1898.] Annual Address. 91 



presumed, naturally into the hands of the Select Yestiy, with whom 

 money must have slowly accumulated after the sacred building was 

 finished and furnished ; for all expenditure for repairs and estab- 

 lishment must have been borne by the Company, and Church Order re- 

 quired that alms should be collected at the Offertory for the benefit of 

 the poor. The fund thus accumulating would have been augmented by 

 legacies and donations, and it is known that the fees received for the use 

 of palls at funerals went into it. The Charity Stock therefore must 

 have been already of ancient origin, when its income became perma- 

 nently devoted to the maintenance of the Charity School. In 1731, "an 

 eminent merchant" (to be identified probably with Mr. Richard Bourchier) 

 wrote home from Calcutta that there were eight boys on the foundation 

 and about 40 others. The eight foundationers were " maintained and 

 clothed after the manner of the Blue-coat boys at Christ's Hospital." 

 After the sack of Calcutta the School was re-opened with 20 founda- 

 tioners, and duplicate promissory notes for Rs. 20,000, representing the 

 Charity Stock, were granted to " the Wardens of the Parisli." Within 

 a few years time the Court House (or rather the portion of it used for 

 Magisterial purposes) was bringing in a rent of Rs. 2,000 a year. 

 This in 1767 was increased to Rs. 4,160, and in 1776 to Rs. 6,180. 

 Two years later the Government had taken over the whole building 

 and fixed the rent at the rate still paid, viz.^ Rs. 800 a month. Out 

 of the revenues thus realized from the Charity Stock and the Court 

 House 20 boys were at this time maintained on the foundation of tlie 

 School. On leaving School the boys were for the most part bound out as 

 apprentices. In 1787 there were 30 boy foundationers, and four girls. 

 In 1789 there was 25 boys and 16 girls. In 1789 the Free School 

 was founded which soon coalesced with the Charity School. In 1793 

 there were 40 boys and 30 girls on the ' Charity,' and slightly larger 

 numbers on the " Free " foundation. In the same year the Jaun Bazar 

 property was purchased which the United School now occupies. In 

 1800 the two institutions were formally united, and possessed a united 

 capital of something over two lakhs of rupees " independent of 

 dead stock and contingencies." Some dieting bills of this period 

 remain, and are curious particularly as recording prices. 18 seers 

 of milk, and 25 loaves of bread each were reckoned to the rupee, six 

 sheep cost Rs. 7-6-0, and Rice Rs. 1-4-0 a maund. By 5th April 1813, 

 252 children were entirely maintained by the Free School, and about 

 32 day scholars were educated with the rest under Dr. Bell's system. 

 By 1817 the number of foundationers had arisen to 205 boys and 

 92 girls.61 



«l The account of the Chaplaincy and the Charity School is from a note kindly 

 lupplied to me by Mr. Hyde. 



