sist, when completed, of four buildings, | imperfections, if they will not admit their each 446 feet long by 48 wide, and placed delusions; and they feel the importance one on each side of a beautiful quadrilat- of good conduct to secure the confidence eral area, which assumes an octagonal and esteem of those whose good opinion form by the intersection of its corners, they value." with verandahs of open lattice-work. It is intended for the insane poor of the State of New-York, which state is at the sole expense of its erection, and the cost upon the completion of the whole will amount, it is supposed, to about $1,000,000. It is calculated to receive 1000 patients. Besides the twelve State Asylums, there are two belonging to cities, namely, those at Boston and New-York; six to incorporated bodies, and one is the property of an individual,* making in all twenty-one. One or more state asylums may possibly have been opened since the publication of the interesting work to which I am indebted for my information on the subject.† Nearly all of these asylums are constructed on the most approved plans. Almost all are beautifully situated, have a light and cheerful aspect, and are surrounded with ample grounds, tastefully laid out in fields and meadows, pleasant gardens, and delightful walks. After visiting many such institutions in Europe, I can truly say that I have seen none more pleasantly situated, or better kept, than the Massachusetts State Asylum, at Worcester, the Retreat at Hartford, in Connecticut, and the Asylum on Blackwell's Island, near New-York. According to Dr. Earle's statements, the deaths in the European institutions for the insane vary from thirteen to forty per cent. ; while in the American asylums none exceed ten per cent.* While the State governments have been doing so much for the establishment of hospitals and asylums for the insane, much has also been done by individual munificence. Even some of the State institutions have been assisted by donations from private citizens. Thus two benevolent gentlemen in the State of Maine have given $10,000 each towards founding the asylum for that state. CHAPTER XXVIII. INFLUENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE ON OUR asylums for the deaf and dumb owe their existence to a series of efforts on the part of a few Christian friends. The late Dr. Cogswell, a pious and excellent physician in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, had a beloved daughter who would particularly call attention to the was deaf and dumb. For her sake he profact that religious worship is kept up in posed to a devoted young minister of the all of these twenty-one institutions but Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Gallaudet, to go to four. Some have regular chaplains attach- Europe, and there to learn, at the best ined to them; in others, Divine worship is stitutions, the most approved methods of conducted for the inmates by clergymen teaching this unfortunate class of people. or laymen in the neighbourhood, who vol- The mission was cheerfully undertaken. unteer their services in performing this im- Mr. Gallaudet returned in 1816, after havportant and interesting duty. In almost ing spent above a year in Paris, where he every case it is done by men of evangel. studied the methods of instruction pursued ical sentiments Nor is their labour in at the Royal Institution for the Education vain, ample experience having demonstra- of the Deaf and Dumb, under the Abbé ted that such services, when performed by Sicard, the pupil and friend of the Abbé judicious, calm, and truly spiritual men, l'Epée. Thereupon an effort was immeexert a highly beneficial influence on the diately made to found an institution at insane. The Gospel, when presented in Hartford. An act of incorporation was the spirit of its blessed Author, is admira- obtained in 1816, a large sum was contribbly fitted to soothe the mental excitement uted by the people of Hartford for the erecof the poor deranged lunatic. tion of the requisite buildings, and ConRegular religious teaching," says Dr. gress granted a township from the national Woodward, the superintendent of the asy-lands, consisting of 23,040 acres, towards lum for the insane at Worcester, Massachusetts, "is as necessary and beneficial to the insane as to the rational mind; in a large proportion of the cases it will have equal influence. They as well know their 66 * Dr. White's, at Hudson, in the State of NewYork. "A Visit to thirteen Asylums for the Insane in Europe, &c., to which is subjoined a brief Notice of similar Institutions in the United States," by Pliny Earle, M.D. Published at Philadelphia in 1841. the endowment of the institution. It was opened, ere long, for the reception of pupils, and from that time to this has been going on most prosperously. It is the oldest establishment for the purpose in the * The number of the insane in the asylums in the United States is about 2500; in 1840, the whole number of the insane in the country, of all ages and conditions, was, according to the census, 17,434, being about one to every 979 inhabitants. Of these 17,434 insane persons, 5162 were maintained at the public expense, and 12,272 at that of their friends. United States, and is called “The Ameri- | and they shall have established those more can Asylum for the