original expense of the school. The master thinks himself amply rewarded by receiving a guinea at Christmas, together with a few clothes for himself and family. Such parents in the neighbourhood, as are induced to take advantage of the institution, and are from circumstances able to pay, are expected at Christmas to contribute a trifle towards firing. Every person willing to conform to the rules of the school, by regular attendance and decent behaviour, is invited to send his children. Neg lect of attendance, and want of obedience, are faults for which, if persisted in, the children are discharged the school. Thirty children, from five to fourteen years of age (being an equal number of boys and girls) were there yesterday, Sunday, April 17th, decent in their appearance and behaviour, and many of them already able to read very well. Children, under the age of five years, are also permitted to come; and attend with great willingness, thereby acquiring habits of quiet attention, before they are capable of learning. Several of the elder inhabitants avail themselves of this opportunity to hear the Bible. The whole place has now a very different appearance on

a Sunday; and the hedges and birds-nests. escape on that day, at least, from the depredations consequent to total idleness. A few books are occasionally given, as rewards for regular attendance, and good behaviour. Some children come from so considerable a distance as two and three miles, and are remarkable for regular attendance. There are, at some seasons, above forty scholars thus instructed, with very little expense and no trouble. The school commenced in June, 1801. Convinced that time bestowed on these establishments is of much more consequence than the money they may cost, the institutors of this little school, have made a point of visiting them as regu larly, as distance well permits in winter; and, when on the spot in the summer months, at least once every Sunday, hearing the children read, and themselves bestowing the trifling rewards.

The above is deserving of notice and imițation, in every part of England. There is no mode, in which so much benefit may be conferred with so little expense and attention; whether we look to the education of the young, to the comfort, improvement, and religious

habits of the old and middle aged, or to what is sadly neglected in many parts of England,the due observance of the Sabbath.

18th April, 1803.

No. XVI.

N

SUNDAY SCHOOLS AT DROMORE.

In the Sunday Schools which, the Bishop of Dromore has established in his neighbourhood, children of all persuasions are admitted, and in considerable numbers. On a Sunday, when I visited the Bishop last autumn, there were above one hundred children assembled on the lawn in the front of his Lordship's palace, half a mile from the town of Dromore; and they were all carefully examined and rewarded according to their merits. I have since learnt that they frequently assemble there in far greater numbers; and I have received the following particulars concerning the establishment of these schools.

There are five Sunday Schools in the parish of Dromore; two of them entirely supported by the Bishop. He contributes to the three others, giving occasionally to them all, books and other premiums. Twenty years have Reports, No. CXLII,

passed since he first established them. Having for a few months tried the effect of a certain number of children of the religious persuasions, he had a meeting of some of his own clergy at an examination of the schools, uniting with them the Roman Catholic Priest, and two Dissenting Ministers of the different congregations, called here old and new lights.* With them was settled a plan of instruction, for instilling the fundamental principles of Christianity, chiefly taken from our Church Catechism; and for teaching them their duty to God and their neighbour; impressing them with a particular abhorrence of lying and theft.The effect has answered his most sanguine expectations; the surrounding peasantry being now remarkable for their truth and honesty.

Every Sunday morning the children attend their teachers in the school-houses; and after Divine Service, three and sometimes four of the schools (the fifth being too remote) assemble with their masters, as is above mentioned, before the Bishop's Palace. Every one

• The Old Lights strictly adhere to the Calvinistic Doctrine. Both agree in the same Presbyterian Church govern

ment.