ren in the city, and the country. And, let me appeal in their behalf to all in the city and the country who feel the ties of a common nature with those around them. I could call upon the prospered parents who are happy, and upon those who are unhappy, in their children. I would call upon the latter by their fears and by their sufferings, and upon the former by all which they enjoy in the immediate virtue and in the cheering hopes of their offspring, to look with sympathy and pity upon the exposed children of the poor; and now to select one, and now another, whom it shall be their aim and resolute endeavor, to bring to instruction and to virtue, and thus to save from crime and ruin. I would call upon those who have but just started in the career of manhood, — upon young men, who have but just begun to act for themselves, each to signalize the beginning of his course,I mean not in the eye of the world, but of his own heart, and of his Maker, —by recovering, and preparing for a life of usefulness, some child who is wringing his, or her mother's heart with sorrow; or, some one who has not a parent to care for his or her condition, and who, without the interposition of a christian friend, will soon, perhaps, be beyond the reach of this best exercise of human benevolence. No young man, who shall thus have been the instrument of saving a single child, will, through his life, find his heart closed against the appeals of human suffering. I would call upon benevolent wives and mothers, to take into their especial charge the exposed female children, who, if not soon brought under the influence of christian judgment and affection, will soon be carried to the utmost extreme of human guilt, and obduracy and debasement. I would call, too, with all possible respect, upon our civil authorities, and upon the ministers of religion, both in the city and the country; and implore their care for those, who, them

selves ignorant, inexperienced, reckless, are pursuing the way to their own destruction, either because they have no one to guide them in the way in which they should go, or because they will not submit to parental control. There are such children in the country, as well as in the city; and many such there will continue to be, till, by a wider sense of christian obligations in regard to them, and a consequent more active christian care of them, a wiser and better generation shall be produced than is now upon the stage. And how, indeed, is this better generation to be produced, but through this salvation of the young? And how is this salvation to be accomplished, but through the sympathies and the energies of christian benevolence in those who have but to resolve, with God's blessing, that it shall be attained, and it will be obtained? Here is a field for the labors of christian charity, where good to an incalculable extent may be done, at little or no expense, but of time and of affection; and where a good may be achieved, eternal at once to him or her who does it, and to him or her for whom it is done. In one word, I would say to all who wish to do good, whether they have much or little to give to those who are in want, to all who would, if they could, be benefactors of their generation, determine and strive, to save at least one truant, one vagrant, one vicious child, who, if no friendly, no christian hand be stretched out for his or her deliverance, will fall into the abyss either of pauperism or of crime. Place and keep one child in school, who would not otherwise be there. Be instead of a parent to one child, who would otherwise be without a protector. Be the coadjutor of

at least one parent, who otherwise could not provide for the instruction of his or her children. Seek the satisfaction of seeing at least one child of the poor, who

might otherwise have travelled to death in the ways of sin, walking, through your guidance and care and encouragement, in the paths of virtue, usefulness, and happiness. I know of no good of earth and time which is greater than this. And could I obtain the ear of those who have fortune, and leisure, and all the means of being the greatest benefactors of their race, and who are yet doing little or nothing to improve the character and condition of those below them, I would say to them, you know not what means of personal good and happiness you are disregarding, while you neglect your opportunities to save one and another of those, who are perishing from the want of that very care and kindness, which you might so easily extend to them. A recurrence to your agency in this unostentatious work of christian benevolence, will bring more gladness to your heart in the prospect of death, than a remembrance of all your worldly success. And in the feeling that you

have thus been instrumental to the salvation of one of these little ones, you will have a richer treasure when you shall stand before God, than if, having lived only for yourself, you had possessed the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.

My visits, during the past year, have been divided between four hundred and eightyfive families. My connexion with a large number of these families has, however, been of short duration. I have been called to some of them for services which were soon rendered, and which did not require a continuance of my visits to them; and from some of them I have been separated by their removal, I have not known where. This last is a cause of separation from many families, with whom I should gladly continue my connexion. I have known one family which has removed twentytwo times in a year.

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REPORT OF THE MINISTER AT LARGE

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But the number is great also of those who are as permanently in my pastoral charge, as the members of a religious congregation are in the charge of their minister. Nor can I doubt whether my ministry is greatly useful to a very large number of those with whom I am connected in it. To the last five years which I have devoted to this service, I look back as beyond comparison the best years of my life; and for the happiness of these years, I would forever ascribe thanksgivings to Him, who has granted me the privileges of this ministry. To the benefactors of my poors' purse I return all I can, my hearty gratitude; and I beseech them for a continuance of their kindness. It has relieved, and it has saved, from a very great amount of suffering; and I believe has been conducive as well to the cause of virtue, as to the increase of comfort among the poor. I am, however, far more solicitous that a due regard should be called forth among us to the cause of remedying and of preventing poverty and crime, than to the immediate and even the most pressing necessities of the poor. Every individual owes something to this cause, and every one should feel that he has something to do for it. May God awaken us all to a sense of our true interest and duty in respect to it! Let us be faithful to the means he has given us of correcting and repressing these evils, and as surely as it is not his will that sin and misery shall triumph in our world, so surely will he not withhold his blessing from our ardent desires and persevering efforts for the cause of humanity and christian virtue, of human improvement and happiness.

Respectfully,

JOSEPH TUCKERMAN.

NOVEMBER 15, 1831.