SUPPLEMENT TO THE CONNECTICUT COURANT. VOL. IV. MAY 9, 1836. NO. 32. THE PALMER'S MORNING HYMN. trasts between paganism and christianity LAUDED be thy name forever, Thou of life the guard and giver! Thou canst guard thy creatures sleeping; Heal the heart long broke with weeping; Rule the ouphes and elves at will That vex the air or haunt the hill, And all the fury subject keep Thine the flaming sphere of light! HOGG. FROM THE NEW-YORK OBSERVER. DR. HUMPHREY'S TOUR.-NO. VIII. LONDON. BENEVOLENT & CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. No city in the world, I believe, can vie with London, in the number of its instituLions, for the active and munificent distribution of christian charity, to all classes of sufferers, whether from the inevitable visiations of Providence, or their own vices. Paris has more great hospitals, perhaps; but not near so many asylums, on a modePate and convenient scale, for the relief of suffering in the infinite variety of forms which it assumes, in a vast commercial metropolis. One of the most striking con is, that while the former never endowed a public hospital, nor founded an orphan asylum, or a retreat for the blind, or the aged, or the insane, these and similar institutions always spring up and floursh, wherever the latter exists, and gains an ascendency over the public mind. The difference, certainly, is not so marked, between Catholic and Protestant countries; for Romanism has founded a vast multitude of institutions for charitable purposes. But the nature and tendencies of a very large class of them, are almost as diverse from the pure principles of the Gospel, as they are from the Polytheism of China, or Hindostan. It is notorious, that the Monasteries, Abbeys, and other religious houses, connected with the Romish church have always been nurseries of idleness, bigotry and sensuality; and these are mostly, if not universally, charitable institutions that is, they are endowed and supported, by legacies and contributions. Besides these, there are, it is true, many public hospitals, infirmaries. &c., especially in the large cities attached to the Romish faith, as well as in those embracing the doctrines of the Reformation. But the deleterious influence of many of them upon public morals, and of course upon public happiness, is but too obvious, as I may take occasion to show, when I come to speak of those which I visited in Paris. And quite sure I am, that no Catholic city in the world, can bear any comparison with London, in the number and variety of benevolent institutions and societies, for relieving the wants, enlightening the minds, mending and watching over the morals, and bettering the hearts of the poor, the ignorant and the perishing. I do not mean to intimate, by this favorable contrast, that the eye of benevolence searches out, or that its hand relieves all the children of want, in that immense metropolis; nor that its charitable institutions are all of them the best that could be devised-nor that they are more in number, or better, in proportion to the population, than in our own cities. No great system of benevolent action is yet perfect, any where. The very best of these systems, gives too much aid in some quarters, and too little in others. All we can say is, that a vast amount of good is done, and that experience is con 1 tinually suggesting important modifications and imp d improvements. So great is the number of public charities, large and small, in London, that it would take up a whole year of a traveller's time, to visit them all, and make himself tolerably acquainted with their condition and general management. My time allowed me to look into only a very few of them; but they are so much alike, in their elementary principles and most prominent features, that I flatter myself some brief notices and remarks, will be interesting to the benevolent in our own country. ROYAL UNIVERSAL INFIRMARY FOR CHIL DREN, WATERLOO BRIDGE ROAD. This infirmary which is entirely supported by voluntary contributions, was founded in 1816, with a view of diminishing the very great mortality, which had annually swept off the infant poor of London, for want of prompt medical aid. It appears from the last annual report, that the prospective advantages of such an establishment, have been more than realized in the saving of many thousands of lives, as well as in mitigating the virulence, and checking the progress of infectious diseases, the origin of which, may so frequently be traced to the hovels of the poor. The bare mention of some of the rules and regulations of this invaluable charity, will afford a tolerably correct view of its plan and efficiency. An annual subscription of one guinea, constitutes a governor with the rights of having two patients on the books at a time. A donation of ten guineas, or a subscription of this sum, within the year, constitutes a governor for life, with the privilege of having two patients on the books at a time. A donation of twenty guineas, or a subscription of this sum, within the year, constitutes a Director for life, with the privilege of recommending an unlimited number of pa tients. When a person leaves a legacy of fifty pounds, all his, or her executors are made governors for life-and if it be one hundred pounds, or more, all his, or her executors, are made directors for life. A Physician is required to attend at the infirmary every day, (Sunday excepted,) to give advice and prescribe for such patients, as shall be brought to him, and