SOUTHERN AFRICA. 429 
temporary rant ; and they all go to church in expedl;atlon of 
fome glance being made at the prevailing topic of the day, and 
return fatisfied or dilpleafed according as the preacher has 
coincided with or oppofed their fentiments on the fubje(fl of his 
difcourfc. 
The clergy have alfo the direction of the funds raifed for the 
relief of the poor. Thefe funds are eftablifhed from weekly 
donations, made by all fuch as attend divine fervice, from lega- 
cies, and from the fums demanded by the church on the eman- 
cipation of flaves. The intereft is applied towards the fuccour 
and fupport of thofe whom old age, infirmities, accident, or the 
common misfortunes of life, may have rendered incapable of 
aiTifting themfelves. This clafs is not very numerous in the 
Cape, and is compofed moflly of fuch as have been denied, in 
their early days, the means of making any provifion againft old 
age ; chiefly emancipated flaves, whofe beft: part of their life 
has been dedicated entirely to the fervice of their owners. 
An unfuccefsful attempt was made fome years ago to efl:ablirh 
a public grammar- fchool at the Cape, and the clergymen were 
nominated as curators. A fund for this purpofe was intended 
to be raifed by fubfcription, and every one was ready to put 
down his name, but very few came forwards with the money. 
After the purchafe of a fuitable houfe, they found there was no- 
thing left to afford even a moderate falary for a Latin mafler ; 
and the clergy of the Cape, who are the only fit perfons to take 
upon them the important tafls of inflruding youth, are already 
too 
