Star.
London, England, 1816-07-06 00:00:00

• NIP •

ABSTRACT OF THE EVIDENCE.

Mr. T. A. FINN AN, Master of the St. Gilts's
Irish Free School, in George-street, rated, that from

survey he had ascertained that there were upwards of
6000 poor Irish in St. Giles's district, including the
parts of Bloomsbury connected with it, exclusive of
children. They have 4 general disposition to have their
children educated, and even many of the parents attend
to be taught—about 100 attend lour nights in the
week; some of them have been taught to read since
January who exceeded 47 years of age. To these pa-
rents nearly 3000 children belong, who are destitute of
any intorma Linn ; int espect ot morals they are most de-
praved, generally associating with pickpockets.—
The parents themselves are very dissolute. On Sun-
days particularly they take their children with them to
the public-houses.: while they have a farthing left they
vend it in those public-houses, and the children are
I"ft to the parish for btod for the rest of the week. The
traerals of the English in the same district are much
better. In this district, betides the George-street school,
there is another school (the St. Patrick's) for Irish
Catholics, and the Parochial Schools. In the school
of which he has charge, 771 have been received since
1813. Children of the Irish, of all religions, are ad-
mitted. It was founded by the Rev. J. Ivissey, with
the assistance of Mr. FiNseome, in 1813. The income
is about £20() arising from voluntary subscriptions.
The parents pay nothing, having been found unable,
especially in winter, to pay even one penny per week.
There is room in the' school for 300, but only 200 at-
tend ; the reason is, that the Roman Catholic clergy.,
men object to the children being allowed-to read the
Bible. At the commencement of the school, one of
the priests demanded permission to teach the Catholic
Catechism in the school. This being objected to, the,
following he preached against the schools.—
' ff,e elect was., the windows of the school-house were.
broken, Mr. FINNEGAN and his wife prised with mud,
and a few days after his child was,so beaten as to be-
come and renlain a cripple. The school is designated
66 the Protestant Bible Scho as a term of reproach.
atsknaLetiv preached this sermon about two years
;ago. At the time the number of children in the school
decreasA from 230 to 38 for one week, hut the week
I following the parents, satisfied with the tilude of ih-
strnetiot:, sent their children again. At the Catholic
`Scheol about 200 are educated. That establishment
'is hostile to the Qeorge•street School. There is a
National Free School, but the Irish have an objection
to send their chil.lreti to schools avowedly Protestant.
The witness had surveyrd Saffron-hill, where there
were 3120 Irish adults, and about 5000 children of all
ages. In St. Giles's education had already, he concei-
ved, had an influence on the morals of the lower orders.
Mr. J. KELLY. Secretary and 'Trustee of St. Pa.
trick's School since its commencement in 1803, stated
that it was supported by voluntary contributions for
the instruction of poor Catholic child: en in St. Giles's
and-its vicinity. .The number of children now in the
school was 400, or above, which was greater than the
usual number. The present increase was partly ow.
ing to the management sir the Fentalk School by a
Lady, who had undertakenit without any reward.—
The Girls' School was -lull, but • the Boys' School
would admit 100 more than it had hitherto had.
There was another Catholic School in Wild-street.
The expense of Vsp St; Patrick's SchoOl was £9OO,
for which 4.00 bßyi and girls were educated, and
about six or seven female orphans entirely provided
tqr. The expense of the orphans was, on an average,
£2O each, leaving £760 for educating the 400 Oil.,
dren. The Schoolmasset bad £6O, which was the only
salary. The system of teaching 'is a modification of
Lam:as:Ws plan:. The .001 We religien is taught.l
The Society has £3500 in the pet' cents.
Mr. T. LEARY was one of the Committee of the
West: London Association : he undertook to survey
what was called the Covent Garden division in 1813.
He visited 215 houses in the courts between Cathe-
sine-street and Bedford-street, Strand. In those
houses 97 boys and 75 girls were educated, or had ,
the means of education ; 145 boys and 112 girls were'
uneducated, and without meant; of education.
Some of the people were in great milsery, but all
persons expressed their willingness to assist according
to their ability in the plan of education, and to con
tribute something. •
The object of the Association:was to build-Schools
west ef the City. To effect this, the whole of the west
of London was divided into 11 divisiGns, and subdi-
vided into districts, in which persons were to have'
visited from house to house, to ascertain the number
of children educated and uneducated, and to solicit
subscriptions; The object of the &ssociation
mains unesecutedi but itot given up. The difficulty

PRICE SZVEN-PESICR.

found was to get peisOns to visit the districts. Those
who undertook it got cool upon it.
The Association has one school in Horsefertrroad,
in which they are teaching. The number of boys on
the books is aboot oor 400. Witness did not think
more than 150 regularly attended ; they were from
Tothill-street and that neighbourhood, Mr. Jameson
was the master.

