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 LANCASTER 
 
 OUTLINES OF A PLAN 
 FOR EDUCATING TEN 
 THOUSAND POOR 
 CHILDREN
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 OUTLINES 
 
 s?iatt 
 
 FOR EDUCATING 
 
 TEN THOUSAND POOR CHILDREN, 
 
 BY 
 
 Establishing Schools 
 
 IN COUNTRY TOWNS AND VILLAGES ; 
 
 FOR UNITING WORKS OF INDUSTRY 
 
 WITH 
 
 (Useful ftnotolefcp. 
 
 UNDER ROYAL PATRONAGE. 
 
 The absolute ignorance in which we are bora, and 
 the propensity we manifest immediately to receive impressions from 
 what we see and hear, are an evident proof of our Maker's design, 
 that we should be formed by education into what we are to be. 
 
 The wisest and best of ancient legislators and phi- 
 losophers have all prescribed a strict education of youth, as the 
 foundation of every thing good. 
 
 ARCHBISHOP SKCKER, 
 
 BY JOSEPH LANCASTER. 
 
 LONDON" : 
 
 PRINTED AND SOLD 
 
 AT TLJE FREE SCHOOL, BOROVGU ROAD 
 
 AND MAY BT. HAD 
 
 ,F HATCHARD, PICCADILLY; DARTON AND HARVEY, GRACE. 
 
 CHURCH STREET^ AND J. AND A. ARCH, CORNHILL. 
 
 I 806. 
 PRICE ONL' SHILLING A> T D SIXPENCE.
 
 %o tl)t JBrtng* 
 
 GRACIOUS AND BCLOVED SOVEREIGN, 
 
 IN introducing this plan to my 
 country, seeking its welfare and happiness, I 
 cannot do less, with that high deference which 
 f owe thee, O King, as the father and friend 
 of thy people, than thus publicly to offer my 
 humble tribute of gratitude and thanks for the 
 high honor conferred by thee, thy consort the 
 Queen, and thy Royal Family, in patronising 
 and supporting these plans, when submitted 
 to thy royal notice, by one who prays, 
 that God may reward this act of royal bene- 
 Toience manifold into thy bosom: 
 
 And remains, 
 With gratitude and respect, 
 
 Thy faithful and affectionate subject, 
 J. LANCASTER.
 
 OUTLINES 
 
 OF A 
 
 Pan 
 
 FOR EDUCATING 
 
 TEN THOUSAND POOR CHILDREN, 
 
 UNDER 
 
 ROYAL PATRONAGE* 
 
 PUBLIC curiosity having been much 
 excited by reports of the Plan for educating 
 Ten Thousand Poor Children in the coun- 
 try, under Royal Patronage^ it becomes a 
 desirable thing, that an account should be 
 published, containing the grand outlines of a 
 design, so interesting in its nature, and so 
 extensive in its object. 
 
 This detail would have been given much 
 earlier, if every thing had been sufficiently 
 matured : it was proper, and indeed only 
 dutiful to the King, the Queen, and the 
 Princesses, who had honoured it with their 
 
 b appro*
 
 approbation and distinguished patronage, to 
 wait, at least, till it had been introduced to 
 the several branches of their illustrious fa- 
 mily : this has been most happily accom- 
 plished, and received in a manner that will 
 ever leave an indelible impression of gratitude 
 on the author's mind. 
 
 It was also desirable, that the foundation 
 stone should be laid, and the design began ; 
 this also has been already crowned with com- 
 plete and happy success : it was equally de- 
 sirable, that the author should have the op- 
 portunity of consulting his friends, feeling the 
 task arduous, and distrusting his own abilities 
 in a work of so much magnitude and import- 
 ance. 
 
 From early life, the author devoted himself, 
 his time, his talents, and his money, to the 
 education of youth ; placed, as by the super- 
 intending hand of Divine Providence, in a 
 
 neiah-
 
 neighbourhood, in the vicinity of London, 
 abounding with ignorance, poverty, and vice ; 
 he was anxious to employ the abilities, he 
 was favored with, in attempting to rescue 
 some of the rising generation from the bane- 
 ful contagion of the depraved, and often 
 dreadful example they were exposed to. He 
 began his humble labours, in hope, that He, 
 M whose love is unto every man, and whose 
 mercy, over all his works," would crown them 
 with his blessing. Remembering the good 
 advice of William Penn, in whatever we do, 
 "to begin and end with God:" he did not 
 think it sufficient to implore assistance and wis- 
 dom from him, " that giveth to all men libe- 
 rally, and upbraideth not ;" but also to begin 
 with religion as of the first importance, and 
 the most infinite moment to children of pa- 
 rents, destitute of any themselves. The 
 author does not mean by this, that he in- 
 culcated any controversial or sectarian tenets, 
 but those truths of Revelation, without which 
 e 2 no
 
 no man can be a Christian, and which all cen- 
 tre in practical godliness and holiness of life : 
 the mode in which this was done, was by assem- 
 bling weekly, a number of the most promising 
 among the youth, to tea: in their welfare 
 he took a lively interest, and endeavoured 
 to improve their minds by solidly reading the 
 Holy Scriptures : this brought them into habits 
 of quietness, attention, and reverence for the 
 sacred writings, and, after the first introduction 
 of this method, it would have been thought 
 highly criminal to have caused the slightest in- 
 terruption, while so serious and important a 
 concern as reading the Bible was going 
 forward; this general reverence for religion, 
 and religious exercises, prepared the way in 
 the minds of these amiable young people, for 
 imbibing the weighty truths of Christianity in a 
 more extensive manner : the effect was, that 
 the author could not only commit more to the 
 care of these lads, in managing the school, but 
 could place a dependance on them, that they 
 
