The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-30 00:00:00

NATIONAL SOCIETY.

The TENTH ANNUAL REPORT of the NATIONAL
SOCIETY, for PROMOTING the EDUCATION of the
POOR in the PRINCIPLES of the ESTABLISHED
CHURCH.

The General Committee have made it their practice in their
Annual Reports to call the attention of the meeting successively
to the state of the Central School;
_to the progress which the
System had made in this Kingdom, and in Foreign Countries ;
to the Donations which have been made to assist in the erection
of Schools ; and, lastly, to the state of the Funds remaining at
their disposal. They propose in their present Report to follow
the same order, under the impression, that in so doing they shall
best succeed in imparting a clear and succinct account of the con-
cerns of the Society during the pas year. Only they cannot
deny themselves the satisfaction of so far anticipating the latter
topic as to convey, in the first instance, to the meeting, the gra-,
tifying intelligence of a Legacy of £5OOO, 3 per cents. having
been left to the Society by James Hayes, Esq.; a Legacy no
less splendid, when considered as to its magnitude, than most
acceptable and useful in atiording a very seasonable supply to
the funds.

In adverting to the Central School at Baldwin's \Gardens,
while they have to repeat their uniform and unabated satisfac-
tion at the manner in which the Boys' School is conducted in
all its details, under the vigilant superintendance of the Rev.
Wm. JohniOn, they have great pleasure in stating, that the
Girl's School has undergone a very material improvement, un-
der the management of Mrs. Morgan, the newly-appointed
Mistress. The general practice of the details of the System in
it has become more perfect, ana the discipline more exact; the
behaviour of the Girls is more orderly, and their advancement
in elementary learning more satisfactory. The benefits of this
improvement appear to,,be felt by the Parents of the Children,
and the numbers who attend hive increased within the year.—
The Committee have always been anxious to enforce a due at.
tention to the working department in this School, under the con-
viction that, with a view to the future comfort and usefulness
of the female poor, this must ever., form an essential branch of
their Education. Some time since, they thought it expedient
to engage a separate Mistress to superintend in this department
of die School ; but since the appointment of Mrs. Morgan, who
has been assisted by the gratuitous services of her Sister, they
have found it no longer necessary to employ the additional Mis-
tress; 'and a very satisfactory improvement has been made in

the attention paid to female work. At present, the Girls of
the upper class spend the whole of their time in vtpxlcing, with
the exception of one hour devoted to reading, writing, and re.
ligious exercises.' ' ' •
The Children of both Schools.regularly attend Divine Service
on every Sunday in the Chapel at Ely-place, where their order.
ly'ami exemplary behaviour iiwitnessed by the whole congre-
gation. The COmmittee have great satisfaction in adding, that
the Rev. Dr. Bell has continued to afford his valuable services
in superintending the Central'School, and paying all possible
attention to the details. of its niahageiiient.
The average number of Boys at present in the School is 486'
that of Girls 235 ; and the Committee • find on inquiry that, in

the course of the year, 229 Boys, and. 64 Girls have left the
School competently instructed. Judging from these numbers,
they are led to infer that more than one-third of the average
number of Children in the School are annually sent forth into
the world, furnished with that elementary instiuction, and
trained to those excellent habits, which are there imparted ;
and, if the same proportion may be taken for the whole of the
National Schools in the Kingdom, a very high idea indeed will
be conveyed of the vast benefits which the public are deriving
from these Institutions.

The Central School has;continued to lend its assistance freely
to Schools in different parts of the kingdom, whenever appli-
cations have been made. The number of Schools, which have
been assisted in the course of theyear, is ICI ; some with tem.
porary Teachers and Instructors, others with permanent alas.
ters or Mistresses, or by the instruction of persons sent up from
the country. Instances have continually occurred in which
Teachers of both sexes, of a higher class, have requested to
be admitted into the Central School, for the purpose of apply-
ing the System to higher branches of Education ; others in
which the training Misters of the School have been appointed to
conduct Grammar Schools ; and many in which Boys bred in
the School, and trained as teachers, have succeeded to the
appointment of National Schoolmasters in different parts of
the Kingdom.

Nor has the direct assistance afforded by the Central School
been confined to the limits of this Kingdom. In the month of
November last, on an application received from the Commit-
tee at Calcutta, a Master was provided to conduct the National
School at that Presidency. In August a Schoolmaster destined
for Van Diemen's Land was admitted far instruction ; in Oc-
tober two native Negroes for Sierra Leone ; and several Mis-
sionaries intended to proceed to Foreign Settlements have been
admitted in the course of the year.
The Committee now proceed to ttate the result of the infor-
-11136,111 thy hAVt received 'respecting the continued progress of
the National System through the Kingdom. The number of
Schools united during the present year amounts to 107. In
the report of last year, the number stated to be then in Union
was 1614. Thus the whole number of Schools united-up to the
present time amounts to 1721.

