NOTICE. Mr Tuckerman began his ministry for the poor in Boston on the 5th of November, 1826. Four quarterly reports were printed in the first year of his ministry, and six semiannual reports have since been published. The general topics of the preceding semiannual reports have been,—The importance of a permanent ministry for the poor of cities; and of the employment of a sufficient number in this ministry, to secure a moral charge of the families, which cannot be brought under the pastoral care of the ministers of the churches of any city.' 'The qualifications to be required in ministers for the poor.' -The claims and benefits of this ministry; and, the wages given to the poor.'- -The causes of the number of the poor in Boston, and the means which will be most effectual for relieving their wants.'--The classes and conditions of the poor; the kinds and degrees of poverty.' -And, 'The tendency of cities to an accumulation of poverty and vice; and the importance of an enlightened public sentiment on this subject, as the best means by which to remedy, and to prevent, the growth of these evils.' The subject of poverty, in these reports, has been treated with a particular reference to Boston. But it is believed, that a more than usual interest is now felt in many parts of our country upon all the questions which relate to poverty and crime; and, under this conviction, it is thought that Mr Tuckerman's reports may be acceptable beyond the limits of our city. The Executive Committee of the American Unitarian Association have therefore determined, in future to publish these reports as parts of their first series of tracts. Though the objects of Mr Tuckerman's ministry are of a local character, yet as this ministry is under the patronage of the Association, it is thought that it will not be improper to avail ourselves of this means of calling forth a more extended and active sympathy, in the cause of improving the character and condition of the less prospered classes of our fellow beings. REPORT. To the Executive Committee of the AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION. GENTLEMEN,In my last Report, I spoke of the intellectually and morally neglected children in our city. I classed these children; and suggested the measures by which, as I believe, nearly the whole of them may be rescued from impending ruin. This topic is so very important, that I hope you will patiently bear with me while I again call your attention to it. My wish is, in this Report, to attempt to show, that the most active and extensively influential of the causes to which abject poverty and crime are to be ascribed, lie not only near, and under the very eye of every individual, but that they are, above all others, within the influence of the means which God has given us, of securing the order, and of advancing the improvement and happiness of society. The causes to which I refer consist of those circumstances, the direct tendency of which is to vitiate and to corrupt the young. I know full well that there are instances of crime, and of poverty growing out of crime, the particular causes of which were not developed during the season of youth. But I am quite satisfied that far the greatest part of the abject poverty, and of the recklessness in crime, which people either our prisons or alms-houses, or which is seen in our streets, or which gives insecurity to property and happiness in society, may be followed back to causes, which showed themselves most distinctly within the first fifteen or twenty years of life, and generally at a much earlier season; to causes which, at that period, are within our power, as those which lie beyond these limits are not. It is true, and ought to be known, and to be reiterated till it shall be felt, that if we were faithful to the means we have of healing the waters of society here, the amount of abject want, and of unprincipled and hopeless obduracy which would remain, would be so small, that we might dispense with more than half of our prisons and alms-houses, and yet find ample accommodations in those we should still have, for all the paupers and criminals for whom it would be necessary to make these provisions. The inquiry, then, is of paramount interest, what are those circumstances, the tendency of which upon the young who are brought under their influences, almost necessarily is their immediate moral corruption, and their subsequent poverty and crime? In answering this inquiry, I must go into some minuteness of detail. I reply, the first is, the want of an education, both intellectual and moral, which would dispose and qualify them for apprenticeship at some useful employment. The second is, the want of regular and useful employment, from the age of fourteen, or fifteen, to that of twentyone years. This is an evil, which extends to |