ft. ^ /Si* ^Dff- 
 
EXTRACTS ^ROM A REPORT 
 
 OB 
 
 , J. LANCASTER'S PROGRESS, 
 
 FROM THE YEAR 179S. 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE 
 
 FORJHE YEAR 1810. 
 
 TO WHICH IS PREFIXED AS 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEE 
 
 FOR PROMOTING THE 
 
 ROYAL LANCASTERIAN SYSTEM 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 EDUCATION OF THE POOR. 
 
 WEW-YORK; 
 
 RF.-PBINTED EROM THE LONDON EDITION OE 1811 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COMMITTEE 
 
 FOR PROMOTING THE 
 
 ROYAL LANCASTERIAN SYSTEM 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 EDUCATION OF THE POOR. 
 
 he present address is made to those, who, possessing 
 the common feelings of humanity, wish to see all the 
 good bestowed upon the lower orders of their species, 
 of which their place in society admits. To all those 
 who are not strangers to so humane a sentiment, it is an 
 invitation to ask their own reason, whether the education 
 of the poor is not an advantage of this description ; and 
 to afford us their aid, if we can prove to them that it 
 will be attended with the most beneficial effects. 
 
 We present to their consideration a plan for extend- 
 ing to the poor the knowledge of reading, writing, and 
 common arithmetic, more efficacious, and more econo- 
 mical in respect to both time and money, than has hither- 
 to been conceived to be within the sphere of possibility. 
 It is a plan which, while it calls upon the superior and 
 middling classes for nothing that admits the name of a 
 sacrifice, promises to bestow upon them more able and 
 more trust- worthy associates in all the circumstances of 
 life, in which we are dependent upon the co-operation 
 and fidelity of our subordinate brethren. It is probably 
 not sufficiently considered to what an extent that de- 
 pendence reaches ; the poor are our inmates, and our 
 
4 
 
 guardians. They surround our tables, they surrount 
 our beds, they inhabit our nurseries. Our lives ; oui 
 properties ; the minds, and the health of our children 
 are to an inconceivable degree dependent upon theii 
 good or evil qualities. 
 
 According to the system which Mr. Lancaster has not] 
 only established, but already reduced to practice, and of 
 the practical efficacy of which the most satisfactory ex- 
 perience has now been obtained, the children of the 
 poor, before they are old enough to work, can be com- 
 pletely taught the valuable acquirements of reading, 
 writing, and arithmetic, at an expense, even in the metro- 
 polis, of little more than five shillings per annum for 
 each. It follows evidently from this most important 
 fact, that by a combination requiring very slender ef- 
 forts among the benevolent and public-spirited members 
 of the community, those useful attainments may be ex- 
 tended to the whole of the rising generation, and the pi- 
 ous wish of the Sovereign be fully accomplished, 
 « THAT EVERY POOR CHILI) IN THE KING- 
 DOM SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ THE BI- 
 BLE." 
 
 The points of utility naturally connected with this 
 event are of two kinds, and both in the highest degree 
 important. The first respects the purposes to which the 
 faculties in question might be turned in die different of- 
 fices which devolve upon the lower orders. The second 
 respects the frame of mind which is created during, and 
 by the acquirement. 
 
 1. It is surely unnecessary to point out the innume- 
 rable modes in which the faculties of reading, writing, 
 and accounting, render the lower orders more useful co- 
 adjutors to us on those occasions in which we stand in 
 need of their services ; as domestics, as artisans, as ma- 
 nufacturers, as persons intrusted with the guardianship, 
 the transfer, the improvement of our properly in a 
 thousand ways. It is impossible that any man capable 
 of recalling to his mind the number and importance of 
 
these occasions, can doubt of the prodigious advantage 
 derived to society from so great an addition to the use- 
 ful faculties of the operative members of the communi- 
 ty- 
 
