Star.
London, England, 1816-08-09 00:00:00

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'EDUCATION OF TfiE LOWER ORDERS OF
TEE METROPOLIS.

• •
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN aEPORE A COM-
MITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

(Continued from onr Paper of July 23.)

Dr. Titot.t.ore, the head master of Christ Church,
here joinea in the evidence. The boys were taught
to the utmost extent that they were taught in any
other great school, reading, spelling, writing, arith-
metic, all classical learning, and Hebrew ; part .in
mathematics, part in drawing—there were seven
Scholarships at Cambridge and one at Oxford-,-at
Cambridge they were ig6o a year in value, and at
PeMbroke they bad an additional exhibition from the
College, making about £9O for four yekrs, and £5O
for the last three years, besides which the expenses
of degrees were paid. The Oxford exhibitions were
8170. They paid all fees of entrance, £2O towards
furnisbing their rooms, £lO for books, and £lO for
clothes, in all leso for outfit. The whole of the boys
proceed as far in the Classics as their talents or age
will allow them. In the upper Grammar School,
which was his department, he had 060; the second
master had about 150 ; but upwards.of 500 would
be instructed in Latin, Om and as far as they could
say, they did %not think that they could go farther,
and even with some of them it was quite the utmost.
About eight or ten boys, in general, went through a
classical course completely, to fill up the University.
exhibitions as they became vacant. About '2OO at'
the Hertford Seminary were taught in the'Classics,
there being there 416 when full; and they were
drafted in general at the'age of 12 to Londpn..About
60 boys generally attained the last stage of what
might be called the ordinary classical education. The
scholars were selected by the head master for exhibi-
tion, according to their talent and behaviour ; and
in making this selection, bo' person interfered with
the choice of the head master. He made the choice
directly withcut any consultation with the Governors,
at the time when the boys would otherwise be dis-
charged. In the event of more than one being
equally qualioed in point of talent, it would be given
to the boy of the best behaviour, or if the'talent and
behaviour were both equal, it would be regulated by
age. One exhibition went every year to Cambridge,
And one every seventh year to Oxford, forming eight
in seven years altogether. There bad been no in-
stances of vacancies by death in those exhibitions,
except one, during the last forty years. In the com-
petitions for the exhibitions, applications were fre-
quently made by the relations of the boy; but cer-
tainly the decision was always with himself. The
Goiernors never had interfered since his being there.
In London there were four classical masters, two
writing masters, and two ushers, a mathematical,
drawing, and singing master. At Hertford, a clas-
sical master, writing master, two ushers, and two
mistresses to the girls' school.—There was also at
each place a 'matron and a steward ; six beadles in
London, and two at Hertford; thirteen nurses in
London, and nine at Hertford, besides physician
and surgeon attached to the establishment; a resident
apothecary in London—the apothecary at Hertford
was not resident; four clerks, a surveyor, and archi-
tect; laud surveyor and solicitor. They also electerland
paid three street-keepers, who acted naar titc lir:Jers
of the Lord Mayor, as constables to clear the streat•
and keep the peace. The head master's salary was
se24o 16s. Bd. and 50 guineas for a Sunday evening'
lecture, with a house rent and free from taxes, but no
coal, candle, or any further perquisites. All the
officers have houses, and rent and taxes paid, but no
perquisites besides their salary, except medical at-
tendance and medicines. The school houis were as

