If the children are seen ragged or dirty they will be dismissed the club.

To avoid trouble, the subscriptions of ladies and gentlemen will be received at Christmas and Midsummer, being at one penny per week, two shillings and two-pence half-yearly.*

Plan of the Penny Club, Stoke Newington, commenced in 1809, for the Purpose of assisting and encouraging the Poor in Clothing their Children.

One penny per week to be paid by each child, and one penny by the subscriber.

Any persons disposed to become subscribers, are requested to send to the Treasurer, their own names, and the names and places of abode of the children whom they wish to make members of the club, provided such children are not in any school, &c. from which they receive regular clothing.

The child must take, or the mother send, one penny every Monday, beginning from Christmas or Midsummer half year, to the Collector, who will transmit it at stated times to the Treasurer.

Neglect or irregularity in sending the penny, must forfeit the claim to the benefits of the club. At Midsummer and Christmas the Collector will call for the subscriptions, viz. two shillings and two-pence for each child, with an additional six-pence at Christmas as a remuneration for her time and trouble.

After each time of collection, the Treasurer is to make enquiry of the mothers into the articles of clothing most wanted, and employ the money, four shillings and four-pence for each as advantageously as she can, directing the children to shew the clothes to those who subscribe for them.

Although the principal view held out by each of these plans is substantially the same, yet they differ in minor points of considerable importance. In one instance three, in another four, and in the last only one subscriber are attached to the payment of each child, the former with the intention of furnishing all the apparel requisite, and consequently confining the benefit to a few: the latter more diffusive in its operation, embracing a wider circle, but circumscribing the personal advantage to each individual; and it deserves serious reflec

* I understand there is a club at Clapham, requiring four subscribers for each child.

tion, whether the proportion of four or three to one, is not more than can be looked upon by the parents as the fair recompence of their own economy: and whether it is not preferable to admit several children of the same family to a participation of the advantage, rather than by doing more for one child, produce a distinction in their appearance, which may lead to unkind feelings and unfavourable consequences. The economical and judicious application of these small sums is found to produce a greater effect than could be reasonably anticipated: four shillings and four-pence doubly subscribed, that is, eight shillings and eight-pence annually, cautiously expended, will nearly clothe an infant, and will supply a considerable portion of the clothing for younger children; and if arrangements of this sort could be connected with the Lancasterian System of Education, it would materially tend to produce that decency of appearance in the chil dren, which is desirable in every public institution.

The plans above recited encourage in poor families the important habit of regular saving, and the addition of an equal sum from the subscriber, should be considered rather as the just reward of industry and good conduct, than as a mere charitable donation. Thus, while the benevolent dispositions of the affluent are cherished and brought into activity, the poor are taught the practical value of small savings constantly accumulating; they learn to feel the advantages resulting from order and perseverance; they are instructed in the important art of adapting the most effectual means to the accomplishment of a particular end, and thus the best interests and gratifications of both classes are made to combine and support each other. PHILERGOS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHILANTHROPIST.

:

THE maxim, begin well, is deserving of the strictest attention in practice. First impressions are lasting and although prejudice in every form is to be avoided, to pre-dispose to what is good, is ever commendable. The task, however, is not easy in the commencement of a new work, to awaken curiosity, to fix attention, and to excite solicitude for subsequent examination. Even the title of a new publication is difficult. One appropriate should be chosen; yet it should at the same time aim to conciliate friends, and to preclude

the spirit of enmity. In this respect, Mr. Editor, you have manifested peculiar precision and correctness of judgment. The term Philanthropist is admirably suited to unite the good of all classes. It is neither likely to alarm the politician, nor to offend the religionist. It is calculated to call forth the exertions of the benevolent scholar, and the practical efforts of the rich, who are well disposed. Discussion being conducted upon the principles which the Philanthropist adopts, must contribute to enlighten, to ameliorate, to bless society. Associations constituted upon such plans are at all times highly desirable. They are at present peculiarly important. Active benevolence appears to be increasing; the individuals are numerous, who are solicitous to promote the best interests of their fellow-creatures; but party-zeal damps the inclination to associate in doing good, even when the heart hath acknowledged the obligation: so that sometimes, when a benevolent suggestion hath arisen from one of a different religious creed, a spirit of bigotry hath started the question, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Hence hath discouragement prevailed even among the wisest and best, lest their efforts to benefit, should injure the cause they wished to serve. A bond of union is therefore necessary to give the timid, courage, and the zealous, a sufficient motive to proceed in lessening distress, and diffusing comfort. Another cause, however, renders the efforts of benevolence peculiarly incumbent;-the diminished opportunity, from the circumstances of the times, of many most truly benevolent characters, to do as much good as they could wish, or even as much as they have been accustomed to do.-A fountain is wanting, from which streams may issue that may gladden the traveller, whilst they refresh the fatigued. From your publication I look for these streams. In its pages I trust the humbly diffident will be taught not to think any work or labour of love unavailable; let the example of an Howard, of a Rumford, and of a Clarkson, stimulate such to persevere amidst discouragement, and to look for the imitation of others, whilst their own conduct is directed by the pure principles of justice and benevolence. Hints calculated for practical use are therefore to be solicited; and although the reasonings of the theorist be inserted, the examples of the successful services of those who have most promoted the happiness of the community, are to be preferred. To the Philanthropist recourse will be had, as to a repository, from which the youthful mind may learn to feel for, and be instructed how best to relieve the distresses that abound; whilst

