The Statesman.
London, England, 1819-07-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE fITATESI4A,I.

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CHURCHRRYCOLLgGR, PRTERSFIRLD.

MR. FRITOR,—We have all been much pleased
with the manner In which you have exposed to the
Public the state of the neighbouring Borough of
Peterrfield, and we hope that you will loon have the
gratification of seeing a complete change in men end
mess there. You have justly remarked, that a
system of cerreptien end of usurping the rights of
others always leads to a thousand disgraceful and
dishonourable practices. The troth of the remark
Is ielf•evident ; bet es you have produced
instances from the political history of this place in
support of it, I will add another, not less glaring
nor less worthy of Indignation than those which you
have already communicated to your Readers, as I
think things of this nature eight to be held up to
public censure and reprehension.
Mr. Boot:muses enquiry into the state of Charities
Ass spread a general spirit of enquiry in every place,
bet no where more than et Petersfietti ; for observing,
that he succeeded, in some instances, in correcting very
shameful abase., the inhabitants thought that they,
aloe, might be not less (originate, though time and
their own supineness had given a sanction to the ibis-
maasgemeet end perversion of the objects of their
principal Charity, which was truly discouraging; and
I really think, notwithstanding ti r.Banuou•st'sgreet
success induced them to feel considerable hope, yet had
not 40 individual stepped forward, they might, per-
baps,
now, soder his auspices, and with his assistance,
they have begun with a prospect of the most bene-
ficial ressi•s downing upon them. They knew of
nemberless abeam, bet which sank into insignificance
before those that I hear have been everted, is con.
fusion, from the Trustees, whose defy it was to
protect and encourage this noble Charity, and to see
that its fends were properly managed, and the ioteo-
lions of the b lent Founder carried strictly into
elect. I will end rto sketch for you the his-
tory of this excellent Institution as shortly es I cats,
that you may see how much it has been neglected and
abused, and rendered subservient to the most corrupt
aid unconstitutional purposes:—
About a hundred years ago, a native of the place,
Mr. CHURCIItit, who bad been an East India Mer•
chant, founded a school, which is called " Cherchet's
College," for the education of PI boys, who were the
sons of inhabitants of Petersfield, and who were to
be boarded, lodged, anti clothed, and to be taught
mathematics end navigation, and placed oat as ap-
prentices in the East India Company's see-service.—
From the death of Mr. Covacetzu the Khool was
managed very well—the boys were lodged in the
College, and well taken care of; bet about forty
yet,s afterwards, the ancestor of the present PA-
TRON of the Beresegh was made, I believe, a

Trustee, and Wog desirous of conciliating ther
towns.peopie, with a view no doubt to the in•
Monica which his descendant now so wholesomely
and constitutionally *Remises there,he obtained an Act,
of Parliament to alter some of the directions of the
Founder, in order that the boys might, if they chose,
be apprenticed oat to any trades at home, and not
be obliged loge to sea against their inclinations. Ile
was not disappointed ; the scheme fell in with the
views of the people at that time, and it gained him
greet popularity and influence. I have not beard,
that during his time the concerns of the Charity were
improperly managed, except that, in most instances,
the sons of thole only who could promote his Par-
liamentary influence were admitted inter the Institu-
tion. On hie death the management of the College
devolved upon his eldest son. I will not dwell much
upon the state of things doting his edministration,
for the recollection of it must be most painful to
every feeling and correct mind. Suffice it In
say, that this Gentlemen e it'd the defies of
Trustee, Treasurer, Steward, end Visitor ; that the
boys were neglected, the mastership a sinecure, and
she College occasionally let out into lodgings. So
many offices combined in one mao, you must naturally
suppose, could not fail to distract his attention, and
to render him unfit for performing correctly the func-
tions of either; and yen must also espect to hear,
that these abuses caused great dissatisfaction amongst
the towns.people. The manner, however, in which
the College funds and income were manag►d was
still a secret ; but I was told the other day, that it
Cow appears, from the Chancery suit which the in-
habitants have began with the Trustees, to have
been moat shamefully careless and improper;
that a great deal of money, more, I believe,
than 15001. were allowed to remain with the
Acconalsot-Genetal for upwards of ten years,
without putting it into the Storks, by which the
College has lost all the interests and profits which this
sues might have made by a prudent management of
it nay, indeed, it is even said, that the Tr valets did
oar know of it until the ATTORNIT-C/ENERAL filed
the bill against them. I was also told, that there is
a balance of upwards of 16001. outstanding in favour
of tho College on the account of a former Trustee
sod T . who died 17 years ago. Could this
large balance have remained so long unknown to the
town, if the Trustees had had the goody/ the College
at hart; or would it have been showiug more than
proper resp►ct to the memory of their deceased re-
lative, if the present Trustees bad come forward at
once and declared the state of hijaccount, and re.
quested the town to investigate it, as they knew
nothing of it themselves, bet would cheerfully pay
whatever deficiency might appear on such investiga-
tine ? Nothing of this sort, however, ever took
place, and bet for the Chancery snit, this balance
would never have been known. When I heard it,
I Was very sorry, though I never liked the conduct
of the Trustees, and I wes almost inclined not to be-
lieve it, but my enquiries coafirmed the truth of the
report.
These are not the only abuses which have been saf.
feted to exist. The poor boys have long been turned
oat of the College, and deprived of their board and
10441, under a pretence that the Charity could not