 would
 
 would not tell untruths. The prevalence of 
 this principle, the love of truth, led to a 
 certainty of detection, which, in a great 
 measure, precluded the commission of 
 offences ; and as orderly conduct produced 
 approbation, and merit ensured reward ; 
 the duty of teacher and scholar was ren- 
 dered very pleasant: with such instruments, 
 the first endeavours were almost sure of being 
 crowned with ultimate success. This was en- 
 tirely owing to a blessing on the humble endea- 
 vours; the author had used to imbue their ten- 
 der minds with principles, which taught them 
 to act as beings formed for eternity, and 
 created to live for ever. Although the au- 
 thor is a dissenter, not from party, but 
 from conscience ; in interesting himself for 
 the education of the poor, his motive was be- 
 nevolence; he had no sectarian interests to pro- 
 mote ; and the good consequence was very 
 evident in the instance of religious worship. 
 The children were, in general, sons of parents 
 
 very
 
 6 
 
 very indifferent about their best welfare : they 
 went to no place of worship, nor cared whe- 
 ther their offspring did or not. The children 
 were affectionately addressed on the neglect of 
 this important duty : each individual was re- 
 commended to go to some place of public wor- 
 ship, according to his conscience and best 
 knowledge: several voluntarily acted accord- 
 ing to the advice given — this was more plea- 
 sant, as it became the act of their own judg- 
 ment ; and 1 have now two particular instances 
 in mind, of lads becoming regular attendants 
 at church, who, but for this general care, 
 would most probably never have gone there 
 at all. 
 
 To the advantages the author enjoyed 
 in having docile lads, who were capable 
 of being easily brought in good order, is to 
 be added, the peculiar advantages of ihe 
 system of education, on which he thought it 
 right to act: these are too multifarious to be 
 
 recited
 
 recited in the few pages which compose this 
 tract ; they alone occupy a volume : but a 
 small outline can he given. 
 
 The author expected to be able to educate 
 children at the rate of about one guinea per 
 annum ; his object was to try several experi- 
 ments in education, by which it could be ascer- 
 tained, what number of children could be edu- 
 cated under one person, by the most expedi- 
 tious means, and at the smallest expense: and 
 this object was attained in an eminent degree. 
 In reading, a method was fallen upon to reduce 
 the price of books, and the expense of teach- 
 ers, affording, at the same time, encouragement 
 and rewards for the deserving pupils. In wri- 
 ting, the practice and proficiency was increased 
 beyond example. The art of teaching arith- 
 metic was, in the first instance, reduced to a 
 system of mere reading and writing; any 
 boy who could read, could teach ; and any 
 number of boys who could write, could learn 
 
 elementary
 
 8 
 
 elementary arithmetic by this method ; and a 
 counterpart was devised, by which the mind 
 is exercised as well as the memory. The 
 instructions given to the poor werelimitted to 
 reading, writing, and the first four rules of 
 arithmetic ; without which acquisitions, the 
 poor cannot discharge the common duties of 
 life to advantage ; and in communicating this 
 instruction, themselves were made the agents. 
 
 The whole expense, in the course of repeat- 
 ed experiments, was reduced to the rate of 
 seven shillings per annum, per head ; and im- 
 provements are now in view, which will reduce 
 it, under the same system, to four shillings 
 per head, and perhaps less : when the au- 
 thor has finished what he has in view, it will 
 be communicated to the public, at least, as 
 far as applicable to the education of the poor. 
 
 This may appear at first glance an Utopian 
 scheme ; but thousands can attest it is not 
 
 idle
 
 9 
 
 idle chimera. The author, with the aid of 
 assistance from his friends, had reduced his 
 ideas to practice, and half matured his 
 plan before the public were aware, that 
 any such plans were in existence, or even in 
 contemplation ; and when the plan was 
 once seen, the simplicity and harmony of the 
 design spoke conviction of its utility to the 
 breast of every friend of the poor, that visited 
 the school : this gradually introduced it to the 
 public notice : inquiries were made for the 
 particulars : to satisfy which they were 
 published in the form of a tract, one 
 edition rapidly succeeded another, and the im- 
 provements in the plan made a third needful, 
 of this 3500 copies were ordered to be printed, 
 in the bulk of an octavo volume : and, before 
 the impression was struck off, it was all sub- 
 scribed for*, 
 
 c The 
 
 * None were left for the public sale ; and now the fourth 
 edition is in the press. It is quite desint,J?le i that all persons 
 
 who
 
 10 
 
 The plan, maturing thus gradually, at length 
 reached the royal ear, and was honored with 
 royal notice. The author had the honor to wait 
 upon the King, the Queen, and the Prin- 
 cesses, at Weymouth, to give details of his me- 
 thod of instructing the poor, and to present his 
 book personally to each. His mind, to this mo- 
 ment, dwells with gratitude and delight on the 
 gracious condescension shovvn by the King, the 
 Queen, and the Princesses, in the interview 
 they honored him with: the piety he witnessed, 
 was of a most gratifying nature to a mind thai 
 loves his sovereign and all his illustrious family. 
 Their royal goodness was not confined to simply 
 having a confirmation of the advantages thathad 
 been related to them before, by eye witnesses, 
 
 ■who wish for copies, will send their subscriptions speedily; 
 otherwise, the demand is increasing, and the subscription will 
 soon be filled up; the author hopes his friends will not blame 
 him if they should he disappointed, for when the impression is 
 half struck oil', it is not to be expected the bowk can lit? 
 reprinted f*»r a small number of additional subscribers. 
 
 but
 
 11 
 
 but, on stating the advantages that it was capa- 
 ble of, if extended to the country, the King, 
 the Queen, and the Princesses, began the sub- 
 scription annexed, and the example was im- 
 mediately followed by the Prince and Princess 
 of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, 
 and the Royal Dukes, as follows : 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 The King — 
 
 The Queen- — 
 Prince of Wales 
 Princess of Wales 
 Duke of York — 
 Duchess of York 
 Duke of Kent 
 Duke of Cumberland 
 Duke of Cambridge 
 Princess Augusta 
 Princess Elizabeth 
 Princess Mary 
 Princess SorniA — 
 c2 
 
 I. 
 