 2. But high as this advantage ought evidently to be 
 ranked, it is still very inferior to that which arises from 
 the frame of mind created by the disci/iline of educa- 
 tion ; by the habits of order, and of the love of rational 
 esteem, which it is its nature to engender. Let us but 
 reflect upon the different modes in which the. time re- 
 quired for education is spent by the children of the poor, 
 when in a school like that of Mr. Lancaster's, and when 
 at no school. If at no school, their time is for the most 
 part at their own disposal ; it is spent with idle compa- 
 nions like themselves, in all the disorderly courses of 
 which idleness is the parent. Their life is, (upon their 
 own scale,) an exact picture of that irregularity in the 
 grown man, which produces almost all the unprofitable 
 and dangerous members of society ; and it cannot, from 
 the known laws of the human constitution, operate 
 Otherwise than as a most fruitful seminary of this un- 
 happy description of persons. In a school of Mr. Lan- 
 caster's, on the other hand, the children are inured to ha- 
 bits of order and subordination. They are delivered 
 from idleness, and from the daring and disorderly cour- 
 ses for which it gives a taste They become habituated 
 to strive with one another for superiority in useful arts, 
 and to look for praise from the attainment of real < x- 
 cellence. Who sees not that in the one course of train- 
 ing there is every chance of rearing valuable members 
 of society ? Who sees not that in the other, there is 
 every chance of rearing pernicious ones ? 
 
 For the particular methods pursued in Mr. Lancas- 
 ter's plan of education, we must reler to his own publi- 
 cations. Une regulation it is necessary to state. In or- 
 der to obviate the scruples which parents and guardians 
 attached to any particular form of Christianity might feel 
 •with respect to the religious instruction imparted- in 
 a 2 
 
6 
 
 Mr. Lancaster's schools ; and in order to extend the 
 benefits of his plan of education to all the religious de- 
 nominations of the community, instead of confining 
 them to one or a few, it is an inviolable law to teach no- 
 thing but what is the standard of belief to all Christians, 
 the Schiptures themselves. The children are not 
 only taught to read the Bible, but are trained in the ha- 
 bit of reading it, and are left entirely to the explanation 
 and commentaries which their parents or friends may 
 think it their duty to give them at home 
 
 In the Borough school alone 6,000 children have been 
 educated, whose parents were of the poorest descrip- 
 tion, and hitherto no instance has been noticed of any 
 one of these children being since charged with a crimi- 
 nal offence in any court of justice. 
 
 The patronage which Mr. Lancaster has received, 
 particularly from their Majesties and the whole of the 
 Royal Fvmily, having contributed powerfully to the ge- 
 neral adoption of his plans, schools are now established 
 in every county of England ; several have been erect- 
 ed in Scotland, and some in Ireland. As the advanta- 
 ges of the system arc more generally experienced, 
 more numerous applications continue to be made to Mr. 
 Lancaster for assistance in the formation of schools ; 
 bringing along with them an additional burthen of ex- 
 pense, and a demand for more extended means. It is 
 sufficiently evident, that, in order to disseminate in the 
 most perfect manner the benefits of the scheme, per- 
 sons completely trained in its practical details, arc high- 
 ly necessary to be employed in conducting the first ope- 
 rations of every newly-erected seminary. Among the 
 youths who come under Mr. Lancaster's care, it is his 
 object to select those who appear best calculated for his 
 purpose, and to train them up to become school-masters 
 and school-mistresses in the new establishments which 
 are successively formed. The instances which have al- 
 leady appeared, of youths of fourteen or fifteen years 
 of age, conducting, with almost the regularity of a ma- 
 
7 
 
 line, schools containing several hundreds of children, 
 id imparting to them, with unexampled rapidity, the 
 lements of education, afford the most gratifying proofs 
 f the adaptation of the expedients to the great object in 
 iew. The maintenance, however, of the young per- 
 jns intended for this office, during the time of their 
 reparation, has been experienced to be the grand source 
 f expense attending this institution, reaching far be- 
 ond the unaided exertions of any individual to supply. 
 In consideration of these circumstances, and in parti- 
 ular of the importance of the last great article of ex- 
 ense, the following Noblemen and gentlemen have 
 greed, in aid of the indefatigable and meritorious ex- 
 rtions of the Founder of the system, to act as a com- 
 dittee for obtaining subscriptions and superintending 
 leir application. 
 
