aways in the state of Pennsylvania," or from other states. The venerable Franklin was the first president of this society. The present president is Dr. Rush. The active duties of this society fall upon the acting committee, consisting of six members. Able counsellors are chosen to assist the society, who cheerfully give advice when required. At present there are only two slaves in Philadelphia, whose attachment to their masters is so great, as to induce them to prefer their situation to uncontrouled freedom.

Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons.

This society was formed in the year 1787, and was proposed by an active citizen in the cause of the reformation of the penal code, in order to alleviate some of the miseries attendant thereon. Their design will best appear by the preamble to the constitution, viz.

"When we consider that the obligations of benevolence, which are founded on the precepts and examples of the author of Christianity, are not cancelled by the follies or crimes of our fellow creatures: and when we reflect upon the miseries which penury, hunger, cold, unnecessary severity, unwholesome apartments, and guilt (the usual attendants of prisons) involve with them; it becomes us to extend our compassion to that part of mankind, who are the subjects of those miseries. By the aid of humanity, their undue and illegal sufferings may be prevented, the links which should bind the whole family of mankind together, under all circumstances, be preserved unbroken and such degrees and modes of punishment may be discovered and suggested, as may, instead of continuing habits of vice, become the means of restoring our fellow creatures to virtue and happiness. From a conviction of the truth and obliga

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tion of these principles, the subscribers have associated themselves under the title of "The Philadelphia Society for alleviating the miseries of public prisons."

The officers of the society consist of a president, two vice-presidents, two secretaries, a treasurer, an electing committee of ten, and an acting committee, annually chosen.

The acting committee consists of the president, two vice-presidents, and six other members, three of whom go out at the meetings in January and July. It is their duty to visit the prisons at least once a month, to inquire into the circumstances of the prisoners, and report such abuses as they shall discover, to the proper officers appointed to remedy them; and to examine the influence of confinement or punishment upon the morals of the prisoners. They may draw upon the treasurer for such sums of money as may be necessary. They keep regular minutes of their proceedings, to be read at every quarterly meeting of the society.

Every member upon his admission contributes one dollar, and one dollar annually towards defraying its contingent expenses.

The appointment of the board of inspectors of the prison, and the admirable regulations which have been from time to time introduced therein, have very materially lessened the duties of this society. Nevertheless they still find occasion for their attention among that class of prisoners put in for trial, who would suffer in winter for clothes, and sometimes are improperly detained, or from inattention, are not brought to trial.

President-William White, D. D.

Vice-Presidents-William Rogers, D. D. Thomas

Wistar.

Secretaries-Caleb Cresson, jun. Roberts Vaux.
Treasurer-Israel W. Morris.

There was a society established in the winter of 1776, under the name of "The Philadelphia Society for assisting distressed prisoners," and it appears that a very considerable number of citizens cheerfully became members, who paid a subscription of 10s: and that the managers by an attention to the necessities of the prisoners, afforded considerable relief to them, during the existence of the society, which by a minute on their book, appears to have been about nineteen months.

Magdalen Society,

Was instituted in the year 1800. Its objects are "to aid in restoring to the paths of virtue; to be instrumental in recovering to honest rank in life, those unhappy females, who have been robbed of their innocence, and are desirous of returning to a life of rectitude." It was incorporated in the year 1802. An asylum has been opened near the corner of Sassafras, on Schuylkill Second-street, and several females admitted. The members of the society are numerous, and the funds annually increasing.

The following is the report of the managers, for

The expenses of the house, &c. have been as fol

Private and Endowed Institutions.-1. Friends Alms House.

This establishment is supported by the Society of Friends, for the benefit of their own poor. It consists of a number of single rooms, opening into a lot which is appropriated to the cultivation of medicinal herbs. Such of the occupants as are able to work, diminish the expense of their support by labour of a light kind, and contribute much to the convenience of the citizens. Silks and feathers, and other articles of dress, are there washed: quilting is also neatly done.

FEMALE SOCIETIES FOR EMPLOYMENT.

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2. Christ Church Hospital,

Is an endowment for aged women of the episcopal church, made by Dr. John Kearsly, formerly an eminent physician of Philadelphia; who bequeathed for this purpose, an estate, chiefly landed, which he vested in the rector, church wardens and vestry-men of the united churches of Christ church and St. Peters.

Since the establishment of this institution, it has received a considerable addition of property, by the gift of Joseph Dobbins, a native of Philadelphia; but long resident in South Carolina. Dr. Kearsly's will requires that the women supported by this institution, shall be supplied with meat, drink, lodging, and have medical attendance. There are now 26 women on the foundation, which is at 111 Mulberry-street.

Associations for General Charity-1. Female Society for the Employment of the Poor.

This was instituted by the late Ann Parrish, of the society of Friends, at the close of the year 1793, when a pestilential epidemic had swept off thousands of our citizens, leaving many widows with children, to struggle with poverty and all its attendant evils. The founder of this Society associating herself with several friends, sought out the haunts of wretchedness, comforted the sick, supplied their wants, and directed the hand of the industrious to labour.

The great good produced by their exertions, excited very general attention among the benevolent religious society to which they belonged; and occasioned them to form a regular association, to be supported by subscription, for the purpose of relieving the wants of indigent females during the winter Aware of the evils attendant upon an indiscriminate

season.