 *, 
 
 100 
 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Princess
 
 12 
 
 L. t. 
 
 Pkinxess Amema -— * 10 ° 
 
 Duke of Bedford 20 
 
 Zord Somerville — — 15 la 
 
 Duke of Somerset 21 
 
 Duke of Hamilton 21 
 
 DukeofArgyle 10 10 
 
 Marquis of Bath 21 10 
 
 Marquis of Blandford 10 
 
 Marquis of Headfort ■ 5 
 
 Earl of Hardwicke 10 10 
 
 Earl of Chesterfield 10 
 
 Earl of Pembroke 10 
 
 Earl of Carysfort 5 
 
 Earl of Selkirk 10 
 
 Bishop of St. David's 5 5 
 
 Lord Webb Seymour 10 10 
 
 Lord Robert Spencer — 5 
 
 Lord Henry Petty 10 
 
 Hon. Geo. Villiers ■ 5 5 
 
 2 2 
 
 Lady M. Fordyce 
 
 Lady Lucy Pusey - — 5 
 
 Richard Aldridge, Esq. 10 10 
 
 Hon. Mrs. Bouverie ■ 
 
 5 
 
 Rob. Holford, Esq. 
 
 Samuel Romilly, Esq. 5 J 
 
 Benjamin Hobhousc, M. P. —— — 
 
 5 5 
 
 Sir
 
 13 
 
 Sir Alexander Munro, Burt. 
 Sir James Pulteney, Bart. 
 SirlLB. Neale 
 Samuel Galton 
 Rev. Lord Aston 
 Rev. Dr. Raine 
 Rev. Dr. Randolph 
 Rev. II. Fletcher 
 Rev. W. Tooke 
 Rev. C. Stephenson 
 Rev. John North 
 Rev. Thomas Falconer 
 Rev. Theophilus Lindsey 
 Thomas Slack, Esq. 
 Thos. C. Slack, Esq. 
 J. W. Phipps, Esq. 
 Charles Ellis, Esq. 
 George Ellis, Esq. 
 
 Mr. Horner 
 
 James Perry, Esq. 
 Joseph Walton 
 Win. V r aughan, Esq. 
 Ed. Pennifalher, Esq. 
 Dr. Kilvington — 
 
 John Ilatsell, Esq. 
 Ed. Hyde East, Esq. 
 John Fuller, M. P. 
 
 L. 
 
 s. 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
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 5 
 
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 2 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
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 2 
 
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 1 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 Hugh
 
 U 
 
 "William Woods Page, Esq. — 
 
 Hugh Barlow, Esq. . 
 
 Joseph "Wedgwood, Esq. 
 
 Geo. W. Sparrow, Esq. 
 
 Matthew Wright, Bristol • 
 
 James Harford . 
 
 By Wm. Wingfield, Esq. i 
 
 A. F. W. 
 
 John Gurney, Esq. ■ 
 
 Hester Were, Bristol 
 
 Richard .Ash 
 
 Martha Ash 
 
 Eliz. Ash, jun. 
 
 Samuel Harford ■ 
 
 John Harford 
 
 Thomas Were . 
 
 F. C. Clayfuld , 
 
 Henry Hugh Hoare, Esq. < — 
 
 0^" Subscriptions and Donations received by Ilam- 
 mersleys, Pall Mall ; Ransom, Morland and Co. Pall 
 Mall : Hoare's, Fleet Street ; Haukey, Alers and Co. 
 Fenclmrch Street ; Hobhouse, Clutterbuck and Co. 
 Rath ; Ireland, Eengough, Haythorne, Wright and 
 Gore, Bristol; Harford and Co. Bristol; Corston and 
 Shackle's, Ludgate Hill ; and at the FREE SCHOOL, 
 Borough Road, Southwark, 
 
 It 
 
 J. 
 
 j. 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
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 5 
 
 
 
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 5 
 
 5
 
 15 
 
 It is hoped, this example will be followed, 
 in a liberal manner, by the Nobility, Gentry, 
 and Clergy. The author trusts the reader will 
 excuse his closing this part of the subject, 
 with observing, an expression in holy writ, 
 The blessing of them that are ready to perish 
 shall come upon thee. This instance of Roy- 
 al Benevolence may prove, under the Divine 
 blessing, the means of salvation to thousands 
 who would perish indeed, not only for want 
 of knowledge of their duties as christians, but 
 e\ en for want of the necessaries of life ; which, 
 with a little more knowledge united to habits 
 of industiy and prudence, may be readily ob- 
 tained. 
 
 The author knows not how to express his 
 humble earnest gratitude ; but he prays for a 
 Divine blessing upon this bounty to the 
 poor : may it prosper, and future generation 
 rise and call its Royal Patrons blessed. 
 
