CHAPTER IV.

REPORT OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE, ON THE STATE OF THE PROTESTANT CHARTERED SCHOOLS OF TRELAND: EXTRACTED FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE IRISH HOUSE OF COMMONS.

[Reported by the Right Honourable Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE.] "LUNE, 14° DIE APRILIS, 1788.

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Mr. SPEAKER,

"THE Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the Protestant Charter Schools of this kingdom having met, according to order, and examined several witnesses on the subject matter of the said inquiry, have directed me to report as follows:

"Your Committee read and examined an Abstract of His Majesty's Royal Charter for erecting and promoting English Protestant Schools in Ireland, which they think proper to state, and is as follows:

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George the Second, by the grace of God, "of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, "Defender of the Faith, &c. to all persons to "whom these presents shall come. Forasmuch " as we have received information by the Petition "of the Lord Primate, Lord Chancellor, Arch"bishops, Noblemen, Bishops, Judges, Gentry "and Clergy of our Kingdom of Ireland, that "in many parts of the said kingdom there are

"great tracts of land almost entirely inhabited by Papists, who are kept by their clergy' in great ignorance of the true religion, and bred

up in great dissatisfaction to the Government: "that the erecting of English Protestant Schools "in those places is absolutely necessary for their "conversion: that the English Parish Schools "already established are not sufficient for that purpose: nor can the residence of the paro-. "chial clergy only, fully answer that end:

"To the intent, therefore, that the children of "the Popish, and other poor natives of the said ፡ kingdom, may be instructed in the English "tongue, and the principles of true religion and

loyalty; and that so good a design may the more effectually be carried on, the Lord-Lieutenant, and some of the chief nobility, gentry, " and clergy, of the said kingdom, are appointed "Commissioners to execute the purposes of this "charter*, and have a power to elect others in "the room of their deceased members; and

are constituted a Corporation, or Body Politic, "by the name of The Incorporated Society "in Dublin for promoting English Protestant

Here we have the original intent and purpose of the charter, for the execution of which alone, was the Society incorporated. It is a fair subject for parliamentary inquiry, how far these purposes have been executed, or abandoned and frustrated.

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"Schools in Ireland,' and are capable to receive "and enjoy, in fee and in perpetuity, any

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manors, lands, tenements, &c. the same not "exceeding the value of £2000 per annum; "and any sum or sums of money that shall be

given them by any person or persons, bodies "politic and corporate, &c. to be applied for "the establishing and supporting English Pro

testant Schools, in such places of the kingdom as they shall think proper.

"The said Society is empowered to nominate " and appoint schoolmasters and schoolmistresses, "to be approved and licensed by the archbishops " and bishops respectively, to continue during the pleasure of the said Society; who are to be "supported by the Society, and provided with "all things necessary for the instruction of the

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poor children in the principles of the Pro"testant religion, reading, writing, and arithmetic, as likewise with proper books, and all neces

sary materials fit for teaching them husbandry, "housewifery, trades, manufactures, &c. in order "to bring them up to virtue, labour, and “industry.

"The Society is likewise empowered to nomi"nate persons to receive subscriptions, benefac❝tions, &c., in any part of His Majesty's domi"nions, from all well-disposed persons. The So"ciety may elect and admit Subscribers (being

Protestants) to be members, to assist in carrying on the design aforesaid."

"Your Committee observe, that the business of the Incorporated Society is usually transacted by the Committee of Fifteen, at the Society's House in Suffolk-street*.

"Your Committee thought it their duty to examine John Howard, Esq., whose evidence is in his words:

"In two of my former journeys in Ireland, "I looked into some of the Protestant Charter

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Schools, carrying with me the account of "them published at the end of the sermons "that had been preached to the Society. "afterwards waited on the Committee of Fifteen, "in Dublin, and having reported various appa

rent abuses, an alteration was made in some "particulars: but I am fully persuaded that "this noble charity demands still a thorough “reformation, and a parliamentary inquiry for "that purpose.

"Some general observations on these schools "and nurseries were given in my Publication in "1784; but having visited them in 1787, I "shall now give a particular account of them."

* Now Aungier Street, opposite York Street.

"DUBLIN.

"MILLTOWN ROAD NURSERY, June 6th, 1787.

"HERE were thirty-three children, many of them unhealthy. No diet table nor rules hung up. I observed an excessive parsimony in linen, soap, and other things necessary for cleanliness and health."

"COUNTY OF DUBLIN.

"CLONTARF-STRAND SCHOOL, June 7th, 1787.

"FIFTY-THREE boys, many employed in spinning; several had cutaneous disorders on their hands; but the old master having been discharged, they in general looked better than at my former visits. Allowance for diet for each boy is three-pence a day; and the master pays a halfpenny a day for the work of each boy. Linen scanty. Children shifted only once a week. Salary to master and mistress, £24 Irish; for three maid servants, £30."

"SANTRY SCHOOL, June 7th, 1787.

"FORTY-TWO girls. The house not whitewashed, nor in repair. The children healthy;