Education and Instruc- general and important institutions that lie tion of the Deaf and Dumb." So far, in- at the basis of an enlightened society, the deed, it is a national institution. It was whole of the confederated states will be endowed to a considerable amount by Con- found ready to make provision for congress; it is open to pupils from all the ducting their deaf and dumb, by means of states, and it does, in fact, receive them a suitable education, to usefulness and from the South as well as from the North. happiness. For this it is not requisite It is peculiarly, however, the deaf and that each state should have an asylum for dumb institution of New-England, five of itself; it would be found enough that two the states of which support within its walls, or more should unite, as at present, in at the expense of their treasuries, a cer- having one in common. tain number of pupils every year. The number at the asylum is usually between | 140 and 150. The course of study lasts four years. Mechanical arts are taught to the young men at certain hours daily, while the young women learn such things as become their sex and situation in life. Since 1816 five other institutions for the deaf and dumb have been established in the United States, all on the model of that at Hartford. They are as follows: 1. That at New-York. It has about 150 pupils, and is mainly supported by the State Legislature. 2. The Pennsylvania Institution, at Philadelphia. It has from 100 to 120 pupils, most of whom are maintained there at the expense of that and the neighbouring states. 3. The Ohio Asylum at Columbus, a prosperous institution, with about seventy pupils, and mainly supported by the Legislature of Ohio. The number of deaf and dumb persons throughout the United States in 1840 was 7659, or about one to every 2227 of the entire population; but the proportion of proper age for being placed in an asylum, to receive the usual instruction there, is hardly above a fourth of the entire number. It is delightful to contemplate how much has been done for this interesting part of the community within the last few years, and especially delightful to the Christian, to know that all the six asylums above mentioned are under the direction of decidedly religious men, and that the course of instruction pursued in them is entirely evangelical. The Bible is made the textbook of their religious studies. Every morning and evening they are assembled for prayers, and then a portion of Scripture is written on a large slate, about ten feet by four. Some pertinent remarks are addressed to them, followed by prayer, both the remarks and the prayer being 4. The Asylum for Kentucky, at Dan-performed, by the principal or one of the ville, which is chiefly, if not entirely, sup- professors of the institution, by signs. In ported by funds arising from the sale of lands granted to it by the Congress of the United States. It has, perhaps, twentyfive or thirty pupils, but has not been very prosperous. 5. The Virginia Asylum, at Staunton, an institution of very recent date. It has about twenty-five pupils, and is mainly dependant upon that state for its support. These five, as well as that at Hartford, receive paying pupils from families which have the means of defraying the expense of educating their own children. But the number of such pupils probably does not exceed one sixth of the whole. The number of pupils in these six asylums ranges from 510 to 545, and as the fifteen or sixteen states by which they are supported have both the means and the disposition to do so, they will doubtless furnish instruction to the deaf and dumb of the other states, which have resolved to send them thither until they can have asylums of their own. There will, indeed, be but a partial provision for some time for the indigent deaf and dumb of the new states; yet the known enterprise and benevolence of their inhabitants warrant us to believe that as soon as their population shall have become sufficiently numerous, the same way, upon the Sabbath, a sermon is preached and other religious services held. God has greatly blessed these instructions. Many of the pupils in these several asylums have become, from time to time, as their lives attest, truly pious persons; and in some instances these institutions have richly shared in the revi vals that have occurred in the places where they are established. CHAPTER XXIX. INFLUENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE ON In the year 1832 the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind was founded, as follows: Thomas H. Perkins, Esq., of the city of Boston, gave his valuable house and grounds, with out-buildings thereon, estimated to be worth 50,000 dollars, for an asylum for the blind, provided the sum required for founding one should be raised in New-England. Fifty thousand dollars having been speedily collected, and the Legislature of Massachusetts having voted Nor is our literature for the blind inconsiderable, when it is borne in mind that it is not ten years since printing in " raised" characters for their use was first introduced among us. Above thirty volumes have been published at Boston, and about half that number at Philadelphia, comprising several of the most interesting religious works in the English language, and the perusal of which has already proved a blessing to many of the blind.