TO THE HONOURABLE CADWALLADER D. COLDEN, PRESIDENT,

AND THE GENTLEMEN COMPOSING

The Board of Directors

OF THE

HOUSE OF REFUGE,

FOR THE REFORMATION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS,

This Discourse

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,

BY JOHN STANFORD.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE HOUSE OF REFUGE owes his origin to the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism in the City of New-York :-a voluntary association, formed by a number of citizens for the purpose of tracing the evils of poverty to their actual sources, and of suggesting and urging such remedies as might be deemed practicable, for a certain portion of those evils.

The results of the investigations and deliberations of this Society, were given to the public in several successive annual and special reports, which excited among the benevolent citizens of the metropolis no inconsiderable share of solicitude that the city might avail itself of those suggestions; inasmuch as it was plainly perceived, that without some energetic efforts to arrest the progress of vice and its attendant poverty, the burthen of the city for the maintenance of its poor would increase to an alarming degree. Among those evils, the subject of juvenile delinquency presented itself to the Society in a formidable shape. The report on that subject, detailing the nature and amount of the evil, and proposing an establishment, separate from the City and State Prisons, for the confinement and reformation of juvenile criminals and vagrant youth, elicited so much cordiality of feeling, that the sum of $15,000 was promptly subscribed by the citizens, and a special Society formed, for carrying the plan into operation. These objects have been so fully approved by the Governor and Legislature, that the Society has been incorporated, and a legislative provision made for its support, which. with the liberality of the citizens, will, it is presumed, prove sufficient to secure its continuance and prosperity. The Institution was opened on the first of January, 1825, with nine Subjects, sentenced by the police to the controul of the Society. The

number at the present time, (July, 1826,) is, viz. 94 boys, and 24 girls. When the buildings which are now in progress shall have been completed, the Institution will accommodate 140 boys, and 70 girls.

Four hours of each working day are devoted to literary instruction; and the remainder, with the exception of meals, and a moderate portion of time for relaxation, to the work shops.

The managers are abundantly encouraged, from the success already obtained, to hope for extensive usefulness in the reformatory influence of the Institution, over the minds and characters of its subjects: most of whom, without such a timely agency, vould in all probability be led, by the force of corrupt associations into habits of deep and irretrievable criminality.

DISCOURSE.

EXODUS II. 9.

Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.

IT has frequently been asserted, that when a child is destined for some eminent station and usefulness in life, its birth is usually accompanied with some strong marks of distinction. This certainly was the case with Moses, who was designated by the Almighty to be the deliverer of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt; and afterwards to become their Lawgiver, Prophet, and General through the wilderness to inherit the land of Canaan. About the 320th year of the Hebrew captivity, it is said, There arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. Which, I presume, is not to be understood, that he was ignorant such a person had lived in Egypt, was raised from obscurity to dignity, and preserved multitudes alive amidst the ravages of famine: but, that he had no esteem for him, because he was an Hebrew; and therefore cultivated an implacable enmity to Joseph's brethren, who had so exceedingly increased that it alarmed his fears for the safety of his kingdom. This excited his cruelty to lay unjustifiable burdens upon this people; but the more

The afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew. Disappointed in this measure, he commanded, that when the Hebrew women should bring forth their male children, the midwives should destroy them in their birth. In this also the king was disappointed; for, to the humanity and honour of those females it is said, the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive ; and then made an excuse for their conduct. This so exasperated the king, that, he charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.-Cruel wretch, in the character of a king! his edicts are here recorded as perpetual brands of his infamy.

At this time lived Amram and Jochebed, two pious Israelites of the tribe of Levi. God had already blessed them with a son whose name was Aaron, and a daughter called Miriam. Now, a third child is added to the number; it was a son of a beautiful countenance, and excited the most ardent affections of his parents. But, the edict! the cruel mandate of Pharoah, which sentenced the lovely child to death in the waters of the Nile, overwhelmed them with sorrow. The fond parents determined to conceal the infant as long as possible, and retained it within their arms for three months, but could do so no longer. God, who foresees all events, to accomplish his own purposes, no doubt dictated to the mother the expedient of making an Ark, or close basket of bulrushes; and it is said, she daubed it with slime and with pitch, to keep out the water. Into this ark, she laid her tender in