40 Four Letters written by the Rev. George Millard. 
Box May 30“. 1718. 
Dear Sir, 
The Printed Letter as also the Pacquett from the Honourable 
Society came both to my hands the last year in due Course; for which I now 
return my hearty thanks. 
I am to begg the Society’s Pardon for being somewhat tardé this year in 
remitting them an account of our Charity-Schools; But what made me so, 
were the Hopes I had of giving them an account of another School in a 
neighbouring Parish; the Minister whereof dying lately, left his Effects to me 
in Trust for this purpose: But I have met with more Difficulties than I 
expected; and so must be fore’d to referr the laying it before y™ till the next 
year, when, God willing, I will not fail doing it. 
The Accounts for our Schools at Box and at Calston since my last are as 
follows: At Box we have dismiss’t 4 children well Instructed; 2 of ’em are 
put out Apprentices; one is gone to Service, and the other continues with his 
Parents. At Calston there are 2 Dismiss’t the School, both of which work at 
Husbandry. 
In your last to me, you desir’d to know whether the success of my Labours 
in training up my Congregation of Box to Psalmody have answer’d my 
Expectation. I can now tell you, Sir, that it has far surpass’d it. The 
Number of Singers do still continue increasing ; and the greatest part of ’em 
are become perfect Masters of 830 Tunes. We still keep up y* Custom of 
meeting 2 nights in a week to sing in the Church; as we likewise do of 
singing 2 or 3, Psalms every Sunday in the afternoon before Divine Service 
begins, and for near an hour after it is ended. This Practice I find has had 
a very good effect upon the greatest part of my People, but especially the 
younger sort; rendring all the most usefull parts of the Book of Psalms so 
familiar to y™, that upon naming only the 1* Line in every verse they are 
able to goe through y* rest without the help of a Book: And on y* 6" Day of 
February last, (w°'. was just that day twelvemonth yt we began upon this 
Divine Exercise) I had more than 40 Children of my Parish, that repeated 
memoriter 4 select staves out of 30 Psalms; being those we most com’only 
sing to the proper lunes. Twelve of the Children perform’d the Task so 
exactly, that they miss’d not one word: As an Encouragem*. for their Learning 
them, I had promis’d a month before, a New-Common Prayer, Gilt, with the 
Singing Psalms interleav’d, and rul’d, and the Tunes all set down, to him, or 
her that should say them most perfectly: and considering the shortness of the 
time, the number of the verses to be learn’t and the Age of y® Children, many 
of ’em not being above 8 years old, I think the Performance was extraordinary. 
It lasted me full 6 hours in hearing y™; and at this tryal of skill we had not 
less than 200 people present, and many of ’em of distant parishes. It being 
impossible to Judge which of the 12 children, that said so exactly, best 
deserv’d the Book, I propos’d to have y™ cast Lots for it; w" they all readily 
consented to; and tho’ only one could obtain it, yet all y* rest were perfectly 
satisfy’: For upon my giving only 6* to each of them, the Company then 
present forthwith made a Collection, & advanc’d upwards of 20°. more w*". 
was equally Divided among them, as an Encourgem‘*. for their Industry. 
About 3 Months Since I put the Charity Children of my other Parish, (viz 
