630 chaldrons of coals were purchased in June, 1730, for the use of the poor of the several wards within the city of London.
There were dreadfully destructive fires at Blandford and Tiverton in 1731; the sufferers from which received unusual commiseration from the whole kingdom, and large subscriptions. The King gave 100l. to each of those towns, and the several wards of London made considerable collections.
In the year 1733, four Charity Sermons were preached in the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster, and a collection made from door to door, which amounted to 125l. intended for certain inhabitants of Saltzburg, who were persecuted for their religious opinions, and desirous of emigrating to Georgia.
The Weekly Miscellany of May 19, 1733, contains the following account of the Charity Schools then established in London, with the rules by which they were governed; they cannot but be read with avidity.
"The most charitable and useful design of setting up Schools, for the instructing children of the meanest and poorest of the people, was begun in the year 1698. What has now diffused itself through the whole nation, sprung from a
very small seed, which was first planted in this great city, and by the blessing of the Divine Providence has, in a wonderful manner, been increased; so that there is now, within the cities of London and Westminster and bills of mortality, 132 charity schools. This charitable design meeting with such encouragement from the very liberal benefactions of the inhabitants almost in every parish, trustees were chosen in each district to oversee the management of the masters and mistresses, and to prescribe rules and orders for the government of each school; and treasurers were appointed, to whom all contributions were to be paid, who annually make up accounts of all money received and disbursed. The trustees frequently meet, to examine into the behaviour of the masters and mistresses, and whether due care is taken to preserve a regular discipline, and that the boys and girls be instructed, not only to read, but to be examined in the repetition of the Catechism, with the explanation thereof; which is brought in many schools to such perfection, that the children, upon their examination before the trustees, repeat, with great exactness, the texts in the Holy Scripture, to prove all the articles of the Creed, and other parts of the Catechism. These children are all cloathed at the expence of the trustees and subscribers; and when they have been fully taught to read, write, and cast accompts, they are then either put out
to services, or to some handicraft trade. The girls are bred up not only to read, but to work in linen, knitting, and washing, so as to be fit for menial services.
"These schools thus increasing, it was thought necessary, in the year 1706, that the trustees should be formed into a voluntary Society, and that a chairman should be elected to preside, and summon meetings of the trustees as often as occasion should render it necessary. These meetings have regularly been continued to this time, where orders from time to time have been, by the majority of votes, agreed upon; and in the year 1729, rules and orders for the better regulation of the said schools, were recommended to the several trustees of the schools in the country; which being laid before the archbishops and bishops of the several dioceses in the kingdom, the said rules and orders were by them, under their hands, approved and established; which orders are here inserted: by which it will appear that the utmost care has been taken, not only to instruct the Children in the knowledge of the Christian religion, but also to breed them up in such a manner, that, as they are descended from the laborious part of mankind, they may be bred up and enured to the meanest services. If these orders be candidly considered, there is no reason for the objections that are commonly made against the Charity schools; and it must be a
great satisfaction to those that have engaged in this charitable and useful design, that out of so great a number of children as have been thus educated, there is but one instance that any of them have been convicted of any crime; and this person, being transported, was so far influenced by his first education, that he was so thoroughly reclaimed, that he became a very industrious and sober man, and is so sensible of the benefit of his education, that, being in good circumstances, he is an annual contributor to the school where he was educated. Let it be considered, that as this city has vastly increased, and by consequence the poor proportionably multiplied, what must have become of all their children, if this method had not been taken for putting them out in an honest way to get their livelihoods, either by services or trades, the happy effects whereof is very evident. For there are now in the city of London many substantial tradesmen, who are constant contributors to the schools in which they were educated. To this may be added, that by particular benefactions a school is established for teaching the art of Navigation, to qualify the boys, bred up in the Charity schools, to be skilful and able seamen; since which a considerable number have been actually sent to sea; and by all the accounts received from captains of the ships where they were placed, they have fully answered the intention of their benefactors.
"In some schools, both in London, and in the country, where the benefactions would allow it, the children are both fed and cloathed; and in these both boys and girls are enured to labour, and the profit of their work applied towards their maintenance and setting them up; and in most of the schools in the country, the children in the time of harvest, are to be absent from coming to school, that they may glean, or do other work; and when they are fully taught to read, they are put out to handicraft trades, or to be servants in husbandry.