1827.] Public Uun-ities. 505 



chambers ; wiiich sums, together, amount to 700/ ; 531. 6*. 8d. for eight 

 alms-people of St. Peter-le-Poor ; 50/. for the relief of poor persons in 

 the prisons of Newgate, &c. ; 10/. to each of five hospitals ; and 100/. the 

 company is empowered to spend on four quarterly dinners, for the whole 

 company, in their hall. The annual payments, then, out of the estate now 

 are 773/. \s. from the city's share, and 340/. out of that of the Mercers. 

 The Mercers, therefore, still pocket 2,700 a year. How many dinners 

 will this sum aflford Monsieur Jarrin, or, still better, Mr. Alderman 

 Birch ? 



But these lectures, on which TOO/, are thus expended of what benefit 

 are they -and to whom ? Do these lecturers perform any duty ? Are 

 lectures actually read ? Yes ; the gentleman to whom we are so much 

 indebted for his analysis of the Commissioners' Reports, about a twelve- 

 month ago having some mistrust upon the matter resolved to ascertain 

 whether there really were lecturers or lectures. The first time he approached 

 the scene indicated by public advertisement, all was still as death; the 

 second, third, fourth visits, and many more no signs of activity. At last, 

 on venturing to inquire of one of the 'Change-keepers, he was told nobody 

 attended but sometimes the rooms were open, and a lecture read. En- 

 couraged by this glimpse of hope, he persevered, and eventually had the 

 good fortune to find the door open, and some one at the door evidently 

 watching for the arrival of auditors. He stept in ; and presently arrived 

 the professor. It was he of Geometry, who forthwith commenced, what 

 appeared to be a discussion on the properties of fire ; in the course of which 

 the audience, consisting of six persons, were informed, that fire was one 

 of the four elements, out of which all things were made or begotten. But 

 all such evidence is superfluous : every body actually knows, or safely con- 

 cludes, the office is become a sinecure. Cannot these institutions, however, 

 be made available, when attempts are making on all sides, and assistance 

 wanted, to spread the knowledge of science ? If but one of the company 

 were animated with the spirit that is stirring the world around them, his 

 fraternity could not, for very shame, refuse to enforce on the lecturers an 

 effective compliance with the will of the founder. If the lectures were of 

 any value, there would be no want of audience, even upon 'Change; and 

 if money be wanted for modern machinery, or the more liberal remuneration 

 of able lecturers, the company have, or ought to have, enough and to spare. 



TRINITY HOSPITAL, GREENWICH. Founded by Henry. Earl of North- 

 ampton, in 1615, for a warden and twenty poor men, nominable, and on 

 good grounds removable, by the Mercers' Company ; twelve to be taken 

 from Greenwich, and eight from Shotesham in Norfolk, where the earl was 

 born. Lands were left for the maintenance ; and the company manage the 

 property, and regulate the allowance to the alms- people ; but no part of the 

 income, it seems, passes through their hands. We do not understand this. 

 Twelve of the company are, by the earl's will, visitors of the hospital, and, 

 by the terms of their authority, the commissioners conceived themselves 

 to be precluded from all inquiry; and abuse, if abuse there be which we 

 suppose there must be is thus again protected. 



SIR THOMAS BENNETT'S CHARITY, 1616. This was the splendid 

 bequest of the rectory and vicarage of Kirton, in the county of Lincoln, 

 and of all messuages, lands, and tithes thereto belonging. The rent 

 reserved upon a lease of these premises for forty-one years, dated 14th 

 James L, was 150/. ; of which sum the wardens and eighteen of the Mer- 

 cers' Company were appointed trustees ; and the uses to which the whole, 



M.M. New Series. VOL. III. No. 17. 3 T 