* It is gratifying to think that these institutions have all along been, to a great extent, in the hands of good men, so that this benevolent enterprise has taken a happy direction from the first. a large annual grant to give permanency for which many of them show remarkable to the projected institution, the corpora- aptitude. tion entered vigorously upon the work, and opened a school for the blind, which has now been for ten years in successful operation. As the property, so munificently given by Mr. Perkins, was found not in all respects suitable, it was exchanged in 1839 for Mount Washington House and grounds, in South Boston, beautifully situated near the bay which spreads out to the east of the city, and in every way adapted for the purpose. The institution is under the direction of Dr. Samuel G. Howe, a man of remarkable qualifications for the post. The number of pupils is about seventy, and they are reported to be making excellent progress, and remarkably happy. There are four other institutions for the blind in the United States. New-York has one, which had last year about sixty-five pupils; Philadelphia one, which had sixtytwo pupils; Columbus, in Ohio, one, which had fifty-eight pupils; and in the same establishment with the asylum for the deaf and dumb at Staunton, in Virginia, there is a department for the blind, with about fiveand-twenty pupils. All these four have sprung up since the establishment of that at Boston in 1832, and they are all flourishing. The number of pupils in the whole five was, last year, about 270. The whole number of the blind in the United States in 1840 was 6916. A few years ago, a Mr. Will, of Philadelphia, bequeathed a sum to be laid out in establishing a hospital for the blind, but the institution that has arisen out of this bequest is not a school, but a retreat, where the aged and infirm blind may pass their remaining days in comfort. The Report of the Boston institution for 1841 gives us the history of a child who had been four years a pupil there, and whose case is more interesting, probably, than any other that has ever been known. Laura Bridgman, born in 1829, had lost, when twenty months old, the faculties of sight, hearing, and speech, and partially that of smell. At the age of nine she was placed at the institution. There she learned to read and write, and has made very considerable progress in knowledge. The details of the manner in which she acquired these arts are exceedingly curious, but to give them does not fall within the scope of this work. CHAPTER XXX. CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE DEVELOPMENT Although these institutions are aided by the Legislatures of the states within which they are established, most of them, nevertheless, may be traced to the benevolence of Christian citizens, acting individually or together. Few establishments can be contemplated by the eye of Christian sympathy with greater interest than these quiet retreats. There the blind not only learn the elements of a common education, and such an expertness in some of the mechan* The books published by the institution at Boston are, the New Testament; Parts of the Old ical arts as enables them, even while un-Testament; Lardner's Universal History; Selecder tuition, to contribute towards their own tions from Old English Authors; Selections from support, but cultivate music also, by which Modern English Authors; Howe's Geography for many an hour sweetly passes away, and the Blind; Howe's General Atlas; Howe's Atlas of the United States; Blind Child's First Book; Blind Joseph B. Smith, a pupil of the Perkins Insti- Child's Second Book; the Dairyman's Daughter; tution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, pur- the Harvey Boys; Blind Child's Spelling Book; sued the study of Latin, Greek, and the other branch- Blind Child's English Grammar; the Pilgrim's Proges of a preparatory course with success, and entered ress; Baxter's Call; Sixpenny Glass of Wine; Life Harvard University in the autumn of 1839, where of Melancthon; Book of Sacred Hymns; Viri Roma; he has made respectable progress. He gets his les- Pierce's Geometry, with Diagrams, illustrative of sons with the help of his companion, who carefully Natural Philosophy; Political Class Book; Blind reads them over to him, and seeks out in the lexicon Child's Manual. the meaning of words he does not understand. In geometry, when the diagram is too complicated for him to retain a clear conception of it, he causes it to be "embossed" upon thick paper, that he may examine it with his fingers. The Pennsylvania Institute, besides printing portions of the Old Testament, has published a Guide to Spelling; Select Library; Student's Magazine; French Verbs; a Grammar; and two or three books in the German language. must depend, under God, for its temporal support wholly upon the voluntary principle, it seemed of much consequence to show how vigorously, and how extensively, that principle has brought the influence of the Gospel to bear in every direction upon the objects within its legitimate sphere. In doing this, I have aimed at answering a multitude of questions proposed to me during my residence in Europe. Nor is this principle less beneficial to those whom it enlists in the various enterprises of Christian