In answer to the circular inquiries sent to the Secretaries of
the different Schools in Union with the National Society, they
have received on the whole very satisfactory information ; sheav-
ing in their general result, that (he numbers receiving Educa-
tion in them are on the increase, and that most beneficial effects
are perceptible both in the Children themselves and in their
Parents. Respecting the number of Children under a course
of Education in these National Schools, they haire never been
able to speak with precision, from the imperfect manner in
which the returns have been made. -Last year, on the best cal-
culation they were able to make, they repOrted the probable
number to be 220,000. From the number of Schools united in
the present year, they conceive an addition to be now made to
the amount of 15,000; and thus, on the whole, •the Children.
now actually receiving Education in united Schools amount to
235,000.

But, in addition to this, the Coonnittee hare always been
sensible that a number of Schools exist.in different
--parts of the
Kingdom, formed essentially on the plan of the. National So.'
eiely,:but not actually united with it. As 'to •thelatuaber of

these Schools, and of the Children receiving Education in them,
they cannot speak with any accuracy, from the Want of direct
information. But they are certainly led to conclude that, when
the addition of these Children is made to those in the united
Schools, a result will be obtained of very little less 309,0G0
Children, now receiving sound Religious Education in Schools
either united to the Society, or formed mainly on it:, principles.
Respecting the National Schools established in the Foreign
Dependencies, the Committee hate received some highly gre.ti,
fying details. At the Presidency of Bombay, three Schools
have been formed for receiving European Children : the Cen,
teal School at Bombay, containing 172 Children, the larger
portion of whom are boarded, clothed, and fed : that at Surat,
and at Tannah, containing 60 Children. In addition to these,
four Schools have been established for Native Children, in
which= there were, by the last accounts, 230 Scholars. A special
Meeting was held in August in the last year, ,at which the
Bon. M. Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay; presided, for
the express purpose of considering the most effectual means of
giving extension to the Native Schools : it was resolved, that a
separate branch of the Society there should be formed, Which
should.take this object tinder its special superintendence. Some
prejudices existed in the minds of the Natives, which, it was
hoped, would be overcome. A considerable difficulty was ex-
perienced in the want of elementary Books in the native Lan-
guages for the use of these Schools ; and, in consequence, mea-
sures had been taken to procure the Translation into those lar.
guages of some of the more useful and necessary Tracts. ,On
the whole, the accounts received from Bombay are very satis-
factory, as fully attesting the zeal and benevolent exertions of
the British Public there, in support of these Institutions; and
justifying every rational hope (considering. the particular cir-
cumstances of their situation) of the extensive diffusion of the
blessings resulting from them.
At r Brunswick, in North America, and at Sierra Leone,
the progress of the National Schools is singularly striking.
At the former place, the Society for supporting these Institu-
tions has, under the powerful patronage of General Smith, the
Lieutenant-Governor there, been established into a Corporation,
and endowed with some grants of Land. In addition to the
Central School at St. John's, seven other Schools have been
established in different parts of the Island; and in these it ap-
pears from the reports, that about 700 children are in an actual
course of Education. At their Central School the numbers
have recently so much increased, that the erection of an addi-
tional building was necessary, which, by the last accounts, was
in a state of considerable progress.
_ _ _

, At Sierra Leone, it apPea; from a report lately transmitted
through the Governor, and dated in January last, that no lets
than eleven national schools are established in that Settlement,
in which are nearly 2,000 persons under instruction, the greater
part being natives of Africa. In addition to the children re-
ceived into these schools are many adult negroes, both male
and female, who have been captured from the slave traders
and who thus, in exchange for a condition of the lowest human
wretchedness and degradation, are imbibing the valuable bless-
ing of sound moral and religious education,
In the Island of Barbadoes' the National Schools are thriv.
ing under the active and liberal patronage of Lord Comber-
mere. Two Schools have been established, one for whites, and
the other for negroes, each containing about 150 scholari.—
They are liberally supported by voluntary contributions, and
the National System is practised in them with great success and
perfection.
The Committee now direct the attention of the meeting to the
donations which they have made in the course of the year for
the erection of Schools in different parts of the Kingdoen.—.
These donations are 35 in number; and the sums thus expend-
ed in the year amount to 20201. ; they have in every instance
endeavoured to measure out their Grants in proportion to the
strength and merits of the application, and to the Funds re.
maining at their disposal,- and in many instances they have
lamented the necessity of dealing out with a sparing hand,
when every other consider4ion but that of the limited state of
their means would have pkompted them to make a liberal
Donation.