in cases of danger, he shall invaribly administer assistance on a first application, without recommendation, that is, whoever may bring the child, and though its existence should not till that moment have been known to any person connected with the infirmary. A surgeon is required to attend daily in the same manner, and to vascinate any child that may be offered, without recommendation. Besides these, a house-surgeon and apothecary, is required to reside at the infirmary, that he may be in readiness at all times, to render assistance, as well during the attendance of the Physician and Surgeon, as in their absence, and also at any and every hour, from nine o'clock in the morning, till eight in the evening, for the admission of cases of emergency, and to pre scribe in other cases from six o'clock to eight o'clock in the evening; and he is not permitted during his connection with the infirmary, to practice on his own account a shop, or in any branch of the profession, nor to cpen for the charity. The drugs and medicines dispense medicines, excepting are carefully inspected quarterly, by a med ical committee. No person is eligible for a physician, unless he be a fellow, or licen tiate of the Royal College of London-nor for a surgeon, unless he be a member of the same-nor for a house-surgeon and apoth ecary, unless he be a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and a licentiate of the Company of Apothecaries. Every one must see in these regulations, how arxious the founders of this institution were, to guard against empiricism, and to secure the best medical and surgical advice and practice. dis We may judge of the scale of economy upon which the funds are managed, from the fact, that by the annual payment of one guinea, from twenty to thirty poor children may be rescued from the ravages of ease, and their parents instructed in the most judicious mode of conducting them to manhood with the most healthy and vigor ous constitutions. As a proof of the ines timable benefit already conferred on the in fant population of London by this charity it is sufficient simply to state, that more than 121,000 poor children have been ad mitted patients; and that of these, upwarde of 115,000 have been restored to health, and only 2,321 have died. It appears to me that very few charitable institutions any where are better entitled than this is to liberal support; and judging from the list of its patrons and officers, it is highly pop ular with the upper classes. At the head of the list stand the King and Queen-then folow the Royal Dukes and Dutchesses next the Vice-Patrons, as the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Grafton, and six others-then the Lord Mayor of London, as President then a very long list of Vice | names of so many of the Nobility, of memPresidents, among whom we find the Mar- bers of Parliament, and other distinguished quis of Townsend, the Earl of Harrowby, men among them, the question has occur the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, Sir Robert Peel, Lieut. Gen. Sir Herbert Taylor, &c. Then follow visitors, directors, committees, &c. This may be taken as a pretty fair example of the manner in which the more popular charities of the British metropolis are organized and sustained. The sonorous titles, such as Most Noble-His Grace-The Right Rev. Lord, and the like, I have omitted. They sound strangely to republican ears, and I hope they will never be imported into this country, to figure in imposing capitals, on the first pages of our annual reports, or any where else. But when we are abroad, we take them as we find them, and it would not only be useless, but illiberal and captious to proscribe them, as if it were impossible for good men, under any form of government, to wear them. For my part were I to reside in England, and to be engaged in founding a great public charity, on the broad basis of our common christianity, I would not refuse the aid of any man, because he happened to be known in his own church, as His Grace the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, or the Right Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Lon don. est red to me, whether our charitable institu- SCHOOL FOR THE INDIGENT BLIND, ST. This Institution was founded no less than thirty-seven years ago, (1799;) but was not regularly incorporated till 1826. The manner of admission, as in most of the principal Charitable Institutions of London, is by election. The names of the candidates are introduced by subscribers, with the proper vouchers, as to age, character, indigence, &c., and this may be called their nomination. Regular meetings are held quarterly, or oftener, when the respective claims of the applicants are discussed, and the elections are made, in such a manner, as to give the largest subscribers the greatest number of votes. The number of inIt is a great object with the founders and mates, when I was there, was about a hunmanagers of Hospitals, Infirmaries, Orphan dred; and few more females than males. Asylutos, and other such like benevolent It is found, that pupils between the ages of institutions in England, to secure the high- twelve and eighteen, have derived the greatpatronage they can obtain, to stand at est benefit from the instruction received at the head of their respective lists of subscri- this school. The females manufacture fine bers. In looking over their Reports, you and coarse thread and twine, clothes lines, will find the King, or Queen, and some-made