 PRESIDENTS. 
 
 HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD SO.MERVILLE 
 
 FINANCE COMMITTEE. 
 
 lie Most Noble the Marquis of Lam- 
 down- 
 
 1w Right Honourable Earl Moira. 
 
 1m K ;i; Hou. Earl of Carvsfort. 
 
 Villi. n. Adam, Esq. M. P. 
 
 lavkl Barclay. Esq. 
 
 vorncy Ban-lav. Esq. 
 
 khsard WilbrabaiK Bootle, Esq. M. P. 
 
 •t in) Brougham, Esq. M. P. 
 
 r. F." Buxton. Esq. 
 
 Thomas Clarksou, Esq. 
 
 loaournble Robert Clifford. 
 
 aKinard Currie, Esq. 
 
 *> Henry Englefield, Bart. ' 
 
 ohn Evans, Esq. 
 
 ov pli Fry, Esq. 
 
 iamuel Gurney, Esq. 
 
 3eorgi.- Harrison, Esq. 
 
 iamuel Hoare.jun. Esq. 
 
 ?rancis Horner, Esq. M. P. 
 
 jeonard Horner, Esq. 
 
 Luke Howard, Esq. 
 
 dalsey Janson, Esq. 
 
 lohu Pooley Kensington, Esq. 
 
 Jonathan Wathan Phipps, Etq. 
 | James Loch, Esq. 
 I J.lin Maitlaml, Esq. M. P. 
 ! John Merirale, Eso> 
 i James Mill, Esq. 
 "' Basil .VI .utagu. Esq. 
 j D.i-.i el Moore. Esq. 
 
 J. Petty Muspratt, Esq. 
 
 Ilk-hard Philips, Esq. 
 
 William Philips. Esq. 
 
 William Fosu-i' Reynolds, Essj. 
 
 Thomas Reynolds, Esq. 
 JSamml Rogers. Esq 
 
 Sir Sarin . Romilly, M. P. 
 
 John Smith, Esq. M. P.. 
 
 Joseph Smith. Esq. 
 
 William Smith, E,q. M. P. 
 
 Honourable Captain James Stanhope- 
 Henry Sterry, Esq. 
 
 Joseph Fitzwilltam Vandercom, Esq. 
 
 William Vauihan, Esq. 
 
 John Walter, Esq. 
 
 Samuel Whitbread, Esq. M. P. 
 
 Samuel Woods, Esq. 
 
 Tnuien. William Allen, Esq. William Corston, Esq. Joseph Foster, Esq. Joseph 
 Fm, Esq. John Jackson, Esq. M. P. Thomas Sluice, Esq. j 
 
 Secretory. Joseph Fos, Esq. 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 JOSEPH LANCASTER'S PROGRES* 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE YEAR 1798 
 
 he plan of the school at first was a fiay school ; th«| 
 terms being fixed so low as to reduce the price of edu 
 cation one half for each child. The undertaking wa: 
 began under the hospitable roof of an affectionate pa> 
 rent : my father gave the school-room, rent free, and af 
 ter fitting up the forms and desks myself, I had the 
 pleasure, before I was eighteen, of having near ninety 
 children under instruction, many of whom I educated 
 free of expense. As the number of scholars continued 
 to increase, I soon hud occasion to rent larger premises, 
 
 A season of scarcity brought the wants of poor 
 families closely under my notice : at this time a number 
 of very liberal persons enabled me to feed the hungry 
 children. In the course of this happy exertion, I be- 
 came intimately acquainted with the state of many in- 
 dustrious poor families, whose necessities had prevented 
 the payment of the small price of their children's tui- 
 tion, some of whom had accumulated arrears for many 
 weeks. In every such case I remitted the arrears, and 
 continued the children's instruction free of expense ; | 
 by this the number of free scholars was considerably in- 
 creased ; and I soon found the necessities of the poor 
 would fill the school with a great number, whose pa- 
 rents were not able to afford a trifling pittance for the:- 
 education. 
 
