terms,-100 for 5s. per quarter, 50 at 2s. 6d. and the remainder gratis; who were prepared for the university by the fkill and attention of a master and three ushers. As many eminent and learned men have filled those fituations, the institution has profpered during two centuries and a half, and will, in all probability, for ages to come. During the above long period, numbers of ufeful and ornamental members of fociety have benefitted their country through the medium of Merchant Taylor's fchool. The original edifice perifhed, with every houfe in the parish, by the fire of 1666, and was rebuilt with them. In defcribing St. John's college, Oxford, mention was made of the munificence of Sir Thomas White, in providing fo meny fellowships for fcholars educated at Merchant Taylor's.

The above are the principal free-schools which send students to either university; but befides them there are many others founded by general benefactors in all parts of the kingdom, fome of which alfo fend ftudents to Oxford or Cambridge; but all are for the purpose of imparting the principles of useful education. Only to enumerate thefe would be swelling this work with an useless catalogue, while even a moderate commemoration of the various founders and benefactors would extend beyond all reasonable bounds.

CHRIST'S HOSPITAL. But while a general enumeration of free-fchools is avoided, it would be unjuftifiable to pafs over that of Chriff's Hospital, commonly called the Blue-coat-fchool, which, for its antiquity, extent, and high character, demands efpecial notice.

This excellent foundation owes its establishment to the piety and virtue of that ornament of the British throne, Edward VI. With a mind formed for the exercife of humanity and charity, this excellent prince had the good fortune to have some perfons near him who were inclined to direct and expand that difpofition. In this particular inftance Dr. Ridley, bishop of London, had the fingular and enviable felicity of fuggesting before the king, in a fermon preached at Westminster, the imperious demands of poverty upon the attention and commiferation of the powerful and rich. Thofe fuggeftions made a deep and powerful impreffion on the youthful fovereign, who waited with impatience for the time when he could impart in retirement the impulfes of his generous mind to the worthy bishop. This moment at length arrived. The youthful monarch received the venerable prelate in his clofet, and with dignified humility infifted on his being feated and covered, thanked him for his fermon, and appropriating to himself the leading fubject of it, intreated directions how he fhould commence the great operations of charity and benevolence. "Truly,

Truly, truly," exclaimed the good Ridley, "I could never have thought that excellency to have been in his Grace, but that I beheld and heard it in him." The bishop advised the king to addrefs letters to the corporation of London, announcing his intentions, and foliciting their advice, to which he would chearfully add his own. Sir Richard Dobbs, the lord mayor, loft no time in affembling fuch men as were likely, with Ridley, to forward the work of benevolence. The refult of their conferences was, a general report to the king on the state and condition of the poor, and the best means of relief and reform. They were divided into three claffes; the poor by impotency, by cafualty, and the thriftless poor. For the innocent and fatherlefs, they obferved they had provided Chrift's Hospital, late the Grey Friars, in London; for the wounded and difeafed, the hofpitals of St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew; and for the idle and vagabond, Bridewell, where they might be chaftifed and compelled to labour. Decayed householders, and the poor afflicted with incurable diseases, were to be relieved at their own homes.

"Now after this good order taken," an old author proceeds, " and the citizens, by fuch means as were devised, willing to further the fame, the report thereof was made to the king's majesty, and his grace, for the advancement thereof, was not only willing to grant such as should be overseers and governors of the faid houses, a corporation, and authority for the government of them; but also required that he might be accounted as the chief founder and patron thereof. And for the furtherance of the faid work, and continual maintenance of the fame, he, of his mere mercy and goodness, granted, that whereas, before, certain lands were given to the maintaining of the houfe of the Savoy, founded by Henry VII. for the lodging of pilgrims and ftrangers, and that the fame was now made but a lodging for loiterers, vagabonds, and ftrumpets, that lay all day in the fields, and at night were harboured there, which was rather the maintenance of beggary, than any relief to the poor; he gave the fame lands, being firft furrendered by the mafter and fellows there, which lands were of the yearly value of 600% unto the city of London, for the maintenance of the foundation aforefaid. And, for a further relief, a petition being made to the king's majesty, for a licence to take in mortmain, or otherwife, without licence, lands to a certain yearly value; and a space left in the patent for his grace to put in what fum it would please him: He, looking on the void place, called for pen and ink, and with his own hand wrote this fum, 4000 marks by the year; and then faid, in the hearing of his council, "Lord, I yield thee moft hearty thanks, that thou

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"haft given me life, thus long, to finish this work to the glory "of thy name." After which foundation established, he lived not above two days; whofe life would have been wished equal to the patriarchs, if it had pleafed God fo to have prolonged it.

This excellent young monarch made other donations for the benefit of Christ's Hospital, and many of his fubjects at different times contributed to its perfection by liberal gifts and bequefts, and by the erection of walls, rooms, and other neceffary buildings.

The establishment at first founded, confifted only of a grammar fchool for boys, and a separate school for girls, where they were taught to read, few, and mark. In addition to these Charles II. founded a mathematical fchool and ward, lying on the weft part of the hofpital, for the inftruction of forty boys in the mathematics, especially in that part of it that refpects navigation, and liberally endowed it with 1000l. a year, paid out of the exchequer for feven years.

