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conviction, that females, especially when young, by indulging in novel reading, do in a degree unfit themselves for the proper discharge of their duties.

Entelligence Department.

South London Institution for the Protection and Reformation of Females, and for the Suppression and Prevention of Vice.*

WE are taught by the Christian religion to regard every perishing soul as an object of compassion, and to seek the salvation of that soul, without allowing the extent to which it may have gone in sin to operate against such efforts. The poor sinners, the outcast members of the Jewish community, whom our Lord met with in his career of benevolence on earth, were treated with a tenderness characteristic of the Saviour of sinners; and the same kind feeling ought to operate in the minds of the disciples of Christ towards their most erring brethren.

Now there is a class of persons the most pitiable of all wretched beings, whose case has not yet elicited, to any extent, the sympathies of the Christian public. They are the fallen females of this country, whom the heartless moral assassins that infest society, have deprived of that which is infinitely dearer than life-a virtuous character-and have left upon the wide world with nothing to support them but crime, and nothing to look forward to but misery. Hundreds of these poor creatures, who were once the joy of the hearts of their parents, but whose deviation from the path of virtue, through the base villany of the wicked, has led to their banishment from the houses of their friends, and from all respectable society, are anything but hardened by that species of sin into which their destitution has driven them. Conscience-smitten, broken-hearted, ashamed of and loathing the vice to which they have been addicted, they would gladly escape from it if they knew where to fly. The recol

* Our readers will be gratified to know that this important Society, though not connected with the London Female Mission, has arisen out of its labors.

lection of the past, their present degradation, and the prospect before their eyes of continued wretchedness, are a burden more than they can bear: they are the prey of the keenest anguish, (as their own lips will tell;) and meeting with no sympathy, no help, but being shunned and repulsed by the virtuous portion of the community, it frequently happens that to deaden sorrow, they drink down the intoxicating draught, and even plunge into the waters to seek in self-destruction a termination of the miseries of life.

It is an ascertained fact, that full a thousand of these poor outcasts apply annually for admission into the several Houses of Refuge, in and about the metropolis, without obtaining it, for the want of room, and are thus thrown back into crime and wretchedness, and desperation and ruin. It is further computed that there are in this kingdom no less than half a million of the female sex, living continually on the wages of iniquity, and that all the institutions in the land, including those of the metropolis, do not afford refuge for more than a few hundreds! Must it not then be said with truth, and with a feeling of deep shame, that the Christian Church, has, in this respect, most sadly neglected its duty, and that here is a field of labour where something ought immediately and energetically to be done? Let each professing Christian ask himself what must become of these immense masses of human beings, immortal and accountable, who are dying fast through premature decay, and hurrying to eternity with all the guilt of their transgressions upon them.

The heart sickens under the painful reflection, and the more so, when it is remembered that they are allowed to perish under the very eye of the Christian Church, no interest being felt in their welfare, and no effort made to save them from destruction. Missionaries are sent abroad, but, by a strange inconsistency none are sent to call to repentance, to lead to the Saviour, and to bring within the fold of his Church, these dying sinners at home! Under an idea altogether erroneous (as facts will shew) that they are past recovery, they are left to go down into perdition, exclaiming, to the condemnation of our apathy, "refuge faileth me, no man careth for my soul." Impressed with these considerations, certain pious and benevolent individuals have set on foot a society, to be called "The South London Institution, for the Protection and Reformation of Females, and for the Suppression and Prevention of Vice." The ob

jects of the Society, as they have been determined on at a Provisional Committee of Clergymen and others, are the following:

1st. To provide an Asylum for females who may be desirous of abandoning a course of vice, and to train them in the habits of religion and virtue.

2nd. To employ all lawful and expedient measures for the suppression of receptacles of vice and all incitements to immorality, to obtain the aid of the magistracy in enforcing the existing laws, or to procure, if necessary, such further enactments as may suffice to meet the growing evil.

3rd. To promote the establishment of homes, and registries, to be conducted on proper principles for female servants of good character, and to afford the means to deserving females of procuring situations in which they may obtain an honest livelihood.

4th. To employ an agent or agents in the several localities under the direction of the Clergy and local Committee, it being a distinct principle of the Society, that the religious instruction which it is their main object to impart will be in strict accordance with the doctrines and discipline of the Established Church.