9 
 
 The principle of school government and rewards 
 which I had introduced, had a most beneficial influence 
 on the neighbourhood. The children came in for edu- 
 cation like flocks of sheep ; and the number so greatly 
 increased, as to place me in that state of necessity, 
 which is said to be the mother of invention. The old 
 plan of education in which I had been practically con- 
 versant, was daily proved inadequate to the purposes of 
 instruction on a large scale. In every respect I had to 
 explore a new and untrodden path. I had to decide 
 whether to make the plan of education adequate to the 
 number of applicants, or to dismiss the greater part of 
 my scholars, who could not be instructed on the old sys- 
 tem, and who, if discharged, must have remained in a 
 state of mournful ignorance. My continual endeavours 
 lave been happily crowned with success, by enabling 
 ■ne at the period to which I allude, to extend my local 
 institution, and to multiply fac simile* of it not only for 
 -his nation, but I trust for every other in the world, 
 ^bout 1804, the school doors were thrown open for all 
 hat would send their children, and have them educated 
 reely: and on that plan the institution has continued 
 :ver since. It came to be demonstrated, that seven 
 hildren could be educated for a guinea, instead of one, 
 s was first proposed. I wish my friends, in considering 
 lie progress of this plan, to remember, that 1 set out 
 • it h some advantages, arising not from large funds, or 
 lany advisers, but from my peculiar situation and con- 
 exions. — A youth of eighteen, entering into my first 
 mrsuit with all the energy I was capable of — a father's 
 ible — free from expensive habits— -a simple manner of 
 ving — and having no rent to pay — a stranger to the 
 >ve of gain — relying on the blessing of Heaven to 
 rosper my exertions. Thus circumstanced at that 
 me, great as my difficulties have been, hard things 
 ave become easy, and rough ways plain before me. 
 
 Into the hands of a few friends, now constituted my 
 ustees, 1 have committed my financial concerns for 
 
10 
 
 the three last years; and during that time, they have 
 conducted all my affairs with the greatest good to the 
 poor, by enabling me to spread the knowledge and prac- 
 tice of the plan in the country. By superintending my 
 financial concerns, public and private, in my absencei 
 with liberal sacrifices of time and attention, as well as 
 advances of money, every thing is now happily brought 
 to that state of maturity, which will lead to the hope of 
 public support to a system, which has already spread in 
 part over the land, and may yet make a more extensive 
 progress. Thus may the blessings of education be dif- 
 fused over the land, and like the showers of heaven, 
 convert the desert and the wilderness into a fruitful 
 field. 
 
 After spending above fourteen years in this useful 
 pursuit, I have the pleasure of seeing the parent insti- 
 tution in very high prosperity, of witnessing the exten- 
 sion of its benefits to tens of thousands of poor children 
 in the nation, and of anticipating its continued useful- 
 ness by the system there invented to the very end of 
 time. The delight it has daily afforded this very sea- 
 son to large numbers of persons who have visited it, 
 has been of the most gratifying nature. Nor can I omit 
 one pleasing circumstance. During six weeks of the 
 present year, I have been suffering under a rheumatic 
 illness, originally contracted from travelling by night 
 after lecturing. At the beginning of the year the num- 
 ber of new schools to be organized was such, as to re- 
 quire the attendance of every master I could set at li- 
 berty. Among others the master of the Royal Free 
 School, Borough Road, was sent to Chichester, to t 
 school for three hundred children, opened under the 
 patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Richmond ; ant 
 in his absence I took charge of his own school for him 
 At this time illness rather suddenly confined me to mj 
 bed, and the monitor-general of the school, Maurice 
 Cross, an interesting boy of fourteen, took charge of 
 and governed the school in a most pleasing and gratify 
 
11 
 
 ing manner. Many visitors came to sec the school 
 while I was confined to my bed, and expressed the high- 
 est approbation of the steadiness and ability of the lad, 
 who on such an occasion could so effectually supply my 
 place. 
 