The mayor and corporation of London are directors and promoters of the inftitution, and the whole community of Great Britain have the valuable privilege and opportunity of carrying on this glorious work. The contributions made. during two centuries and a half cannot be particularized, but their effects are thus abftracted from one of the annual reports. "Children put forth apprentices, and discharged from Chrift's Hofpital, the year last past, 194; eleven whereof, being inftructed in the mathematics and navigation, were placed forth apprentices to commanders of fhips, out of the mathematical fchool, founded by his late majesty Charles II. of bleffed memory.

Children buried the year laft paft, five.

Children now under the care and charge of the hospital, in London and at Hertford, 1047.

To be admitted on prefentations granted to this time, 140. The names of all which, as alfo when and whence they were admitted, will appear in the faid hofpital books.

OFFICERS. The government of this excellent charity is committed to feveral officers, of whom, and the effects of their care, the following account is given by Mr. Malcolm, in his work called Londinum Redivivum.

The Prefident affembles the governors to form a general court, whofe authority is delegated, when he is indifpofed, to the treasurer, for this purpose, under the direction of a committee of almoners. His functions are fimilar to thofe which belong to every inftitution governed by fuch an officer.

The Governor, after his appointment, is addrefsed, in full court, in the most impressive manner, and required to perform

the

the duties of the station faithfully and diligently. He is reminded that he is become a diftributor of the good things of the Almighty to many helpless children and others; and that any neglect or misconduct will prove him a most unworthy fervant, and vitally injure the fair fame of the city of London. He is then folemnly required to promife, in prefence of the affembly, that the work may be brought to perfection, and that the infants committed in fome degree to his care, fhall be well provided for, attended, and instructed.

The Treafurer receives and pays all fums appropriated to the relief and comfort of the children within the hofpital; of which he keeps an account, to be infpected by the auditors at pleafure, and to whom he is to produce the cash remaining in his cuftody. His annual accounts are made in December, and-delivered before February 10. To relieve the fatigues of this office, a Receiver is appointed, who acts by the Treasurer's orders. This officer is expected to render a weekly account of his tranfactions, or oftener if the treasurer thinks proper, who is empowered to leave any fum between 100l. and 1000l. in the receiver's hands for immediate demands, and to deliver money to him as exigencies require. The treasurer receives, within a month after his appointment, an inventory of every article used for the hospital in the custody of the clerk of the wardrobe, and of every other officer, which are indented. One part is kept by the treafurer, the other by the perfon "charged." From thofe he annually examines each article, acting as the circumstances arife. Collectors for the hofpital are fubject to his controul, and all the officers, male and female, may be reprimanded by him, or reported to a general court for any great omiflions. The treasurer is not to make payments for provifions, goods delivered, or work done, before the bills are examined and figned by three members of the committee; excepting for nurfing of children, penfions, wages, fees, coals, and goods purchased by wholesale, and on which a discount is made. The treasurer and two almoners order all neceffaries for the children, which are, linen, woollen, fhoes, ftockings, caps, girdles, books, bread, meat, beer, butter, cheese, milk, coals, &c. Those are to be provided in due time and at reafonable prices. The treasurer is betides to enforce the orders of the house, fummon the feveral committees, and to preside at them in the prefident's abfence; and, laftly, to give notice to the court of the withdrawing any fums granted for the maintenance of the houfe, which appear likely to injure it.

When a Governor becomes a Committee-man, he receives a charge fomething fimilar to that first mentioned, and is re quired to attend when fummoned by the prefident, treasurer,

or any five members, especially the monthly committees, "ufual holidays excepted," and thofe held within fix weeks after Lady-day and Michaelmas. When prefent, he is to examine the minutes entered by the clerk, restore omissions, and rectify errors.

A Governor, as Auditor, is to inquire as to the capability of gentlemen nominated for governors, whose qualifications are fubmitted to him by a general court. He inspects the annual general account, and others, and reports to the court the state of the hofpital.

A Governor, as Rentor, when fummoned, attends all views, and affifts the treasurer and other governors with his judgment as to the value of eftates or houfes belonging to the hofpital, and in making a true report to the next committee; affifts in letting them to tenants at will, or upon leafe, with due attention to the ufual forms upon fuch occafions; and, when expedient, to order repairs, the particulars of which are entered in books, and submitted to the court. He is "to be careful that none of the hofpital's leafes are affigned to paupers, or other improper perfons, and that no incroachment be made on any part of the hofpital's eftates."

A Governor, as Almoner, examines the qualifications of children prefented for admiffion; and is enjoined that none are received contrary to the regulations in force; to be particularly careful that they are legitimate, and that their parents are not perfons in profperous circumftances. The almoner examines into the ftate of the houses in town and country, and the number of children within them, ufing his best endeavours that no more are admitted than can be comfortably fupported by the certain revenues of the foundation, and commodioufly lodged at the rate of two in a bed. He attends the vifitations at the stated periods of the several schools, to be fatisfied from his own obfervation, and from the report of the gentlemen who kindly affift in the examination of the children, that the fevetal masters perform the duties prefcribed in their several charges, and obferve at convenient periods the general conduct of the children, when under the direction of the officers appointed to fuperintend them in the intervals between schoolhours. Several of the duties of this office have already been noticed; in addition to which, the almoner visits the Great Hall occafionally, at the hours of refreshment, in order to obferve whether the provifions are good, properly dreffed, and clean. The wards in the fame manner are fubject to his infpection, for the purpose of securing proper attendance, the furnishing neceffaries, and cleanlinefs of rooms, beds, and clothing.

The