ORIGINAL ADVERTISEMENT. PROSPECTUS OF A Prize Essay ON THE PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF INORDINATE COMPETITION IN WORLDLY PURSUITS, AND OF INTEMPERANCE, AS TWO EVILS FRUSTRATING THE EFFICACY, AND IMPEDING THE PROGRESS, OF NATIONAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. (To be comprised in Four Sections.) SECTION I. To represent the very serious and imperative duty, which attaches to the Government of a nation in exercising its functions, towards promoting a sound, religious, and moral education amongst all classes of the community; and on the other hand to suppress, or at least to discourage, whatever may impede it, or be prejudicial thereto. SECTION II. To depict the painful effects produced by inordinate Competition, in regard to the unwarrantable and cruel treatment of the dumb and defenceless Animal Creation, and to urge the necessity of a rational and merciful limitation being affixed to the exertions exacted of them by mankind.* SECTION III. To illustrate the baneful effects, both upon the mental and physical energies of a densely-crowded and thoughtless population, produced by competition in the unrestricted sale of intoxicating liquors; when, to aid the above demoralizing and pestiferous traffic, every alluring enticement is adopted. *To shew the necessity of some benevolent interference on this subject, coaches on some roads are now actually about to compete in rapidity with carriages impelled by the mighty power of steam! SECTION IV. To argue how powerfully the above evils must, sepa- It is to be observed, that the Essay is to be framed on General Should any pecuniary benefit arise from its publication, it is to be AS A GUIDE TO AUTHORS, OBSERVE- The Adjudicators of the Prizes (three in number) to be appointed The manuscripts, which may be successful, are to become the unre- The several manuscripts are to be delivered at the Superintendent's The seals of the letters accompanying those two Essays only, to The Prizes will be awarded on the 20th day of December, 1838. SEVENTY POUNDS to be awarded for the best Essay-THIRTY By Order of the Committee, 2nd Jan. 1838. J. O. KETTLE, Superintendent. ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY. THE following pages were written, in consequence of two sums of money having been offered by an Individual, for the best and second best Essays on the subject proposed :-should any pecuniary benefit arise from the publication of the best Essay, the same to become the property of the PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY, ST. GEORGE'S FIELDS, LONDON. The selection of this Society, by the above Individual, was founded on the following reasons: 1st. That in the Society's proceedings for the benefit of the miserable offspring of convicts,-the helpless objects for the reception of whom this Society was founded in the year 1788, the dreadful effects of Sabbath-breaking and Intemperance, the principal sources of all crimes, are most painfully striking and apparent; often descending from father to son. 2nd. That the peculiar feature of this Society, viz. of fully instructing the boys in five distinct trades, in addition to the religious education afforded to both boys and girls, renders it most appropriate to the subject of the Essay. One of the peculiar characteristics of the Philanthropic Society has always been, that of enabling boys to perfect themselves, under competent masters, in the several trades taught within the walls, and under the protection of the Society. While they are thus placed out of the way of temptation to the evils detailed in this volume, the stigma which would have attached to them at an earlier period is prevented, and they are empowered, if they please, to commence the world with good characters, untainted by the crimes of their parents. Nor should it be forgotten, how many poor, and most pitiable children, have, during the last forty or fifty momentous years, been snatched from the jaws of destruction by the instrumentality of the Society; and while numerous crimes have thus been prevented, to the great advantage of the Public, the individuals have been saved from ignominious punishment in this world; and, it is humbly trusted, from eternal punishment in a future state, through the mercy of God, and the merits of the Redeemer. A debt of gratitude has been hereby in a great degree entailed on the Public, and the Committee feel confident this debt will be cheerfully met; so as to enable the Society to continue those exertions, which have hitherto been crowned with success. The funds of the Charity now imperatively require a reinforcement; as, with the utmost attention to frugality, the annual expenses attending the clothing and entire maintenance of one hundred and sixty children, and the instructing a great portion of them in five distinct trades, are very considerable. On these special grounds, then, the Committee would plead with a generous Public; and they trust they shall not plead in vain. It may not be considered a mark of overstrained anxiety, for the Committee to remind the numerous philanthropists, who form one of the greatest ornaments of this hitherto favored country, that the very nature, and peculiar recommendation of this Society, preclude it from forcing itself into popular notice by means of ELECTIONS, which operate so powerfully in favor of other excellent Institutions. |