directing the master, and inspecting the chil

dren.

The children of the regiment who were fit for instruction did not amount to above eigh teen, including two or three sons and daughters of officers, and three or four little drummers. Each of these children pay a sum of the value of sixpence to the master, and the hours of attendance are from nine till one in the afternoon. The heat of the climate will not permit them to attend the school again in the afternoon.

The children are taught by the master to spell, write, and cypher; he also instructs them in classes according to Mrs. Trimmer's plan, making use of her Teacher's Assistant. The little girls have been for many months instructed in needlework, apart from the boys, in the same house, by one of the ladies of the regiment; and the boys have also received instruction in reading from the same person. The larger boys are also taught to write regimental orders, in the same manner as this business is carried on in the Orderly Room. The master reads aloud a part of an old book of orders, whilst the scholar commits what he reads to paper. Two or three of the boys are

N

able to perform this exercise with tolerable

accuracy.

When these children first came to the school, few of them could tell their letters, and one only could read. Most of the boys now read the New Testament with ease, and are by no means slow in comprehending what they read. Their manners also, from being perfectly wild and licentious, are become decent and submissive. This improvement is particularly remarkable in the boys. But it has been observed with regret, that the improvement of the girls, notwithstanding the pains which have been taken, has been far less remarkable: the private habits of a barrack being much more injurious to the minds of females, than to those of the other sex.

Upon the whole, the patrons of this school have met with more success than could have been expected: although the children are still, it is feared, very far from possessing that truly Christian spirit, which should be prized above all learning. But it is the duty of those who have the care of children (in whatever situation they may be placed) diligently to plant and water, humbly trusting that God will in his good time give the increase.

No. IX.

INDUSTRY SCHOOL AT OAKHAM.

RULES FOR THE SPINNING SCHOOL AT

OAKHAM, RUTLAND.

1st. ALL inhabitants of the parish to be ad- ·

mitted.

2d. No persons to receive relief from the parish upon account of their families, who refuse to send their children to the school: unless they can prove, to the satisfaction of the over. seers, that they can employ them to more advantage elsewhere.

3d. They are to be instructed gratis in spinning jersey, and linen, and in knitting: those who choose it, in reading; and those who can bring work with them, in sewing.

4th. The hours of work to be from eight to one, and from two to seven; from one to two, dinner and rest. No work after dinner on Saturdays.

5th. A dinner to be provided for those who

Reports, No. IV.

choose to dine at the school on the working days; for which they are to pay each sixpence per week.

6th. In case of illness, the dinner may be sent for to their homes.

7th. The portions, if the dinner is sent out, to be as follows:

One pint and half of peas porridge.

One pound and half of potatoe pudding. Those, who dine at the school, to have as much as they choose to eat, and a quarter of a pound of bread each; except on the pudding and rice milk days, when no bread is allowed.. 8th. The whole of the earnings to belong to the children.

A spinning school had been established at Oakham, in 1787: but, till this arrangement took place, the children used to go home to their dinner; which was attended with great inconvenience in wet and bad weather, and with loss of time; as, frequently, when the weather was very bad, they did not return after dinner; and sometimes did not go at all.

In order to establish the present system, the dinners for the first fortnight, were given gratis,

and the parents invited to taste them; after that they were informed that the children of those who approved of the plan, might dine there, upon paying sixpence a week; and those, whose parents preferred their dining at home, might continue to do so. The whole of the parents approved much of their dining at the school; and the whole number, which amounts to between sixty and seventy, dine there, and pay their money. They do more work in the week by these means, and get a much better dinner than they could at home. Several children come there, whose parents do not receive relief.

By purchasing the different articles wholesale, by the use of barley bread (which is customary at that place), and by means of a Rumford copper, the expence for the dinners and fuel has never exceeded the sixpence per head. The peas porridge, and pudding, are taken from Count Rumford's book, with some alterations, which made them rather more expensive, but certainly better.

I conceive that the success, which has hitherto attended this plan, is owing to its having been left to the option of the parents, whether their children should dine there or not.

16th March, 1797.