permitted to do so? Since the spirit-world is a world of "everlasting progression," the conclusion is to his mind perfectly rational and philosophical. It will be seen, then, that the senator is fairly in for the rappings. He does not cease now from his investigations, but promises if hereafter the preponderance of evidence shall incline to the other side, to announce that result as readily. Such a document as these letters constitute, would once have been deemed astonishing; but now they only strike us as additional evidences of the lamentable depths to which credulity will cast down the strongest minds when circumstances favor the fall. As to the mental questioning and the characteristic answers, we have all seen children amusing themselves with putting questions to their dolls their mediums-to which perfectly characteristic answers never failed to respond; but we were not wont to fancy that the spirits of dead babes answered for the little waxen images, nor that their baby talk should be quoted in evidence of a spiritual theory. When men who have been busy with the world, who have spent years in grappling its stern actualities, retire to their closets and encourage their lively imaginations to go out on exploring expeditions, they are not often destitute of very fanciful reports from the dreamland of their ramblings. We opine moreover that the old nursery rule would not work badly for the intelligence of this generation, which required that the dreamer should keep his dream to himself, as telling it bred a wilder one for the succeeding night. The ridiculers of the spiritual nonsense, sometimes by courtesy called philosophy, have given great weight to the fact that every age has its share of charlatans, mountebanks and deceivers. They have almost taken it for granted that those who plunged first into this stream that gushed out of Rochester were imposters. They might have been so, indeed. But, of these later converts, no sane man can entertain such a thought. There is no imposture possible in them. They are men of integrity. We know them to be honest. They believe what they say. They think they see the visions they tell us of. They think they hear the voices that resound only to their own ears. Alas! the more 's the pity! When men come to start at sounds to smile rapturously at sights not vouchsafed to others' eyes-pity, is the only emotion we experience. In their superior knowledge, we cannot envy them. Their more transcendent enjoyments we cannot coax ourselves to covet.

never uttered

sidered as now at an end. On the authority of Mr. William B. Reed's reprint of his grandfather's letters from Washington, certain crities, known and unknown, attacked Mr. Sparks.

1. For altering the text of Washington, in his edition.

2. For attempting to conceal opinions of Washington.

3. For varying from Judge Marshall's rule about passages omitted.

Mr. Sparks has replied on general grounds before. The publication now of an exact transcript of Mr. Reed's MSS. enables him to show further, in a pamphlet just published,

1. That Mr. Reed's own edition of those MSS. was less accurate than his.

2. That the most important passage of the alleged concealment, where "Connecticut" was printed by Mr. Sparks instead of “ Continental,” was Mr. Sparks' accuracy, and Mr. Reed's inMr. Sparks' supposed additions -That" Cobweb Scheme" — one of original, and omitted by Mr. Reed. - was in the

accuracy.

3. That Judge Marshall's habit in making omissions was exactly the same as Mr. Sparks'.

-

The curious reader finds also, in some hundred instances, specimens of the sort of variations between the letter books" - Mr. Sparks' chief authority and the letters sent by Washington. But the instances above spoken of, on which so much of the controversy has hinged, are from MSS. not copied in the letter books.

Mr. Sparks' last pamphlet has been called forth by Mr. William B. Reed's reprint of the original letters from Washington to Joseph Reed. It is a very thorough demolition of the whole case against him; his single authority being the chief witness called by his critics.- Daily Advertiser.

A History of England. By John Lingard, D. D. Boston for sale by Burnham & Brothers.

Volume one of this standard work is just out. The whole, reprinted from the last revised London copy, will be embraced in thirteen volumes. Dr. Lingard is noted as the Catholic historian of England. He was always a conscientious member of the Romish church, although he never had any concern with its dignities or government. To some portions of English history, of course, he gives a different coloring from that of the other celebrated historians. His work, therefore, is valuable as presenting one side of certain mooted questions, while it is generally held to he eminently reliable wherever religious prejudices is a cheap one-the paper and type are poor, had no chance to intervene. The present edition but the general appearance is quite neat.

Post.

