SW_WH1793_Page_218

rated. My constant occupations too, as a magistrate,presiding in a court of justice every day of my life,(Sundays only excepted,) while I am in London, joinedto other important occupations, I am sure will pleadmy apology for delaying for so long a period, tonotice your two obliging letters of the nineteenthof March and fifth June, last year, which I am ashamedto say, that I now find among my unanswered let-ters. For a good many years past, I have been ableto arrange matters, so as to be able to retire withmy family for a few weeks during the summer sea-son to some part of the country near the sea; and inthis seclusion, I generally devote my time to thatspecies of business which my numerous public dutiesin the metropolis oblige me to postpone. I have,therefore, brought to this retired picturesque countryall my unavoidably postponed letters; and amongthe rest, your two favours above mentioned. It cannot fail to afford me the most heartfelt satis-faction to learn, that the works I send you on Indi-gence, and on the Education of the Poor, are likely, under the sanction of your patriotic exertions, toprove useful in ameliorating the state of society inAmerica, and of diffusing comfort and happinessamong the inferior orders in the United States, whoconstitute the mass of the people in all nations. Adisposition certainly exists in this country, to adoptmany of the public measures I have recommended;but I have written at an era, when in the rapidsuccession of the most extraordinary events, fearshave been generated, even for the security of theliberties and independence of our own country, arising from the growing power of the ruler ofFrance, and the wreck of nations, and ancient king-doms and states, which have, in rapid succession, beenbrought under his sway; and hence, from an atten-tion to the primary object of guarding against dan-gers, which appeared to become more and moreimminent, all considerations connected with internal