more, as well as for the city, if they had sought elsewhere for the means of supporting themselves, which, for a considerable time yet to come, they will find it difficult to obtain here. While considering, therefore, how we may most wisely minister to those, whose wants we cannot disregard, and whose sufferings it is our duty to relieve, an enlarged view of the interests of the poor, as well as of those of their benefactors, requires of us that we take good heed, in a time of more than ordinary demand for charity, that we do not adopt any measures, which will enlarge and perpetuate the evil of an excessive poor population. Will it not be well, then, first to look at the causes to which are to be ascribed the large number of the poor which we have among us? I will but glance at two of the most obvious of them.

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The first of these causes is, the great demand for laborers which has been kept up for some years past among us, principally, perhaps, in consequence of the new direction which was given to the employment of capital, by the checks and embarrassments that were experienced in its employment in commerce. We have had a very large amount of disposable capital in our city, and at least a proportionally active spirit of enterprise. It has not therefore been difficult to obtain credit, where any new enterprise opened a tolerably fair prospect of success. this state of things, our capital, instead of being sent abroad, has been spread over the land; partly, in the establishment of manufactories; and partly, in an enlargement of the number of our expensive buildings, either for residence, or for places of business, beyond the demand of the city for them. Which of these appropriations of capital has conduced to the greatest amount of suffering on the whole, may admit of a doubt. But it is not doubtful whether hundreds of families have been drawn to our city, and have settled themselves here, in consequence of the demand which has been created for

their labors, by the additions which have thus been made to our public and private buildings,-and with whom it is not now an easy thing to return to the places whence they came; who have learned to prefer a city life, and who must now, to a considerable extent, be dependent on charity. I do not advert to these circumstances in the spirit of reproach. I would only account for the fact, that we have now among us an extraordinary excess of those who are wanted for the labor of the city.

There is a large class of the poorest of those in the country, to whom the city has always attractions enough to bring them into it. Not a few of this class receive no small encouragement from some of the Overseers of the Poor in the country, as quickly as possible to find their way to the city, where they may either obtain work, or be assisted as they cannot be in the places from which they come to us. And here, if they cannot find employment, they do not seek long without finding the associates they want. Here, too, they can live as they will in greater security, because they are scarcely known but to those who are in the same condition with themselves. When once brought into the city, it is therefore extremely difficult to obtain their removal from it. A time of actual, or of apparent prosperity, when work is promised, or seems at least to be promised, to all who ask for it, will increase as well this class of its inhabitants, as that of the industrious mechanics who come here to raise themselves to competence and respectability. These are considerations, which admonish us of dangers that lie in the path of duty respecting the poor. The truth is, and we should understand it, that the greatest conceivable demand for labor in a city will soon be met by an abundant supply; for the materials of this supply are abundant every where. It is the dictate, therefore, of a wise policy, to foresee and avoid whatever may give an artificial extension to the la boring class of a city. For, even if the numbers which

are thus brought into it should bring down wages to the level of demand for their services, and thus apparently, for a time, advance the interest of the capitalist, or of the employer, a reaction will sooner or later occur, in which the employer, and the capitalist, must make a return for this temporary advantage, in the form either of a poor tax, or of charity, considerably beyond the amount gained by the depression of wages. In illustration of what I mean by the excessive demand which has been made for laborers among us, it is enough to state the fact, which I think that I can state upon good authority, that there are now five or six hundred houses to be let in the city. And it is also a fact, important to be considered in this connexion, that while the rents of the houses which are inhab. ited by the affluent, and by the middling classes, have fallen perhaps nearly to the level of the general depression of business, the rents of the poor are almost universally as high as they have been for some years past; for the very plain reason, that there is so great a demand for the rooms which are rented by them, that it is very difficult for a poor family that would remove from one part of the city to another, to make the desired exchange in their place of abode; and the difficulty is much increased, if the object be to find a room which is twelve and a half, or twenty five cents, lower than that which they are occupying. As far as our excessive population of this class is attributable to this cause, it may be well to understand the fact, even if nothing can immediately be done for a remedy of the evil. I believe, however, that between two and three hundred have left the city within the last three or four months, from a conviction that they might elsewhere more easily find the means of support. And it will certainly be for their advantage, if many more, from the same cause, should be induced to spread themselves over the country.

The second of these causes is, the widely spread fame of our charity.

This, I have no doubt, has been a means of bringing many to us, not only from the towns in our State, and from the neighboring States, but from the British dominions in America, and even from Europe. I do not refer to this circumstance, that I may check the current of benevolence in any heart; for we have, in truth, no excess of benevolent feeling among us. Nor will a reference to either of the causes to which I have adverted, restrain from one effort of kindness in any well ordered mind. But it will throw some light on the inquiry, how is the tendency to this redundant population to be checked? Ask the agents of any of our benevolent societies, whether there are not multitudes among the poor, who know as well the times of the meetings of these Associations, their anniversary days, and the amount of their funds,—or at least, of their public collections, as they are known to the officers of these societies? But without referring to the poor themselves as the heralds of these charities, see what a machinery is put into operation, whenever a public meeting is to be held of any of our benevolent associations, that as large a multitude as possible may be called together. And of whom does this multitude consist? Is it not principally of the poor? In view of these things, I would say then, let it be understood, and talked of, and published, that it is a mistaken conception that has been excited abroad, that there is a demand for laborers in our city. This may do something for us. And, let us learn to be less boastful of our charities, and less ostentatious in their exercise. We may do all that we are now doing, and far more, for the poor, and thus for our own virtue, and yet we may do all far more quietly, and effectually, and with less injury to ourselves and others, than by our present modes of exercising our public be. nevolence. Let the agents of our benevolent societies.

and all who are interested in them, be made aware of the tendency of their advertisements, and other notices of the anniversaries of these societies, and of publishing the sums collected at these meetings, to act as lures in bringing those to the city, who would not otherwise think of coming hither for support. Even, if by these means, we shall do little or nothing to lessen the sufferings of the winter before us, we may thus essentially prevent an accumulation of distress in future years. In this way, too, we may considerably lighten the future public burdens for the support of the poor. And no time could be more favorable than is the present, for admonition on this subject. By a recurrence to past mistakes, in connexion with what we experience, and what we fear, let us gather wisdom for the time to come.

Let us then return to the question, from which we have wandered for a moment. How may we most effectually, and most judiciously, provide for those necessities of the poor, for which it will be absolutely necessary to make provision?

The first step, I think, which is to be taken in answering this inquiry, is, distinctly to conceive what we ought not to do, and what it would be very injudicious that we should do. For the considerations that should restrain us from one course of conduct, will throw no small degree of light upon the principles, which will lead us in an opposite, and wiser direction.

First, then, what ought we not to do, even in a time of more than usual distress, for the assistance and relief of the poor?

Three means of relief have been proposed, either of which, if adopted, I believe would conduce to an ultimate, and very considerable increase of the evil. Let us look at them.

A proposition has been repeatedly suggested, for relieving the poor in the important concern of their rent.