 The
 
 16 
 
 The object of this subscription, is to enable 
 the author to extend the benefits of his plan 
 of religious and moral instruction to the poor 
 in the country, and, by different modifications 
 and improvements, to adapt it to the simple 
 elements of agriculture, and some mechanic 
 arts. That a portion of time usually spent by 
 youths in schools, or in idleness at home, may 
 be devoted to the acquisition of industrious 
 habits, as well as useful knowledge. 
 
 Several trades are in view for the em- 
 ployment of youth ; and some have already 
 been attempted, with a good prospect of suc- 
 cess. 
 
 The situation, chosen for the first essay, is 
 Maiden Bradley, near Frome, Somersetshire. 
 The reasons for fixing on this spot, together 
 with a descripiion of it (melancholy enough) 
 will be given in the sequel. It is calculated, 
 that two thousand per annum will educate 
 
 ten
 
 17 
 
 ten thousand poor children, if to this we add, 
 the reasonable expectation that we shall be 
 able to teach youth to earn their own living 
 — its advantages, are, indeed, promising. 
 
 The author desires no personal remunera- 
 tion for this labour of love: he already feels, 
 by experience, difficulties and fatigues, parti- 
 cularly in travelling, most of which he had 
 appreciated before hand. It is, indeed, an 
 arduous work, but it is a work in which he de- 
 lights. The happy effect of his endeavour 
 to rescue a number of youth from misery and 
 vice, stimulates him to hope and exert him- 
 self in future : boys, who owe all the 
 knowledge they have obtained, to the School, 
 first established in Southwark, who have left 
 it several years, and conducted themselves, in 
 the interim, highly to their own credit, have 
 now arrived nearly to manhood, and are 
 engaged as the first instruments of training 
 youths to employments; of setting up schools 
 
 n for
 
 for boys ; and some females, who have also 
 been educated by the same means, are likely 
 to establish Schools for Girls. This is, in- 
 deed, a most gratifying circumstance : it is 
 like planting an oak, and raising others from 
 its acorns. Nothing can be more encouraging, 
 unless it is the mutual regard and confidence, 
 now of long standing, between their masters 
 and themselves. 
 
 The author now introduces an account of 
 the place, chosen for a central school, and will 
 attempt to describe what has been done, and 
 is intended to be done there. 
 
 Maiden Bradley is a village belonging, as 
 well as the lands contiguous, to the Duke of 
 Somerset. From one unhappy circumstance 
 or other, many of its inhabitants are re- 
 markable for their ignorance, poverty, and 
 wickedness.
 
 19 
 
 The parish being, with little if any ex- 
 ception, the property of the Duke, who feels 
 greatly for the wretchedness of its poor 
 inhabitants. His friendship and influence, 
 likely to be so well exerted, is considered as 
 a most valuable acquisition by the author's 
 friends as well as himself. Another cir- 
 cumstance, the Duke has some waste land, 
 conveniently situated near the village. This 
 is now let to the author, on very moderate 
 terms, and will be speedily brought into 
 cultivation by lads. 
 
 It is taken for the singular purpose of 
 sowing grain, in order to reap the straw, 
 and, under the fear of very great disappoint- 
 ment, in case the land, poor as it is, should 
 afford a crop of any thing better. It will 
 want little or no plowing, and no manure. 
 The more stunted the straw, the more like- 
 ly to answer its purpose. 
 
 d 2 bui
 
 20 
 
 The children are numerous, though it is 
 but a small village. There are no day 
 schools of any kind near the place ; and, 
 from all the information he has yet obtain- 
 ed, there are few, or none in a very popu- 
 lous district extending several miles around. 
 The misery of Bradley arises from various 
 causes. The bulk of the inhabitants are very 
 poor, and extremely ignorant ; and few have 
 constant employment. There is an offici- 
 ating but no resident clergyman. 
 
 The allowance of relief from the parish, to 
 persons in distress, or out of employ, is scan- 
 ty. In no case is it more than two shil- 
 lings per week, for each person in family, in- 
 cluding their own earnings. If they can earn 
 two shillings, they have no allowance. The 
 situation of solitary individuals is, indeed, de- 
 plorable : the slender pittance often tempts 
 the well meaning, affectionate parent, to steal ; 
 and the question is soon decided, when it is 
 
 steal,
 
 21 
 
 steal, or starve. Thus, what is at first a viola- 
 tion of principle from the iron hand of ne- 
 cessity, becomes a pernicious habit, and the 
 evil is tenfold increased by the ignorance of 
 the poor : few can read their Bible ; few have 
 any Bible to read ; and too many are devoid 
 of reverential awe for him, who has said, 
 " Thou shalt not steal." The author is 
 assured of one fact: — a poor, pious woman 
 (for there are a pious few, even in Bradley) 
 when, in the last stage of an afflictive illness, 
 looked around the room (in a cottage, in this 
 island, favored, as it is, with the mercies and 
 the bounty of a gracious God) for something 
 to eat, and seeing nothing but some rotten 
 wood she thought she could cat that. She is 
 now gone to her eternal home. Her daugh- 
 er is still living, and ready to attest the fact. 
 The poor are not only miserable for food, liv- 
 ing, like the Irish, much on potatoes, but steal- 
 ing almost as many as they grow. It is thought 
 the interest of the farmers to reduce the poor- 
 rates
 
 22 
 
 rates, as low as they can; but is it humanity to 
 suffer our fellow creatures to pine, and steal, 
 and perhaps die for want ? It is the want of 
 employment and of education, and by selfish 
 economy, in the management of the poor, that 
 so much misery and distress are caused at 
 Bradley : causes of which, the present Duke 
 and Duchess of Somerset are certainly not the 
 authors ; but, on the contrary, are exerting 
 their benevolent endeavours to alleviate them ; 
 and, bad as things are now, they once were 
 much worse. 
 
