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those who would do the best for the community, muststrike at the root of this evil, by teaching the childrenof the poor to read and write, that they might beable to find useful employment, or learn some tradeto enable them to earn a competent subsistence.As this subject was deeply impressed on his mind,he frequently corresponded with his friend PatrickColquhoun, of Westminster, who entertained similarviews, and he had, of course, the light of thatpowerful mind to assist him. Mr. Eddy was tho-roughly convinced of the efficacy of the system ofgeneral instruction in operation in the Eastern States;but, he thought, that it would be quite impossible tobring the Legislature of New-York to pass a law forsuch a school system, at that time;—such a onemust grow up radically with a people—it cannoteasily be done, after the population is numerous, and wealth has greatly increased. The rich man willnot consent that he should be taxed, according to hisproperty, to maintain schools, and then see thatmoney distributed in districts, according to the num-ber of children under a certain age, such as usuallyattend an instructor the whole or a portion of ayear. Mr. Eddy had frequently conversed with hisfriends, John Murray, jun. and Matthew Franklin, onthe subject of schools; and, in February, 1805, theyproposed to him, to form an association of Friends,to establish a free school, for the benefit of poor child-ren, not members of their religious society. To thisMr. Eddy objected, as he thought it would be impos-sible to raise funds sufficient to support a school, except on a small scale, if it was confined to Friendsalone. He then proposed to call to his aid a num-ber of respectable citizens, of different religious de-nominations. The meeting was called; it was gene-rally attended by the most active classes in the city,and a committee was appointed to raise funds by subscription; and, also, to apply to the Legislature