432 [Assembly 



contact with such scenes, must become greatly flebased, and its fall 

 before the assaults of vice rendered almost certain. 



In reply to the latter part of the question, allow me to say, that 

 neither extreme of society is favorable to the highest appreciation of 

 morality. The rich man who delights in sinful indulgence, and re- 

 tains his position in society by his gold, places really no higher esti- 

 mate upon virtue for its own sake, than the veriest wretch, who in 

 the eye of day, wallows in the very mire of moral pollution. From 

 such a one, to him who retains his place among his fellows by his 

 virtues, there is, doubtless, a regular gradation in the appreciation' 

 of morals and character. 



2d. Physical distress often introduces me to the acquaintance of 

 families, when if they were in other circumstances, access-to them 

 might not be obtained; yet before any moral or spiritual instruction 

 will be regarded, the wants and ailments of body must first be cared 

 for. 



Before the formation of the " Society for the improvement of the 

 condition of the poor," my usefulness was greatly curtailed from the 

 impossibility of ministering to the physical wants of the poor; now 

 it is otherwise, thanks to the noble men comprising that society. 



3d. This question, I answer unhesitatingly, in the affirmative. 



4th. The law of kindness in the heart, and the words of sympathy 

 upon the lips, afford the surest avenue to the confidence of the poor, 

 and will succeed when legal coercion will utterly fail. Use the former 

 when you can, the latter when you must. 



5th. The success or failure of such visitation would depend very 

 much, if not entirely, upon the character of the officer, and his man- 

 ner of performing such visitation. If possessed of a kind and affable 

 manner, and if a desire for the comfort and permanent good of the 

 poor were discernible in all his deportment, he would hardly be re- 

 garded as an officer of law, but as a friend to be confided in, and 

 his instructions appreciated and followed — if otherwise, he would be 

 looked upon with mistrust, and probably resisted. 



6th. This question I answer in the affirmative, provided the officer 

 possess the qualifications named in the reply to the fifth query; and 

 also provided the expense be borne by the landlord, or the public — 

 otherwise, in the negative. 