 The parish workhouse is a place fit only 
 for wild beasts : a chemist would almost 
 imagine the overseers had placed the poor 
 there to try the method of converting smoke 
 into pitch. There is one room in particular, 
 in which the whole apartment is blacked, 
 equal to paint, but much more dismal ; and, 
 over the fire-place, the soot is literally turned 
 into pitch. 
 
 An
 
 23 
 
 An elderly person, who has been in the 
 army, and spent thirteen years in Ireland, 
 during which, he often was obliged to take 
 up his quarters in the smoke-dried, mud- 
 walled cabins of the wild Irish, assures me, 
 he found them more comfortable than the 
 workhouse at Bradley. It can hardly be 
 called a workhouse. The poor in it, are 
 persons placed there because they cannot, in 
 any way, pay rent : but they have neither 
 guide, overseer, or ruler : each has his own 
 solitary fare, and when they have no work to 
 do, they sleep by day and steal at night. 
 
 The workhouse is a long building ; thatch- 
 ed ; the floors are torn up ; the windows bro- 
 ken ; and the whole has the appearance of 
 a carcase of several miserable cottages — one 
 room has no chimney but the window : almost 
 every person in the parish, except the farmers 
 and one or two tradesmen, are on the poor 
 books. This workhouse (the very name is a 
 
 burlescme
 
 24 
 
 burlesque on common sense) is full of poor 
 inhabitants ; and, on entering it, the children 
 look like a little swarm of bees. 
 
 Almost the whole village are remarkable 
 for want of economy in the consumption of 
 coals. The wide fire places of the last centu- 
 ry are to be found in profusion at Bradley. 
 The fires generally consist, of coals, and not 
 unfrequently of wood, stolen from the Duke's 
 plantations : but, a cinder sieve is probably as 
 great a novelty among the old folks, as a paper 
 kite is among the young ones. When the 
 coals are burnt, the cinders are thrown away. 
 The same want of economy is conspicuous in 
 other things. 
 
 There is a silk house, in which some of the 
 girls are employed : they work all day, and 
 many of them walk the streets in the even- 
 ing: they were once much worse than at 
 
 present.
 
 25 
 
 present, a stranger could scarce enter the 
 town without molestation from them. 
 
 This is a true, but melancholy narrative t 
 It could be wished, for the honor of our 
 country, that no such facts were in existence. 
 Wherever the author has stated the outlines 
 of this, it has excited regret, that so much 
 misery should be found in the country ; 
 and, on mentioning it to a pious bishop, 
 whose kindness, will always command his 
 gratitude and respect, he said, " In settling 
 there, you may do some good." He certain- 
 ly felt, with the philanthropy of a christian, 
 for a poor, dark, depraved race of people, 
 who live as without God, and without hope 
 in the world. 
 
 Many persons of mature age in Bradley 
 appear dreadfully corrupt ; and the rising 
 generation are nursed in the lap of contami- 
 nation. This was an especial reason for 
 
 e settling
 
 26 
 
 settling the first institution at Bradley. It is 
 a field for labour, where, if any good is done, 
 the contrast will be of the most striking na- 
 ture ; and thus show to the nation what good 
 education, united with industry, is capable of 
 producing. It is a situation in which the 
 powerful influence of the Duke is nearly 
 paramount; and the author enjoys not only 
 full powers to exert himself, but the way is 
 open to do it. 
 
 As the motives for this, and simi- 
 lar institutions are not sectarian, all the 
 poor, of whatever denomination, will be 
 permitted to send their children, of both 
 sexes, and have them educated, gratis. A> 
 many of them as can be taught to earn 
 their own living, will be boarded in the 
 establishment. 
 
 The plan, the King has honored with his 
 patronage, embraces two objects ; one, the 
 
 foundation
 
 27 
 
 foundation and establishment of institutions 
 in the country, on the same system of in- 
 struction, as that in the Borough Road: 
 the other, the application of the same 
 principles of system and order which distin- 
 guish that Institution to agriculture, and some 
 mechanic arts. Before the author enters into 
 that part of his plan, which relates to Schools 
 in the country, he will state his intentions, 
 and the experiments he is making, to connect 
 industry of various kinds with education. 
 
 In the first place, the breaking up of waste 
 land is connected with the growth of rye- 
 straw, and the consequent employment of 
 young females in platting it. From the first 
 breaking up of the land to the finish of the 
 manufacture, employment for young persons 
 will be liberally afforded ; and, our own 
 consumption will be supplied by our own 
 manufacture, without the lea c t connection 
 
 e 2 with
 
 28 
 
 with Leghorn as at present, at the expense of 
 fifty thousand per annum. 
 
 As the author's treatise, Improvements in 
 Education, contains an ample detail of the 
 advantages that will result to this country, 
 from the establishment of this new and import- 
 ant branch of manufacture : he will not 
 enlarge here; and it is not necessary he 
 should, as the King and the Queen have pa- 
 tronized it, by accepting and wearing summer 
 hats, made from straw grown in this country, 
 and equal, if not superior, to the Leghorn 
 manufacture itself. Some have already 
 been made to such perfection, that Noble- 
 men, who have been at Leghorn, have told the 
 author, they never saw any thing in Leghorn 
 equal to it ; and the venders of the foreign 
 article, supposed that manufactured in Eng- 
 land, was foreign, till informed the contrary. 
 To this may be added, the Society of Arts 
 
 have
 
 29 
 
 have voted the gold medal to the inventor, 
 William Corslon^ of Ludgale Hill ; and pro- 
 nounced the invention a national benefit. 
 