Two instances have occurred, in which their Grants have ex-
tended to the sum of 1601. in the case of two populous parishes
of the Metropolis, St. George's-in-the-East and Paddington.
In St. GeOrge's-in-the-East is a great population of 30,000
inhabitants, cornprising not less than 2,000 poor children, who
are the objects of gratuitous education. In Schools already ex-
isting, provision was made for 600 Children; and a plan was
formed for erecting an additional school-room, into which 420
Children might be received. The estimated cost was 12001. of
which not more than half could be raised, at the time when the
application was made, by the utmost exertions of the inhabi-
tants.

In the case of Paddington, the population consists of about
6,000, and there existed only provision for educating about 130
children. Towards a plan for establishing a National School
for 180 boys' and 120 girls, a liberal annual 'subscription of
2001. was raised ; but in providing for the expence of the first
erection of the building, tne means proved very inadequate.—
The utmost sum raised and expected amounted to little more
than 4001. while the charge to be met was not less than 7501.
In eight sevaral instances, they have extended their donations
to the sum of 1001.

Amongst the places thus largely aided were some very popu-
lous towns, as Huddersfield in Yorkshire, containing 12,000
persons, Windsor, Welchpool, and Buckingham.
At uddersfield, the Committee learnt with satisfaction, that
the plan proposed was to provide for die reception of 300 Boys
and 300 Girls • at Welchpool, with a population of 4500 Per.
sons, to provide for 320 children of both sexes ; and at Buck-
ingham, with a population of 5000, to provide also for 300 Boys
and Girls. At Windsor, the population to be provided for con-
sisted of 10,000 ; a large School was erected at a great expence,
but a heavy debt had thereby been incurred, which without the
assistance of the Society could not be cleared off.
The Committee are unwilling to fatigue the meeting by a
more particular detail of their donations in aid of the erection of
Schools ; but will beg leave to refer them to the Report as it
will appear in print, where the details will be given at greater
length.
The last topic to which the Committee have to call the atten-
.rion of the meeting is the state of their Funds. They have al-
ready mentioned the magnificent Legacy of Mr. Hayes of the
sum of 5001. 3 per Cents. Had it not been for this accession to
their Funds, they would, ere tbis, have found themselves in a
bankrupt state, and must either have suspended their opera-
tions, or have renewed their demands on that unfailing source
of wealth—the generosity of the British Public, in a cause of
sound piety and benevolence. As matters stand they at present
find between 4 and 5 thousand pounds remaining at their dis-
posal; and they will continue to dispense this sum in the man-
ner which they shall deem, in the exercise of their beat judg- •
ment, most. onducive to the great ends 'for the promotion of
which it is committed to their charge.
They cannot close the present report, without briefly recall-
ing to the recollection of the meeting some facts connected with
the institution and the progress of this Society. A period of 10
years has now elapsed since the Society was first established ; at
the time of its commencement, the mcchanisni of the powerful
and admirable Systeni, which the world owes to the Rev. Dr.
Bell, was not only spreading itself in different parts of the King-
dont, but was applied to rear the population of the country in ,
indifference to the Established Church, or in alienation from its
Communion. To direct that mechanism to a better and a •
sounder purpose, the Education of the Poor in the Principles of
the Church of England was the direct object for which the Na-
tional Society was formed. And what has been the conse-
quence P In the short space of ten years, between 17 and ill
hundred Schools have betn established in direct union with it;
others have been formed essentially on its principles,; from 250
to 300 thousand poor Children are at this time imbibing the
.soundinstruction there afforded ; and they verily believe they
cannot err on the side of exaggeration when they.state, that little
less than one niillion of individuals must, have risen into life,
and been mingled in the mass of society; carrying with them .
'those sound principles and tight feelings and excellent habits
which these institutions are so well calculated to impart. Nor
let it be forgotten that the Society which has been the Central
spring of these great movements, and has, given such impulse
to the public feelings on this subject, has derived no part of
its tesourccs from the public.purs6, but entirely from the pri-
vate contributions of individuals. Here then is a full and con-
vincing proof of what may be efibeted by the toluntary exer-
tions of the British public, when excited in the cause of ge-
nuine well,directed benevolence and sound. Christian duty.'
Much. has already been effected, but much also remains to be:
done. The Society
_would •be most ,happy to be enabled to
carry on .their operations in future front some permanent
sources of income, and to be spa red the necess'tta of renewirg
their appeals to that public which' has already so liberally sup-
plied them- But, under all -:circumstances, they trust it will,
1 e generally felt, taut the great cause Of National Education'
cannot he entrusted to better hands, or promoted by means
more calctilsitcal, than those which have hitherto:been adopted,.
to give it•Vigo,:r, feriran, rice, aid stability.

PRESENT STATE of the COURT of PERSIA.

