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the eftablifliment of an orphan-houfe, if pofTible, in each county, at 

 leaft, in each province, for the reception and inftruftion of children, 

 left deftitute, by the death of their parents, or deferted by them. In 

 thefe feminaries, they might be inftrufted, in the principles of religion, 

 employed in fuch branches of ufeful labour, and finally bred up to 

 fiich trades, and callings, as may beft fuit the health, the bodily flrength, 

 and difpofitions of the children, or the local fituation of the orphan- 

 houfe. 



I would confider all children as orphans, whofe parents, being men- 

 dicants, inftead of difcharging the parental duty, carry about their offspring, 

 as the inflruments of pernicious and diffolute callings, and too often teach 

 them, to anticipate a wretched and early profligacy. There can be no 

 cruelty, in feparating fuch children from fuch parents. There can be no 

 cruelty in the refcuing innocent infants, from certain wretchednefs, pro- 

 bable vice, and poffible violent death, at the hands of juftice ; to 

 place them in a ftate of induflry and comfort, of virtue and indepen- 

 dence. I would, therefore, confer on the magiftrates of counties, and 

 on the governors, and direftors of thefe orphan-houfes, full power and 

 difcretion to take their children, or reputed children, from all ftrol- 

 ling beggars, and idle vagrant perfons, and to lodge them in thefe fe- 

 minaries of induflry. 



To an orphan-houfe, for infants, I would add a work-houfe, for 

 adults, where the idle and diffolute fliould be compelled to labour, and 

 the induflrious, wanting employment, fhould be freely received, and fct 

 to work, on fuch tafks, as might turn to the beft account, for the in- 

 ftitution and therafelves. — Many parts of the manufaftures, of flax, hemp, 

 wool, and cotton, might be thus carried on. Fifhing nets, cordage, 

 fhoes, and knit hofe, and gloves, might be made to advantage. Dif- 

 ferent ages and degrees, of flrength, might be judicioufly combined, 

 and a very moderate fliare of preliminary inftruftions, with the atten- 

 tion of intelligent overfeers, would prove fufficient. 



It 



