care of the various churches and congregations; and who are assisted by charitable and humane individuals.

"The annual expenditures now incurred in their maintenance is immense. It is greater than the disbursements for each of the civil lists of two-thirds of the states in the Union. The importance, therefore, of entering into some system, by which these paupers can be employed, is fully evident.

"The number of beggars and mendicants who wander through the city, appears to have much increased, since the last winter. "The Managers recommend the practice of abstaining from giving money to these voluntary paupers; for, if they can procure any thing which may be converted into ardent spirits, the exercise of benevolence in their behalf, only goes to increase the profit and business of the dram-seller. If their petitions are to be heard at all, it is warmly enjoined upon every family whom they annoy, to furnish some temporary work, to make them earn what they receive. When they apply for aid, let them be shown some employment on the spot, by which they may be engaged for only a few hours, and thus the merit and sincerity of their claims will be put to the test. The result must be, that such calls will seldom be repeated. This has been tried with excellent effects in some of our cities further south, and with a good tendency by some individuals in our own metropolis.

"From the foregoing facts and observations, the society and the public will be able to form some just estimate of the nature and importance of the objects and exertions of this institution. Their great object is, not to solicit alms; it is rather to engage that active philanthropy, whose timely and well-directed exertions may diminish the necessity for alms-giving. Prevention, more than relief, is what they aim at. Who, then, will be backward to countenance their efforts? As the rich are taxed to maintain the poor, it is the interest of the rich, to unite with this institution, to prevent the increase of paupers. Talents, influence, benevolence, authority and law, should all lend their sanction to this object."

At the fourth annual meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism in the city of New-York, held at the New-York Institution, the 11th December, 1820, the following gentlemen were elected a Board of Managers for the ensuing year:

Cadwallader D. Colden, President; Brockholst Livingston, William Few, Thomas Eddy, Cave Jones, Vice Presidents; John E. Hyde, Treasurer; John Griscom, Secretary; Daniel E. Tylee, Assistant Secretary; Garret N. Bleecker, William M. Carter, Robert C. Cornell, Benjamin Clark, Isaac Collins, Joseph Curtis, Dr. J. Clark, James Eastburn, Thomas Franklin, Chas. G. Haines, John R. Hurd, Ansel W. Ives, John T. Irvins, Zachariah Lewis, Eleazer Lord, Samuel Marsh, James Mi.

Mathews, John Pintard, Cyrus Perkins, Alex. Proudfit, Fred. W. Porter, G. B. Rapelye, C. Du Bois, Fred. C. Schaeffer, Joseph Smith, Thomas R. Smith, John Stearns, Samuel Wood, George W. Warner, Richard R. Ward, Managers.

GENERAL PRAYER MEETING.

On Tuesday afternoon, the 6th inst. the general prayer meeting was held in the Mariners' Church, with the express design, as our readers are already informed, to offer prayer for an effusion of the Holy Spirit on our city. Christians of all denominations were invited, and the church was nearly filled, at an early hour.

At the request of the Committee of Arrangements, the Rev. J. M. Mathews presided, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Bangs and Ballantine, of this city, and the Rev. Dr. Bisset of Long Island.

The number present was much greater than at the last meeting, and an unusual stillness and solemnity prevailed during the exercises, a part of which consisted in reading the following animating and cheering account of a

Revival of Religion.

Hempstead, (Rockland Co. N. Y.) Feb. 24th, 1821. My Dear Friend,

In compliance with your request, I embrace my first leisure moments to give you a brief account of the wonderful and glorious work of God, among the people of my pastoral care, in the church at Hempstead.

The Lord is indeed among us, appearing in his glory to build up his kingdom. The stately steppings of Jehovah are seen in the midst of us, while the Holy Spirit is silently passing from house to house, and almost from heart to heart, in His awakening and convincing, regenerating and sanctifying influences.

The mighty Redeemer of Zion has appeared in this section of his church, riding triumphantly in the chariot of salvation; erecting the standard of his cross; displaying gloriously the banner of his love, and the unsearchable riches of his grace, in delivering many precious souls from the bondage of sin and Satan, and bringing them into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

A considerable number of the thoughtless and careless, have been made the hopeful subjects of this gracious work. We have indeed seen strange things! We have witnessed a most solemn and interesting scene!

This is the third revival we have witnessed and experienced, since I have had the care of this church. In the year 1812, we enjoyed a blessed season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord as the fruits of that revival, 31 hopeful converts were received into the church.

In the year 1817, we were again visited with a small shower of Divine grace-eleven were then added to the number, we trust, of those who shall be saved. Since which time to the commencement of the present glorious revival, vital godliness has been in a very languid state; a general inattention to religion seemed predominant throughout the congregation. But though the vision tarried awhile, yet blessed be God, it is come-it is surely come, and hath shone forth in its glory. The revival which we are still in a measure witnessing, began in the latter end of October last. In the midst of a few of the faithful, the sacred flame was kindled, and from thence it spread, with such unparalleled rapidity, from house to house, and from heart to heart, that in the course of a fortnight it pervaded the whole congregation. The sacred fire no sooner came down from the altar of God, than it spread and rose suddenly in a glorious flame, and so irresistible was its power, that we have seen it humble the pride, and melt the hearts of the most haughty and obdurate sinners, cause the stout hearted to bow at the feet of King Jesus, and change the daring rebel to a faithful soldier of the cross. During this precious season, while the trophies of the cross were multiplying, the professing people of God were unusually engaged in furthering the work, and promoting the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom. They were animated and enlivened in their religious exercises, their faith was strong, their zeal ardent, and they felt as if they had much to do. Several prayer meetings were held every evening in different parts of the congregation-and I have been engaged almost every evening, in preaching and exhorting, during this season of revival. Our religious meetings were continually crowded with old and young, anxious to hear something concerning their souls and eternity. The scene was truly solemn and affecting, to behold such crowded audiences filling every room in the houses where they assembled themselves together for prayer and praise. Some mourning over a deep and overwhelming sense of their sins and guilt, and others rejoicing in hope, with a new song in their mouth, even praise to God. After the religious exercises of the evening were closed, the people seemed unwilling to retire, having such an insatiable thirst for the gospel. We generally tarried an hour or two after the close of the meeting, singing hymns of praise, conversing with humble penitents, comforting the mourners, and warning the impenitent of their danger.

