Report

OF THE

GENERAL COMMITTEE,

1815.

THE General Committee of the NATIONAL SOCIETY now appear the fourth time before the Members at large, to report the further progress made during the last year towards the accomplishment of its benevolent designs. They do not affect novelty in the narrative of their proceedings; for the object of the Society is simple-the Education of the Children of the Poor, in the Principles of the Established Church-and the means employed have been so matured by practice, and are advanced so nearly to perfection, that the course of proceeding is become uniform, and justice can only be done to the effect which has been produced, by an artless representation.

The Central School in BALDWIN'S GARDENS-the most prominent and important department of the institution, as giving life and energy to all the SOCIETY's exertions, claims the first attention; and, in reporting upon it, it were sufficient to repeat what has been stated on former occasions, that under the discreet and indefatigable superintendance of the Rev. Mr. JOHNSON, the National System of Education is there exhibited in all its efficiency upon the moral sense, and intellectual powers of Children-subduing their unruly habits -fixing their attention-engaging their affections—and calling forth all the energies of their minds-in short, realizing every thing which Dr. BELL's ardent mind has prompted him to anticipate, even to his own satisfaction.

The proficiency which the School had attained at the last Anniversary was scarcely capable of being advanced to a greater height; but in the management of it an experiment has been made which remarkably exemplifies the inherent power of the System. It was stated in the last Report, that in order to afford Mr. JOHNSON the means of attending to the numerous Visitors frequenting the Central School, and of devoting his thoughts to the instruction of the Masters, and the general economy of the establishment, Mr. Bamford had been appointed Master of the School. He had not long entered upon his office, before an urgent call upon the SOCIETY to lend its aid in re-modelling some of the principal foundation Charity Schools of IRELAND, induced the Committee to place him, together with two other Training Masters, at the disposal of Dr. BELL for that important mission. By this appropriation of Mr. Bamford's services his post at the Central School became vacant; and Mr. JOHNSON, instead of applying for the appointment of a substitute, resolved to make use of the vacancy, in proving what could be done by the Boys themselves in the performance of the Master's function: a Boy of 14 years old, with an assistant of the same age, was accordingly placed in charge of the School. The result of the experiment has been satisfactory: to this time they retain their situations, having, in a great degree, managed the School during a large part of last year; and a very inadequate estimate will be formed of the skill which has brought the School into so high a state of discipline and improvement, unless, together with the effect exhibited, account be taken of the instruments employed in producing it.

To the Female department of, the Institution all that has been said of the Boy's School equally applies; Mrs. ROGERS continues her matronly oversight of it; and the Committee of Ladies persevere in their assiduous superintendance. From such advantages great success in the undertaking might be

expected to accrue; and the most sanguine expectations have been amply realized.

In order to enable the Members of the SOCIETY in particular and the Public in general, to decide for themselves upon the justice of this eulogium, the School has been, at all times, open to any one disposed to inspect the process of instruction; and periodical examinations have been appointed. During the present year it has been resolved, with the view of giving greater publicity to those interesting exhibitions, that they should take place at half-yearly intervals, and be fixed to the third Wednesdays in May and Noyember. On the two last occasions His Grace the ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY examined the several classes of both Schools, in the presence of highly respectable assemblages, exceeding in the former instance 300, and in the latter 650 persons; and it will shew how large a share of public attention the School has engaged, when it is stated, that 3250 signatures have been entered since the last annual Meeting upon the list of Visitants.

The Religious observance of Sunday, and the Worship of GOD according to the Liturgy of the Church of England, are set forth in the Constituent Resolutions of the SoCIETY, as an essential part of National Education. Το provide for this, (as no accommodation could be afforded in the Parish Church) Mr. JOHNSON was licensed by the Lord BISHOP of LONDON to perform Divine Service in the School; and from its first formation he has affectionately promoted the best interests of the Children in the double capacity of their Chaplain and Instructor. The Children have been regular in their attendance, and exemplary in their behaviour at Divine Service. A Reading Desk, a Church Bible and Prayer Book, and a suitable covering to spread upon the floor, have been presented by JAMES ALLAN PARK, and BADEN POWELL, Esquires, and the TREASURERthe proper Vestments have been furnished at the SOCIETY'S expence and the whole appointment is complete.

Respecting the Children of the Central School, it remains to be stated that there are at present under instruction 504 Boys and 280 Girls; which, added to 1141 of the former, and 585 of the latter, who having, for the most part,

have left the School after completed their education, sexes on whom the benefits

of the Society have there been conferred.

The Masters educated in the Central School form the next important branch of that establishment-of these, the SOCIETY on an average retains at least ten in its pay, to be sent to the assistance of persons interesting themselves in the formation, and re-modelling of Schools upon the National System; and to prevent the recurrence of difficulties on the subject of remuneration, a regulation has been adopted, that none of the SOCIETY's Masters, engaged in the service of any local Society or School, shall accept more than one guinea and a half per week for his expences, nor any gratuity, without the special permission of the School Committee.

Subordinate to the Training Masters an indefinite number of probationers are admitted, upon producing approved testimonials, who are gratuitously instructed in the System, and received into the pay of the SOCIETY, upon being reported competent by Mr. JOHNSON, as vacancies occur.

A third description under this department are Masters and Mistresses sent from the Country to be qualified for the conduct of Schools to which they have been respectively appointed. The whole number of these are formed into a class, and that they may understand thoroughly the detail of the System, they are taught in the same manner as a class of Children, and are carried progressively through the whole series of Central School Books; the Senior, or some capable Master in attendance, being appointed teacher, and made responsible for their order and improvement, of which a register is duly kept, and examined weekly by the School Committee, who occasionally distribute small gratuities to

those whose conduct or proficiency appears eminently de serving of encouragement.

Of the former of these classes, 42 have been admitted since the last Anniversary, 25 of whom have been appointed to permanent situations, and by the remaining 17 temporary assistance has been afforded in forming and re-forming 30 different Schools. Of the latter, 52 have been sent up by their respective employers for instruction, the greatest part of whom have returned to the Country with certificates of competency, and it is believed are doing well.

The subject of Training Mistresses has come more than ence under the Committee's consideration, and it has been deemed upon the whole most expedient not to retain any in the SOCIETY's pay; but no fewer than 86 Mistresses have been trained under Mrs. ROGERS in the Central School, 66 of whom have come recommended from the Managers of different Schools in the Country, and the remaining 20 have, by permission of the School Committee, attended for instruction at their own request-the greatest part of whom have also been appointed to respectable situations.

The assistance afforded by the Children of the Central School in the diffusion of the National System has been noticed in former reports. During the last year this agency in the arrangement of Schools has been much more extensively useful, and 18 Boys and 14 Girls have been thus employed at different times in various parts of the Country; all of whom, with the exception of one boy, have given great satisfaction in the execution of their trusts, and have brought back with them most gratifying testimonials of good conduct.

And here it ought to be mentioned, that several persons of great respectability in the higher ranks of life, have placed themselves in the classes of the Central School, conforming strictly to its discipline, and giving constant attendance till they had proceeded regularly through the whole