The Society is earnestly recommended to the support of the Christian public by the following Clergymen, members of the Provisional Committee, by whom Donations and Subscriptions will be thankfully received, and as the Committee have engaged an eligible House of Refuge near the Elephant and Castle, they beg to solicit early contributions.

The Worshipful Chancellor

Dealtry, D.D.

The Rev. J. C. Abdy, M.A.
The Rev. G. Ainslie, M.A.
The Rev. M. Anderson, M.A.
The Rev. C. U. Barry, B.A.
The Rev. S. Benson, M.A.
The Rev. W. Curling, M.A.
The Rev. J. Davis, B.A.
The Rev. C. Day, LL.B.
The Rev. D. C. Delafosse, M.A.
The Rev. R. Eden, M.A.
The Rev. F. Goode, M.A.
The Rev. T. E. Hankinson, M.A.

The Rev. J. Horton.

The Rev. H. Hyde, LL.B.
The Rev. A. H. Kenny, D.D.
The Rev. W. G. Lewis, M.A.
The Rev. E. Lilley, M.A.
The Rev. H. Melvill, B.D.
The Rev. A. Murray, M.A.
The Rev. E. Prodgers, M.A.
The Rev. J. F. Russell, B.C.L.
The Rev. R. Shutte, M.A.
The Rev. S. Smith, M.A.
The Rev. F. J.Stainforth, M.A.
The Rev. G. Weight, B.A.
The Rev. J. F. Witty.

THE FAULTS OF OTHERS.

"Он, mamma, I am glad that we have left the house of Mrs. Martin; and the abode of all uncharitableness," said Eliza Bolworth, as she sat working near her mother the day after their return from a visit to an elderly lady.

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Do you not think that remark proves you to be a fit inmate for such an abode, Eliza ?"

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Well, mamma, did you ever meet with a more uncharitable person than Mrs. Martin? If Mrs.

called, we were regaled on her departure with anecdotes of her dreadful temper; of her daughter's vanity; and her sons' dissipation; if we admired some pretty country-seat we passed in our rambles, a long history of the different proprietors followed; we were told of the indolence of Sir James

of the stinginess of Mr. ; and the dark relation was concluded with a darker insinuation respecting the present owner."

"My dear girl," replied Mrs. Bolworth ;-but Eliza rudely interrupted her—"That I am sure is unchristian, I wonder how Mrs. Martin

"Stay, Eliza," Mrs. Bolworth quietly said, remember one attribute of Christian charity is, that it thinketh no evil; do you think, my love, that the expression you were about to use, would have been consistent with your baptismal promise, to keep God's holy commandments; one of which is, not to bear false witness against your neighbour?" and the new commandment which our blessed Saviour requires his disciples to observe, in proof of their love to him; have you regarded it, Eliza? have you loved your neighbour as yourself?"

Eliza colored.

"" I am wrong, forgive me, mamma; yet, have I advanced anything which is realy untrue?"

"Not directly; but a stranger would have supposed, from the tone of your remarks, that Mrs. Martin was a malicious and wilful slanderer; and, if I mistake not, there was some undetected opinion to that effect lurking in your mind."

"I believe you are right, my conduct has been very unchristian; but what must I do? I cannot avoid seeing my neighbour's faults."

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Do think you
you
have none of
No, indeed! I have many."

your own?"

On surveying an extensive scenery, do you gaze on the ploughed fields, or the green pastures? in walking in a garden, do you look at the choice flower, or at the intruding weeds? In examining your own heart, are your good or your bad qualities easiest to discover? Oh my daughter! my dear girl, pray for that renewal of the mind which will make you love to observe and imitate your neighbour's virtues, instead of finding a secret pleasure in detecting and exposing their faults, which faults you ought to consider as warnings to yourself, who are a partaker of the same depraved nature."

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Pleasure, mamma!"

'Yes, close and prayerful self-examination will show you that you find pleasure in it. Do you not fancy that you discover great penetration, deep knowledge of human nature, and acute perception of character in your censures ?"

You are right. I will try to overcome this fault."

"I trust indeed, that you will be enabled to do so; but if you try in your own strength you are sure to fail. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, and the habitual crimes which we commit with the tongue, that "world of iniquity set on fire

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