LITTLE AND BAD. Lord Campbell has intimated that the civic parasites of Louis Napoleon have been guilty of high treason. Considering the littleness of the whole affair, we think petty treason would be the more appropriate name for it. - Punch.

From Household Words.
HOME FOR HOMELESS WOMEN.

FIVE years and a half ago certain ladies, grieved to think that numbers of their own sex were wandering about the streets in degradation, passing through and through the prisons all their lives, or hopelessly perishing in other ways, resolved to try the experiment on a limited scale of a Home for the reclamation and emigration of women. As it was clear to them that there could be little or no hope in this country for the greater part of those who might become the objects of their charity, they determined to receive into their Home, only those who distinctly accepted this condition: That they came there to be ultimately sent abroad (whither, was at the discretion of the ladies); and that they also came there, to remain for such length of time as might, according to the circumstances of each individual case, be considered necessary as a term of probation, and for instruction in the means of obtaining an honest livelihood. The object of the Home was two-fold. First, to replace young women who had already lost their characters and lapsed into guilt, in a situation of hope. Secondly, to save other young women who were in danger of falling into the like condition, and give them an opportunity of flying from crime when they and it stood face to face.

The projectors of this establishment, in undertaking it, were sustained by nothing but the high object of making some unhappy women a blessing to themselves and others instead of a curse, and raising up among the solitudes of a new world some virtuous homes, much needed there, from the sorrow and ruin of the old. They had no romantic visions or extravagant expectations. They were prepared for many failures and disappointments, and to consider their enterprise rewarded, if they in time succeeded with one third or one half the cases they received.

As the experience of this small Institution, even under the many disadvantages of a beginning may be useful and interesting, this paper will contain an exact account of its progress and results.

It was (and is) established in a detached house with a garden. The house was never designed for any such purpose, and is only adapted to it, in being retired and not immediately overlooked. It is capable of containing thirteen inmates besides two Superintendents. Excluding from consideration ten young women now in the house, there have been received in all, since November eighteen hundred and forty-seven, fifty-six inmates. They have belonged to no particular class, but have been starving needlewomen of good character, poor needle women who have robbed their furnished lodgings, violent girls comCCCCLXXII. LIVING AGE. VOL. I. 40

mitted to prison for disturbances in ill-conducted workhouses, poor girls from Ragged Schools, destitute girls who have applied at police offices for relief, young women from the streets; young women of the same class taken from the prisons after undergoing punishment there as disorderly characters, or for shoplifting, or for thefts from the person; domestic servants who have been seduced, and two young women held to bail for attempting suicide. No class has been favored more than another; and misfortune and distress are a sufficient introduction. It is not usual to receive women of more than five or six-andtwenty; the average age in the fifty-six cases would probably be about twenty. In some instances there have been great personal attractions; in others, the girls have been very homely and plain. The reception has been wholly irrespective of such sources of interest. Nearly all have been extremely ignorant.

Of these fifty-six cases, seven went away by their own desire during their probation; ten were sent away for misconduct in the Home; seven ran away; three emigrated and relapsed on the passage out; thirty (of whom seven are now married) on their arrival in Australia or elsewhere, entered into good service, acquired a good character, and have done so well ever since as to establish a strong prepossession in favor of others sent out from the same quarter. It will be seen from these figures that the failures are generally discovered in the Home itself, and that the amount of misconduct after the training and emigration, is remarkably small. And it is to be taken into consideration that many cases are admitted into the Home, of which there is, in the outset, very little hope, but which it is not deemed right to exclude from the experiment.

The Home is managed by two Superintendents. The second in order acts under the first, who has from day to day the supreme direction of the family. On the cheerfulness, quickness, good-temper, firmness and vigilance of these ladies, and on their never bickering, the successful working of the establishment in a great degree depends. Their position is one of high trust and responsibility, and requires not only an always accumulating experience, but an accurate observation of every character about them. The ladies who established the Home, hold little confidential communication with the inmates, thinking the system better administered when it is undisturbed by individuals. A committee, composed of a few gentlemen of experience, meets once a month to audit the accounts, receive the principal Superintendent's reports, investigate any unusual occurrence, and see all the inmates separately. None but the committee are present as they enter one by one, in order that they may be under no restraint in any