Although the middle-aged have not been wholly exempted from this great work, yet it has been principally confined to the younger class, and even children from twelve to fourteen years of age, have been made the hopeful subjects of regenerating grace. Out of the mouths of babes God has perfected his praise. This is the greatest wonder I witnessed amongst the various strange things we have seen. I had often read and heard of the conversion of young children, but now mine eyes have seen it. Their convicVOL. VII.

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tions were comparatively short, though exceedingly pungent and distressing.

These lambs of the flock appear peculiarly zealous, and engaged in the cause of religion, in promoting its interests, in using their endeavours with their young companions, to bring them to a sense of their danger, and to persuade them to go to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. We have reason to believe their endeavours have been blessed to the conviction and conversion of several of their young companions. They also take an active part in our prayer-meetings, and it is truly astonishing with what freedom, propriety, and fervency, they address the Throne of Grace. The prayers of these little ones have been the means of doing much good; several have received their first impressions by hearing these children pray.

On the 2d of November last, five new members were received in communion, as the first fruits of this glorious harvest; and on the 21st of January succeeding, seventy-nine were admitted into the communion of the church, on giving hopeful evidence of a saving change of heart, the greater part of whom were young people in the bloom of life-twelve of the age of from 12 to 16 years six of the number received into church fellowship were baptized. Our communion sabbath was a most solemn and affecting season-such a day I never before witnessed-the house of God was thronged with anxious worshippers-between 1200 and 1400 were supposed to be present. Every eye was fixed, and every countenance appeared solemn as eternity. Numbers of people, residing a distance beyond the bounds of my society, were led from curiosity to attend on the occasion in order to hear and see the wondrous works of God. The joy we experienced on that memorable communion season, and the glow of Christian affection which seemed to pervade the bosoms of the disciples of our Lord Jesus, made us realize the import of the Apostle's expression, heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Though the work has at present abated in some degree, yet, blessed be God, there is a small gleaning of grass left in the vintage, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost boughs, four or five in the outmost branches.

Of the happy effect this revival has produced on our society, it is difficult to speak with sufficient approbation and praise. Jealousies, contentions, slandering, evil communications, profanation of the sabbath, &c., have nearly disappeared from our society. No candid observer of the influence of such a gracious work on the hearts and lives of men, will question its tendency to promote the most perfect state of social order, peace and happiness. Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely and of good report, are thought of and carefully practised.

This shower of Divine grace which has thus watered us, has

also abundantly watered the Presbyterian society, intermixed with my congregation, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Samuel Pelton, who has received into his church on two sacramental occasions, during this revival, about seventy hopeful converts.

After this work of grace had been in successful operation amongst us for some weeks, it began to extend its benign influence to a neighbouring congregation at Clarkstown, under the care of the Rev. Nicholas Lansing. Being requested, on Monday last, (the 12th inst.) I assisted him in examining the members, when sixty-seven were admitted into the communion of the church, on satisfactory confession: on the day following, eight more were received, and several more, who are seriously impressed, are ex pected to offer for church membership on Saturday after next,* the day of preparation service.

In the three churches above-mentioned, two hundred and fiftyseven hopeful converts have already been received. A goodly number of spiritual sheaves, that have grown during this season of refreshing.-Glory to God!

Mr. G. Cosine.

Yours affectionately, &c.

JAMES D. DEMAREST.

MARINERS' CHURCH.-AMERICAN AND WELSH SEAMEN. Whoever feels the least interest in the spiritual welfare of seamen, will rejoice to see that Christians are arousing from their long and heavy slumbers, to do something for these neglected members of the human family. But while we most cordially reciprocate with our trans-atlantic brethren in the glorious prospect of an increase to the fold of Christ, from among seamen, we have to lament that the society in this city, is labouring under the pressure of a heavy debt. And besides, had not some members of the Board come forward in the most liberal manner, and loaned several hundred dollars, they could not have met their engagements for even current expenses.

Christian merchants, and others, who prefer trusting their property in the care of sober, honest, pious seamen, who fear God and love their country, should immediately supply the Board with the means of refunding this money. There are many more who can well afford to become life members of the society, by the payment of fifty dollars, and a still larger number could annually spare the sum of five dollars. Bat merchants alone are not called upon to aid this object; all who desire the prosperity of Zion are interested in this institution.

There is one feature in the society which commends it to the Christian public with peculiar force; this is, that all denomina

*On Saturday, the 24th February, twenty-eight were received, making in the whole, one hundred and three, in this congregation, who, for the first time, sat down at the Lord's table on the following sabbath.