the man of activity will be encouraged to apply his powers in communicating good. The female heart, ever alive to tenderness, will rejoice to go and do likewise. Supposing these are objects your publication intends to advance, a statement is offered for your consideration of an invention, which requires only to be understood in order to be approved, and by the general adoption of which many useful lives, many noble defenders of our country, may be rescued from an untimely grave. I refer to the machine of Captain Manby, for relieving ship-wrecked mariners. The attention of the legis lature was last year directed to the subject by Mr. Curwen. The House of Commons wisely determined, that well-attested evidence should be furnished of the practicability and utility of the scheme. This was given in two very judicious reports by a committee of field-officers, appointed by the Board of Ordnance. It was confirmed by numerous experiments performed in the presence of distinguished naval officers, by others in the presence of the magistrates and the principal inhabitants of the town of Yarmouth, and by different experiments before some of the justices of the peace of Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Suffolk Humane Society, at an early period of the invention, shewed peculiar anxiety for its success, and numerous meetings were convened to witness experiments, all of which yielded the fullest prospect of ultimate benefit; the opinion of the Society was confirmed by the attestations of the pilots and beachmen of Lowestoff, Yarmouth, Happisburgh and Mundsley. Here theory is exchanged for practice; hope has become reality. The prospect of success has been established by the saving of above eighty persons since its adoption, and this within a very narrow limit. What may be the extent of the benefit cannot be ascertained, if correspondent means be applied for its introduction wherever it may be necessary. The utility is diffusing. Through the exertions of A. Merry, Esq. late Envoy to the Court of Sweden, and one of the Vice-presidents of the Suffolk Humane Society, the plan has been made known in the Baltic, and its good effects witnessed in the saving of a crew, that would otherwise have perished, near the Island of Anholt. One advantage of the plan is, that it is easy to be understood. Another is, that it affords relief where no other method has yet been found effectual. To a vessel wrecked on a lee-shore, great as are the advantages of life-boats, their means are defective from want of a power to force them over the bursting surge. This is supplied by Captain Manby's invention, if

previously two anchors have been sunk near the place, from which the boat can be best launched. A rope is then to be suspended between the anchors: a buoy or buoys are left floating, to direct where the grapnel is to be fired. The rope will furnish the purchase necessary for hauling the boat over the surge. But it may be proper to explain the whole of the apparatus, as well for the purpose of making it fully known to those who may not have seen it, as for subsequent improvements, or local adaptation, that the well-informed will be anxious to bestow upon it.

A cohorn or mortar is necessary, whose bore should vary according to the position from which it is to be fired. If the beach be flat, one of a smaller caliber will suffice, than if the cliff be steep, or the place remote from the sea, from which the shot is to be thrown: a barbed shot, or grapnel, is placed in the mortar, to which a rope is affixed, the strength of which should vary according to the weight of the shot. The shot is to be fastened to the rope by a piece of twisted wet hide; this will neither take fire, nor snap like rope. The rope should be what is called an inch and half rope. This will be found equal to almost any occasion. The quantity of powder to be used, must be regulated partly by the distance of the vessel, and partly by the weight of the shot. From four to fourteen ounces of powder have been applied. With four ounces a deep sea-line was taken out 140 yards; with fourteen ounces the same line went 310 yards; a line of an inch and half with four ounces of powder, was carried 110 yards; with fourteen ounces 210 yards. The elevation of the mortar will depend upon the nature of the ground upon which it stands; on level ground 15° will be sufficient. The method of laying out the rope is of essential consequence. One fold ought not to touch another. Annexed is a sketch of the method of laying the rope. If a basket were kept for its preservation, it would also facilitate the power of laying it out, when the wind blew high, as its sides would contribute to prevent the wind from destroying the order necessary to be observed. A pistol is a safe mode of discharging the mortar; and something may be wanted in a violent gale to secure the priming. These cautions may seem minute; but when the lives of our fellow creatures are concerned; when upon an apparent trifle the safety of many of our brethren may depend; too great exactness cannot be employed in the previous arrangement and the full possession of what may be wanted; for, when the danger exists; when the vessel seems ready to sink, or to divide; when the crew have nothing but the shrouds left for safety, and the