for expenditure within their own particular bounds, and for their own particular exigencies.  Also, of the sums paid in subscriptions for the support of newspapers, and for the printing (by auxiliaries,) of periodicals, pamphlets, and essays, either for sale at low prices, or for gratuitous distribution.  The moneys contributed in these various modes would make an aggregate greater, perhaps, than is paid into the treasury of any one of the Benevolent societies of the country.  Most of the wealthy contributors of former years suffered so severely in the money-pressure of this, that they have been unable to contribute much to our funds.  This has made it necessary to call for aid on the great body of abolitionists—­persons, generally, in moderate circumstances.  They have well responded to the call, considering the hardness of the times.  To show you the extremes that meet at our treasury,—­General Sewall, of Maine, a revolutionary officer, eighty-five years old—­William Philbrick, a little boy near Boston, not four years old—­and a colored woman, who makes her subsistence by selling apples in the streets in this city, lately sent in their respective sums to assist in promoting the emancipation of the “poor slave.”

[Footnote A:  The report for May states the sum received during the previous year at $44,000.]

All contributions of whatever kind are voluntary.

“9. In what way, and to what purposes do you apply these funds!”

ANSWER.—­They are used in sustaining the society’s office in this city—­in paying lecturers and agents of various kinds—­in upholding the press—­in printing books, pamphlets, tracts, &c, containing expositions of our principles—­accounts of our progress—­refutations of objections—­and disquisitions on points, scriptural, constitutional, political, legal, economical, as they chance to arise and become important.  In this office three secretaries are employed in different departments of duty; one editor; one publishing agent, with an assistant, and two or three young men and boys, for folding, directing, and despatching papers, executing errands, &c.  The business of the society has increased so much of late, as to make it necessary, in order to ensure the proper despatch of it, to employ additional clerks for the particular exigency.  Last year, the society had in its service about sixty “permanent agents.”  This year, the number is considerably diminished.  The deficiency has been more than made up by creating a large number of “Local” agents—­so called, from the fact, that being generally Professional men, lawyers or physicians in good practice, or Ministers with congregations, they are confined, for the most part, to their respective neighborhoods.  Some of the best minds in our country are thus engaged.  Their labors have not only been eminently successful, but have been rendered at but small charge to the society; they receiving only their travelling expenses, whilst employed in lecturing and forming societies.  In the case of a minister, there is the additional expense of supplying his pulpit while absent on the business of his agency, However, in many instances, these agents, being in easy circumstances, make no charge, even for their expenses.