I am, dear Sir, affectionately your's,
James Allen.
To the Secretary of the Baptist Irish Society.
Limerick, March 20th, 1835.
My dear Sir,
I just returned from Croagh, about sixteen miles from here, in the county of Limerick, to inspect the Koppel-street school; the poor children were delighted to see me, and I was greatly pleased to see them go through their school discipline with such precision and order. They spelled remarkably well in three different ways. I am not aware that you are acquainted with the plan of spelling and reading, particularly spelling, which I have devised long since, which arrests the undeviating attention of the children, and almost wonderfully facilitates their progress. A fine testament class of 36 got up and read, in general, very well, and repeated 224 chapters, which they committed to memory since the last quarterly inspection. There are 148 on the list, 98 spelling, 50 reading the scriptures, 8 protestants and 4 reformed, who are the master's children, of whose attention to his school, and good conduct, I cannot say too much; He is also a sabbath reader, and, I believe, very useful. A number of the girls got before me to the door, and requested a female school; they showed me some very nice work, taught them by the master's daughter. I said I would lay their request before their friends in England. The progress some of them made in writing and figures rather surprised me: the little premiums I gave them the last time had a great effect upon them, in removing prejudice, and convincing them who their real friends are, and in winning their affections to the love of the truth, in spite of priestly influence. The countenances of the children, in all the schools, brighten up, and smile, when they see me. I lectured in the evening, at Finchley, the seat of their worthy and pious patrons, Mr. and Mrs. Finch, who pay for a good school-house for them, and subscribe to the society. The society has done inconceivable good. How much more if it had sufficient means!
I was going to say, the Bristol school, at Balleycar, county of Clare, sixteen miles north west from Limerick, is a tremendous one. I went there immediately after my last communication; gave several lectures to Roman Catholics and Protestants, in the house of our afflicted friend, Major Colpoys; I tried to comfort and encourage his mind in the prospect of eternity—he is "looking unto Jesus." The school is in a very flourishing state; 224 on the list, 146 present, 120 spelling, 104 reading the Scriptures; about 30 committed to memory, and repeated 153 chapters this quarter: they made great progress also in writing and figures, which they are very fond of learning. There are only two or three Protestant children in this school. It often excites the warmest gratitude in my heart to God, that has put it into the hearts of his people, to afford such great and important blessings to those who would perish in ignorance and superstition. Oh what a mercy to see so many children rise to read the word of life, and to commit it to memory, and read it in the hearing of their poor benighted parents! At the close of the examinations I give a little lecture on the advantages of a Scripture education, on the love of God, on the sufferings of the Saviour, and on the influence of the Holy Spirit, to bless all to their present benefit, and eternal salvation. I find I can say a great deal, and go a great length, without endangering the schools, which I know, and am informed, would not be borne with from others. I try, also, to impress their minds with gratitude to their kind friends in England, and they appear very grateful and pray for them.
The Seven Oaks school, at Bushy Park, county of Tipperary, about thirty-five English miles north east from Limerick is in a prosperous state: the number of chapters the children repeat from memory frequently surprises me: the children of a poor Baptist brother there, near Burris O' Kane, are mighty in the Scriptures. The school discipline gave me great satisfaction, and the spelling, reading, writing, and figures, very pleasing: 74 on the list, 66 present; 62 spelling, 12 reading the Testament, and repeated 63 chapters from memory. The master is a very inoffensive and attentive man; I trust, truly pious.
In the Mary's Philanthropic school, Mount Shannon, county of Galway, about thirty-five English miles from Limerick, north north east, there are 98 on the list; 60 present, 39 spelling, 21 reading the Testament, and repeated from memory this quarter 150 chapters: always a good school, having more very poor Protestants in that village and neighbourhood than many others, and not so subject to vary from priestly attacks as some others.