on a simple but ingenious machine, times both, occupying this place, on many adapted to their use. They are also emof them. When, for any cause, their MaJesties do not choose to appear, the names of some of the highest dignitaries of the church, and of the state, are more commonly obtained. Nor is it a mere nominal patPonage which these great names bestow. On the list of annual subscribers to the Infirmary for poor children, for example, the King gives twenty-one pounds, (about a hundred dollars,) and the Queen ten pounds. So in the school for the Indigent Blind, the Queen is an annual subscriber of ten pounds, ten shillings, the Duke of Cumberland twenty-one pounds, the Duke of Cambridge twenty-one pounds, &c. As Royal patroness of the Infant Orphan Asylum, the -Queen leen is contributor of fifty pounds. In looking over the list of subscribers to a few of the English Charities, and finding the ployed in knitting, and in making coarse household linen, &c. The males make shoes, hampers, wicker baskets, mats, coarse and fine, and rugs for hearths and carriages. The sale of articles during the last year, amounted to 1,973 pounds, (between nine and ten thousand dollars,) or more than ninety dollars, upon the average, for each pupil. Some of the pupils are taught music, to qualify them for organists, wherever their services may be wanted, when they leave the school; and they are also instructed in reading and writing. A chaplain is annually elected in the month of February, and it is made his duty to preach once every Sabbath, and to attend twice a week, at least, to give religious and moral instruction to the pupils. Some of them have fine voices, and sing sweetly at their work tables. A few, practice on the piano and learn to play well; and it was truly delightful, in going from room to room, to find them all so busy, so comfortable, and so cheerful. So many of them are located together in each room, and such are the kinds of labor about which they are employed, that they can keep up conversation with very little interruptiou to their work, as they seem to enjoy it, as doubtless they do, more than those who can see. Who can through go thro all the halls and apartments of such an Infirmary as this, and see at what expense it has been fitted up, and find every thing so clean and airy and comfortable-and witness the kind assiduities of those who have the charge of it, and see and converse with the inmates, and not break out with the Psalmist, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." Yours sincerely. FROM JAY'S CLOSET EXERCISES. " And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place and there prayed."-Mark i. 35. And yet he had been greatly occupied the whole of the day preceding this. We think little of time, but he never passed an idle hour. The whole of his life said, I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is yet day; the night cometh wherein no man can work. He was really a man; he took our infirmities; and wearied nature required repose; but he distinguished between the necessary and the needless; and even between refreshment and indulgence; and while he enjoyed self-denial upon his disciples, as the very first lesson in his school, "He pleased not himself." It is allowed, that as to the measure of sleep, no one rule can be laid down for all. Some require more than others. But it is questionable whether they require much more. Yea, it may be questioned whether they require any more as to length. What they want more of is better sleep; and the quality would be improved by lessening the quantity. Let those who are now so wakeful, and restless, and can only sleep sound when they ought to be rising, let them try the experiment, and see whether a few hours of sweet and solid sleep be not pref erable to the protraction of being bed-ridden, rather than of enjoying repose. We should also inquire too, whether we have not produced the habit itself that now. 1 demands so much to satisfy it. If so, we are accountable for the cause as well as the effect. We should also be always fearful ande suspicious when our reasonings and pleadings are on the side of gratification and ease. It is here, where nothing sinful thought of, and no danger appears; it is a here, we peculiarly need the admonition, Watch and pray, lest ye enter into tempta tion. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Some live only to do evil. We do not wish them to rise early-they are only harmless while they sleep. Some live a life of mere indolence and ease. They are indeed free from vice, bute they have no useful employment. It is of little importance at what time they rise There is very little difference between their sleeping and wakeful hours. The one is as barren as the other of any active endeavors an to glorify God, or serve their generation, or C work out their own salvation. But surely there are some who feel that of life is infinitely important; who know that at they are placed here to gain good, and to do an good; who remember that the only oppor tunities they have for both are short and uncertain. Surely these will say, Let us re not sleep as do others. Surely these will feel the excitement and reproach. It is high time to awake out of sleep. They that sleep, sleep in the night. ad In a word, has not early rising everyt recommendation? Is it not physically ad vantageous? Is it not better for health Consult your strength, your appetite, your nerves, your spirits, your complexion. Ast your physician. Is