[seh 
in the kingdom, I fhall proceed to confider how the commu-~ 
nication of this inftruction may be beft effected. 
Tue chitdren of the poor contribute not only to their fo- 
Jace but to their fupport. They cannot, therefore, be entirely 
given up by their parents to be adopted as the children of 
the publick, 
Nor ought the bands of family love to be ftrained by 
fuch a feparation. It is incumbent on the ftate to provide 
for orphans: but it fhould mever tempt parents to abandom 
thofe whom Nature has committed to their efpecial care. 
Instruction fhould, therefore, await the offspring of the 
indigent as near as poflible to their own doors. The peafant 
depending for fubfiftence on the daily labours of himfelf and 
his growing family wouid gladly fpare his child from the 
bufinefs of his cabin, during part of the day, for the fake 
of his education; but he ceuld not afford the lofs of his 
affiftance whole days, or while he fhould be travelling to fchool 
many miles. It is evident then that any fyf{tem. of education 
which includes the children of the labouring poor cannot be 
carried into effect without the eftablifhment of a. confiderable 
number of conveniently difpofed {chools: Let us fee what 
meafures are moft expedient to be taken to. effect fuch efta- 
blifhment. 
By an act of parliament pafled in the reign of Henry 
VIIL * and ftill fubfifting, the minifter of every parifh in 
the 
* 28 Hen..8. c. 15. 
