per object, and for many years the existence of the misappropriation may have been unsuspected. Trusts are every where found defeated by their originally imperfect construction,-most commonly by defective powers of appointment where vacancies arise. And cases have occurred, where those who were bound to make payments, could find nobody entitled to receive, so that they were obliged to keep the money in their own hands. His decided opinion was, that a great majority of the abuses discovered, would be found to consist of these classes, and to reflect no blame on any one, except, perhaps, the original Founders of the Charity, who may have been negligent, or their immediate Successors, who may have begun the abuses that time has both perpetuated and made innocent by concealing their origin.

This admirable speech was concluded by the following still more noble sentiments," It is impossible," said he, "for me to close these remarks without expres

sing the extraordinary gratification which I feel, in observing how amply the Poor of this Country have in all ages been endowed by the pious munificence of individuals. It is with unspeakable delight that I contemplate the rich gifts, which have been bestowed,-the honest zeal displayed by private persons for the benefit of their fellow creatures. When we inquire from whence proceeded these magnificent endowments, we generally find, that it is not from the public policy, nor the bounty of those who in their day póssessing princely revenues, were anxious to devote a portion of them for the benefit of mankind, not from those, who, having amassed vast fortunes by public employment, were desirous to repay in Charity a little of what they had thus levied upon the State :-It is far more frequently, some obscure personage,-some tradesman of humble birth,-who, grateful for the education which had enabled him to acquire his wealth through honest industry, turned a portion of it from the claims of nearer

connexions to enable other helpless creatures in circumstances like his own, to meet the struggles which he himself had undergone. In the history of this Country, public or domestic, I know of no feature more touching than this, unless, perhaps, it may be the yet more affecting sight of those who every day before our eyes are seen devoting their fortunes, their time, their labour, their health to offices of Benevolence and Mercy. How many persons do I myself know, to whom it is only necessary to say, there are men without employment, children uneducated,— sufferers in prison,-victims of disease,-wretches pining in want,—and straightway they will abandon all other pursuits, as if they themselves had not large families to provide for, and toil for days and for nights, stolen from their own most necessary avocations, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shed upon the children of the Poor that inestimable blessing of Education, which alone gave themselves the wish and the power to re

lieve their fellow-men!-I survey this picture with inexpressible pleasure, and the rather, because it is a Glory peculiar to England. She has the more cause to be proud of it, that it is the legitimate fruit of her free Constitution. Where Tyrants bear sway, Palaces may arise to lodge the Poor, and Hospitals may be the most magnificent ornaments of the seat of Power. But, though fair to the eye, and useful to some classes, their foundations are laid in the Sufferings of others. They are supported, not by private Beneficence, which renders a pleasure to the giver as well as a comfort to him who receives,— but by the hard-won earnings of the Poor, wrung from their Wants, and frequently by the preposterous imposts levied upon their Vices. While the Rulers of any people withhold from them the enjoyment of their most sacred rights,-a voice in the management of their own affairs,-they must continue strangers to those Noble sentiments, that honest elevation of purpose, which distinguishes Freemen, teaches

them to look beyond the sphere of personal interest, makes their hearts beat high, and stretches out their arms for the glory and the advantage of their Country. There is no more degrading effect of Despotism than that it blunts the charitable feelings of our nature, rendering men suspicious and selfish, and forgetful that they have a Country. Happily for ENGLAND, she has still a People capable of higher things :but I have been led away from my purpose, which was only to express my admiration of those humane individuals, whose conduct I have so long witnessed,of whom if I have spoken very warmly,— it is because I feel much more for them than I can describe,-and whose deserts are indeed far, far above any praise that language can bestow.""

The consideration to which this important subject now gave rise in Parliament, issued in the introduction of a Bill, the object of which was somewhat altered from the original intention of Mr.

9 The Parliamentary Debates, vol. xxxviii. p. 610.

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