Care, however, should be taken to keep the plan distinct from the premiums distributed at the schools for good conduct. Plan af penny-club at Woodford for clothing poor children. E. Every child who is admitted a member of this club is to subscribe one penny per week, which it must bring to the ladies appointed to receive it, every Monday morning punctually at nine o'clock. This little fund is encreased by as many subscribers of a higher class as can be obtained, three subscriptions being necessary for every child, besides its own subscription. At the expiration of every quarter, namely, at Christmas, Lady. day, Midsummer, and Michaelmas, the sum which has been collected is allotted in equal shares to the children, but is never given to them in money, the treasurer expending it for them in useful articles of cloathing, which they have the privilege of choosing for themselves, provided the cost does not exceed each share. The children are to show their clothes to them who subscribe for them. if the children are seen ragged or dirty they will be dismissed the club. To avoid trouble, the subscriptions of ladies and gentlemen will be received at Christmas and Midsummer, being at one penny per week, two shillings and two pence half yearly*. Plan of the penny-club, Stoke-New ington, commenced in 1809, for the purpose of assisting and encouraging the poor in clothing their children. paid by each child, and one penOne penny per week to be ny by the subscriber. Any persons disposed to become subscribers, are requested to send to the treasurer their own names, and the names and places of abode • There is club at Clapham, requiring four subscribers for each child. of the children whom they wish to make members of the club, provided such children are not at any school, &c. from which they receive regular clothing. The child must take or the mother send, one penny every Monday, beginning from Christmas or Midsummer half year, to the collector, who will transmit it at stated times to the treasurer. Neglect or irregularity in sending the penny, must forfeit the claim to the benefits of the club. At Midsummer and Christmas the collector will call for the subscriptions, viz. two shillings and two pence for each child, with an additional six-pence at Christmas as a remuneration for her time and trouble. After each collection, the treasurer is to make enquiry of the mothers into the arti cles of clothing most wanted, and employ the money four shillings and four pence for each as advantageously as she can, directing the children to show the clothes to those who subscribe for them. Although the principal view held out by each of these plans is suh stantially the same, yet they differ in minor points of considerable importance. In one instance three, in another four, and in the last only one subscriber are attached to the payment of each child, the former with the intention of furnishing all the apparel requisite, and consequently confining the benefit to a few: the latter more diffusive in its operation, embracing a wider circle, but circumscribing the personal advantage to each individual; and it deserves serious reflection, whether the proportion of four or three to one is not more than can be looked upon by the parents as the fair recompense of their own economy: and whether it is not preferable to admit several children of the same family to a participation of the advantage, rather than by doing more for one child, produce a distinction in their BELFAST MAG. NO. XXXV. appearance, which may lead to un kind feelings and unfavourable con sequences. The economical and judicious application of these small sums is found to produce a greater effect than could be reasonably anticipated: four shillings and four pence doubly subscribed, that is, eight shillings and eight pence annually cautiously expended, will nearly clothe an infant, tion of the clothing for younger chiland will supply a considerable por dren; and if arrangements of this sort could be connected with the Lancastrian system of education, it would materially tend to produce that decency of appearance in the children, which is desirable in every public institution. The plans above recited encourage in poor families the important habit of regular sav ing, and the addition of an equal sum from the subscriber, should be considered rather as the just reward of industry and good conduct, than as a mere charitable donation. Thus, while the benevolent dispositions of the affluent are cherished and brought into activity, the poor are taught the stantly accumulating; they learn to practical value of small savings confeel the advantages resulting from order and perseverance; they are instructed in the important art of adopting the most effectual means to the accomplishment of a parti cular end, aud thus the best interests and gratifications of both classes are made to combine and support each other. without smile, without any thing. Every onlooker, that can see, must see that the country is my proper sphere; and is rendered so by a patient and contented drudgery, at every body's call, at every body's service; in foul weather and fair, through thick and thin, talking with book or without it, (in both senses of that word), as the humours of the people direct; just as fit to live upon three-score pounds, as three hundred; content without conversation, without books, or time to read them; travelling with the same humour, among cottagers and labourers, as among hall-houses and squires, bringing home a lodgment of fleas, as happily as a good dinner and a glass of claret. But I am out of breath commending myself. Pray, good Sir Thomas, do you find your self as well qualified for a country life? Will any man imagine that a delicacy that would better be come a fine miss than a country parson, can suit our exigencies; the state and hunger of the unpolished multitudes we have to do with? Is a man that dare not upon any occasion lay aside his papers, (so exactly written, that upon some occasions, to the great scandal of very wor thy persous, they have been taken for prin books), for fear of putting an for an and out of its place, or giving at any time to which an unrighteous procedure of who, or missing the stop a comma demands, fit for serving in most of our congrega tions? Is a man of so tender laiubskin, that he would not ride thirty miles to assist at a sacrament, for a tour pound piece, fit to hold in a side in a society so far scattered? What shall I say more? You are not fit for Dublin; (and this you have learned from your conscience, though I cannot tell how). Let this be granted, and what are you then fit for? I am sure if you cannot do in +14 town, you can far less do in the country. But you are happily situated now in an easy collegiate charge, and our congregations are full, so that there is no need for running about to supply. Yes, and to be ways continue. sure this posture of affairs will al that. And you are sure you will You are sure of always have a colleague in Belfast, and