Experiment of assistance by loan

Having spent all the subscriptions which have been kindly placed at my disposal, and also as much as I could spare of my own private funds, I regret to say that I have been obliged to discontinue the giving of assistance to honest, poor girls, desirous of bettering their condition by emigration to some moreprosperous country.

It has sometimes been suggested to me that, with a view of making my scheme self-supporting, and of assisting the greatest possible number of persons, I should lend instead of giving the necessary aid. But I have hesitated to do so because my object being not only to help the girls themselves, but also their parents and other members of their families, I have found that objection in almost all cases faithfully and affectionately carried out by the girls themselves.

I have, however, just received from the most liberal subscriber to my fund a conditional subscription of 100 pounds, with a conditional promise of a further sum of 400 pounds, the condition of the first amount of 100 pounds being that it should be expended in loans to girls approved by me, who would promise to repay such loans to me so soon as it should be in their power to do so, and who, from their character as known to their clergymen, would probably keep their promise; and the condition of the second amount of 400 pounds being that this experiment should appear to succeed.

Being desirous of utilising my friend's conditional subscriptions, and of putting his suggestion to a practical test, I will continue to give the same help as hitherto as a loan instead of a gift, so far as the funds at my disposal will permit, and therefore I will expect each person accepting such assistance to sign the form of agreement attached to this circular, pledging herself to return the amount of the loan to me so soon as she shall be able to do so, thus enabling me to give the same assistance as a loan to somebody else.

The form should be returned to me with the signature of the intending emigrant, attested by that of her clergyman, when Iwill issue the usual voucher.

Vere Foster.

43 University Road

Belfast, May, 1884

ASSISTED FEMALE EMIGRATION

I Acknowledge to have received from Mr. Vere Foster, of No. 43 University Road, Belfast, TWO POUNDS in part payment of my Ocean fare from Ireland to America, and I promise to repay that amount to Mr. Vere Foster as soon as I shall be able to do so, to enable him to give the same assistance to somebody else.

Signature of intending Emigrant,

.....................................................

Witness, ..............................................

Parish Priest, Rector, or Curate.