 The author having already mentioned that 
 he has a quantity of waste land at Maiden 
 Bradley, which is proposed to be broken up 
 by hand culture : a number of lads are 
 now actually employed in doing it. It is a 
 curious circumstance, that boys from London, 
 who scarce ever handled a spade before, 
 should teach boys in the country, brought 
 up to agriculture, a new method how to 
 use it: but this is the fact ; and they do it to 
 very good purpose. The boys, who break up 
 the land, are classed according to their 
 strength ; a monitor being appointed to each 
 class : all the classes are under one general 
 monitor; they keep their spades, hoes, &c. 
 in a place for that purpose ; every implement 
 is numbered ; and each boy knows which be- 
 longs to him by that number ; and is required 
 
 to
 
 30 
 
 keep it clean and bright : when they go to 
 work, they uniformly take their spades &c. at 
 the word of command, and whatever move- 
 ments they have to make, before they begin 
 work, are effected the same way. A mode 
 that proves a sure one, and secures co-opera- 
 tion in all they do. When they arrive on the 
 ground, from which the dwelling house is some 
 distance, they divide into two classes ; one, the 
 senior and most industrious boys, have square 
 perches of land measured out fur them, and 
 they work, after receiving the order to begin, 
 without any other command till they have 
 done their work ; the only question being 
 which shall get done first. The other class do 
 nothing without a new command for every 
 motion : they consist of boys who are able 
 to work, but either not so habitually active 
 as the others, or more idle. The commands 
 generally given are, " prepare to dig;" in 
 which case each spade is grounded, and the 
 foot placed on it by the boy whose it i<. 
 
 When
 
 31 
 
 When the monitor has seen each boy ready, 
 he gives the word, " dig," and each spade 
 is immediately pressed the full depth into 
 the ground : when the monitor has seen 
 every spade properly in the ground, they 
 are ordered to " turn," and each boy, with 
 one motion, turns the spade, and breaks 
 the earth he turns over with it : when this 
 is done they go on as before. The sus- 
 pense between each command, prevents their 
 being over worked, and the monitor is oc- 
 casionally relieved, in giving commands, by 
 others. 
 
 The land is stony ; and half the stones 
 they dig out are to be their own. The stones 
 sell in that country, for a shilling per load, for 
 building cottages, and mending the turnpike 
 roads, which run contiguous to the land : 
 the giving them an interest in clearing the 
 land of stones, makes it more likely it will be 
 well cleared ; indeed, if what they do in 
 
 future,
 
 32 
 
 future, is as thoroughly cleared as what 
 they have done already, and as clean, the 
 author is persuaded it will he the general 
 interest of the Nobility and Gentry to have 
 their waste lands broken up in this way, if 
 the lands are of a stony or sandy nature, 
 much encumbered with deep rooted furze, 
 which must be broken up by hand labour, 
 and cleared from roots, in the first instance, 
 before they can be fit for the plow. The 
 labour of men and of boys, usually employed 
 in agriculture, is, of course, as different in 
 quantity, in any given space of time, as the 
 comparative difference in their strength is; 
 but the difference in their wages, and their 
 powers, bears no comparison. In Somerset- 
 shire, where men work for nine and twelve 
 shillings a week, boys work for three shil- 
 lings and four and sixpence. It is probable, 
 the labour of boys, in breaking up waste land, 
 may be rendered nearly as effective as that 
 of men, and be considerably cheaper. If a 
 
 proportionate
 
 33 
 
 proportionate interest is given them in the 
 crops of the lands, the first year, it will be found 
 a most powerful stimulus to exertion ; as the 
 more land they break up for the proprietor, 
 the more they break up for themselves ; 
 and, after broken up, the cleaner the crops 
 are kept, and the more abundant they 
 prove, the greater interest the boys ha^e 
 in doing their duty, and more lastingly 
 so, than would be the case when paid as 
 day labourers : but this is presuming there 
 is an establishment at, or near the spot, 
 where the boys may reside while breaking 
 up the land. There is another improve- 
 ment replete with benefit to the country, the 
 use of the Portuguese hoe ; for the knowledge 
 of this, the author is much indebted to 
 his benevolent friend and patron, Lord 
 Somervillc ; lie refers the reader to the 
 quotation on this subject : " In the use of 
 the hoe they (the Portuguese) excel in a 
 very great degree. The strong land in 
 their vineyards, which must be dug by 
 
 f hand,
 
 34 
 
 hand, could not be worked by hoes, upon 
 a construction common -with us ; but the han- 
 dle being short as well as light, the hoe, 
 by its own weight and conical form , cuts 
 deep without much exertion. Every man 
 who has seen these implements at work, 
 will bear testimony to their extraordinary 
 powers. Mr. Mark Ducket, in his ingeni- 
 ous invention of a hoe for cleaning crops 
 of all descriptions, whether drilled or hand- 
 set in rows, seems to have availed him- 
 self of a short handle and heavy iron-work, 
 the exact reverse of our common hoe, which, 
 except on the lightest sands, demands great 
 exertions to make any impression whatever, 
 if the soil be dry *." Experience has 
 proved that a boy may dig up a perch 
 and an half, and sometimes two perches, 
 to one dug up, by the spade : its effect in 
 depth, as used by expert labourers in Por- 
 tugal, arc little inferior to the spade, and 
 
 Vide Lord Somervillc's Board of Agriculture; 1800. 
 
 greatly
 
 35 
 
 greatly superior to repeated plowings. The 
 success experienced at Maiden Bradley has 
 been greatly increased by this instrument, 
 and, it is expected, that, in a very short time, 
 some decided and successful experiments 
 will be made, and submitted to the public, 
 which will place it in a clear light, and make 
 its advantages apparent to every man of com- 
 mon sense. 
 
