text:  Efforts unheard-of have been made to extend the religious establishments of the state or augment the means of moral and intellectual instruction among the people; but hitherto with no perceptible effect in checking the habits of sensuality improvidence and intemperance which prevail amongst them; and in an age and a country abounding beyond any other that ever existed with declamations in favour of the blessings of knowledge and the elements of happiness and moral improvement which free-trade and a general liberation from restraint were to procure for society the scandal has been exhibited of serious crime having during the last forty years increased TEN TIMES as fast as the number of the people