OF THE COUNTY OF TYRONE. 165 



year 1783, and has continued to flourifti and profper 

 to this day. 



It generally commences about the firft of October, 

 and continues to the firft of February, and fometimes 

 later. Hours of attendance, from fix in the evening to 

 ten or eleven o'clock at night. A guinea a month is the 

 matter's falary, for any number of boys not exceeding 

 fixteen, which is the higheft number allowed. The 

 boys are always divided into clafles, and three or four 

 guineas are allowed in the feafon, to be diflributed in 

 fmall premiums, fo regulated, that every individual may, 

 at one time or other during the feafon, come in for one 

 or more. This mode not only has for its object the 

 ftirring up of emulation, but enables them to purchafe 

 paper and candles, as a reward for their diligence. 



The hope of obtaining premiums for the time to 

 come, or for the next winter feafon, has an amazing 

 good effecT: during the fummer months, as they are as 

 induflrious as poffible, betv/een working hours, to keep 

 in mind, or rather encreafe, -what they have acquired 

 the preceding winter ; and, the better to enable them 

 to do this, they are generally allowed, from ten to two 

 o'clock, to inftruct each other, in fuch parts of the de- 

 mefne as they may choofe to refort to : but when this 

 indulgence is given, which only takes place in the 

 longed months, they go to their work at five in the 

 morning, and quit at feven, or, perhaps, half after 

 feven in the evening. 



The 