F ETII ALY-CHAH, who now holds the reigns
of
_government, rises very early. Immediately
after his breakfast, the Ministers and Secretaries
of State bring in their reports, and receive his
orders. At this particular audience, *succeeds
the public audience levee, which lasts about an
hodr aud a half. To this the Princes are ad=
initted, the Ministers and Chief Officers belong-
ing to the Court ; public affairs are then treated
of, rewards are decreed, punishments pronounced,
and the Monarch audibly delivers those opinions,
he wishes to be known. When be goes out front
this levee, he enters the council-chamber, where
he passes an hour or two with his favourites and,
hic Miatisters. . The morning having thus passed
away, he retires into his harem, but he forgets
not, in this abode of pleasure, to appear again,
before sunset, at another public audience, and.
then to follow the course on horseback : his din-
ner is served up between eight and nine at night,
with the following ceremonies and precautions :
Every dish is served up on china, with a Silver
cover; these dishes are set out in a large case,
which is sealed with the seal of,the maitre d'ho-
tel ; all together is covered with a shawl of mag-
nificent workmanship, and carried before the.
Monarch, in whose presence the seal is broken,
and the dishes are set out before him. The
Chief Physician is obliged to taste every di ti.
The Prince eats his repast, seated on a carpet ;
and other carpets, richly embroidered and folded
together, serve for a table.

After he has taken his dinner, the king again
visits his harem, the beautiful inhabitants of
which vie with each other in amusing him with
songs and dances. The first visit that Captain
Malcolm made to the Court of Persia, the King
said to him with a smile, We will not speak
again on serious matters ; but I request you will
satisfy my curiosity on one article of which I
heard speak, but which I cannot believe ; is it
true that the King of England has only one
wife?" On being answered in the affirmative, the
Monarch declared that he Would not reign over
a kingdom which had such customs. His hat.
is composed *of three hundred females :'and th it
guard of eunuchs is removed with as much ca .e
as that of a gardener to embellish his parter.-e
with fresh flowers.

The receiving of an Ambassador is one of thz
most solemn occasions on which the King displays
all the pomp and magnificence of his court. Ac
soon as the Foreign Minister sets his foot on the
Persian soil, he is conducted into a small apa t-
ment where the great Officers of State are wai:-
ing fink. him ; after he has rested there a few mi-
nutes, he is informed that the King is seated o
his throne, and then the procession advances to
the hall of audience, This siperb

I
raised about right reel rrom tlu ground, situ
ed in the middle of a delightful garden, surround-
ed by long walks planted with trees and beauti-
ful fountains. In these walks are ranged, ac-
cording to their rank, from the door-way to the
throne, the Princes,Ministers, Nobles, Courtie s,
and the different corps of the Royal guard ; but
the superb sight which such an assemblage of
persons, richly habited, offers ro the astonished
view, is suddenly effaced by the contemplation
of the Monarch, whose throne and splendid robes
dazzle the eye of the beholder by a profusion of
the most precious gems.
When the heat of summer renders the abode
of the capital dangerous and unwholesome, the
King and his Harem quit town to encamp in the
environs of Sulthanyeh, the ancient capital of
Persia, before Ispahan, and then Thehran, be-
came the chief cities. There his occupations and
his manner of living are the same as in his palace.
lie makes it his duty to be visible every day to
all his subjects, from six o'clock to seven every
morning. A 'great number of people, of all con-
ditions, are admitted to see him, arid to present
him with their petitions. The portable tents
and pavillions are of the utmost magnificence. A
screen of cloth conceals from the eyes of the cu-
rious both the exterior and interior apartments.
The etiquette is the same as at Thehran.—
Every thing, even to a person's looks, are under
the strictest regularity. When the Prince she w s
himself in public, his son, the ministers, 'the
courtiers, and more than two thousand pager,
magnificently clothed, are seen standing, with
their arms crossed over their breasts, placed ac-
cording to their rank. Every eye is fixed upon
the Monarch, and a look from him is a command.
If he addresses a word to any one, the person
exalts his voice to answer him; in speaking, you
perceive, however, only the motion of the lips ;
no gesture, whatever, is made use of.
The Persian Monarch is extremely polite, su-
perior to the French in that respect, and even the
Chinese. It is a well known fact, that he made
a very serious apology to General Gardanne,•be-
cause it rained on the day he made his entry into
Thehran.

The court fool, a personage now no longer
tolerated in Europe, often gives very useful in-
structions and wholesome advice to his 'So% en
Another person of importance is the story-teller.
This post requires a great deal of ease in elocu-
tion, a happy memory, and a very fertile imagi-
nation. It is impossible to form an idea of the
passionate fondness which the Persians have for
this kind of amusement, and the perfection to
which they have brought the art of relating tales,
which serve them instead df drama-pieces ; the
stm y -tellers are th_eiractors, and, the coffee-houses
their theatres.--Andirmenian's account ofpresent
Persia.)