1827.] Public Charities'. 363 



instituted in the thirteenth of her reign, under the management of twelve 

 governors, with power to choose their successors, and have a common seal. 

 Annuities of 2J/. 2*. 6<, and accumulations to the amount of'89/..ls. 3d. 

 constitute the present funds. There are no scholars at all. The Commis-' 

 sioners are at a loss to account for thi, because the school was destined 

 for writing as well as grammar, and English has been supcradded. It 

 must be, in their opinion, for want of being sufficiently promulgated. 

 There are doubtless better reasons. What has become of the governors 

 and their common seal? 



To this parish belong miscellaneous bequests from forty or fifty indivi- 

 duals, amounting to 2,337/. Ids. -6d., the income of which is 93/. 14s. 1 id. 

 to particularize is impracticable to which must be added rent-charges 

 of about 30/. Of these sums 751. 10s. is distributed in money at Christ- 

 mas; 36/. 9s. Sd. in bread ; SI. in clothing; 2/. 8s. A.d, to the minister; 

 20s. to ringers; and 12*.' Id. to the sexton generally according to the 

 will of the donors. 



To these funds must still be added what are called the Church and 

 Pipe Lands, for the reparation of the church declared to be " one of the 

 most famous, absolute fairest, and goodliest parish churches in England" 

 and the public pipe or conduit. The average value is as much as 

 1,03 1/. 17s. 6d. ; and the whole is actually expended in repairs in the 

 church service, on the pipe, in some gifts to the poor, and now and then 

 a little feasting ; but all is moderate, compared with London doings. In 

 1820, nearly 2,000/. was expended on the church, and a considerable sum 

 wasted in mourning decorations on royal funerals. The entire control of' 

 these large estates is in the minister and the vestry. 



Parish of St. Thomas. , _ , , ,. :} 



BURTON'S ALMSHOUSE, said to have been founded in 1292; .and cer- 

 tainly in Elizabeth's reign it is spoken .of as having existed beyond the 

 memory of man* The income is derived from the benefactions of indi- 

 viduals, some of a very ancient date and amounts at, present to 481. 6s. Sd. 

 The alms-people are sixteen old women of the parish. 



THE MARKET. This was granted by Elizabeth to aid the parish in 

 supporting the almshouse and aqueduct. The markets have long been let, 

 and produce an income of 170/., which is blended with the general funds of 

 the parish, from which the repairs of Burton's almshouse are defrayed, 

 and the weekly allowance of 8s. supplied. The feoffees are expressly 

 restrained from letting the markets; but interest tramples down all 

 scruples. 



CHURCH LANDS. The origin of these lands is no longer traceable ; but, 

 by a trust-deed, dated in the 44th of Elizabeth, it. appears certain lands, 

 messuages, and premises, were granted to the vicar and fourteen others of 

 the parish, for the maintenance of God's divine service, repairing the 

 church, &c. The present rents and average fines amount to 300/. The 

 expenditure for the last ten years (1821) has averaged 420/. 16s. 9d. 



MISCELLANEOUS CHARITIES. The total of money-legacies received by 

 the vestry of this parish from 1567 to 1805 is 1,519/. ; and rent-charges 

 and annuities chiefly payable out of houses in the city are 50/. 5s. 6d. 

 This is spent mainly in distributions of bread at least 105/. 12s. 6d. out 

 of'll2/. 8s. 



Pan's/I of Temple. 



Here are nearly fifty small benefactions, some few in land, some in 

 rent-charges, but the greater part in money, producing together to the 



3 A 2 



