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London, 19th April, 1816. MY DEAR FRIEND, I much fear that I have hitherto omitted to thankyou (which I now do most cordially) for the veryinteresting pamphlets, which you had the goodnessto send me by Mr. Gallaudet, who I had not the plea-sure of seeing, until after he had received all theinformation he required, respecting the institutionestablished here, for instructing the Deaf and Dumb.I only saw that gentleman for a few moments, whileI was engaged in my magisterial duties on thebench; and I regretted much that I had not the plea-sure of seeing him afterwards, as I fully expected,since it was my wish to have shown him all thosecivilities which are justly due to any friend recom-mended by you. I had, also, the pleasure of receiving your letter byDoctor Francis, who did me the favour of diningwith me, and which afforded me the opportunity ofintroducing him to a very intelligent physician, myson in law, Doctor Yates, from whom he receivedmuch of that species of information, of which hisvery active and intelligent mind was so eagerly inpursuit. Doctor Francis has gone to Paris, but willsoon return, when I shall be happy to show himevery attention in my power. Among other philanthropic establishments whichare yearly rising in the great metropolis, we are now anxiously engaged in forming a Provident In-stitution, or Saving Bank, in the western district ofthe city, upon the principle suggested and explainedin my Treatise on Indigence, published in 1806, buton a far more limited scale. The practical effectof these establishments, was first manifested in Scot-land, since which they have been extended to severaltowns in England, and are likely to become verygeneral. Their utility scarcely requires explanation.The object is, to assist the labouring poor to preservea portion of their earnings for old age, and to give