Mr. F. BABLen, who had visited the left hand side
of Long•acre, along Drury-lane, stated that he found
there 417 children educated, 497 unedneated. I'!ie
greater part of those of the lower orders were unedu-
ca.3d, but the parents wereextrem-ly anxious to have
the means of procuring their children edocation.—
Where there were tare or four in a family one or

two could read a little, others 'not at all. In the Irish
families there were more uneducated than in those

ot the English and Scotch ; but they were generally
as anxious to have their children educated as the

others. He saw a great deal of ilth and misery.
Mr. F. A.EARLE, Clerk to the Vestry Clerk of the
Parish of St. Giles, gave an account of the Charity
Schools in the united parish of St. Giles and St.
George, Bloomsbury, besides Mr. Finnegan's and
the St. Patrick's Schio There is one in Eagle•street
on the Lancasterian plan, in which tttere are 100 boys:
14d. per month, by the parents, the remainder by
voluntary contributions: one in Sto:e•stteet, Bedtord•
square, that purports to have 30 girls, at present there
are 22. Another in the same street, in which there

are 70 children, on Bell's system: each child pays 2d.
. . . . .

. _
a week. In Wild-street, there is a Scho,ll in which
109 boys arc educated, and a free school in which
there are 40 boys, and 45 girls, maintained pinci.
pally by subscription from Queen-street Chapel. One
in West street; for SOO boys and 100 girls, where 9.1.
A-month is paid by each child : another in Gate-
, street, Lincoln's Inn-fieids, in which there are abort
',(10 boys and girls. These were all the foundations
lof wh.cb witness was aware of, for the purpose of

education, except the walk-house school, which con-
tained 63 children, of persons admitted to the.work-
isnd a school budding under the will of a Mr.
Shelton, in which 50 children are to be edncated, 3.5
of St. Giles, 10 of St. Martin, and five hf Covent-
garden parishes. A great many children of the levier
orders in the parish of St. Giles were destitute of the
meansof education, and the t.!te of morals extremely

bad, which he conceived education world much int.

prove. On Sundays large parties of the children
went to the fields to gamble in a riotous manner,
though the Beadles were constantly endeavouring to
put a stop to such irregularities. Hz had heat d that

a system was laid down by Oa? part,iti to encourage
them to go out thieving. He cnticeietd a want of
cloathir.g prevented nipny of the children as well
from attending schools as divine worship. Many mil*
rents alit; would not send their children to school bt.
cause they derived support from their begging.
Mr. E. NORRIS stated, that there was another

