and communion with others in acts of beneficence; it is a practical invitation to all to come and " do likewife." In many cafes, and with many people, precepts die away, they pass over and are forgotten, but examples prevail and are followed. These confiderations, added to an honeft and judicious difpofition of the public ftock, will, in time, bring over the fpeculative approvers of our inftitution to class themselves among the willing benefactors; and, in proportion to the increase of the means for its support, the utility of the inftitution will be confirmed and extended.

Those who now folicit your affiftance, folicit in behalf of others, not of themselves. Did the fucceffion of patients who have been benefited by the bequests made to our countyhofpital, present themselves before you, they might, probably, plead with more fuccefs; but, having obtained the advice and affiftance which their several cafes required, they are returned to the protection of their families, the comfort of their friends, and to the fervice of . their country. The annual stated accounts are authentic documents in proof of the matter of fact. But further, the defign of this infti

tution is not only favorably circumstanced in refpect to the difintereftedness which attends the folicitations of its advocates, but the neceffities of the patients are fuch as arise from cafual, unforefeen, and involuntary diftrefs. If any objects deferve relief, those furely have a good claim to it for whom we now plead; their fickness and infirmities have not been the immediate purchase of vice, but are the fatherly vifitations of the wife and good providence of God, as well, poffibly, to the virtue of benevolence in us, as thofe of patience and resignation in them. To these confiderations let me add one more, which is neceffarily and immediately connected with the others, in order to carry them finally into effect; for it ought not to pass unobserved, that it is no fmall encouragement to the cafting in our mites, that we may rest affured that we fhall have faithful proxies in the difpofition of our benefactions.

try

Thefe and fimilar inftitutions for an almost infinite variety of diftreffing cafes, which cannot be fufficiently provided for by law, have reflected much honor upon our national character. The great number of

them

them planted in the metropolis and in different parts of the country, and the generous fupport they have received, and the fpirit with which they have been conducted, have defervedly diftinguished us as Britons, in this refpect, above all other people in Europe. But we must not take to ourselves any further share in this honorable distinction, than what we are juftly entitled unto. This county, to which we more particularly belong, is of large extent; and as it contains many objects of our bounty, fo ought it to fend forth many benefactors to their neceffity; for our affluence is certainly more than proportionate to our population. Poffeffed of the means, and convinced of the occafion for the exercife of thofe means, by the authentic annual reports of the hofpital, we should endeavour, with a laudable and difcreet emulation, to raise our provincial character to its due equality with others of our countrymen.

The particular charity under our present confideration has hitherto had to struggle with all the difficulties attendant on a new inftitution; the settling of proper rules for its government,

government, the purchase of a convenient and healthful fituation; and the erection of a building, (which confeffedly is elegantly plain,) have employed much time and money; it now only waits for the generous fpirit of a large and opulent county to be commendably exerted in order to give it a full and ample fupport. It has already done great and extenfive good, and by the further' foftering care of thofe, who, as patrons and benefactors to this charity, are really interested in its fuccefs, would appear in full vigor and maturity. We all profefs ourfelves chriftians, and fhould, therefore, live under the influence of the precepts of chriftianity, and the example of its great preacher, without regarding the petty difficulties and frivolous objections that are thrown in our

way.

If the Samaritan was ready to exert himfelf, and open his heart and his purse in behalf of the traveller paffing on his journey between Jerufalem and Jericho, who being a jew had, on ordinary occafions, no commerce or intercourfe with the Samaritan, confequently no other tye in his estimation linked them together than that of humanity, much more ought we, who are here assem

bled

bled together, to feel for those whofe caufe

this day pleaded before you, not only as men, but as chriftians; not only as our countrymen, but as thofe of our household. Local confiderations make their cafe more nearly connected with our duty; "if any provide not for his own, and especially "for those of his own houfe, he hath de"nied the faith, and is worfe than an in"fidel." As fellow-creatures, and fellowchristians, they have a good title to our best fervices; as our countrymen and neighbours, they are placed under our more immediate observation and protection.

We are bound by intereft as well as charity to affift the laborious poor. Common occafions may find relief in the more common way; but extraordinary occafions. neceffarily require extraordinary remedies. And it will be hard to fay, where, but in a public or county hofpital, fufficiently fup-. ported and judicioufly conducted, thefe remedies can be found, either fo comfortably or fo effectually to the patient. The improvement of the healing art, from the variety

* 1 Tim. v. 8.