ranged in order behind the counter, are em ployed, like Hercules in the service of Omphale, in the most minute, trivial, and effeminate occupations of the female sex.

In the execution of the proposed plan, it is of great importance for those ladies, whose talents and discretion will direct the efforts of their benevolent coadjutors, to caution them not to attempt too many, or too extensive objects:-an attempt, which may excite the jealousy and hostility of some, who might otherwise have been disposed to have given not merely their wishes, but their aid, to the attainment of proper and practicable objects.—If, without carrying the war into the aggressor's country, the fair sex can only regain the territory which has been wrested from them,-or (to drop the metaphor) if, without interfering with any occupation which properly belongs to men, they can resume those which do pecu. liarly and exclusively appertain to their own sex,-those which public morals and female

justly are, whether they will not be more admired, when decorated with a military uniform, and employed in manly occupation? And whether the love and gratitude of the sex will not be more delightful, than the confidence of the toilet, or an occasional smile of approbation, on the tasteful disposition of a ribband?

248 Ladies Committee for the Female Poor.

decency require to be in the hands of women, -and which the candour and good sense of every unprejudiced man would admit to be proper for women only;-and if to this they can add, for the benefit of the ignorant and unprotected of their own sex, such a degree of education,* as may make them useful to themselves and to society, and may impress them with the principles of religious and moral truth, MILLIONS, WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE SUNK IN MISERY AND VICE, will live in. nocent and happy ;-will live to commemorate the virtues, and record the names, of their BENEFACTRESSES ;-as the friends, not only of their country, but of the human race.

13th April, 1804.

* One of the most important objects of the Ladies Committee will be to establish a seminary, for the education of female teachers and governesses. In such a school it seems to be indispensable that the establishment should be strictly of the Church of England; not from exclusive bigotry, oper. ating to the prejudice of any denomination of Christians, but from the necessity of the peculiar doctrines of every church, making an essential part of education for teachers of youth: —a consideration very often neglected in the selection of a teacher, or governess.-Nothing will prevent the establishment of similar schools for other sects, and those even with the assistance of the Ladies Committee, or at least some of the District Committees. It will probably be found that of all persuasions of Christians in England, those of the Estab lished Church have been most deficient in the provision for the peculiar education of their own poor.

No. XIX.

EDUCATION OF THE POOR IN IRELAND.

In the course of the benevolent exertions

which have been made at Dublin, by the association for "discountenancing vice, and for "promoting the knowledge and practice of

66

religion and virtue," circular letters had been sent to their own members, requesting information upon the subject; and other letters have been since addressed to the Archbishops and Bishops, soliciting, through their interference, returns from the parochial clergy to queries, respecting not only the actual state of education in their several parishes, but also as to the impediments by which its progress is obstructed, and the means whereby they might be removed. The object of these enquiries. being to ascertain how far it may be expedient for the public to interfere in removing these impediments, and how far the suggestions or exertions of individuals can be usefully directed • Reports, No. CXVIL

to an object at present so very important to the country.

Parochial returns have been made from two hundred and two parishes; comprising about one-fifth of the ecclesiastical benefices in Ireland; and containing details which, while they may tend to gratify the reader, by shewing the great effects of some recent attempts to enlighten and improve the Irish poor, will operate to incite him to action, by pointing out large districts where education is almost wholly neglected, and will encourage exertion by the evidence which they afford, that there do not at present exist in Ireland any considerable obstacles, and certainly no insuperable difficulties, either religious or political, to a general system of education for the Irish poor.

The evidence to be collected from these Returns is, that above two-third parts of the poor children in Ireland, of an age, capacity, and disposition, to be taught and prepared for civi lized life, are entirely without instruction or the means of education; that in certain parts of Ireland, anciently the most civilised and enlightened, the proportion of this moral and political evil is still greater; and that even in the very neighbourhood of some parishes, in

which great and successful efforts have been recently made, for extending generally the benefits of virtuous and religious Institution, (such as New Ross, Whitechurch, and Carron) there do, at the present hour, exist parishes, which are comparatively speaking, without any means of education whatever.

The impediments to the instruction of the Irish poor, as appears by these Returns, are the want of habitable school houses; and (an obvious consequence) the want of proper schoolmasters. The instructors of youth, in those parts which supply them no certain income or habitation, form a peculiar species of uncharac tered itinerants; who, in the winter barely subsist, by offering their services from house to house, and in summer, draw a scanty and precarious support, by wandering from parish to parish, and opening during the summer season, in some ditch covered with heath and furze, a school, to which the wretched inhabitants send their naked starving children, to learn reading, writing, and accounts.

Of other impediments, the principal seems to originate in the poverty of the parents, which not only prevents them from contributing to the weekly expense of schooling, but disables