 The effects of this institution on the morals of youth, 
 in training good members of society, have been tried, 
 and proved most happily successful. 1 cannot pass a 
 quarter of a mile in any part of Southwark, without 
 meeting many lads who address me in accents of the 
 most cordial welcome ; who are growing up to maturi- 
 ty, and going on happily in that state of life for which 
 they appeared destined. I feel among them the glow 
 of parental affection, when I see them with their baskets 
 or loads on their shoulders in the character of honest 
 and worthy labourers or artificers, having contented 
 cheerfulness and steadiness united in their character. 
 
 The general conduct of these youth is such, as to 
 prove the falsehood of the degrading assertion made by 
 :he partizans of ignorance, that the poor of this land of 
 iberty are necessarily doomed to the drudgery of daily 
 abour, and that teaching them to write and cypher 
 vould only make them discontented with their lot. I 
 lave instructed thousands, and have the happiness of 
 ibserving among them the most contented and the most 
 rorthy members of society. 
 
 A great number of persons have been instructed in 
 he system at the Royal Free School. By many of 
 hese its benefits have been diffused over the nation, 
 'rom this center, instruction to the poor has flowed 
 irough the empire, and continues to do so with more 
 dvantage than ever. 
 
 During a severe illness, which, in 1809, confined me 
 ) my bed some weeks at Bristol, the master of that 
 ;hool, who had been educated from an early age in my 
 wn, attended me in all my painful illness, with the 
 iost filial affection. A boy, only thirteen years of age, 
 apt school for him with so great success, that when my 
 
12 
 
 recovery enabled me to return to town, being in a feeble 
 staie. I required the master to accompany me, and dur- 
 ing a week's absence, this lad was sole governor of the 
 school. This boy had obtained his knowledge of read- 
 ing, writing, and arithmetic, in the Bristol school, in less 
 than eighteen months ; on coming in, he was in one of 
 the lowest classes, and at the end of twelve months he 
 excelled every boy in the school, and had become moni- 
 tor-general. The committee visited the school in the 
 master's absence, and found this excellent lad, to use a 
 school-boy's expression, " king of the castle." This 
 order and excellent conduct did not pass unrewarded. 
 The committee subscribed among themselves a sum of 
 money, to make him a present of a new silver watch, 
 with a suitable inscription. Upon my recovery, 1 re- 
 turned to Bristol, and again lectured there ; and when 
 speaking on the subject of rewards, I gave the lad his 
 watch in the name of the committee, specifying his con- 
 duct. He received his prize with joy amidst the plau- 
 dits of eight hundred persons, among whom his father! 
 and mother were not the least happy ; and who but fori 
 the school at Bristol, would have been unable to educate 
 him. 
 
 It not being judged proper at that time to enlarge the 
 family in Southwark, I boarded and clothed him in Bris-j 
 tol for twelve months ; after which I received him home 
 to the Borough. In a short time he was placed as mas-i 
 ter at a school at Southgate, built and supported by my 
 friend, John Walker, Esq. to extend the blessing oi 
 education to the poor children in that neighbourhood ; 
 my worthy friend speaks in the most pleasing manner ol 
 the ability and good conduct of this amiable and excel- 
 lent boy. In this statement is the pleasing history ol 
 a boy, whose talents would have most likely been buried 
 under the rubbish of ignorance, had not the facilities o' 
 this system developed them ; this, however, is but ont 
 proof of many which might be adduced of the gooc 
 (lone by it. An ignorant lad comes to school in 1807, ir 
 
ibout two years after he is able to conduct the insutu- 
 ion in which he obtained his learning ; in three years, 
 ifter a little instruction in the Borough Road, he proves 
 liimself qualified to conduct a large school, to the satis- 
 ac.ion of his immediate patron, and the delight of all 
 that visit it. 
 