 Lord Somermlle has favored the author with 
 his advice as to the site of the buildings, erect- 
 ing at Bradley, when going over the land with 
 him; and it affords him much pleasure to have 
 this public opportunity of acknowledging, with 
 sentiments of respect and gratitude, this addi- 
 tion to the many instances of kindness repeat- 
 edly shown before. 
 
 Endeavours have been used to introduce 
 Shoe-making, Basket-making, Tailoring, and 
 several other trades, not before introduced 
 
 F 2 into
 
 ;36 
 
 into schools of industry : a few months will 
 
 decide the success of these experiments, and 
 
 they will be accurately submitted to the 
 public. 
 
 It is intended to establish at Bradley, and 
 the vicinity, as many schools as may be need- 
 ful for the benefit of the neighbourhood ; 
 schools, in which young men, designed for 
 schoolmasters, may be practically qualified for 
 that important station ; and afterwards take 
 charge of other schools, which benevolent 
 persons may be disposed to open. 
 
 The author is a dissenter, not from party 
 ?pirit, but from conscience. He is anxious to 
 serve his country in any way he can. His 
 plan is not to draw the children of members 
 ef the establishment, from the religion of 
 their forefathers ; or, on the other hand, to 
 make converts from the children of dissenters, 
 He only laments, as a Christian, that there 
 
 should
 
 37 
 
 should be, in this highly Favored nation, above 
 Jour hundred thousand poor children, who 
 have never learnt to read their Bibles. He is 
 convinced, that although what is termed Sun- 
 day schools may be of partial use as to religious 
 instruction, yet he is convinced they are very 
 inadequate as to useful learning; and to 
 instruct the youth of the nation any other way 
 would require either a much cheaper mode 
 of educating youth; or a fund that perhaps 
 can scarcely be hoped for, as a national fund, 
 in the present state of things. It is the same 
 whether our present means to do good are 
 doubled, or whether the effects of the means 
 we already have are increased in like propor- 
 tion : the consequences are alike in either case. 
 
 The author has many solicitations to open 
 schools in the country, on the same plan as 
 that in London. The season for opening 
 schools is now advancing ; and he is desirous 
 to do all the good he can, " To work while 
 
 it
 
 38 
 
 is day, as the night cometh in which no man 
 can work :" and he submits to the public the 
 following plan, on which he wishes to act; 
 and on which he can unite with his Christain 
 brethren of all denominations. 
 
 That, in any town district, where the 
 clergymen of the establishment and of the 
 dissenters, with the respectable inhabitants of 
 the neighbourhood, have patriotism and piety 
 to unite and form a society for the instruction 
 of some, or all the uneducated youth in the 
 town, &c. on general Christian principles, he 
 will most cordially unite, as far as leisure will 
 admit, to assist them, by uniting, by qualifying 
 for teachers, men, they may choose, and meet- 
 ing the committees they may appoint, where 
 the meetings can be arranged, so as to fall on 
 successive days, at different towns, if they lay 
 within the limits of his tours ; and where if 
 i< desired, on consenting to the regulations he 
 may find needful at Bradley : he designs to 
 
 impart,
 
 39 
 
 impart, when mature, the principles on which 
 he conducts his schools of industry, and to 
 qualify them so pursue the same occupa- 
 tions in schools of their own. 
 
 The uniting employment and instruction 
 together is a desirable object; and at Bradley 
 the boys are all employed in the fields, or, if 
 wet, in industry, within doors; and, in the 
 evening, spend about three hours at school ; 
 and it is desirable the knowledge of all that may 
 be found really useful should be extensively 
 spread, particularly among persons designed 
 as teachers of youth. 
 
 The author introduces, to the notice of bene- 
 volent persons, a plan, containing, in substance, 
 the proceedings and resolutions of a committee 
 in a large and populous sea-port town, in 
 which the Clergy of all denominations have 
 liberally united with the Bankers, Merchants, 
 and Corporation, in resolving to form them- 
 selves
 
 40 
 
 selves into a society, for the Education of 
 the Children of the Poor in the tew, and 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 It is agreed, that the school shall be on 
 general principles, that nothing but the scrip- 
 tures shall be introduced into it ; that the 
 children of churchmen shall be entered as 
 such, and the children of dissenters as such, 
 on the books of the school, at the time of 
 entering it. That they shall meet at the 
 school on Vne day set apart for public wor- 
 ship, and that the children of each deno- 
 mination shall go to their own place of 
 worship; and, if their respective Ministers, 
 or any persons are disposed to catechise 
 them there in their peculiar religious prin- 
 ciples, they may do it, as being their own 
 flock, and in their own sheepfolds ; but 
 nothing of (he kind to be done in the 
 school : now what is like to be the conse- 
 quence
 
 41 
 
 qucnce of this cordial Christian co-operation: 
 that in a town exposed to all the evils of 
 dissipation and vice, usual in commercial 
 towns, where the rising generation are 
 training up in ignorance, wickedness, and 
 forgetfulness of God, that very large num- 
 bers of them will soon he training in his fear ; 
 in the knowledge of his ways ; and in the 
 daily remembrance of his commandments* 
 This i-; an example of benevolence worthy 
 of extensive imitation ; and does great 
 honor to those professors of the Christian 
 name, in the place alluded to, who, forgct- 
 ing the desire of proselytism from sect to 
 sect, have remembered, that the substance 
 of Christianity is the same in all ; and that 
 to turn the wicked from the error of their 
 ways, is more glorious and honorable than 
 any selfish spirit of aggrandisement whatever. 
 The following contain the substance of some 
 of their resolutions. 
 
