to be entirely unfounded, at different general meetings held in February, 1824.

Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders, Aldermanbury. - The first public meeting of this Society was held in 1820. Its general object is the amelioration of gaols, by adopting and improving the plans of the celebrated philanthropist Howard. The published reports of this institution, by the Treasurer, T. Fowell Buxton, Esq., M.P., are replete with valuable information.

The Guardian Society, Asylum, New Road, St. George's in the East, was instituted in 1816, for the preservation of Public Morals, &c.

The Society for the Suppression of Vice, Essex Street, Strand, which originated in 1802, has for its object the preservation of public morals, by prosecuting dealers in obscene and blasphemous books, and other offenders against religion and decency.

Society of Guardians, for the protection of trade against swindlers and sharpers, was instituted in 1777. Office No. 36, Essex Street, Strand.

A Society for procuring Nightly Shelter for the Houseless, was formed to protect the poor and wretched residents of London during inclement winters.

The Strangers' Friend Society, was established in 1785, for relieving the sick and distressed poor at their own habitations.

The Society for Charitable Purposes, in the parishes of St. Mary-le-bone, St. Anne, St. Martin, St. George, and St. James, was instituted in 1774. Societies to assist the industrious and deserving poor, on a similar plan, have subsequently been formed in other parts of London.

The Spitalfields Benevolent Society, under the patronage

of T. Fowell Buxton Esq. M. P., is an institution for the relief of the distressed poor, at their own habitations.

The British and Foreign Philanthropic Society, Exchange Buildings, was instituted in May, 1822, for the permanent relief of the labouring classes of the community, by means of education, employment, exchange of productions, &c. in associations of from 500 to 2000 individuals. Experimental plans, similar to those which have been for several years in operation at Lanark, under the management of Mr. Owen, constitute the general object of this insti

tution.

The Widows' Friend and Benevolent Society, Salisbury Square. The principal trait of this charitable association is the careful investigation, by visitors, of every case of distress previously to affording relief. Instituted in 1808.

The Society for Educating the Children of Debtors, was established in 1796.

The Royal Freemason's Charity, Melina Place, St. George's Fields, is an asylum for the education and support of female children, established in 1788.

The Masonic Benefit Society, was instituted in 1799, for the relief of indigent brethren, and their widows and children.

The Masonic Institution, for clothing, educating, and apprenticing the sons of Freemasons.

The Drury Lane Theatrical Fund, was established in 1777, through the patronage and assistance of Garrick, and confirmed by Parliament. Its object is to afford pecuniary aid to performers in old age and when reduced to poverty.

The Covent Garden Theatrical Fund, was instituted in 1765, and afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament, for the same purpose as the former.

The National Mutual Insurance Benefit Institution, Threadneedle Street.

The London Society, Hatton Garden, was established in 1813, for the improvement and encouragement of female

servants.

The Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, established in March, 1824, under the patronage of his Majesty, extends its aid to the subjects of all nations, both in war and in peace.

Society for the Encouragement of Industry and the Reduction of Poor Rates. The recently published reports of this society (which was instituted in 1818), contain much valuable statistical information, relative to various parts of the kingdom.

The Antelopean Society, for charitable purposes, White Hart Yard, Strand, has subsisted for nearly a century.

The Association for the Relief of the Poor of the City of London and Parts adjacent. The object of this charity is to supply the indigent with coals and potatoes in winter at a reduced price. It was established in 1799

The French House of Charity, Spitalfields, was formed about the middle of the last century, for the distribution of provisions to distressed Frenchmen.

The Society of Philanthropic Harmonists, held at the Globe, Titchfield Street, and the St. Luke's Philanthropic Society, effect considerable good, by giving small sums to distressed persons.

There are numerous other Societies, the benefits of which are restricted to persons engaged in certain trades or occu-. pations: among these are associations of Commercial Travellers, Bankers' Clerks, Parish Clerks, Licensed Victuallers, Clock and Watch Makers, &c. &c.

A Society was instituted in 1802, for superseding the ne

cessity of employing Climbing Boys in sweeping chimneys; and another in 1803, for improving the condition of those unfortunate beings.

Among the Charities confined to local objects may be enumerated the Swiss Society, Orkney and Shetland Society, Yorkshire Society, Westmoreland Society, Cumberland Benevolent Institution, Worcestershire Society, Gloucestershire Society, Wiltshire Society, and Somersetshire Society.

Savings Banks. Among the many beneficial institutions which characterise London, there are few which promise to be of greater future utility than the Savings' Banks. These are societies, the object of which is to encourage a habit of saving in the poor, who may deposit in them any sum as low as 1s. per week, and on the deposit, when it amounts to one pound, compound interest is allowed, which, at the end of twenty years, would accumulate to the sum of 5487. Their first establishment was materially assisted by the exertions of the late Right Honourable George Rose, M. P., who, in May, 1816, introduced into the House of Commons a Bill for the regulation of Provident Institutions and Savings' Banks, which afterwards passed into a law. There are in the metropolis and other parts of England, at least 130 of these institutions.

CHARTERED, ENDOWED, AND OTHER FREE AND PARISH SCHOOLS.

Christ's Hospital, or, the Blue-Coat School, Newgate Street. - This royal foundation derives its latter name from the dress of the children it maintains and educates. Here anciently stood the house of the Grey Friars, or Franciscans, founded about 1225; and part of the present edifice was a cloister, &c. of the conventual buildings.

The monastery baving been surrendered to Henry VIII., that monarch, a little before his death, granted it to the city for the relief of the poor. But this object being neglected, Edward VI. his successor, at the instance of Ridley, Bishop of London, sent a letter to the Lord Mayor, inviting his assistance in relieving the poor; and shortly after

wards a regular system of relief for the poor of the metropolis was formed, of which this hospital made a principal part. The poor were distinguished into classes. St. Bartholomew's and St. Thomas's Hospitals were destined to relieve the diseased; Bridewell to support and correct the idle; and Christ's Hospital to maintain and educate the young and helpless: and the King incorporated the governors of these several hospitals by the title of The Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of London, Governors of the Possessions, Revenues, and Goods of the Hospitals of Edward VI. King of England. Edward also granted to Christ's Hospital lands of the yearly value of 600l. belonging to the Savoy, and added other benefactions, and privileges, the last being his license to hold lands in mortmain to the yearly value of 4000 marks. In 1552, the house of the Grey Friars was first prepared for the reception of the children; and in November, in the same year, nearly 400 were admitted.

Charles II. in 1674, founded a mathematical school here for forty boys, to which he liberally granted 1000l. per annum, payable out of the exchequer for seven years. Of these boys, ten are yearly apprenticed to the sea-service, and in their places ten more received on the foundation. Another mathematical school, for thirty-seven boys, now united with the preceding, was afterwards founded by a Mr. Travers.

There are nearly twelve hundred children on the foundation; but about 500 of that number (including all the younger boys, and the female scholars) are educated at an excellent establishment in the healthy town of Hertford. All the boys wear the costume already alluded to, which is of an ancient and singular character. It consists of a dark-blue cloth coat, made close to the body, but with loose skirts; yellow under coats; yellow worsted stockings; and round, flat, extremely small, black worsted bonnets or caps. Their food is very plain, but wholesome: the dormitories are spacious, and uniformly kept in the most cleanly state.

The boys are chiefly instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, to fit them for merchants' counting-houses, or for trades: but one boy is annually sent to the university

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