and even confequent death, when neither parochial nor other assistance can be obtained, and when bodily labour would be dangerous,

In addition to these diftreffes of patients languishing within the walls of an hospital, many, among the out-patients, might be mentioned, demanding every assistance which humanity can afford.

An undertaking for the relief of fuch wretchedness, directed to all the hospitals in these cities, would probably be too great for an individual fociety. Obfervations on the evils proposed to be remedied, indicate, that the intention would be answered beft by an inftitution, fupplementary to each hof pital.

The LONDON-HOSPITAL is the object to which the attention of the Society is particularly directed; and as it is prefumed, that it will further the design, it is hoped it will likewife advance the intereft of that charity.

* The

The Governors of the LONDON-HOSPITAL, at the Quarterly General Court, holden the 7th of March, 1792, have, by an unanimous refolution, concurred in the views of the SAMARITAN SOCIETY, in terms expreffing the highest approbation of the Institution; and granted permiffion to the Society to meet in an apart ment belonging to the Hofpital, and to make every neceffary inquiry concerning the diftreffful circumstances of the patients; that fuch relief may be administered to them, as the Society fhall be enabled, or fhall judge proper, to bestow,

SECTION

SECTION II.

HINT S

RESPECTING

CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.

IN the hiftory of great criminals, it has pretty generally been found, that vice has been progressive; that even the firft deviation from rectitude has occafioned a degree of remorse in the agent, equal indeed to the perpetration of atrocious acts at a future period, when the mind has become hardened by a repetition of vices, and a dereliction of principle. Happy would it be, therefore, were that early remorfe attended to, before an indulgence of

bad

bad propenfities renders the mind infenfible to the convictions of confcience, and loft to every fentiment of religion and morality. Happy also would it be, upon the first discovery or conviction of vice, were fome prudent friend to stop its progrefs, not by expofure, but by judicious remonftrances, and by infpiring the mind with a juft fense of its dangers, and of its duties.

Many of our legal punishments have long appeared to me more likely to harden, than to reform the offender; not only by the inequality of punishments in proportion to the degrees of vice, but ftill more by their publicity. By exposure to the general notice, the perpetrator of a crime endeavours to acquire hardinefs, that he may deftroy fhame, and brave difgrace-to retrieve reputation is now almost impracticable-he feels himself difregarded by fociety, and he difregards it; nor does he longer feel an intereft, where he receives no focial gratification; and whether it be a public whipping, or the public hulks, he lofes fhame and remorfe; and acquires the passions

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