J827.] [ 353 ] 







PUBLIC CHAR 



EUTIES. 



IN our May number we inserted an epitome of the Charities in trust 

 with the Mercers' Company of London ; and, in July, those of the Haber- 

 dashers. At present, we have not the means of proceeding with the rest 

 of the City Companies. The Commissioners for Inquiry into the State of 

 Public Charities have themselves been guided by no discoverable order ; 

 and we follow that of the indefatigable cornpresser of tbeir reports, to 

 whom we have before acknowledged ourselves so much indebted an 

 acknowledgment which we feel it incumbent upon us here to repeat. 



The Charities of the City of BRISTOL will occupy the present paper ; and 

 of these, those which are under the management of the corporation will of 

 course take the precedence. They consist of Landed Estates, Money 

 Legacies, and Loans. 



I. LANDED ESTATES. 



QUEEN ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL Instituted in 1586, byJohnCarr, a 

 gentleman of Bristol, for bringing up poor children and orphans of the city, 

 and the manor of Congresbury, in the same manner as the hospital of 

 Christ Church in London. They are clothed like the boys of Christ 

 Church, but are taught only reading, writing, and arithmetic. Considerable 

 estates have since been added by several benevolent individuals, which have 

 brought up the average income to 239 1/. 6s. 4|<, independently of occa- 

 sional falls of timber. There are now thirty-eight boys, for whose support 

 the master is allowed 201. a head, which amounts to 760/; the incidental 

 charges swell to at least as much more; and the remaining sum of TOO/, or 

 800/. goes, it seems, towards liquidating a debt due to the corporation. This 

 debt how originating it does not appear stood, in 1819, at the enormous 

 amount of 46,669/. 6s. 3^d. ; from which, however, the Commissioners 

 deducted 15,523/. 14*., as illegally charged for compound interest. The 

 incumbrance, therefore, now stands at 28,9707. 8s. Q\d. The Commis- 

 sioners speak favourably of the management; but, whatever it may be 

 now, with such ample funds it must, at some time or other, have been bad 

 enough. An income of 239 II. in effect supports only thirty-eight boys, at 

 201. a head. 



The FREE GRAMMAR-SCHOOL, which owes its origin to Robert 

 Thorne, who, in 1532, left 1000/. to be employed by his executors " as 

 might seem best for his soul," without specifically directing the establish- 

 ment of a grammar-school ; but, in consequence of this bequest, the corpo- 

 ration, by letters patent of Henry VJ II., were empowered to establish a 

 grammar-school, and receive for its support the houses and lands appertain- 

 ing to the dissolved hospital of St. Bartholomew ; that is, the corporation, 

 for this 1,000/., purchased the hospital lands of Henry. By the founda- 

 tion-deed, the school was stated to be for the better education and bringing 

 up of children and others, who will resort thither to the honour of God 

 and the advancement of the city. School education, in those days, meant 

 Greek and Latin, doubtless ; but, in this case, there was no specification 

 of Greek and Latin ; and, therefore, the governors are surely at liberty to 

 interpret the words in favour of whatever instruction shall seem most ser- 

 viceable to the " advancement of the city," which, though it be not Greek 

 and Latin, may be equally to the "glory of God," and, it may be hoped, 

 equally for the " good of the founder's soul." Now, what is the state of 



M.M. New Series VOL. IV. No. 22. 2 Z 



