sink, under their afflictions, into despair and death. Indeed, small as have been the means of this society, it has the happiness to believe, that it has preserved for future usefulness, the lives of several valuable individuals, who, from the complicated distress of poverty and sickness, without such assistance, must have fallen under their accumulated weight.

"Nor are such scenes uncommon amongst the thousands who, from various causes, emigrate to this country; for, ita foreigner, when he arrives in this city, be possessed of a small sum of money, if he do not get into immediate employ, the very high price of every necessary of life soon consumes it; especially if he happen to have a family, or fall sick, the latter of which is not improbable, from the change of climate and manner of living.*

"It was to prevent, or at least to alleviate as much as was in their power, these evils attendant on emigration, that a number of individuals instituted this society in August 1791, and which has since been supported by an annual subscription of one dollar, together with a few but generous donations, and occasional charity sermons; and though it has not been enabled to do all the good which the members wished, from the want of adequate means, yet it appears from the report of the acting committee, "That it has given such information to sixty-seven emigrants, on their arrival, as to obtain for them almost immediate employment; that it has afforded peuniary assistance to one hundred and twenty persons in actual distress, and, to many of them, advanced money to purchase working tools," &c. and from the report of the physician. it appears, That pecuniary and medical aid has

* What, then, shall be said of those miscreant, who are engaged, by the land-jobbers, in inveigling poor creatures from the British dominions?

VOL. XII.

been

been granted to between sixty and seventy sick and needy emigrants, many of whom laboured under infectious diseases, and who would most probably have been lost, but for the timely and unremitting attention which was given to them.

"So much good having been effected by this yet infant society, what may it not be expected to accomplish, when it shall become more generally supported, as its friends doubt not it will, when the public shall be more fully apprized than it has yet been of its benevolent and beneficial tendency? For surely there are not many inhabitants of this country who, when they are told by a society which has made it a primary object to enquire into the subject, that there is much unalleviated distress amongst persons newly arrived here, arising from sickness and other causes, and for which there is no adequate public provision, who will withhold their support to an institution whose object is to comfort, advise and relieve this unfortunate class of our fellow men. This society, therefore, constantly make it their business to have advertisements delivered on board every vessel containing passengers, which comes to this port, immediately on its arrival, which advertisements invite all, who want assistance, to apply for it as therein directed, distress being the only recommendation to ensure to them all the good which this establishment has it in its power to afford.

"The object of this institution being so purely benevolent, no other consideration should seem to be necessary to induce a general concurrence in its support. But it may be further asserted, with truth, to be closely connected with the public interests of the country, since the advantages resulting from emigration, in a national view, are great and obvious. Men of talents and industry coming here from every part of the world, add to the com

mon

mon stock of the talents and industry of the country, and are doubtless, therefore, a great acquisition, as by their means not only the arts and sciences are improved, but manual labour is multiplied, so that agriculture is promoted, and every national improvement is encouraged and effected.

If any thing more were necessary to shew the propriety (if not duty) of supporting this institution, the opinion entertained of it by the late President Washington might have some weight. He thus expresses himself in answer to an address presented to him by the society on the anniversary of his birth-day, in 1796 The principles of benevolence on which the society is founded, and which regulate its proceedings, entitle it to the approbation of all your fellow-citizens."-If, then, this sentiment be true, the society trusts that this call for attention to the distressed emigrant stranger, will not be in vain.

"By order of the Society,

"HENRY ANDREW HEINS, President.

"Attest,

"J. KENRICK, Secretary."

Philadelphia, June 24, 1797.

"To afford the fullest information which can be given to the public on this subject, the society. have just published their act of incorporation, constitution and by-laws, together with the laws of the United States, and of the state of Pennsylvania, relative to emigrants, which may be had of all the booksellers; the profits on the sale of which are proposed to be added to the fund of the insti tution.

"The society intends to follow this address by personal application to their fellow-citizens for support

C 2

support to this yet infant establishment, which wants only the further means of extending its benevolent designs.

"The Committee of Conference and Correspondence of this Society meet every Monday evening, at seven o'clock, at No. 142, North Third-street, and the stated monthly meetings are held at the College in Fourth-street, the first Wednesday in every month, at the same hour. Subscriptions will also be received at all times by the President, Henry Andrew Heins, at No. 142, North Third street; by the Treasurer, Thomas Newnham, No. 145, North Second-street; * by the Register, Mark Kaennel, No. 103, North Second-street; or by the Secretary, John Kenrick, No. 67, North Third-street."

WASHINGTON's DEATH.

The immediate cause of the death of this man will be seen clearly explained in Vol. XI. That the lancet, which has destroyed, in America, many more than have been destroyed by the Yellow Fever, put an end to his existence, no one can doubt.

It is not my intention to enter, at present, into an examination of the character, or conduct, of Washington, that is a task which I reserve, till the

* This Thomas Newnham was a Birmingham man, and one of the followers of Priestley. He received a stipend from the land-jobbers, for inveigling people from England.

In 1799, the Committee of the Guardians of the Poor for the city of Philadelphia, reported, that, during the sickness of that year, they gave pecuniary aid to nine hundred and ninetynine families, ni y of which were emigrants lately from Ireland. Yet Doctor Priestley wrote home to the artisans of England, and told them, that, in America, there was bardly a family in " avant!!!

long

long promised History of his Life shall come from the pen of his American biographer. In the mean time, I here insert a few curious articles, to a publication of which his death gave rise.

The Letters, in which the death of Washington was announced to the Congress, will be found in the Review of Mr. Hamilton's Pamphlet, in this Volume. The two following ones seem necessary to complete the collection.

"Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

"IN compliance with the request in one of the resolutions of Congress of the 21st of Dec. last, I transmitted a copy of those resolutions by my Secretary, Mr. Shaw, to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character-of their condolence in the late afflicting dispensation of Providence, and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, in the manner expressed in the first resolution.-As the sentiments of that virtuous lady, not less beloved by this nation, than she is at present greatly afflicted, can never be so well expressed as in her own words, I transmit to Congress her original letter.

"It would be an attempt of too much delicacy, to make any comments upon it ;-but there can be no doubt that the nation at large, as well as all the branches of the government, will be highly gratified by any arrangement which may diminish the sacrifice she makes of her individual feelings.

"JOHN ADAMS,"

"United States, Jan. 8, 1800."

с 3

MRS.