there a medical man upon earth that would risk his reputation by a contrary opinion? Sinclair in his vol umes on health and longevity remarks, that though those who lived to a very great age differed in many things, they all resembled each other here. There was not one of them but rose early. Is it not as desirable to our civil con cerns? What an advantage has a trades man by early rising, in planning and arrang ing his concerns for the day; in forwarding his work, and placing it under his command, and in having leisure for an incidental en gagement, without stopping or deranging the usual course of his calling? While another who has said, a little more sleep, a little more slumber, and who begins at ten what he should have commenced at six, is thrown into haste and confusion, hurries on to overtake himself, finds, through the day, his duty a turmoil, and feels himself a drudge. If we turn from the shop and look into the family, what a difference between the early and late mistress! and the early and the late servant! Even those who do not practice early rising themselves plead for the importance of it in their domestics, and would never engage them without it. Indeed, the reputation of every individual, whatever be his condition in life, is concerned in it; and his character in the Meelings of others, is unavoidably lowered by late rising, unless there be a known and justifiable cause. Above all, is it not morally important? The heathens said the morning was the friend to the muses. It is surely a friend to the graces. If it be the best time for study, it is also the best time for devotion. It is better to go from prayer to business, than from business to prayer. Intercourse with God prepares us for our intercourse with our fellow creatures, and for every occurrence, whether pleasing or painful. Who would go out in the morning, not knowing what a day may bring forth, and feeling his gnorance and weakness, and depravity and Manger, without retiring first, and committing himself to God? Boerhaave, the celebrated physician, rose early in the morning, and through life his practice was to retire an hour for private prayer and meditation. Tis, he often told his friends, gave him firmness and vigor for the business of the day. He recommended it, therefore, from experience, as one of the best rules of life. The great Judge Hale, too, rose early, and retired for prayer, and read a portion of God's word; without which, he said nothing prospered with him all the day. But ee the Lord of all!! What did He? FROM CHAMBERS' EDINBURGH JOURNAL. THE EFFORTS OF GENIUS. It is found, on examining a Biographical Dictionary of distinguished individuals in All ages and countries, amounting to about ive thousand in number, that the largest Proportion are Frenchmen, next the EngJish, Scotch, and German, and next the Italians, Dutch, and other nations. How it happens that there have been more men in France than in England who have arrived at distinction is accounted for, not by the comparative largeness of the country, but by the circumstance that the French make a point of patronizing men of genius, whether they be poor or otherwise; while in England, few persons of talent, if they be not rich, or well-dressed, have the chance of receiving any patronage from the great. Out of the five thousand individuals, about a sixth have been descended from the upper classes, and there are not more than a dozen kings; another sixth are of unknown origin, but may be presumed to belong to the middle ranks, of which there is distinctly about another sixth; the remaining, three-sixths or the one-half, have been either descended from the trading or the poorer classes, and have personally undergone severe struggles with poverty in elevating themselves to distinction. It is also found that many men, who have arrived at eminence, began by studying mathematics, to which they voluntarily attached themselves. The most curious branch of this inquiry is that relative to the original condition of those who have risen from the lower ranks. Strangely enough, some trades seem to have produced more men of genius than others. For example, there are many instances of shoemakers rising to great eminence in literary and other pursuits. There have been also various learned men who began life as tailors; various as weavers; and a number of gardeners, and stone masons. More remarkably still, many eminent men in ancient times, were originally slaves or common soldiers. There have been some striking instances of men of genius being the sons of watchmakers. The following list of distinguished men, who have in this manner risen from the humbler ranks, will be perused with some degree of interest. Esop, Publius, Syrus, Terence, and Epictetus, all distinguished men in ancient times, were slaves at their outset in life. Protagoras, a Greek philosopher, was at first a common porter. Cleanthus, another philosopher, was a pugilist, and also supported himself by drawing water and carrying burdens. The late professor Heyne, of Gottingen, one of the greatest classical scholars of his own or any other age, was the son of a poor weaver, and for many years had to struggle with the most depressing poverty. The efforts of this excellent man of genius appear to have been greater and more protracted than those of any other on record, but he was finally rewarded with the highest honors. Bandoccini, one of the learned of the sixteenth century, was the son of a shoemaker, and he worked for |