Lunæ, 3° die Junii, 1816.

HENRY BROUGHAM, Esq. in the Chair.

Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHS called in, and examined.

Where do you live?-Saint Katharine's, near the Tower. Are you a schoolmaster in the neighbourhood?—Yes. Of what school?-Saint Katharine's charity school. Upon what foundation is that school?—It is supported by voluntary contributions.

Have you any other funds?-There is a fund established by the contributions, which is placed in the bank.

To what does it amount? The last purchase that was made has made it up to 15507.

What is the amount of annual subscriptions?—It has varied very much within the last seven or eight years; it formerly used not to amount to more than sixty or seventy pounds, it has in the last six or seven years amounted to upwards of 1007. by subscriptions and donations.

What is the whole amount of the yearly income ?—I am not prepared to state that exactly.

Is it 2001. ?-Yes, it must be that, because our expenses amount to that.

How many children are educated there?-Fifty.
Boys and girls?—Yes.

What are they taught?-Reading, writing, and arithmetic, and clothed.

What is the master's salary?-The master and mistress, 601. a year between them.

Are there any other salaries than the master's and mistress's-Nothing more than a trifling salary, for teaching psalmody, of four guineas a year.

Have the master and mistress any perquisite ?-None. A house?-A house to live in, and coal, but no candle. Are there ever fewer children than fifty?-No.

How long have you been master?--About eight years. How many were there when you came?-Fifty.

Have there never been fewer, at any one time of the year, since the time you have been there ?-There may have been so for a month or six weeks; the committee meet the first Tuesday in every month, and if there is a vacancy they admit whatever child is next in rotation to come in.

How long has the school been established?-Since the year 1707.

Had it never any more property, besides the money in the funds?-The chapter of St. Katharine's has made it a present, at several times, of the leases of three houses towards its support.

Have they that leasehold property at present?-They have.

At what are the houses underlet ?-Sixty pounds a year, the three.

Then the school has this 60%. a year in addition to the interest of 15507. in the funds, and 100%. a year subscriptions? The increase of stock has doubled since I have been schoolmaster, ewing to a lady who died and left us 500l. In what stock is it?-Navy 5 per cents.

Then instead of nearly 2007. it appears the income of the school is above 230l. a year?-I was not aware of any question of the kind being asked, or I would have been prepared to answer it.

Is there any other property whatever belonging to the establishment?-None.

Any other salary paid, besides the master and mistress's? -None.

How are the children clothed?-They are completely clothed at Midsummer, and extra shoes, stockings, and linen, at Christmas.

Do the premises belong to the institution ?-During the lease; the school-house is a gift of the chapter of St. Katharine's, during their pleasure, for which no rent is paid; there is a ground-rent paid for the other property.

Are there any occasional contributions and donations, besides the annual subscriptions ?—I include those in the annual subscriptions.

Any charity sermons?-Yes, we have about one a year. Is that included in the former account of 100%. ?—No, that is not, so that the produce of this is to be added to the former sum.

What are the hours of teaching?-From nine to twelve, and from two to five; six hours a day.

Have you any other occupation than schoolmaster ?—I am parish clerk.

Any other occupation?-As parish clerk, I do a little business in the undertaking line, which I employ other people to do.

Any other?-I do make a trifle as a musician; I am, chorus singer to his Majesty's ancient concert of music in Hanover-square.

Have you any other employment?-No.

Do you teach any other scholars besides those in the school?-I am allowed to take a few, as they offer, such as sixpenny scholars per week; and very often I give several children their education, without charging them any thing. Do the fifty children upon the foundation pay any thing? 'othing.

Are they in general children of very poor people ?-In general very poor.

Are there many poor children in the neighbourhood in which you reside, destitute of instruction?-The generality of the children are poor people's children; the neighbourhood is a very poor neighbourhood.

Have those children the means of instruction ?—Not till they are placed on our establishment, or other establishments in the neighbourhood.

Are there sufficient establishments in the neighbourhood for educating all those children?—I think there are. Name them?-Aldgate charity school.

How many are educated there?-There are 120 or 140, I am not quite sure which.

What other schools are there in that neighbourhood?— The Middlesex charity school.

How many are educated there ?—I do not know exactly, upwards of 100, I believe.

What other schools are there in that neighbourhood?The Tower Hamlet school.

How many are educated there ?-I do not know.

Is there any indisposition among the lower orders to send their children to those schools?-None; the parents are very anxious to get their children on the establishment. In all those schools do they clothe ?-In all the schools I have mentioned.

They do not board thein ?-No.

Account of RECEIPTS and DISBURSEMENTS, for the Clothing and Educating Fifty poor Children in ST. KATHARINE'S CHARITY SCHOOL, for the year ending at Michaelmas 1815.

Mr. JOHN CROMPTON BISHOP called in, and examined.

Where do you reside ?-St. Katharine's.

Are you treasurer to the school there?-Yes.

What is the yearly income of that establishment ?-I am not in possession of sufficient information to answer that question, I am merely the treasurer; the committee are present at the different meetings, and I can give every information by applying for it to them.

What is the yearly income generally, without entering into particulars?-The only stable income we have is the interest of 15501. 5 per cents.; the rest is subscriptions.

What do the subscriptions generally run at?-I cannot correctly answer that question.

One hundred pounds a-year?-From seventy to one hundred.

What is the value of the leasehold premises given you by the chapter-It consists of the school-house, and three dwelling-houses underlet; the dwelling-houses are let, and the school-house is occupied by the master and mistress. What do those three houses let for?-Something more than 30%. a year; but I am not correct, probably.

[The Witness was directed to send a Balance sheet of the Accounts of the said School, for the last Year.]

Mr. OLIVER HATCH called in, and examined.

ARE you connected with the national establishment ?—I am treasurer of the national society.

How many schools have you in your immediate connection?-Five.

Where are they situate?-The first school is in Colemanstreet buildings.

How many does it educate?—I think there are about $60 boys and 180 girls.

Is it a day-school?-Yes.

Is it a free-school?-No, it is supported by voluntary subscriptions.

Do the children pay?—No.

You educate them?—Yes.

How much does it cost a year?-We have only been established about two years; the cost of the education is very small indeed.

What salary has the master?-Eighty pounds, and the mistress thirty pounds and a house.

Any perquisite ?-No.