 Ji
 
 12 
 
 At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of this Town and its 
 Vicinity, held, for the purpose of taking into consider- 
 ation tlie State of the Children of the Poor of the 
 said Town and its Neighbourhood. 
 
 The Rector of in the Chair. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 THAT the state of the morals of the children 
 
 of the poor, and the deficiency of their education, render it 
 highly needful, that some effectual mode be adopted for the 
 improvement of their morals, and for affording them a proper 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the Plan recommended by Joseph 
 Lancaster, and practised by him in the Borough Road, 
 Southwarkj appears best adapted to this end, and suited to 
 the circumstances of this town and neighbourhood, 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That for the purpose of promoting the import- 
 ant objects of this Meeting, a Society be formed, to be deno- 
 minated, the Society for the Education of 
 the Children of the Poor and the improvement of their morals; 
 and that all Subscribers often shillings and sixpence a year, 
 
 or
 
 43 
 
 or upwards, or of ten guineas or more, in one donation, shall 
 be Governors of this Society. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That this Society shall be under the direc- 
 tion of a Committee of seventeen : consisting of a President, 
 three Vice Presidents, the Treasurer, and twelve other Mem. 
 i>ers who shall be elected by the Governors. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the children of all poor persons residing 
 within the town of , and its neighbourhood, 
 
 are proper objects of this Charity. 
 
 resolved, 
 
 That A. be the President, B. C. and D. be the 
 Vice Presidents, E. the Treasurer, and F. G. II. &c. twelve 
 other Governors, the Committee. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That a General Meeting of the Subscribers 
 shall take place every year, viz. on the first day in 
 
 Special Meetings of the Subscribers shall 
 be called by the President, at the request of the Committee, 
 or any seven Governors, seven days previous notice being gi- 
 ven thereof: and of the business to be transacted. At the Ge» 
 neral Meeting, the Presidents, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, 
 and other Members of the Committee, shall be annually 
 elected : four of the seventeen Members of the Committee, 
 
 who,
 
 41 
 
 who, during the preceding year, had attended the lean fre- 
 quent, not having been absent from , or pre- 
 vented by indisposition, shall go out, and be replaced by 
 four other Governors of the Institution. 
 
 KE50LVED 
 
 That the Committee shall meet on the last 
 Fir!:!y in every month, and, at least, three Members be ne- 
 cessary to constitute a Meeting. 
 
 KESOLVED, 
 
 That the Committee shall appoint all the 
 Officers and Servants of the Charity : form temporary regu- 
 lations for the management of the School, which shall be 
 in force until the next General Meeting ; but no longer, 
 unless then confirmed. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the Committee shall, annually, with the 
 concurrence of the General Meeting, publish a Report of the 
 State of the Society. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That no person, being a Member of the Com- 
 mittee, shall be employed in any business respecting the Soci- 
 ety, for which a pecuniary compensation shall be made £ 
 or in pro\idini; any article, necessary to be purchased for 
 the use of the Society. 
 
 KEiOLVED,
 
 45 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the Treasurer shall receive all sums of 
 money paid for the use of the Society, and shall give such 
 security for the faithful discharge of his office, as the Com- 
 mittee deems sufficient: he shall make all payment, sanctioned 
 b\ the Committee, and shall la) before them, at each Meeting, 
 a statement of ids account ; and the same shall be audited 
 spid balanced, and submitted to the General Annual Meeting. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the Schoolmaster shall enter, or cause to 
 be entered, daily, in a book, an account of the lessons per- 
 formed by each class ; also of the absentees ; and shall keep 
 a weekly account of the cause of such absence, lie shall 
 also make a monthly report of the same to the Committee, 
 adding an account of the boys who have passed from 
 class to class, in consequence of proficiency, during the 
 month, and of the rewards distributed. 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the recommendation of any boy to (Ids 
 School is confined to the Governors: all recommendations 
 to be signed by a Governor; and shall specify the parents 
 name, number in family, trade, denomination of religion, age 
 and name of the candidates for admission; which recommen- 
 dations shall be submitted, monthly, to the Committee by the 
 Clerk, and if the recommendations are numerous, shall be 
 copied and arranged in the form of a list, previous to submis- 
 sion to the Committee ; for their determination. 
 
 RESOLVED,
 
 46 
 
 RESOLVED, 
 
 That the Committee shall, at each monthly 
 meeting, appoint two Inspectors for each week of the ensuing 
 month, who ^hail attend at least once in the week, at the 
 School-room, for the purpose of ascertaining the progress made 
 by the bovs in their learning, and receive the masters reports, 
 ai directed by the Committee. 
 
 m:-c;M ei>, 
 
 That the two Inspectors be requested to at- 
 tend, every Sundaj morning at the School-room, in time to 
 sec the scholars go to the respective places for worship, to 
 which ; heir parents belong; headed by the master and mo- 
 Tutors ; and that some of the Governors be desired to observe 
 the scholars during the attendance at the places of worship, 
 and report the same in writing to the Committee. 
 
 KESOEYKB, 
 
 That this Meeting be adjourned to the 
 day of next, at o Clock, at which time 
 
 notice to be given by the Clerk to the Members of the Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 The author begs leave to refer the read- 
 er to page 20, line 14; with respect to parish 
 allowance., he makes this additional observation, 
 ' the poor where once allowed 2s. Gd. per week, 
 but that was in a time of scarcity." 
 
 Printed !■ , J. Lancaster, 
 Borouirli Knad.
 
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