vantageous situation, come within eight hundred a year. Finding so
great a balance in our favour, we agreed to appropriate a thousand a
year for the society of gentlewomen with small or no fortunes; but it
has turned out in such a manner that they cost us a trifle. We then
dedicated that sum to the establishment of a manufacture, but since the
fourth year it has much more than paid its expenses, though in many
respects we do not act with the economy usual in such cases, but give
very high wages, for our design being to serve a multitude of poor
destitute of work, we have no nice regard to profit. As we did not mean
to drive a trade, we have been at a loss what to do with the profits. We
have out of it made a fund for the sick and disabled from which they may
receive a comfortable support, and intend to secure it to them to
perpetuity in the best manner we can.'

'How few people of fortune are there,' said Lamont, 'who could not
afford L1200 a year, with only retrenching superfluous and burdensome
expenses? But if they would only imitate you in any one branch, how much
greater pleasure would they then receive from their fortunes than they
now enjoy?'

While he was engaged in discourse with the ladies, I observed to Mrs
Maynard that by the account she had given me of their income, their
expenses fell far short of it. She whispered me that their accidental
charities were innumerable, all the rest being employed in that way.
Their acquaintance know they cannot so much oblige as by giving them an
opportunity of relieving distress. They receive continual applications
and though they give to none indiscriminately, yet they never refuse any
who really want. Their donations sometimes are in great sums, where the
case requires such extraordinary assistance. If they hear of any
gentleman's family oppressed by too many children, or impoverished by
sickness, they contrive to convey an adequate present privately, or will
sometimes ask permission to put some of their children into business, or
buy them places or commissions.

We acquainted the ladies that we should trouble them no longer than that
night, and with regret saw it so soon ended. The next morning, upon
going into Lamont's room, I found him reading the New Testament; I could
not forbear expressing some pleasure and surprise at seeing him thus
uncommonly employed.

He told me he was convinced by the conduct of the ladies of this house
that their religion must be the true