an appalling fact, that there are probably six or seven thousand females in this city, some brought up in affluent circumstances, whose utmost industry cannot earn more than a dollar and a quarter, or at most a dollar and a half per week,* out of which of these unfortunates have to support not only two, many three, four, or five children, but dissolute, idle husbands, some of whom not only contribute little or nothing to the support of wives or offspring, but squander the earnings of their wives. The attempt to alleviate the distresses of fellow beings thus unhappily circumstanced, cannot fail to meet the cordial approbation and zealous support of the friends of humanity.

It is too much the fashion to regard the mass of the poor as dissipated and idle-and their sufferings as the result of their vices. It is too true, that society, under whatever aspect it may be viewed, exhibits enough of vice and guilt, to humble pride, and excite commiseration. But that there is a great mass of honesty and virtue among the poor, there cannot be a doubt in the minds of those who have had a fair opportunity to

The highest price of making a soldier's shirt is only one-eighth of a dol lar-and I understand that a woman unencumbered with a family, and expert at needle-work, cannot make more than about eight or nine shirts per week, for which she receives a dollar or a dollar and an eighth per week! Other women's work is paid for in nearly the same proportion! I have this moment learned, that a washerwoman, who was employed the whole of last week, from an early hour in the morning till after sunset, received but three-quarters of a dollar, and her food, for her labour!! The extreme depression of the wages of women's labour is among the most baleful features of society. It is a great discouragement to marriage among the labouring part of our population, and of course a powerful cause of the licentiousness which that discouragement infallibly creates. Where is the justice, where the propriety, of paying five, six or seven dollars a week for male labour, and only a dollar, or a dollar and an eighth for labour similar, or nearly similar, performed by women?

decide on the subject.* And whatever superiority of virtue may exist in the middle and upper classes of society, is no more than might reasonably be expected, when we consider the advantages they possess-the good examples and the moral and intellectual cultivation most of them have had—and the restraints, which the sphere wherein they move, imposes on them. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required." On the other hand, if we weigh in an even balance the disadvantages under which the poor labour-the pressure of poverty -the want of good examples-the fascination of bad examples to which they are so much exposed-the destitution of cultivation, either moral or intellectual-instead of wondering that there is so much depravity among them, the wonder is, that there is not far more.

To sum up all. The success of this plan will diminish the sufferings of poor parents, by enabling them to employ their time to advantage-elevate the character of the rising generation of that class-save our property from depredation by larcenies and burglaries-diminish the business of our criminal courts-and in a great degree depopulate our penitentiaries. And are not these glorious objects amply sufficient to excite the benevolent to the exertions necessary to carry this grand plan into execution? What person of liberal mind, can be indifferent to the success of such a beneficent undertaking?

The smallness of the subscription, only two dollars per annum, a sum not beyond the means of a day labourer, together with the importance and benevolence of the object in view, will, it is hoped, insure an unusually large list of subscribers.

P. S. It is highly probable, if this plan be carried into immediate operation, and prove as beneficial as we have reason to expect, that the legislature at its next session, will incorporate it into the system of public schools, and thus render it, as it ought to be, a public charge.

* Among a hundred proofs which might be given of the soundness of this opinion, may be stated the fact, that there is no employment, however degrading, however destructive to health, but finds persons glad to accept it— and in most countries frequently at wages barely sufficient to support human

nature.