ceive Orphans. Since I began writings on this
subject in my journal, thirty more Orphans have been applied for, from
two years old and upwards. I cannot refuse to help, as long as I see a
door open, and opened by God, as I consider, to help them.

2. The moral state of the Poorhouses greatly influences me to go
forward. I have heard it again and again, from good authority, that
children, placed in the Unions, are corrupted, on account of the
children of vagrants, and other very bad young people who are in such
places; so that many poor relatives of Orphans, though unable to provide
for them, cannot bear the idea of their going there, lest they should be
corrupted. I therefore judge that, even for the sake of keeping Orphans
of poor yet respectable people from being obliged to mix with the
children of vagabonds, I ought to do, to my utmost power, all I can to
help them. For this reason, then, I purpose, in dependence upon the
living God, to go forward and to establish another Orphan House for
seven hundred destitute children, who are bereaved of both parents. When
writing thus about the Poorhouses, I do not wish it to be understood in
the way of reproof; for I know not how these matters could be altered;
but simply state the fact that thus it is.

3. In this purpose I am the more confirmed, since it is a fact, that the
Orphan Houses already in existence in the kingdom are by no means
sufficient to admit even the most deserving and distressing cases, and
far less all that it would be well to provide for. Moreover, there is
great difficulty connected with the admission of Orphans into most of
the ordinary Orphan Establishments, on account of the votes which must
be obtained, so that really needy persons have neither time nor money to
obtain them. Does not the fact that there were six thousand young
Orphans in the prisons of England about five years ago, call aloud for
an extension of Orphan Institutions? By God's help, I will do what I
can, to keep poor Orphans from prison.

4. In this purpose I am still further encouraged by the great help which
the Lord has hitherto given me in this blessed service. When I look at
the small beginning, and consider how the Lord has helped me now for
more than fifteen years in the Orphan work; and when I consider how He
has been pleased to help me through one great difficulty after another;
and when I consider, especially, how, as with an unseen hand, almost
against my will and former de