siastical, with a large body of the clergy, attend, these contributions usually amount to nearly a thousand pounds. Although the apprenticing of orphan children of the clergy, be the leading object in the appropriation of this fund, its benefits are, occasionally, participated by the children of necessitous and deserving ministers, although their parents be yet living.

V. But the beneficence of this excellent association being limited, the more extensive institution, known as the "Corporation for the Relief of poor Widows and Orphans of Clergymen," was chartered by Charles the Second, in 1678. Its funds are directed to the assistance of widows of clergymen, and their maiden daughters above forty-five years of age; it also apprentices the children of clergymen, and extends its aid to poor incumbents and curates. By the help of benefactions, a permanent fund has been established; the rents and interests of which are annually distributed in pensions and donations; but to so large a number of claimants, the several portions are inconsiderable; no pension to a widow or maiden daughter exceeding 10l. saving two only of 251. Two ladies, Mrs. Cam and Mrs. Middleton, left to this institution sums yielding annually 1900/.; solely for the benefit of poor clergymen having large families and good characters. The whole income in 1823 was 14,986l.; from which, apprentice-fees were paid with fifty-nine children

[19th Cent. of clergymen, eleven of whom, at 40l. each, were from the Clergy Orphan School; three hundred and ninety-three widows have 10l. each, and two hundred and twenty-two maiden daughters 41. 4s. each. There are two pensions for lame daughters of ministers; but widows marrying again, or having bad characters, or possessing means of subsistence above 40l. a year, are excluded from the benefits of this charity.

VI. But the funds of this institution, having a multifarious object, are limited in each of their applications; and some further establishment was necessary, to relieve the orphans of ecclesiastics from poverty, and to place them in the way of earning a reputable livelihood.

For the furtherance of this object, a society was formed in 1749; since which period it has received into its schools more than nine hundred and fifty children of both sexes; most of whom have been provided for in apprenticeships, or in other ways, according to their talents and inclinations; strict care having been previously taken of their morals, and of their advancement and improvement in useful learning.

In the year 1809, this society was incorporated, by the title of "The Governors of the Society for clothing, maintaining, and educating poor Orphans of Clergymen of the Established Church, in England, until of Age to be put Apprentice." The Act was obtained at the sole

expense of Shute, Bishop of Durham, who added a liberal donation of 500l.

The schools subsisted for several years upon a smaller scale, at Acton and at Lisson Grove; but in the year 1812 a spacious building, capable of accommodating one hundred and sixty children, was erected, by subscription, in St. John's Wood, Mary-le-bone.

The schools for the male and female children are entirely apart and distinct, and the strictest regulations are adopted. The education is conducted according to the National System; but, owing to the state of the funds, the number of pupils (in 1823) exceeds not one hundred and seven. The present income and expenditure amount to about 5000l., and a provision is contemplated for the more serious pupils, as missionaries in the east and west Indies.

VII. There are separate funds, in each diocese, for the widows and orphans of the clergy, supported by annual contributions; and at two Colleges, Bromley in Kent, and Froxfield in Wiltshire, a certain number of clergymen's widows are provided with small houses and pensions. There is a similar institution for widows of the Welsh clergy, at Corwen, in North Wales. Others in England are those of Winchester, Salisbury, Lichfield, Ashburne, and Cambridge.

VIII. Sion College, built on the site of an ancient priory, was incorporated by two charters of Charles the First and Charles the Second; all

[19th Cent. the clergy of the city and suburbs being fellows. It contains a library, stocked with a valuable collection of the early English chronicles, and old divinity. Under this library are alms-houses for twenty poor persons. A Latin sermon is preached to the clergy once a year; after which, the founder has ordered a dinner, for the promotion of harmony and good will.

IX. To mitigate the evil consequences of unbridled passion, humanity has prepared two hospitals-the Lock, and the Magdalen.

The Lock derives its name from Loke, a house for lepers; and, in truth, when we consider the influence of depraved women, in seducing the unwary of both sexes, in tempting them to dishonesty, and drawing them on to ruin of mind, body, and estate, we must approve of a term which compares the objects of this charity to persons afflicted with a pestilence. It was instituted A. D. 1746, for the cure of that disease which is the peculiar scourge of lewd and licentious conduct; for, though suffering virtue has ever the strongest claim upon humanity, suffering vice ought not to be left to perish; especially when it is considered, that a timely cure may reform the mind while it heals the body. Innocent women frequently receive this complaint from profligate husbands; and the more vicious patients, if neglected, would diffuse a scourge among the community, or transmit to innocent

babes an inheritance of loathsomeness.

The

patients, excluded from other charities, or admitted with some expense, are here received without any deposit; much care is taken to reform their morals, during their stay in the house; and to obviate an objection relative to the operation of this institution, as an encouragement to vice, no patient can be received a second time. The wards are statedly visited by a worthy chaplain, who surrenders himself to the risk of martyrdom; for, by reason of the effluvia, he is in a continual state of salivation. Each room is likewise furnished with religious books. This charity, since its institution, has relieved forty thousand persons; many of whom have been reformed from their profligate courses.

It being found, however, that many of the women, on leaving the house, had no resource but a return to prostitution, an asylum was opened, in 1787, for females desirous of finding such a refuge. Here they are protected, maintained, employed, and instructed, till they can return to society, enabled to earn a livelihood, and armed with solid principles to save them from relapse into vice. Various instances of individual reformation have evinced the wisdom of this supplemental establishment.

The expenditure of the Hospital exceeds 2400l. and that of the Asylum is 600l.

The Lock chapel, at Hyde Park Corner, has