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TO THE PUBLIC.

THE unprincipled and the profligate make common cause against those who expose their vices. When their vices are exposed, they will assume even the garb of sanctity, and pretend that the exposure is indelicate, and deleterious to morals, and should not have been made, if true. They will sometimes admit the cause in which reformers are engaged to be a good one, and yet express great sorrow for what they call the injudicious procedure of those who possibly may have meant well, but egregiously erred in the measures they adopted to secure their ends. Their enmity to the exposure of their vices is not only deceptive and artful, and covered by a pretended regard for the purity of public morals, but it is also more violent. Its next stage after regret and sorrow for the alleged indiscreet act of the reformers, is to intimidate the reformers, and to divert them from their purpose. To effect this object, they often resort to illegal and ungentlemanly measures. Sneers, scoffs, reproaches, insinuations, sarcasm, private abuse and obscene caricatures, are the weapons they use. Finally, public insults and threats, and mobs banded together, arrogating a power and a right to disfranchise, and to proclaim "traitors to their country," and to "inflict summary vengeance" on the reformers, without the right of trial by jury, become common. An admirable illustration of these remarks is found in the result of the Report made in this city in June, 1831, by the executive committee of the New York Magdalen Society-a society whose professed object was to rescue the guilty from ruin, and to preserve the chaste.

But an intelligent community will not, can not long maltreat reformers, or be insensible to an evil that vitally affects their interests. Moreover, such a community will admit that its energies ought to be directed, both to the preservation of the upright, and to the elevation of the depressed: a sentiment conceding the goodness of the Magdalen cause, and the duty of advancing it.

Having been brought before the community in connection with this cause, there is no impropriety in my directing its attention to those persons who are the proper subjects of a Magdalen asylum. This,

with the divine permission, I shall attempt to do both by sketching and publishing the lives of a few of them, and by inquiring into the existence, causes, extent, effects and remedy of licentiousness, in order that more vigorous exertions may be put forth to preserve the young from ruin, and to raise the fallen from the abodes of misery and strife, to the habitations of mercy and peace.

Relying on the merits of this cause, and on the continual blessings of the Most High, it shall be a prominent part of my duty to cleave to the truth, and to that which on the evidence of probability I believe, but cannot prove to be the truth-so marking each, that the reader will easily distinguish between facts and probabilities.

With sentiments of respect, and a desire to subserve the cause of virtue, and to promote the welfare of an enlightened and benevolent republic, I remain its humble servant,

New York, January, 1832.

J. R. MCDOWALL.

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The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty, therefore take heed to thyself that thou be not snared in them. There dwell the abandoned, who, as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, who knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are worthy of death) not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.-Paul.

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and besides this giving all dilligence, she adds to her "faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity," without which she is "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchant's ships, she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sit

teth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.-Solomon.

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My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee -keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart. Say unto wisdom, thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman; that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. For at the window of my house, I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youth a YOUNG MAN void of understanding, passing through the streets, near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; and behold, there met him a woman, with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have

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