who has grown up under their own eyes, and under their care and protection, and that of their descendants. All which is respectfully submitted. MATHEW CAREY, ROBERT SMITH, JOSEPH WATSON, CHARLES M. DUPUY, Committee. BENJAMIN TUCKER, M. M. CARLL, ADDRESS TO THE LIBERAL AND HUMANE. Philadelphia, May, 1829. The subscribers most earnestly request the attention of the humane and liberal of their fellow citizens, to a few observations on the state of the charitable institutions of this city, which depend on the generosity of the public for their support, and hope to be able to present the subject in a point of view which has probably escaped general attention. That Philadelphia is honourably distinguished by the numerous benevolent societies embraced within its precincts, will not be denied by any person possessed of the least degree of candour. Almost every object that makes its appeal to the best feelings of humanity, has enrolled under its standard, a number of patrons associated in its support. But unfortunately it is equally true, that in almost every instance, the list of patrons has most rapidly diminished.—In some cases one-half, two-thirds, or three-fourths of the original number have withdrawn. It would be too tedious to go into a long enumeration. We shall confine ourselves to a few cases. The Provident Society in 1824 had 1015 annual subscribers. In 1828, there were but 300 who paid. The Female Hospitable Society had formerly 700 subscribers. It has now but 107. The St. Joseph's Orphan Society commenced with about 300 annual subscribers-in 1828 only seven paid. There are but 34 subscribers to the Southern Dispensary. Thus the sphere of their usefulness is rapidly and most injuriously dimi nishing. * This report was refused insertion in four of the eight daily papers printed in the city of Philadelphia. In one of the four, however, it subsequently ap peared. Two reasons may be assigned for this extraordinary decline. One is, that the burdens, which ought, according to the principles of common justice, to be borne by all, in some proportion to their means, fall very unequally. There are citizens who rarely refuse their names in support of any object, calculated to benefit the public; and according to the trite proverb, "spur the free horse to death," they are singled out on almost every occasion; while thousands of others, equally well, and many much more, able to contribute, have never subscribed to any society-some because they have never been applied to, and some because they labour under the very erroneous impression, that those societies not only do no good, but do positive injury—a most unfounded and pernicious prejudice. Hence it is unfortunately true, that this great and wealthy city, containing, with the adjacent districts, about 150,000 inhabitants, has, at this moment, but 3561 subscribers to 33 societies; the whole of whose annual subscriptions amounted last year to only $6933: For the support of nine Infant Schools. For the promotion of Public Schools throughout the state. For the support of Charity Schools. For the Apprentices' Library. For the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. For the three Dispensaries. For the Widows' Asylum. For two or three Orphan Asylums. For the Abolition Society. For the Colonization Society. For alleviating the miseries of Public Prisons. For the House of Refuge. For the promotion of Temperance. To seven societies for administering food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and medicines and attendance to the sick, &c. &c. And there is reason to believe, as many of the subscribers support two, three, four, and some eight and ten societies, that the whole amount is paid by not more than 2500 persons-but say 3000-and that the remaining 127,000 of the inhabitants of this prosperous city, do not contribute a dollar for those beneficent objects! This is a state of things which ought not to be-and cer tainly never would have been, if proper pains had been taken to remove the unjust prejudices that exist on this subject, as to the amount paid to, and the effect produced by, those societies -and to produce a correct feeling on the subject, so as to induce a general subscription; such a subscription as would not be felt, even by persons in humble life. Of the 25,000 houses in Philadelphia, it is presumed that two-fifths are occupied by persons in tolerably easy circumstances-not one of whom would probably refuse to contribute two or three dollars a year for some of the great purposes above mentioned, should the prejudices that have prevailed on this subject, yield to the force of truth. In order to remove the inequality that prevails in the contributions, we most ardently invoke the general patronage of our citizens, for the following plan, whereby an immense mass of public good may be effected at a trivial individual expense-an expense that would not, we repeat, be at all oppressive to persons in humble circumstances. Indeed the support of this plan, would not be beyond the means or resources of an operative who worked for a dollar a day; as there are two of those societies, of which the annual subscription is only half a dollar -eight, one dollar each—and fourteen, two dollars. An agent of courteous manners will be employed to call at every house in the city, which wears the appearance of being inhabited by citizens in circumstances to contribute a single subscription of two or three dollars a year for the great and humane objects above specified. He will be provided with a book with as many divisions as there are societies for which patronage is sought. To avoid offence, all appearance of importunity will be prohibited. He will merely present his book, and await the decision of the parties; and, whether that decision be compliance or rejection, he will be directed to withdraw politely.