last, was rendered fit for the reception of Children by the 1st of August, and each of the rooms, replete with every convenience requisite for the Institution, being in their dimensions 60 feet by 20 in the clear, accommodation was thus provided for 350 Children, at a charge to the Society of £600.

That the Schools are made to serve the double purpose of an Evening and a Day School, the attendance in the former instance being limited to three evenings in the week, and being reserved for those Children whose constant employments prevent their attendance during the day, and for those adult poor who are disposed to receive instruction. That a merit fund has been established for the purpose of rewarding those Children whose good conduct and improvement shall entitle them to the same, and towards the support of this fund every Child on admission is required to pay 1s. That the number of Children now under instruction in the Central School are

Day School, Boys 117. Girls 106.-Evening do. Children 200.

That the first object of the Society being thus completed, its further design, viz. the introduction of Schools into the different parishes of the Diocese, came under consideration. That to encourage the exertions of benevolent individuals in their respective places of abode, and thus the more speedily to accomplish this second object, it was resolved to afford assistance in the following grand requisites-proper Buildings, proper Masters, and proper Books: that the rate of assistance fixed by the Hampshire Society was, with very little variation, adopted, (see Hampshire Regulations, p. 62); and that the Schools in the following places have, in consequence, been established, and have partaken of the Society's bounty in the particulars annexed.

The Committee conclude their report with this very satisfactory statement; that ability to read and write is the least of the advantages which have been already derived from this charitable institution, the morals of the Children (an attention to which constituted the primary object of the Society) having been manifestly so progressively improving ever since their admission, that by the cleanliness of their persons, the general decency of their manners, and their respectful conduct to their superiors, they are very distinguishable from the untutored part of their juvenile associates; and that from these auspicious beginnings the Committee cannot but entertain confidently the delightful hope, that the salutary effects of instruction, of discipline, and of constant attendance on Divine worship, will, at a more advanced period, prepare their hearts to receive increasing impressions of religion; and that, under the blessing of GOD, they will not easily become the victims of vice and wickedness, but on the contrary will have fixed in their minds the excellent principles of the Christian Religion, according to the doctrine and discipline of the Established Church, will manifest them in their conduct, and as they grow in stature will grow in grace, and in favour with GOD and Man.

L

The funds by which the designs of this Society are supported

are

For General Designs, Donat. £1251.78. Annual Subs. £174.— Central School, Donat. £87. Annual Subs. £32. 14s. 6d.— Weekly and Quarterly receipts from Children £16. 18s. 6d.

BRISTOL DIOCESAN SOCIETY:

INSTITUTED 1812.

THE Committee report, that finding the views of the Society had not been sufficiently made known, the first object which engaged their attention was the supplying this deficiency, and procuring such an accession to the Donations and Subscriptions, contributed at the constituent meeting, as would put them in possession of resources for carrying the important design confided to them into effect, upon a scale corresponding at once with the extent of the necessity for which they had to provide, and with the credit of a City enjoying so amply the means of furnishing the requisite supply. That accordingly, an appeal to the well known piety and liberality of the inhabitants was made, and circulated through the town and neighbourhood, and a Sub-Committee appointed to wait upon such persons as were deemed likely to favour their charitable aim. That an imperfect knowledge of the nature of the Institution was found very generally to prevail, which limited their success much within the bounds of their expectations, but was so far from producing despair of so good a cause as the religious education of all the Children of the Poor, who would avail themselves of the benefit, that it only convinced them that animated exertions were necessary, in order to exhibit a fair specimen of the advantages of the System, and that if demonstration to this effect were afforded, the most liberal patronage would ensue.

That under this conviction they resolved to turn immediately to the best account the means already placed at their disposal; and having secured the most commodious room which could then be obtained, prepared it with all the despatch possible for the reception of Children, and that every thing might be in readiness to commence their labours with full effect when the preparations were completed, they employed the interval in framing rules and regulations, as well for their own government in the management of the Central School, as for the granting assistance to Country parishes, disposed to co-operate with them in disseminating through the County the Madras method of instruction, as also for the government of the Children who would be admitted to enjoy the advantages of the Institution; and further in providing a Schoolmaster, who was immediately furnished from the National Central School in London, upon their application, and has proved himself every way qualified to give effect to the views of the Society.

That these preliminaries being all adjusted, the assistance of the parochial Clergy was solicited, and most assiduously given, in making known to the Poor the opportunity now held out to them of having their Children gratuitously educated, and in inviting them to avail themselves of it; and that it is a subject on which they most cordially congratulate the Subscribers, that in the two first days after the opening of the School, 174 Children were admitted, and that candidates for admission continued flowing in, in nearly the same proportion till their number was complete; demonstrating the affection with which the principles and worship of the Established Church are cherished by the bulk of the people, and, under Divine Providence, how powerful an instrument of perpetuating these blessings the Diocesan and District Societies which are now forming, under the auspices of the National Society, in every part of the kingdom, will prove.

That neither in point of situation nor extent is the room which they at present occupy calculated for a Central School; that it is therefore projected to erect a building better suited to their purposes, and to extend the plan to various parts of the City, and ulti

mately to the very populous parishes in the neighbourhood; but that the execution of these designs so essentially conducive to public benefit, depend upon the means being provided by public liberality, which they cannot refrain from promising themselves will be extended towards them, when they reflect upon the pious, charitable, and loyal feeling of those to whom their appeal is made, and upon those best interests of Church and State, which the Institution, if duly encouraged, promises to promote; the rescuing a large portion of our poor Brethren from ignorance and depravity, and the making them useful Citizens, and good Christians. That the funds already contributed to the support of the Institution, and the number of Children under instruction, are—

Donations £1023. Annual Subs. £201. 128.-Children 400.

DORSET DISTRICT SOCIETY:

INSTITUTED 1812.

THE Committee report, that the Society was instituted under the auspicious circumstances of the concurrent recommendation of the LORD BISHOP of the Diocese, and the GRAND JURY of the County, and at a numerous meeting of the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and other Inhabitants convened in consequence by the High Sheriff. That having been charged with carrying into effect the Society's designs under a restriction which decided that no new erection was to be made, they lost no time in hiring, at £10. per annum, a suitable School-Room for Boys, and in engaging a Master who, whilst the necessary alterations were in hand, was sent up to London for instruction, under Dr. BELL. That the preliminary measures of defining and making known the objects of the Central School, and of framing all the regulations by which their future proceedings were to be governed, as well with respect to the admission both of Teachers and Children, as also to the internal ar