that can answer the question proposed is rewarded with a halfpenny; afterwards they withdrew with the greatest regularity, arranged two and two together; the first step towards improvement being to accustom children to a respectful, decent, and orderly demeanour. They are also required to come neat and cleanly, and the Bishop has given amongst them for a Christmas gift, a gross, or twelve dozen of combs. The children of all the poor families around him, whether their parents be Roman Catholics, Dissenters, or of the established Church, are all equally desirous of receiving this instruction, and of enjoying these benefits, of which they all partake without distinction. In order to remove every prejudice, the Bishop is not so exactly scrupulous in the choice of masters, as to confine them entirely to members of the established Church; but he is careful to see, that they strictly follow the plan of instruction, which had been prescribed; and for that purpose they are constantly examined by his own Agent, and inspectors appointed by himself; and he has never found that any undue advantage has been taken of his con. fidence in the teachers.

The members of the established Church form here a very respectable and large congregation, which has so increased, that it has been found necessary to make the addition of another aisle to Dromore church. This church

was rebuilt after the Restoration, by that excellent prelate, Dr. Jeremiah Taylor, then Bishop of Down, Connor, and Dromore, and author of many valuable works, particularly his Rule of Holy Living and Dying. In this church he was buried.-There are also two large congregations of Dissenters, distinguished as above, and one of Roman Catholics, not so

numerous.

To the erection of their chapel,

and to the rebuilding of one of the meetinghouses, the Bishop contributed. Indeed he pays the kindest attention to the Dissenting Ministers, and to the Roman Catholic Priest, whom he frequently invites to his table; and whenever the Titular Bishop visits this part of the diocese, he is always invited, with his clergy to Dromore House. By this, and by a variety of other instances of conciliating and liberal conduct, he has produced the greatest harmony among his neighbours. They are no less distinguished for their loyalty; so that a

well disciplined corps of yeomanry having been formed, he never once, in the late rebellion, quitted his residence there, during the whole of that alarming period.

No. XVII.

ENDOWED SCHOOLS AT CHESTER.

THE income of the Blue Coat School * at Chester, had for several years been applied to the maintenance and education of thirty boys, who were admitted at nine years of age, and kept in the house for four years. This provi sion had proved to be extremely inadequate to its object; the greater number of the poor of that city being left entirely destitute of instruction. In 1783, the trustees adopted a beneficial extension of the charity; and in the course of that, and of the ensuing year, they opened a day school, in a wing of the hospital, for the instruction of one hundred and twenty boys in reading, writing, and accounts. This they call the Green School, from the circumstance of each of the boys wearing a green bonnet, Two masters were engaged, one at 35. the other at 30l. a year; and they have proved quite equal to the care of the one hundred and twenty boys. The whole expense of teaching * Reports, No. LXI.

these boys, including their bonnets, &c. is not more than eighty guineas, or 14s. a year, each.

In order to provide for this expense, the Trustees diminished the number of boys in the Blue Coat School, from thirty to twenty-five; and at the same time extended the benefit of that school to a great increase of objects, by reducing the time of continuance to two years, and by selecting the best behaved and most deserving boys of the Green School for all the vacancies in the Blue Coat School; so that twelve or fourteen of the best boys of the former school are annually placed upon the foundation: the consequence of which is, that there is hardly any poor boy in that city, but may obtain a place in the Blue Coat School, if he perseveres in a course of industry and good behaviour.

This is of the greatest importance; as it extends the benefit, not only of instruction, but of (what is much more efficacious) emulation and example, to almost every lad in Chester. The boys are now admitted at nine years of age into the Green School, upon the nomination of the subscribers, who appoint scholars in rotation, according to the amount of their