actual steps are already taken,
since, on May 29th, the sinking of four wells for the new house was
commenced.

This house is intended for 400 female Orphans, bereaved of both parents,
from their earliest days, until they can be placed out in service. With
regard to the other house for 300 Orphans, to be built at the North side
of the New Orphan-House, nothing definitively can be stated at present.
There is enough money in hand to build, fit up, and furnish the house
for 400 Orphans, and it is expected that something will be left; but
there is not sufficient money in hand, at present, to warrant commencing
the building of both. As soon, however, as there is, I shall be
delighted to take active measures with regard to that for 300 Orphans
also. I do not ask persons to help me with their means. I speak to the
Lord about my need in prayer, and I do not wait upon Him in vain. At the
same time I feel it right to state, that there is a loud and an abundant
call for caring for destitute Orphans. On May 26, 1854, there were 602
waiting for admission, each bereaved of both parents by death. Since
then 197 more have been applied for, making in all 799. Of these I have
been able to receive only 39 during the past year, and 45 who were
waiting for admission have been otherwise provided for, or have died
since application was made for them; so that still 715 Orphans are
waiting for admission, from three months old and upward. But this
number, I state unhesitatingly, would be much larger, had not very many
persons refrained from making application, because they judged it would
be of no use, as there are already so many waiting for admission. Indeed
there is every reason to believe, that there are many tens of thousands
of destitute Orphans in this country. And what provision is there in the
way of Orphan establishments, it may be asked? At the last census in
1851, there were in England and Wales 39 Orphan Establishments, and the
total number of Orphans provided for through them, amounted only to
3764; but at the time the New Orphan-House was being built, there were
about 6000 young Orphans in the prisons of England. To prevent their
going to prison, to prevent their being brought up in sin and vice, yea,
to be the honoured instrument to win their souls for God, I desire, by
His help, to enlarge the present establishment, so as to be able to
receive 1000 Orphans; and individuals who purpose not to live for time
but for eternity, and l