school in St. Giles's, in addition to that mentioned
by Mr. Earle, called the Bedford, in Tottenham
Court-road. He was in the habit of attending a
Catholic chapel, to which a school was attached, in
.which there *was rtig,74,.: mote e hildren then'those
.who atteodg. ThiXhe attributed partly tb begtect,
and ph: tl; to-the w.‘j,t,iii ciosthing. ... •A;•' '
Mr. J. HoNitillAn, a ,:ilk m mulactlirer of Spital-
fields, said, that in that quarter in a population of 17
or 18,000, there were. he should suppose, near '2,000
children of the poo,est classes uneducated ; he did
not pretend to accuracy. The schools in that district
were—a parish school, containing 110 children—a
parish Sunday scheol of 150—a dissenting school of
100 children—a Methodist Sunday school, in Raven-
row, of 500 children (he believed on the Lancasterian
plan) —a Sunday school, in llope-street, ofabont 9.90.
A Sunday school belonging to Mr. Evans' 'Chapel,
of 800, partly on the Lancasterian plan. A Mrs.
Buxton's school o: 100 children, paying 2d. a-week:
And an adult Sunday school of 160. These schools
are supported by subscription, except that of Mrs.
Buxton, which is supported by herself ; and the pa-
rochial schools, which, besides subscriptions, have
some money funded. He thought there was a great
want of education in the district, and in times of dis-
tress, the want of cloathing was a serious objection
to the parents sending their children to school. The
present, he observed, was a time of great distress,
and within ten minutes walk of his house, there were
20,000 hands' out of employ-7000 looms being un-
employed, each of which generally employed three
persons. This witness also spoke to the anxiety of
the lower orders in that quarter to have their chil-
dren
educated, and stated, that having surveyed the
poor of the district, for the purposes of the Bible So-
cicey, he had found near 1000 adults unable to read,
besides children ; Many of them much regretted their
ignorance. Of the schools he had mentioned, six had
been established within 12 years. Many of the scheola
could-admt more bays than are educated at them.—
The poor titts,of the district were ss. per pound, in
the rack-reift, and to be raised another shilling.
Mr. W. Siat.e agreed in general with the evidence
of Mr. Honeyman ; but he thought the number of
uneducated poor nearer 1500, which was aLeut half
the children of the rot. population. Four fifths of
those Who were educated, were educated 'la Sunday
schools only ; but some of the schools so called tntt
for an hour or two one evening in the week. These
institutions had much improved the morals of the
poor, by inducing them toluend places of worship
oh Sundays.
Mr. E. MEYIUCK, Treasurer of the Parochial School
of Christ Church, Spitalfields, stated, that the num-
ber of children educated and annually clothed was
110. It was supported by donations, annual sub-
scriptions, charity sermons, and interest of money in
the funds. The annual expense was 11458.105. -He
conceived there was no want of the means of educa-
tion in the parish;' f the parents would send their
children. This might arise from extreme
Ipoverty ;
but he conceived the parents hid little inclination to
exert themselves to provide clothes.
The Rev. W. GURNEY/ Rectos of St. Clement

-

Manes, and licensed Minister of tie Free Epislopall
Chapel, 'in West-street, Seven Dials, stated&that
there were gre4t numbers of children in St. Clement's
Parish who did not attend any school. The mason
assigned was thir ragged condition; many mete the
children of mendicants, who derived profit froM their
begging. There are Sunday schools of Dissenters
in the parish one, a large one, in prpry-lane, in
which are from five to. 600 children ; and two cha.
city schools—one for clothing and educating 60 boys,
another for the education and blard of 20 females.
He was4uspicious there had been another school on
a foundation which had disappeared, through some
mismansgement : it was cafled, he believed, the
Blue School. Whether the fu:id arose from any
thing transitory, he could not tell ; but he rather
thought it did not, but had been handed over to the
present school. The building had been pulled down
many years ago, but within the memory of many of
the inhabitants.
There is, besides, within the parish, a school in
New-court, Carey-street, connected vaith a chap'
tiers, containing 2 or 300.
There is another Parochial Sunday School, which

was first established three years ago by the witness
and others, containing about 3(X) boys and girls.
The annual expense was int) or £BO. At this schNol
some children had learnt to read in 18 months, but

he should prefer two years and a half.
The witness had also a school in West-street, in
winch 400 children were taught, of who'll *Xi regu-
larly attended, it was now sdpported by the children
having i:een begun upon subscription; the whole ex
noise was rE2IO; the master's salary BUJ; his wile
£3O, with a donation to them of ,ClO annually.
Each child gave DI per calendar month, which was
paid before-hand. The school was free It) all reli-
gions, and many Catholics attended, though the
catechism was, taught, and attended the free chapel,
to which the school was attached. If he had ac-
commodation fur them, he thought 1,200 children
might be educated in the same way for B'3SO a-year.
The wit:l.:as stated that great mischief arose from
the want of room in.the churches for the poor, and
he thought the best ohm would be to procure school-
rooms in each parish, which should be consecra.ed
mod licensed as chapels fur the poor. In St. Cie.
ment's, which contained 12,000 inhabitants, the
Church, if crowded, would only bold 4,000, and
the fitly acconittudation for Cie pour was twelve
benches in the nri.idle aisle.
The Key. C. Nl‘Cnicritr, Citrate of Sr. Giles,
stated the numerous applicati ,ns vdrich were made
for admissibia to the Charity-school io that Perish,
which proved theie Wab no geninal disinclination in
the loner tad& rs to send their children to school. He
eiought that in tia: List eleven years the genetal ap-
pearance of the parish as to rhorais hail improved.
Mr. T. COOKE, of one of the Trus-
tees of the Parociii::l School of Giles and St.
George, 131uoinshury, gave an account of that in-
stitution. It is for the clothing and education and