follows :—from the Ist of March to the last of Oc-
tober, they begin school at seven, and continue till
eight; then they have an hour's play; then from
nine to twelve ; then they have two hours for their
dinner; and from two to five; seven hours in the
whole. In the winter, from the lit of November-to
the last day of February, they begin school at eight
or nine ; then they have their hour's play; and from
ten to twelve; in the afternoon from two to four,
excepting the .whole of Saturday afternoons and
Thursdays after three, throughout the year. The
salary of the second master was 4`205; the third
master 4180 ; and the salary of the master at Heft-
ford was 4203. The treasurer had no salary; but'
he had a house and medical attendance if he wanted
it, and the use of the balances which happened to be
in his hand. The annual amount of the salaries, in-
cluding the wages to all servants, was , 45,244 in
London, and £1,746 in Hertford—in all 46,990.—
There were pensions to retired officers and widows to
the amount of 41,054, included in the 46,990. The
expense of clothing, salaries, and other charges of
each child, was 432 Ils. but including building and
every thing, it would amount to 487 Bs. Bd. The
expenses for provisions, apparel, medicine, nurses,
'wages and stationery, for 1815, came to 421 Si. 3d.
per child, being in the whole, 422,.547. Dr. )3ell's
plan was pursued with the younger boys at Hert-
ford. One hundred and thirty boys had been voted
for admission to be presented this year on Governor's,
presentations, besides six girls, whu were admitted
by lots being drawn for them, independent of pre-
sentations from gifts. They were obligated, out of
estates given, to receive many children. They ge.
nerally discharged about 170 or 180 boys in a year,•
ihcluding all the ways of dismissal; 200 have been
known to be discharged at a time when there were
more children than at present. To supply the va-
cancies it was agreed that the Governors should pre-
sent 130 boy, and -six girls each of the last two years;
the nurrilser was regulated by the finances. The re.
maining vacancies *ere filled up by gifts. There
were 90 children constantly maintained from different
gifts in the Hospital.
• The wills were V4l-1001; many left- it to the Go-
vernors to' present in the usual way; some particular
Benefactors stated that they should be of particular
ages; but there were very few exceptions to the
general regulations of the house. There were a ter.
lain number of children presented every year, sons
of Lieutenants in .the Navy, under the will of Mr.
Travers, not included in the ISO above specified ; 50
of these Lieutenants' sons were always maintained.
The Governors of the Hospital were, the Mayor and
Commonalty, and Citizens, of the City of London,
as represented by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
twelve of the C 4113111011 Councilmen chosen by the
rest of the Common Councilmen out of their own
body ; and Nikkmen and Gentlemen of all ranks,

