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fituations, where they may learn to become ufeful members of fociety 

 and obtain an independent livelihood, by honefl induRry. I would con- 

 fider, alfo, as orphans, the children of the criminal poor. Where chil- 

 dren are thus rendered orphans, by the mendicity or criminality of their 

 parents ; the legiflature ought to effeft a reparation between them, with 

 the unlparing hand of a Item mercy. And this feparation fliould con- 

 tinue, till the education of the child was completed. One defcription 

 of children we may call orphans of death, another, orphans of dere- 

 liftion. 



Some queflions may arife. — Shall any diftinftion of ranks be admit- 

 ted into the orphan houfes, and fchools of general infliniftion ? — Shall 

 we admit them, with a reference to the origin of children, and difcrimi- 

 nate them into feparate divifions, and diftinft places of refidence, with a 

 preference, in favour of the circumftances of refpeclability, and moral 

 eftimation, which will, commonly accompany the parentage of orphans 

 by death ? — Or, rejecting all diftinftions, but thofe, which naturally re- 

 fult, from the difference, of fex and age, fliall we adopt a principle of 

 equality, and hope, that uniform treatment, and uniform inllruftion, fliall 

 produce, in the little members of thofe communities, uniform advances 

 in morals and induftry ? — What fyftem and form of education fliall be 

 adopted ? In what fpecific taflcs, in what particular branches of manu- 

 fafture, or details of induftry, fliall the different divifions of fex and age 

 be employed? Thefe, and many other interefting queries, refpefting 

 the plan of education, and courfe of economy, to be obferved, in or- 

 phan houfes, and other charitable feminaries, will fuggefl; themfelves, to 

 the good fenfe of the humane and patriotic perfons, who may engage 

 in the formation of fuch eflablifliments. But, were I capable of an- 

 fwering them, the difcuflion would occupy more room, than can be af- 

 forded, within the limits of the prefent effay. Let us proceed, — To 

 an orphan houfe, and feminary for infants, I would fuperadd a work- 

 iioufe, and penitentiary, for adults of both fexes. Thofe who fliould 

 be received, only as objefts of compaflTion, and relief, fliould be kept 



feparate 