be safe with him. And that you will never have more call than you gregations. have now, to assist the country conit should happen that these expecta And you are sure, if tions should fail you, you can, whenever you please, transport yourself to Dublin, with the same adyantage with which you can go to it now. These things are all so rational, that it is no wonder you never have a thought about yourself. I have nothing further to say upon this affair, seeing it is delayed till the presbytry. And what I am to say about it, must be said openly, which is the only reason I am now restrained from pouring forth as much as good Elihu had to say, when he pad-locked, I bid you adieu. I hope could contain no longer, but being you will neither expose yourself nor me, by shewing this rhapsodie. Yours, Jany. 29th, 1738. J. DUCHAL. For the Belfast Monthly Magazine. PROFESSOR BODE, of Berlin, in the distances of the planets, and discovered the following analogy by means of it foretold the discovery of the new plants, Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta, whose distances (from the sun) are nearly the same. Mercury, 4 Venus, 4. 4 X 3 X 7 Earth, 4 X 3 X 21— 10. 8.2 Mars, 4 X 3 X 2'- 16. 23. 28. Jupiter, 4 X 3 X 24. 52. S -100. Saturn, 4 X 3 X 2 Uranus, or 4. Herschell.} 4 × 3 × 26-——196. X X of King Henry the eighth, when an act of parliament was passed, intituled, "An act for the English order, habit, and language." The views. and object of this statute will be best explained by the following extract from its preamble: "The King's Majestie, our most gracious and redoubted soveraigne lord, prepending and waying by his great wisdom, learning and experience, how much it doth more conferre to the induction of rude and ignorant people to the knowledge of Almighty God, dience which by his most holy pre→ and of the good and virtuous obecepts and commandments they owe to their princes and superiors, then a good instruction in his most blessed and familiarity in language, tongue, laws, with a conformitie, co-incidence in manners, order, and apparel, with them that be civil people, and do profess and knowledge Christ's re ELEVENTH ROPORT FROM THE COMMÍs ligion, and civil and politique orders, SIONERS OF THE BOARD OF EDU laws, and directions, as his grace's MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE, WE the undersigned commission- language, order, and habit." And ers, appointed for enquiring in to the several funds and revenues granted by publie or private donations for the purposes of education, and into the state and condition of all schools upon public or charitable foundations in Ireland, proceed to lay before your Grace our report upon the state of the PARISH SCHOOLS. after an ordonance that the Irish These are the oldest institutions under the denomination of schools in this country; they are co-eval with the introduction of the Reformation, and were established Anno Domini 1537, in the 28th year of the reign G. For the Belfast Monthly Magaziné. ACCORDING to our promise, we how communicate the eleventh re port of the board of education, which will be found to contain matter of considerable interest. A bill in consequence of it has been introduced into the house of commons, by Secretary Pole, which is ordered to be printed, and is to lie over till next session. We hope to procure a copy for insertion in our next number. PARISH SCHOOLS. To His Grace Charles Duke of Richmond and Lenox, &c. Lord Lieu tenant of Ireland. of said fine to be paid to the King, and the other to the informer; and any person promoted to any benefice as aforesaid, and neglecting to fulfil the tenor, purport, and effect of said oath, is for the first offence to forfeit the sum of six shillings and eightpence; for the second offence, twenshillings; and for the third, to be deprived of his benefice. There is a provision in the act, that it should not extend or be prejudicial to any elergyman residing in any metropo litan cathedral, or collegiate church, and studying at any university, or otherwise out of the land by the King's commandment, "but that such paroch priest or priests which shall have the service of any paroch church under him or them, shalt during their absence teache the English tongue and language, and keepe a schoole according to the form of this act, under a penalty of twenty shillings a year for any year that he shall omit the same." Under this act the parish schools of Ireland were established; and every Clergyman now inducted to a living, takes an oath in the words following: "I, A. B. do solemly swear, That I will teach or cause to be taught, an English school within the said vicarage or rectory of.......... as the law in that case requires." How far the provisions of this act of parliament, which related to the instruction of the Irish and of their children in the English language, were enforced in the reign of Henry the eighth; and whether any or what number of English schools were immediately established in consequ ence of it; we have no means of ascertaining at this distance of time. The measure certainly met with opposition from some of the leading members of the church. Thongh none of the statutes of the next childe or children shall endeavour themself to cause and procure the said childe and children to use and speak the English tongue and language, and according to this or their abilitie, cunning, and power, shall bring up his said childe and children in such places where they shall or may have occasion to learn the English tongue, language, order, and condition.' And with a view to the general introduction of the English tongue and language, it further enacts, that spiritual promotions should be only given to such persons as could speake English, unless after four proclamations made in the next market town such could not be had; and further, that every archbishop, bishop, and Suffragan, and every other having authority and power to give order of priesthood, deacon, and subdeacon, shall at the time they gave to any person any of these spiritual orders, administer to each of them a corporal oath, not only that he will endeavour himself to learn the English language, and instruct and teach the English tongue, to all under his rule, order, and governance, and in likewise shall bid the beades in the English tongue, and preach the word of God in English, but also that he shall "keepe or cause to be kept with in the place, terretorie, or paroch where he shall have rule, benefice, or promotion, a schoole for to learne English, if any of the childrene of his paroch come to him to learne the same, taking for the keeping of the same schoole such convenient stipend or salarie as in the said land is accustomably used to be taken." And it is further enacted, that if the bishop or suffragan omit to administer such oath to the person receiving any spiritual promotion, and that shall have the service of any paroch church under him," he shall pay a fine of three pounds six shillings and eight-pence, one moiety |