philanthropy than to those who are its express objects. The very activity, energy, and self-reliance which it calls forth, are great blessings to the individual who exercises these qualities, as well as to those for whose sake they are put forth, and to the community at large. Men are so constituted as to derive happiness from the cultivation of an inde pendent, energetic, and benevolent spirit, in being co-workers with God in promoting his glory, and the true welfare of their fellow-men. Thus I have shown how, and by what means, funds are raised for the erection of church edifices, for the support of pastors, and for providing destitute places with the preaching of the Gospel-this last involvthey are apt to exercise a most corrupting influence ing the whole subject of our home mission- on one another. Let him there observe the pains taary efforts. And as ministers must be pro-ken by bands of devoted Christians, pastors, and vided for the settlements forming apace members of their flocks, to gather these into Biblein the West, as well as for the constantly classes and Sunday-schools, to induce them to at increasing population to be found in the tend church, to provide libraries of good books for them, to open public lectures on scientific and genvillages, towns, and cities of the East, I eral as well as religious subjects; above all, let hun entered somewhat at length into the sub-mark the earnestness with which faithful ministers ject of education, from the primary schools up to the theological seminaries and faculties. preach the Gospel to them, and the assiduity with which they watch for their souls; and he will perceive how much may be done, even under very unfavourable circumstances, for saving men's souls from ruin. I have never visited more virtuous communities than I have seen in some of those villages, or any in which the Gospel has triumphed more sig nally over all obstacles. It was next of importance to show how the press is made subservient to the cause of the Gospel and the extension of the kingdom of God; then, how the voluntary No manufacturing town in the United States has principle can grapple with existing evils in grown up more rapidly than Lowell, near the Merri society, such as intemperance, Sabbath mac River, about thirty miles northwest of Boston. breaking, slavery, and war, by means of It was but a small village not many years ago, and diverse associations formed for their re- these had increased to 20,000. As it derives great in 1827 had only 3500 inhabitants. But in 1840 pression or removal; and, finally, I have re-advantages for cotton, woollen, and other factories. viewed the beneficent and humane institutions of the country, and shown how much the voluntary principle has had to do with their origin and progress. The reader who has had the patience to follow me thus far, must have been struck with the vast versatility, if I may so speak, of this great principle. Not an exigency occurs in which its application is called for, but forthwith those who have the heart, the hand, and the purse to meet the case, combine their efforts. Thus the principle seems to extend itself in every direction with an all-powerful influence. Adapting itself to every variety of circumstances, it acts wherever the Gospel is to be preached, wherever vice is to be attacked, and wherever suffering humanity is to be relieved.* *There is one field on which the voluntary principle is accomplishing perhaps as great triumphs, and diffusing as happy an influence as on any other, but which I have not yet noticed. I refer to that presented by the numerous manufacturing establishments which have been springing up during the last five-and-twenty years in the Middle and Northern States. Large factories in the Old World are proverbial for ignorance and vice. But if a man would like to see religion flourishing in manufacturing towns and among" operatives," let him visit some of those towns in New-England in which cotton, woollen, or other factories have grown up, and where hundreds, in some instances thousands, of men and women are collected together under circumstances in which | from the vast water-power it possesses, several companies have built large mills, and employ a great number of people, mostly young women above fifteen years of age, who have been led to leave other parts of New-England by the inducement of higher wages than they could command at home. This is an object with some, in order that they may help their poor parents; with others, that they may find means to prosecute their education; and with a third and in their native districts, come to earn for themselves numerous class, who, being betrothed to young men a little "outfit" for the married life. Let us see what opportunities for religious instruction are presented to these young persons. In 1840 there were fifteen or sixteen churches in Lowell, in the Sunday-schools attached to ten of which there were 4936 scholars and 433 teachers; in all, 5369. About three fourths of the scholars are girls, a large proportion of whom are above fifteen years of age. More than 500 became hopefully pious others in regard to religion. Including the Sunday in 1839, yet that year was not more remarkable than schools attached to the other five or six churches, the whole number of scholars and teachers for 1840 considerably