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amiable Female Hospitable, as well as other charitable societies; may kind heaven smile upon these lovely women and benevolent men. Yes, most assuredly if any thing can attract the approving smue of God, it must be such disinterested philanthropy. I wish I could speak thus honorably of the clergy of New York, I waited upon some, sent private letters to others, and published four thousand lengthy and pathetic addresses to them all in behalf of the poor in vain, they heard my tale of woe, but would not understand; particularly one, whom I called upon, when he was putting on his sacerdotal silk and cambric, and going to personify our benevolent Redeemer, he treated my request with contempt, though a short address from him would have gained 1500 dollars for the poor, many of whom were perishing that time; particularly, a child who was absolutely frozen to death, begging from door to door in Cherry-street, New York, for a little food, perhaps to save a sick and perishing parent. Yet no doubt the professors, at whose doors she was begging relief in vain, and the ministers with whom I was humbly pleading, that they might plead the cause of the poor before their rich auditors, I say, no doubt, they have not the least apprehension that the Almighty, who counted the hairs of this little mendicant's head, saw

her perish with pity, but beheld with indignation their inhumanity, who refused her a friendly shade, the coldest day I ever experienced even in Russia.

CIRCULAR.

A Plea for the Poor, respectfully addressed to the Rich; particularly the Clerical community.

When the pressure of the times are great on the Poor, all humane persons should contribute their individual exertions to alleviate the same; and above all men, Clergymen, should be foremost in this labour of love; and he who neglects this line of conduct, is guilty of the crime of cruelty; a more inexcusable crime than which, no man can commit. But the eloquent minister, who has the opportunity to gain 85, or 1500, from his rich auditory, for the relief of his perishing fellow mortals, by a short, but pathetic address, and refuses to grant this small, almost no favour, must surely be very reprehensible in the sight of a compassionate God.

The Theatrical community, the Harmonic Society, and other public and private

institutions, have come forward with a philanthropy, that is an honour to humanity, to alleviate the miseries of the poor, this calamitous winter. Let the Clerical community be as unanimous as the above communities have been, to my knowledge, at least, in New-York, and Philadelphia, and it will have the two-fold effect of relieving many perishing, though worthy families, reduced to penury, by the calamities of war; and removing from the minds of a discerning population, the recollection of the parable of the good Samaritan, to their disadvantage. Every minister should deliver at least one charity discourse a winter, for the relief of the poor. Some have literally perished with hunger and cold, and many suffer grievously, while those who should lead the van, in the ranks of philanthropy, do not even bring up the rear: I mean the ministers of religion in general. Particular instances of their liberal excrtions in behalf of the poor, have been witnessed in the persons of Dr. Staughton, and Messrs Brodhead, Sargeant, and Milnor, and others would to heaven, their commendable example was generally imitated! It gives me pleasure to mention their names.

The managers of the New Theatre, have published next Monday night's profits to be given to the poor; and Mr. Peale will, if.

admissible, (like the generous Mr. Scudder, of New-York,) exhibit his grand Museum, a day and night for their benefit: and a committee of benevolent gentlemen, are begging from door to door, in every ward for them. May kind Heaven amply reward them here, and hereafter, for their commendable liberality! Surely, no man who has a drop of generous blood in his veins, can let them beg in vain.

I hope this hint will stimulate some Clergymen, to deliver charitable addresses, for the relief of their poor fellow creatures; and may some wealthy individuals, be induced thereby, to aid the funds of the different Charitable Institutions in this city; particularly the Female Hospitable Society, who have relieved with a commendable alacrity, some thousands of the children of misfortune this winter. Donations in cash, old-clothes, religious tracts, or remnants of wet or dry goods, will be received at their Cotton Manufactory in Apple-tree Alley, for the relief and instruction of the poor, with sincere gratitude.

Phila. Feb. 27th, 1815.

Not only the manager of the New Theatre,but Mr. Peale has also most generously contributed to the relief of the poor, by an evening's exhibition of his admirable Mu

seum. Some bigotted professors have ob jected to play-actors contributing to the relief of the poor, by delivering an oration in their theatre on their behalf; and censure me for stimulating them to do so. Such men I can but pity and despise. With equal propriety might the ancient Jews censure the good Samaritan, and vindicate the bad Levite and Priest. Indeed, when I consider the covetousness of priests and professors, and their injustice to me, I can scarce refrain from wishing for kind death to deliver me from a world of hypocrisy and oppression; which led me to transpose the subsequent Lamentation, which was originally a song. It exhibits exactly my experience at the present crisis.

The Philanthropist's Complaint.

HOW great my grief and anguish,
Of every hope bereaved!
How oft sigh and languish !
How by my friends deceived!
Still wishing, still desiring,
To peace in vain aspiring,
A thousand tears I shed,
In nightly tribute sped,
In nightly tribute sped.

My own frail heart betraying,
And friends no longer true:
No smiles my face arraying,

No heart so fraught with woe.

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