To give to the street beggars of this city, is not well directed charity. Those persons who have large families, who make great exertions to live out of the alms-house, when they are almost driven into it by want, are the proper objects for pecuniary assistance.

The wind blew the piercing cold from the north; but the southern sun illuminated the abode of the widow. The children had recovered their ruddy countenances, and were seated round a frugal fire. They had a little wood still remaining and a loaf of bread in reserve. The widow was restored to her wonted strength, from the debility induced by long watchings with misery; and contentment was in her countenance. This sight gave new vigour to a heart which had been depressed with the remembrance of wretchedness which it could not dispel. It encouraged me to take a missionary tour through some of the wards in the alms-house.

Here I saw one of my aged friends, to whom might be applied Milton's description of honourable old age.

"So may'st thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop

Into thy mother's lap, or be with ease

Gather'd, not harshly pluck'd, for Death mature.
This is old age: but then thou must outlive

Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change
To wither'd, weak, and gray; thy senses then
Obtuse, all sense of pleasure must forego,
To what thou hast: and for the air of youth,
Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign

A melancholy damp of cold and dry,

To weigh thy spirits down.

At my request, she repeated thirty or forty stanzas of different hymns, which she learned in childhood and youth.

Some of these hymns have been remembered by her for a century. She was born in Berwick upon the Tweed, lived some time in London, was a hearer of Mr. Whitefield there, and came to this city long, she does not remember how long, before the revolutionary war. Her maiden name was Christiana Ritchie, but she is now the widow Webb, having had only one husband in a life of one hundred and three years. Being disposed to converse familiarly with all, to gain their confidence, I one day said, as any man might speak to an aged friend, in health, "But why did you not marry a second time?" She answered, with a smile, that she was old when her husband died; that they had always lived in peace; and that she was "afraid to try another, lest he should not be so good." There is not a more cheerful person of my acquaintance, in the world. It is good to see such an aged saint, and hear her bless God for the goodness of a century. The hymns and scenes of her childhood are fresh in her memory; but most intermediate things, saving the general remembrance of God's love, have vanished from her mind. To the remark, "You appear still to love God," she replied," Aye! whom have I to love better than him! I would not be without his love, and love to him, for a thousand worlds!" She delights in religious conversation, and public worship. When her nurse told her that I was to preach in her room to-morrow, she said, "Well, I am very glad, Sir; and may God give you instruction, that you may instruct us."

To-day the German convict seemed more tender and sensible of his situation than when I saw him last; but still insisted upon his innocence in relation to the murder. The other convict was also deeply affected at the exhibition of a merciful Saviour; but when men expect death in

less than a week, and their sins arise in horrible array against them, it is difficult to distinguish filial fear from the slavish dread of God. The one is a saving grace of the Holy Spirit; and the other, an actual infliction of a part of the wrath and curse of God due to sin. Terrors of a guilty conscience are inflicted penalties of a violated law. If then the penalties of the law are partially inflicted here, who dares to say, "there is no hell?"

January 20th.

THE room in which I preached in the hospital this morning, was very full, and all were attentive. By the assistance of a few young friends, I was enabled to present the patients with some hymn books, to be detained in the institution, which were received and used with great pleasure. It was a matter of regret, that I could hot present more of the excellent "Hartford Collection."

Between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock, my time was devoted to the men who are to be executed. At their united request, prayer was addressed to the throne of grace. The German shifted his chains so as to arise on his knees; and the man of colour bowed his head in awful depression. Both of them appeared to feel that their last sabbath had dawned on them, and expressed a desire to remember past privileges, and improve the present moment, by singing the praises of God. Several persons were in company with me, and the prisoners, as well as they could, united with us in singing:

"Come, humble sinner, in whose breast

A thousand thoughts revolve;
Come, with your guilt and fear opprest,
And make this last resolve:

I'll go to Jesus, though my sin
Hath like a mountain rose;

I know his courts, I'll enter in,
Whatever may oppose."

During public worship in the alms-house this afternoon, the woman of 103 years sat before me, and said she could perfectly understand me. I read a hymn to which she had been accustomed in youth, and which I knew she could repeat. It gave her so much pleasure, that she involuntarily lifted up her hands, and said in the hearing of all, "O, that's a fine hymn!" But how different are the dispensations of Providence! Catharine Welsh, a woman of 96 years, sat beside me also, but has become so much of a child as to understand nothing. Indeed, she differs from an infant only in her form, and the love of taking snuff. This habit has survived the exercise of all her mental faculties.

George, my blind clerk, was delighted with the present of a hymn book. "Of what use," a stranger might ask, "will it be to him?" While he owns it, he will have the satisfaction which all desire, of calling something his property. Besides, he can now persuade others to amuse some of his solitary hours, by reading to him; who, were they in possession, would read only to themselves. Two books were presented for the use of two other rooms; and strong solicitations came thick upon me for the other wards. I have not the power to gratify them; but must resort to those who have, at least, a little silver and gold. It is more painful to ask, than to bestow, I have found by experience; and witness, angels, if ever I beg a cent in any other name than that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Had he not been poor, one might be ashamed of poverty; but

for him a Christian can beg, without deeming it a degradation.

When leaving the room, I said to Mary L****, a blind woman, "well, Mary, I hope it was some consolation for you to hear; for faith cometh by hearing." She replied in an instant, "it is better to believe than to see; but I hope to see in the next world; and among others, since I have been comforted by your words, I greatly desire to see the preacher there." Verily, it was the divine design that the gospel should be preached to the poor, that their profiting might appear to all for the manifestation of his benevolence.

In addition to the other employments of this day, I have enjoyed the communion of saints, and inflicted pain on my own mind, by chastising an infidel. His infidelity is to be hated; but it is painful to wound the personal feelings of any being.

The communion was doubly dear, from the circumstance that Christians of different sections of the Presbyterian church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. J. B. Romeyn, D. D., and the Rev. J. M. Mason, D. D., who never united before in the breaking of bread, were seated at the same table, to commemorate the death of their common Saviour. They have happily discovered, that brethren who love the same Lord, agree in the same faith, serve the same master, and love one another, may testify to the world that they commune with one another, in defiance of the warfare waged by names.

The church in Cedar-street, and the third Associate Reformed church, with many individuals of other sections of the Christian community, deserve the thanks of the whole church, for the discovery, that the word Scotch is not the test of religious fellowship; and that the mem