elso became benefactors tea certain amount, were Go-
vernors; besides the Corporation of the City of London.
FOur‘bundred pounds entitled a Benefactor to be a
GOvernor, lifter passing It ballot as to Character. No
Benefaaion Governor had ever been rejected by the
Court of Governors or the Committee of Almoners,
for the last 41 years. There had been made of Be-
Oefaction Governors within the last ten years 105,
who had given vit99,330. Twenty Governors were
to be named in two years by the Governors in rota-
tion : if there were twenty Governors made from
benefactions, there were no nominations except in.the
die of Is new Alderman being made in the two
years ; for every Alderman at the first biennial no-
mination, after he came into his office of Alderman,
was allowed the exclusive right of naming a Gover-
nor, which Governor was to be a Benefactor of £2OO,
althotigh the number should be full of twenty nomi-
nated by the other Governors or Benefactors. The
Governors held five appointed Courts, and as many
other Courts as the business required ; all the Go-
vernors were summoned and might attend. Each
bad a vote, and fifteen was a quorum. A President,
'elected by the body of the Crovernors, was at the
head of the charity, who was always an Aldenian,
and elected for life. The Governon presented to
the chanty as fellows :—the Lord Mayor two, • one
'being extra, as Lord Mayor ; the President two, and
one as Alderman, the other twenty-four Aldermen,
each one annually, provided any children were ad-
mitted. The Treasurer, who was also a Governor,
was complimented with two presentations, and one
Fin his turn .as Governor; the ordinary Governors
filled up the remaining number in rotation, beginning
each year where the last presentation ceased. The
following Regulations were specially revised and
settled at a Court, 28th April, 1809, for the admission
of children into Christ's Hospital :-
1. That every Governor may present the child of a parsot Set
free of the City of London, nor a Clergyman of the Church of
d, either on his
so first,',seeondevpr
,or third presentation,t IM i as
think proper,
2. That no children be admitted but such as shall be between
the age of seven and ten years; which is to be proved by such
certificates, affidavits and -courers as are now, or shall be here-
after required by the order of the General Coat.
" S. That a child whose parent or parents has or have two other
children under the age of fourteen to maintain, may be admitted
by s presentation • although such child has one brother or sister,
and no more, already oa the charge of the Hospital. '
4. That no child shall be admitted who is a foundling, or
maintained at the parish charge.
5. That no children of livery servants, except freemen of the
01 of London, or children who have any adequate means of
being educated or maintained, or who are lame, crooked, or de-
formed, so as not to be able to take care of themselves, or have
say infectious distemper, as leprosy, scald head, itch, scab, evil
or rupture, or distemper which shall be judged incurable, shall
be taken into this hospital, on any *count or by any presents.
don whatever; and if any such shall happen to be admitted, and
afterwards found disqualified in some or one of these instances,
they shall be immediately sent home to their parents, or to the
parishes from whence they came.
& That none be admitted without a due certificate from the
Minister, Churchwarden, and three of the principal inhabitants
of the parish, from whence such children come, certifying the
age of the said children, and that they have ntsadequate means
of being educated and maintained; the said Minister, Church•
wardens, and inhabitants engaging to discharge the Hospital of
them before or after the age of fifteen years, if the Governors
shall so require. If the father is Minister of the Parish, the
cenificare to be signed by the officiating Minister of a !Nth-
bouriisg Parish.
7. To pritrad children being admitted contrary to the above
oohs, they snail lie presented to a General Court, who will ea&
atone into the truth of the certificates, vouelsees, and teedennelleb
required, touching their age, birth, orphanage, or other qsalill-
cations, or refer the same to the Committee of Almoners, strictly
to esamine whether the allegations contained In each separate
Petition and presentation are true and conformable to the right
of the presentee and the above regulations; and all such as shall
be found otherwise, shall be rejected. •
Those regulations had been strictly adhered to ever
since the 28th of April, 1809, with only one excep-
tion, relating to age, which arose upon the doubtful
construction of a will, under which the boy was pre-
sented. Before 1809, the examination did not go so
strictly into the capability of the parents to maintain
the boys ; but since 1809, the examinations had been
very rigorous into the question of the capability.—
There had been presentations which the Court and
Committee had refused ; they looked at an income
not exceeding 0300 a year as the largest, ur.less there
happened to be a very large family. No general rule
was adopted, but every case was examined upon its
own merits. There were very many instances ot chil-
dren being admitted whose parents were totally des.
acute, but that was not the case with the majority
of children admitted. It appeared that on the 17th
February, 1809, there were upon the charge of the
Hospital, children 1065, sixty-five of whom weregirls.
That of the 1000 boys-g-
-ut were admitted on gifts frees companies, parishes, du.
498 sons of freemen.
299 sous of non-freemen.
102 sons of clergymen, who had, exclusive of the boys
in the Hospital, ther children . 578
Thathe patents of 871 boys had, exclusive of those in
the Hospital, other children - 3606
And that 27 boys had neither brother nor sister.
That out of 979 boys, there were as under :
Orphans - • ST
Sons of widows - -150 i • 360
Motherless ''. ,

A boys 93.$
Of the above eamtloar 4•0 were at Hertford.
There Were no means of ascertaining the income
of the party but from their own declaration. The
Lresentation was filled up by a Clerk, and it was
away& reported to the Court or Committee, and the
statement read. When the parents were admitted at
the Committee, such questions were put as the Com-
mittee might think necessary—it there was, nothing
particular in the presentation, no question was asked ;
but the statement of income was made in the pre.
sentation, with their number of children, particulars
and ages of the rest of their family, and read in their
presence. No instance since 1809 wa+ known of a
child being admitted whose parents were able to
maintain and educate it, as far as the statement in
the presentation went—it wis taken on the credit of
the party. There were many instances of chil-
dren being removed by their parents of their own act,
when they found themplves equal to 'upon their
family. It had never come to their knowledge that,
notwithstanding the certificates, children were ad-
misted whose parents could otherwise have main-
tained and educated them ; they knew no instances
of their having been deceived ; but they could not
take upon them to say that the parents might in all
sues have been in the circumstances represented. TM.
Hospital Committee 'met the emend Wednesday in
every maitth for the 'dairies of 'Wrest and
door if requited.
(Te ceetimml)