and impartial, without compromising my own opinions, and that it has cost me much labor. My time, moreover, was very little at my own disposal, and this work has, for several months past, fully occupied every hour which I could spare from an Office of considerable detail, and of much personal communication. It was important, also, to complete the work before the time when the Annual Periodical Reports ot the different Associations should appear, which would furnish new matter not to have been dispensed with, and might have protracted the publication of the work for another year, if not, put a stop to it altogether. As it is, I have been occasionally anticipated by the appearance of detached accounts of some of the subjects which the work comprehends. These considerations will perhaps be allowed to plead with the candid reader for any marks of haste or other faults, either of arrangement or composition which, may be discernable in these pages.
As it is possible that the distinction of Benevolent from Charitable Institutions, may at first sight appear fanciful, I would remark, that under the head of “Benevolent” are classed the various Associations for Education, and those Societies, the Members of which, contribute either for the benefit of their families, or of Subscribers requiring assistance beyond the means afforded by their own resources, such as the Upper Orphan School, the General Widow’s Fund, and the Civil Fund. These latter Societies of which the Members derive advantage, either in the persons of their families, or their own, cannot be designated as charitable in the common sense of the word, though they have a benevo-
