As you conceive that you could usefully incorpo rate some hints of mine into your own useful work, I give you free liberty, and shall think myself honoured by the mention of my name in any thing you have occasion to write. We have only one object in view-the good of our fellow-creatures.

It is wonderful what œconomy produces in a well-regulated family, where soups and vegetables make a part of the bill of fare.

If you will dine with me any day convenient for your giving me a day's notice, I will feed you most sumptuously even under the present pressure, and at an expence which will scarcely be credited. I am, Dear Sir,

Yours sincerely,

P. COLQUHOUN.

LETTER CCV.

Dr. LETTSOM to PATRICK COLQUHOUN, Esq.

Sambrook Court, Feb. 11, 1801.

My respected Friend,

Some time since I printed some Hints, which I distributed amongst a few friends, and some foreigners. The work contained an account of several charitable institutions in and about London; and having met approbation, it was recommended to me to enlarge it, with the introduction of other

benevolent institutions; and it will now occupy three 8vo volumes. Before each Institution, in general, is prefixed the head, profile, or silhouette of some benevolent member of the community. Thus, to the Humane Society, Dr. Hawes and Dr. Cogan; to the Samaritan Society, Mr. Blizard*; Vaccine Inoculation, Dr. Jenner and Dr. Pearson; Society for the Blind, Mr. Ware; for the Deaf and Dumb, Rev. Mr. Mason; Dispensaries for the Poor, Dr. Hulme; for Small Debts, James Neild, esq. &c. &c.

Now, my friend, I wish for your head, and should you favour me so far, I should feel highly obliged; and I think it would be of use to the promotion of benevolence more generally, by seeing the outline, and feeling the spirit of those good men who have lived benefactors to mankind. If you would step in for two minutes to Mr. Miers in the Strand, facing Exeter Change, he would not detain you longer. I wish to prefix your silhouette to the history of the poor of London. I am in no hurry about your head, but I am as to your kind consent, as it will enable me to make a suitable introduction to my motives of asking for your silhouette, as this part of the intended publication is now in the press. I forgot to mention Mr. Raikes before Sunday Schools, Mr. Nichols before Monuments to Worthy Characters, Mrs. Wakefield before the Female Benefit Club at

Tottenham, Dr. Sims before the Philanthropic Society, Dr. Dale before the Literary Fund; so that, you see, you will be in good company; and not one of these hesitated a moment in obliging me.

I trust you will comply, and likewise favour me with a copy of a pamphlet of yours, on Soups, &c. for the poor, printed, I think, in 1794, which I believe has been the basis of all the Soup Institutions.

I am, respectfully,
J. C. LETTSOM.

LETTER CCVI.

PATRICK COLQUHOUN, Esq. to Dr. LETTSOM.

Dear Sir,

James-street, Feb. 13, 1801.

You do me a great deal of honour, and you flatter me very much by the proposition you have the goodness to make; and although I could perhaps never make up my mind to exhibit a profile of my likeness in any work published by myself, yet I do not hesitate to say, that I shall feel highly gratified in being introduced into such good company, in so valuable a work, and under the auspices of an author so truly respectable.

I have long been possessed of your Hints on the Poor, which I always considered as a most valuable production, and I rejoice to find that it is

your intention to enlarge it, because I know that the matter it will contain must render it a valuable acquisition to the public, highly calculated to promote the interest of the poor, and the cause of humanity.

I shall take an early opportunity of calling upon Mr. Miers in the Strand, as you desire; and if I can do any thing in addition to promote your laudable views, you may freely command me.

I not only send you my first pamphlet written in 1795, but also a series of other tracts and reports written by me since that period to the present time, from which you will have a complete view of all that has been done in the way of assisting the poor with food in the metropolis for the last five years. You will also see my plan of additional relief by means of a pauper police. But with respect to the soup charities, the last report (Dec. 1800) of the Committee at Lloyd's will be found to contain much curious and interesting information. In the whole of the pamphlets and reports you will see the regular progress of the relief granted, excepting with respect to the relief of Pawns. I established a society for that purpose after the hard winter in 1796, which enabled us to restore a vast number of working-tools and other useful articles, which the distresses of the times compelled industrious families to raise money upon, to procure the necessaries of life.

Among the various benevolent institutions which you mention, I do not find that you notice

the Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor, of which I have been a member for several years. The series of useful reports published by that Society you have, no doubt, seen; for most of which the public are indebted to the benevolent Thomas Bernard, Esq. * the Treasurer of the Foundling Hospital. I know no man better deserving a place in your valuable work†, because no individual has been more indefatigable in promoting whatever tends to the comfort of the poor, in every part of Great Britain and Ireland.

You will perceive from the inclosed plan and report, that through the medium of this society, I have carried into effect measures which have, for the last three months, been the means of introducing a large supply of new food into the metropolis and the surrounding counties. And I sanguinely hope that our labours will lay a foundation for much future benefit to the poor, by extending their resources for subsistence at moderate prices, and bettering their condition in general. The period is arrived when it becomes a great desideratum to mend their habits, and to enable them to support themselves at a smaller expence.

If you conceive I can assist you in any respect

* Now Sir T. Bernard, bart. the author of Spurinna, or the Comforts of Old Age. ED.

† A silhouette of Sir Thomas Bernard accompanies the aecount of this society in the first volume of a subsequent edition of the Hints.

ED.