thing they wish to say. A complaint from any of them is exceedingly uncommon. The history of every inmate, taken down from her own mouth usually after she has been some little time in the Home-is preserved in a book. She is shown that what she relates of herself she relates in confidence, and does not even communicate to the Superintendents. She is particularly admonished by no means to communicate her history to any of the other inmates; all of whom have in their turns received a similar admonition. And she is encouraged to tell the truth, by having it explained to her that nothing in her story but falsehood can possibly affect her position in the Home after she has been once admitted. The work of the Home is thus divided. They rise, both in summer and winter, at six o'clock. Morning prayers and Scripture reading take place at a quarter before eight. Breakfast is had immediately afterwards. Dinner at one. Tea at six. Evening prayers are said at half-past eight. The hour of going to bed is nine. Supposing the Home to be full, ten are employed upon the household work; two in the bed-rooms; two in the general living room; two in the Superintendents' rooms; two in the kitchen (who cook); two in the scullery; three at needlework. Straw-plaiting has been occasionally taught besides. On washing-days, five are employed in the laundry, three of whom are taken from the needle-work, and two arc told off from the household-work. The nature and order of each girl's work is changed every week, so that she may become practically acquainted with the whole routine of household duties. They take it in turns to bake the bread which is eaten in the house. In every room, every Monday morning, there is hung up, framed and glazed, the names of the girls who are in charge there for the week, and who are, consequently, responsible for its neat condition and the proper execution of the work belonging to it. This is found to inspire them with a greater pride in good housewifery, and a greater sense of shame in the reverse.

The book-education is of a very plain kind, as they have generally much to learn in the commonest domestic duties, and are often singularly inexpert in acquiring them. They read and write, and cipher. School is held every morning at half-past ten (Saturday excepted) for two hours. The Superintendents are the teachers. The times for recreation are half an hour between school time and dinner, and an hour after dinner; half an hour before tea, and an hour after tea. In the winter, these intervals are usually employed in light fancy work, the making of little presents for their friends, &c. In the fine summer weather they are passed in the garden, where they take exercise, and have their little flower-beds. In the afternoon and

evening, they sit all together at needlework, and some one reads aloud. The books are carefully chosen, but are always interesting.

Saturday is devoted to an extraordinary cleaning up and polishing of the whole establishment, and to the distribution of clean clothes; every inmate arranging and preparing her own. Each girl also takes a bath on Saturday.

On Sundays they go to church in the neighborhood, some to morning service, some to afternoon service, some to both. They are invariably accompanied by one of the Superintendents. Wearing no uniform and not being dressed alike, they attract little notice out of doors. Their attire is that of respectable plain servants. On Sunday evenings they receive religious instruction from the principal Superintendent. They also receive regular religious instruction from a clergyman on one day in every week, and on two days in every alternate week. They are constantly employed, and always overlooked.

They are allowed to be visited under the following restrictions; if by their parents, once in a month; if by other relatives or friends, once in three months. The principal Superintendent is present at all such interviews, and hears the conversation. It is not often found that the girls and their friends have much to say to one another; any display of feeling on these occasions is rare. It is generally observed that the inmates seem rather relieved than otherwise when the interviews are over.

All

They can write to relatives, or old teachers, or persons known to have been kind to them, once a month on application to the committee. It seldom happens that a girl who has any person in the world to correspond with fails to take advantage of this opportunity. All letters despatched from the Home are read and posted by the principal Superintendent. letters received are likewise read by the Superintendent; but she does not open them. Every such letter is opened by the girl to whom it is addressed, who reads it first, in the Superintendent's presence. It never happens that they wish to reserve the contents; they are always anxious to impart them to her immediately. This seems to be one of their chief pleasures in receiving letters.

They make and mend their own clothes, but do not keep them. In many cases they are not for some time to be trusted with such a charge; in other cases, when temper is awakened, the possession of a shawl and bonnet would often lead to an abrupt departure, which the unfortunate creature would ever afterwards regret. To distinguish between these cases and others of a more promising nature, would be to make invidious distinctions, than which nothing could be more prejudicial to the Home, as the objects of its