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Then, too, whatever be the cost to be incurred, there would not be tolerated for a year among us, nor unnecessarily for a month, a prison, which is preparing the young transgressor who is sent to it, to come forth from it at least as much worse than he was at entering it, as the most experienced and willing teachers of iniquity can make him. But here, again, I must not enlarge. Suffer me only once more, in view of the admonitory lessons to which I have adverted, to address myself to the professional man, to the merchant, and to the mechanic; to all who have property, and to all who hope to have, and to enjoy it; to parents, guardians and masters; to those who respect the laws, and would maintain them; and, above all, to those who call themselves, and who would be, Christians. Whose interests are untouched by the great questions respecting poverty and crime? Who has a right to be indifferent concerning them? Who, if he will, may not contribute something to relieve the wants, and to advance the moral security, and the best good of the poor; something to stay the progress of sin; and something to save some of the rising, or the risen generation, from moral death?

In closing the fourth year of the ministry in which I am engaged, allow me to say, that I feel a gratitude and happiness which I cannot express to you, in a recurrence to the privileges with which I have been

be in the power of this superintendant, if he have the spirit of his office, to accomplish; or one, by which the vital interests of the city would be more essentially served. This office would be as properly municipal, as that of a city marshal. Would not public opinion, then, support our city authorities in establishing it?

blessed in this most interesting work. During the past year, my visits have been divided between about five hundred and fifty families. With some of them, from various causes, my acquaintance has been short. Bu even here it has furnished opportunity for useful services. With a very considerable number, however, my connexion is that of a pastor with his flock. It is a connexion of christian respect, and sympathy, and affection. They would neither remove, nor would any event important to their happiness befall them, without my knowledge. The relation we sustain to each other, and the mutual influences exerted by it, are, I think, of the most benignant and salutary character. I am sure that it is as grateful to my own heart, as it can be to the hearts even of those who most highly appreciate it. Should the ministers engaged in this service ever be willing to divide the city into districts, and thus to narrow the circle of their labors, I believe that nearly double the amount of good might be done by each one of them. Many families are without a pastor, which, with no other agent than we now have in this work, might, I believe, obtain all the benefits of a regular pastoral care.

To the benefactors of my poor purse I renew my best thanks. They are not less my own, than the benefactors of those whom I serve. May the blessings of those who have been ready to perish come upon them; and ten thousand fold be repaid into their bosoms, for all their christian kindness to their suffering fellow beings! Respectfully,

JOSEPH TUCKERMAN.

November 5th, 1830.

MR TUCKERMAN'S

SEVENTH SEMIANNUAL REPORT

OF HIS SERVICE AS A

MINISTER AT LARGE IN BOSTON.

PRINTED FOR THE

American Unitarian Association.

BOSTON:

GRAY AND BOWEN, 141 WASHINGTON STREET.

JUNE, 1831.

Price 5 Cents.

'The most effectual way to check the growth of great offences, is, to check the growth of little ones.'-London Quarterly Review, January, 1831.

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The experiment made of the Institution for the reformation of Juvenile Offenders, under the admirable system of discipline and education adopted by the highly gifted and benevolent Principal of the House, is most encouraging; and leaves nothing to regret, but the want of means to extend its usefulness. To provide these, and thus to rescue from crime and ruin the unfortunate objects who might there find an asylum, would be an occupation at all times worthy of the persevering attention of the city government'.-Address of the Mayor to the City Council of Boston, on the 3d of January, 1831.

'The best penitentiary institution which was ever devised by the art, and established by the beneficence of man, is, in all probability, the House for the reformation of Juvenile Delinquents.'-Governor Clinton's Message to the New York Legislature.

'It is a rare occurrence indeed to find persons of cultivated minds in an Alms-House.'-Report of the Commissioners of the New York Alms-House, September, 1830.

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