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AN

ADDRESS,

DELIVERED IN THE ORPHAN ASYLUM,

NEW-YORK,

FEBRUARY 5, 1822,

ON THE

CONFLAGRATION OF THE ORPHAN HOUSE

IN THE

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

ON THE 23d of JAN.

BY JOHN STANFORD, A. M.

The Clock strikes EIGHT; the tender Orphans repose in sleep.
The Clock strikes THREE; the affrighted Babes are wrapt in flames !

PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF

THE BOARD OF DIRECTION OF THE ORPHAN ASYLUM.

NEW-YORK:

PRINTED BY E. CONRAD,

NO. 4 FRANKFORT-ST.

1822.

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THE following short ADDRESS may have nothing in it materially to interest the matured mind, other than its simplicity and sincerity. It is the plain effusion of a heart disposed to make serious impressions upon an assembly of one hundred and forty orphan children; and, to teach them how to feel for the miseries of others. Such as it is, with sincere respect, it is dedicated to the Ladies who have the direction of this INSTITUTION; and, to the afflicted DIRECTRESSES

OF THE ORPHAN ASYLUM IN PHILADELPHIA.

New-York, March 1, 1822.

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ADDRESS.

CHILDREN,

WISHING to avail myself of every occurrence, however affecting, to promote your instruction and benefit, I shall this morning address you upon the late calamity in Philadelphia, produced by the destruction of the ORPHAN HOUSE in that city. The text which I have selected is

MATTHEW II. 17, 18.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not.

The history of this text, is supposed by some, to describe the state of the children of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, when for their sins and idolatry, they were taken captives by Nebuchadnezzar; some of them slain by the sword, and others carried prisoners to Babylon. On that affecting event, the mothers of Israel are described in tears under the character of Rachel, though she had been long dead; because, she was the affectionate mother of Joseph and Benjamin, from whom two of the principal tribes of Israel descended.-But, although the lamentation on that distressing occasion was extremely severe, the Prophet Jeremiah certainly

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