-Although individuals may, if they choose, subscribe to more than one society, yet it is to be distinctly understood, that no more than one subscription is expected from any one person. And we go so far as to say, that those who are already subscribers to any of those institutions, will be considered as exempt from a compliance with this call, although their names will be thankfully received, if they judge proper to increase the number of the institutions they patronise. We have slightly touched on existing prejudices respecting some of those societies-and feeling deeply anxious to avert the pernicious consequences of those prejudices, we request to be pardoned for adding a few words on the subject. The most fastidious objector could not pretend that societies for the promotion of education-for the relief of the deaf and dumb-for the support of widows and orphans-for the abolition of slavery -for the support of the dispensaries, and the house of refuge -for the colonization of the descendants of the Africans, the victims of the cupidity of our ancestors, &c. could by any possibility produce other than beneficent fruits. The only shadow of plausibility in the objections is against those benevolent societies which minister food to the hungry-drink to the thirsty -and clothes to the naked; those acts for the performance of which Christ promised the welcome salutation-"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world-for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me."-"VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE of the LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME." Such are the blessed doings of those excellent associations, which have been so cruelly calumniated, as doing injury to society! For the injustice of the charge, we confidently appeal to the decision of an enlightened public. But whatever may be that decision, those whose prepossessions are irremovable, have scope enough for their benevolence in regard to the other societies, against which no human ingenuity can find a rational objection. Should it be asked, why are not the religious societies included, it may be observed, in reply, that the number would in that case create confusionthat it is at present almost too great-that they are altogether distinct concerns that those societies are in general tolerably well supported-and at all events, sufficiently numerous to warrant the adoption of a similar plan for their support.* * This address was signed by ninety-seven citizens of the first respectability, among whom were Bishop White, Bishop Onderdonk, John Sergeant, Robert Ralston, Alexander Henry, Samuel Wetherill, Henry Pratt, Thomas P. Cope, Esqrs., Rev. Dr. Bedell, Rev. Dr. Ely, Rev. Dr. Harold, &c. &c. TO THE PUBLIC. The attempt to increase the resources of some of the benevolent institutions of this city, has proved a partial failure, and will, therefore, probably be censured as absurd and chimerical by those who measure the merits or demerits of human actions by their success-a most miserable standard, indeed, and unworthy of a rational being. It is a satisfactory set-off against such a profound judgment, that some of the most intelligent of our citizens have placed it among the most judicious plans submitted to the public for years. Be this, however, as it may, it cannot be amiss, in closing the concern, to give a brief statement of the motives that led us to make the experiment. 1. The support of all the institutions, in question, has, for years, been diminishing, so as greatly to limit their usefulness. The annual subscriptions of some of them, have been reduced 20, 30, 40, 50 and some 60 or 70 per cent. 2. The whole amount of the annual subscriptions to 33 societies, embracing some of the most useful ever devised by human wisdom, excited by exalted benevolence, (for the support of Infant Schools-for the promotion of education generally-Asylums for widows, orphans, the deaf and dumb, and Magdalensthe three Dispensaries-the House of Refuge-the Abolition, Temperance, Charity School, and Colonization Societies-the Provident Society for employing the poor-the various societies for the relief of the hungry, the naked, the desolate, the superannuated, &c.) was, during the last year, only 6,933 dol lars! 3. The number of subscriptions for those societies, was 3561; and, as many persons are subscribers to 3, 4, and 5, and some to 7, 8, 9, and 10, the number of subscribers was probably not more than 2500-but say 3000. 4. In the city and liberties of Philadelphia there are about 150 or 160,000 inhabitants-and of course about 25,000 houses. It was assumed that two-fifths, say 10,000 of those houses, were inhabited by persons who could well afford to subscribe to one, two, or even three of these institutions; and as the whole number had but 3000 subscribers at most, there remained 7000 house-keepers who might be calculated on to countenance this plan. On the average of one dollar and a half each, it would amount to an additional sum of 10,500 dollars, raised for the |