apprenticing of 101 buys, and ti.e board, clothing,
' and education of GO girls. The School was esta-
blished in 1706, and has Seen siipprted by annual
subscriptions and donations, wit!' funded property
raised from ele subscriptions and from bequests,—
The cliddroi who :Ire admitted, are rather ai:ove the
lower cadets, io'ne tieing admissible who receive pa-
rochial aid. They are elected by the Trustees. The
average expense was £1,700 at least.
The witness being asked whether there was. any
thing to prevent sm.!) a change in the rules of the
charity as might leave the fund -free for the education
of 1,000 or 1,500 children, instead of clothing and- •
b carding a much smaller number ? sad, that he did
not know of any endu..vment to prevent it; but that
obj-ctions would be made to it as a departure from
the plan of 17(4, as much money had been raised
ethich would not h.ive been obtained, but for the idea
of boarding 25 additional girls, who had been taken
a few years ago. Tue same objection would be made
to a proposal, instead of clothing 100 te educate 800,
which might be done for the same expense; he did
int think, howevt r, that any objection would be made
to the introduction of t! c new system of education,
by which 1,100 boys might Be taught in addition to
t:lose NOW clothed, provided they had room. He
thought there would be objections to apply any part
of the funded property to the purpose of enlarging
the premises.
Mr. 1). Brauumir, Treasurer of the St. George's,
Bloomsbury School, gave two annual accounts of its
receipts and disbursements in the years ending April
13, 1815 and 1816. The disbursements iri the former
year were £2,460 18s. the receipts £2,507 15s. 10d.
In the latter year, the disbursements £2,155 12s. 9d.
the seeeipts, including the balance on the former
year, £2,286 7s. It is to be remarked that in the
tin mer year the sum of £E2634as applied to the pur.
chase of stock, and in the latter year £32.5, both
which sums stand in the Account of disbursements.
The funds of the establishment are £lO,OOO 3 per'
cents.; £6uo 4 per cents.; two annual bequests
amounting to £l5, and a house which lets at £45.
Mr. Cootie being again called, explained that the
children were only arprenticed to persons of the Esta-
blished Church. Otiier children were not excluded
because they were Dissenters or Catholics, but they'
were obliged to conform to the rules of the schGol.
Mr. R. MURPHY, one of the Trustees of the
Bloomsbury School, and Mr. F. TIMMER, were ques-
tioned wilether any objection existed to A change in'
the nature of the establishment, on account of the
terms of beques.s and donations ? The result of their
answers was, that they were aware of nothing which
would .prevent such a change.
Mr. CARMICHAEL, the School-master of the same.]
.establishment,sa:d the boys were not admitted under
eight years of age. They remained till 14—which
time was occupied in teaching them reading, writing,.
and arithmetic. He did not think be could teach a
greater number of boys on his present plan to do
Ahem justice.

Yesterday a Common Hall was held, for the election
of a Sheriff, and, together with ROBERT KIRBY, Esq.
Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, in the room of
Waxiest MOUNTORD, Esq. who had refused to give
bond to take upon him the same. The following
gentlemen being the only ones in nomination, viz.
Gaosog BRIDGES, Esq. Alderman of the Company of
VV:ilelwrights, and WILLIAM PLEKBENG, Esq. of the
Company .of Vintners, were then put up, *ten Wu,
s.t.cat Pict:Also, Esq. WAS declared duly electea. •

ffra 4 .11' 4
THE EVEN ING • STAR. •

LONDON.

SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1816.
,PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY. AT '1 WELVE O'CLOCK:
Reduced 841—Cone. 84 ti ex. div.—far ace. 64/1 tL &V.
4 per Cram 74 78—S per Cent. Navy 92f1 ex. div.
Bowls Si. Si. pm—Exchequer Bilis, as. Se. pre.

By the last arrivals, we have received letters from
Halifax, and from the Virgin Islands. The Military
and Naval Intelligence which they bring will be found
under their proper heads. The following extracts
present some other particulars worthy of notice:

I' HALIFAX, JUNE U.