exceeded 6000, and nearly equalled a third of the population. Nearly 1000 of the factory girls had funds in the savings banks, amounting, in all, to 100.000 dollars. A decided taste for reading prevails among them. When in Lowell in the summer of 1841, I found that two monthly magazines of handsome appearance were publishing there. One of these was the "Operatives' Magazine," and the other the "Lowell Offering." Both were of 8vo form, the one containing sixteen pages, the other thirty-two. Both displayed very considerable talent, and the Offering was filled with original articles, written solely by the female operatives. A third periodical has since been established, conducted by the same class of people. We now take leave of this part of our work, to enter on that for which all that has hitherto been said must be considered as preparatory-I mean the direct work of bringing men to the knowledge and possession of SALVATION. BOOK V. THE CHURCH AND THE PULPIT IN AMERICA. CHAPTER I. IMPORTANCE OF THIS PART OF THE SUBJECT. thing which would impede the discharge of its high functions. But we must not misapprehend the We now come to that part of our sub- Church's office. She has received no power ject which more immediately bears upon of original legislation. She is nothing but the salvation of men's souls, and the im- an agent. Christ is the Lawgiver and the portance of which will be readily owned, Head of the Church. He has given her the therefore, by all who rightly appreciate revelation of his will, and clearly defined the nature and value of that salvation. her sphere of action. Nor can she justly It is interesting to mark the influence of expect his blessing if she goes beyond the Christian institutions on society-the re-boundaries of her duty. pose of the Sabbath-the civilizing effect By a holy life on the part of her memof the people assembling in their churches bers; by a conversation such as becometh -and the great amount of knowledge saints; by well-directed efforts to make communicated in the numerous discourses of a well-instructed ministry. Apart from higher considerations, the benefits indirectly conferred upon a community by an evangelical ministry are well worth all that it costs. It softens and refines manners, promotes health, by promoting attention to cleanliness and the frequent change of apparel it diffuses information, and rouses minds that might otherwise remain ignorant, inert, and stupid. But what is this compared with the preparation of the immortal spirit for its everlasting destiny? This world, after all, is but the place of our education for a better; of how much moment, then, that the period of our pupilage should be rightly spent! The Church, with its institutions, is of Divine ordination. It was appointed by its great Author to be the depositary of the economy of salvation as far as human cooperation is concerned, and is designed to combine all the human agencies which God, in infinite wisdom, has resolved to employ in the accomplishment of that salvation. How important, then, that the Church should meet the design of its Divine Founder, not only as regards its proper character, but also in the development and right employment of the influences known the Gospel to dying men everywhere, whether by the faithful proclamation of it on the part of the ministry whom God hath appointed, or by more familiar instruction in the Sunday-school and the Bible-class, or around the family altar, or by the distribution of the Scriptures and other religious books, united with constant, fervent, and believing prayer, that the Holy Spirit may render all these means successful, the Church is required to exert her influence in saving the world. It is thus that she becomes "the light of the world;" it is thus that she proves herself to be "the salt of the earth." But, in order to fulfil this high mission, she ought to be as nearly as possible what the Saviour of men intended her to be-a company of saints redeemed by his blood, renewed by his Spirit, and devoted to his service-ever bearing the cross, that she may wear the crown, and preparing for that day when she shall be presented to her Lord, "not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing," but "holy and without blemish," for she is "his body." CHAPTER II. which it was constituted to put forth for THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES IN THE UNITED the salvation of the world! STATES MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE. As the Church on earth is but preparatory THIS is a point of inexpressible importo the Church in heaven, it was obviously tance to the prosperity of a church; and I intended to bear some resemblance to the rejoice to say that such is the light in which celestial state. As the depositary to which it is viewed by Christians of all the evanGod has committed the custody of his re-gelical denominations in the United States, vealed truth, and as his chosen instrument almost without exception. for its diffusion among mankind, it ought I do not suppose that there is a single obviously to be kept as pure as is possible evangelical church in the country that does for an institution placed in the hands of not keep a record of its members; I mean imperfect creatures at the best, from every-of those whom it has received according to |