" Arrived four transports, viz. the Lord Eldon,
William and Ann, Walker, and Mary and Dorothy,
in sixteen days, from Dominica, with the Sd Batta-
lion of the 60th Regiment on board. These ships
are to be immediately refitted, and return to the West

Indies to bring the 15th Regiment to this place.
" JUNE 13.—Arrived the Lune transport, in 15
days, trom Newfoundland. with the Royal Newfound.
land Fencibles on board. to be immediately disbanded.
4• Tile American ship Washington, lately put to
sea, rated as a 7-1, carries 90 guns, and has a crew of
nearly 900 picked men, and all her guns are thirty•
two pounders (long and short), and cArtonadcs.
•6 A war between America and Spin is very con.
fidently expected to take place before long ; at all
events, the, United States appear to be preparing for
a war of some kind.

,‘ There has not been, for upwards of forty yens,
io backward a season known in Nova Scotia as the
present. Although now k the middle t.f June, but
little` vegetation has taken place, and there is scarcely
any seed sown in the ground. Ice was seen on the
morning of the II th at the harbour, and a few days
since snow was falling in different parts of the coun-
try. The weather in the southern parts of the United
States is equally extraordinary, and the farmers have
been obliged to plough up the ground, and plant a
second time their spring seed."

" Sr. THOMAS'S, (Wet Indies) MAY 6.

“ The Independents are gaining ground rapidly on
-the continent of America ; and, in addition to their
own force, very lately it has been augmented by four
thousand of retion's troops, from the island of St.
Domingo. Tile: passed this island a few days since, on
their way up to Saba, belonging to the Dutch, where
they were to rendezvous, and have since sailed to
Cirthagena, or some port near it, in fifteen vessels,
twelve of which were men of war ; the largest are
cot vettes, mounting 84 guas. Five of their vessels of
war were cruising round the Virgin Islands, a few
days ago. from which it is said they were enabled to
pick up 400 men ; and we are informed, from the
best audit:l'kb that they have issued Proclamations,
whereia they declare, that letters of marque, found
cruising off, and impeding the commerce of their dif-
ferent poi ts, shall, if taken, be treated with a severity
unknown among civilized nations; that is, by hang.
'ing the masters, orates, and every• filth man, of ye&
sels belonging to any country, found so cruizing.”

A Mail from Holland arrived this morning. The
Dutch and German Papers which it has brought
contain the following intelligence 3

BRUSSELS, JUNE 29.

The nomination of ail the superior .and subaltern
officers of the several legions of infantry and cavalry
which are organizing in the Northern French De-
partments. has now taken place. Fur subaltern offi-
cers young men are mostly chosen who have distill"-
guished themselves by their attachment to the cause
of the Bourbons.

Some officers of the army of Bonaparte have been

likewise admitted, but net without the greatest pre-
caution. Repeated orders have been received to com-
plete the several corps at Bethune, Dunkirk, ac
several legions have arrived to form the garrisons,
and to be made complete. They are not, one with
another, above 44)0 or ZOO strong.
The French Colcnel Latapie, who escaped from
Aiz-la-Chapelle, but has been since retaken, has al-
ready arrived at Verviers, where the police has re-
ceived particular instructions concerning him.
The Editors of several Papers, written by French
Emigrants and published as well bere as at Ghent
and Antwerp, will be prosecuted before the compe-
tent Tribunals for inserting in their papers offensive
articles respecting the French Government.

BERLIN. JUNE SI

The report that the fortifications of Cologne are

to be razed and 'hp site of them converted into gar-
dens, is wholly groundless. On the contrary, the
greatest activity is exerted in strengthening this place,
which is in many respects of such great importance.
HAGUE, JULY a.
SECOND CHAMBEkt OF THE STAVES GEIiaRAL.
SITTINGS OF JULY 2.

A Message was read from his Majesty, accom-
panied by a changed project of a law respecting'
Loans opened in the kingdom for foreign Poweri or
private persons abroad, which, on the inotipn of the
President, Avu aeferaed to the Sections for eusi
nation.

Another Message from his Majesty, 'acquainting
the Chamber that his Majesty bad acceded to the
Treaty concluded on the 26th of September, 1815,
between their Majesties the Emperor of Auntie, the
King of Prussia, and thaniperor of R{tssia,•ander the
name of the' Holy Alliance, 'Stich Treaty was read,

• .
Sit DP4Wat .resolvedtO deposit till Apo 4hea• .
'amen fa fhb Archives of the Chamber.
A letter was read from Mr. Jacob- Schellems,
offering a copy of the last Campaign of Napoleon
Bonaparte—honourable mention. and (veered to be
deposited in the Archives.—Adjourned till to-
morrow.