 To bring all the instances I might advance, would 
 fill a volume, instead of a brief report. I must not, 
 however, omit one lad, James George Penney. About 
 the year 1805, this boy attended the school in South- 
 wark ; he was fatherless, and his mother poor. At that 
 time he would often come to school in the morning, and 
 remain there till night without any dinner; this was 
 soon discovered by his feeling school-fellows, some of 
 whom dried up the tears which hunger occasioned, and 
 supplied his wants by a contribution of bread and meat, 
 which some of them were pleased to call " a parish din- 
 ner." This circumstance coming to my knowledge, and 
 knowing him to be an excellent boy, I took him into my 
 house. At first he appeared dull from habitual depres- 
 sion. The close of the year before last, he was sent in- 
 to Shropshire, and spent about six months there, in the 
 house of a most liberal and excellent clergyman. The 
 first village school that he organized was for 250 chil- 
 dren ; and such was the progress made by the scholars, 
 that, in one case, the clergyman was applied to by a 
 man to inform him if such improvement could be made, 
 by any thing short of witchcraft. This worthy boy did 
 not leave that part of the nation without organizing 
 schools for near 1,000 children, which number is likely 
 to be doubled in the ensuing summer, many persons of 
 influence in that part of the country having been con- 
 vinced of the great good to be obtained by the univer- 
 sal diffusion of knowledge among the lower orders of 
 society. This lad is now settled at Bath, over a school 
 of 300 children ; and my accounts from Sir Horace 
 B 
 
14 
 
 Mann, Bart, the President, speak highly of the state ol 
 the school and conduct of the master. 
 
 An excellent lad, not fourteen, has just materially 
 aided the organization of the school at Coventry for 400 
 children. The committee, to express their sense of his 
 services, have voluntarily allowed for his board, &c. at 
 the rate of 601. per annum : this is not quoted as a pre- 
 cedent, but as a proof of the boy's activity and merits. 
 A boy of seventeen keeps a school at Newbury for 200 
 children ; another at Chiches>ter, about eighteen, will 
 soon have 300. These facts prove, that this system pos- 
 sesses the power of accomplishing considerable good 
 with small means. 
 
 A young man just turned of twenty, and educated in 
 the Borough Road, conducted a school at Bradley before 
 he was sixteen, and had the thanks of the Duke of So- 
 merset for his excellent conduct and usefulness. After 
 this, he organized schools in Liverpool, and several other 
 places with reputation and credit. He sometime ago 
 settled in Birmingham with a school of 400 children, 
 which it is hoped will soon be extended to a thousand. — 
 The instances of real and extensive usefulness among 
 my young men and boys are so numerous and interest- 
 ing, that I purpose to take the first leisure opportunity 
 to publish them as a sort of history of this system. 
 
 In the Girls' School, Borough Road, a new manner of 
 teaching needle-work has been invented. As the parti- 
 culars will soon be published by my sister and niece, I 
 shall only say, that one mistress may teach any number 
 of scholars with no more trouble than attends my system 
 as to tuition in reading, writing, and arithmetic ; and 
 that it is not likely the least difficulty can arise, in find- 
 ing abundant materials to employ three hundred thou- 
 sand girls, if so many were to be placed immediately in 
 new schools, and this at so cheap a rate as scarcely to 
 deserve the name of expense. 
 
15 
 
 Before this Report is closed, I must beg leave to re- 
 mark, that, in a subject in which I am so personally con- 
 cerned, it was almost impossible to avoid the appearance 
 of egotism ; but I trust, connected as it is with details 
 necessary for me to give, that every defect in the man- 
 ner will be overlooked, when the value of the object in 
 view is considered. 
 
 I have the happiness to say, I have abundant docu- 
 ments to prove the truth of my reports, and the utility 
 of my lectures in the country, are fully evinced by the 
 public and official resolutions of many of the leading 
 cities ami towns in the empire. 
 
 I shall now subjoin an extract from the minutes of 
 the Trustees, and cannot forbear expressing my hope 
 that this system of education, which has now proved it- 
 self to be of national importance, will, by the liberal 
 sanction of a British public, be made a powerful engine 
 for improving the morals, and thus promoting the happi- 
 ness of my country. Joseph Lancaster. 
 
 Extract from the Minutes of the Trustees, 
 March 28th, 1811. 
 
 " The Trustees examined the vouchers produced 
 by Joseph Lancaster relative to the expenditure which 
 had taken place prior to the formation of the Committee 
 in 1808, and have the satisfaction to find that they are 
 perfectly correct, and most satisfactorily account for the 
 said expenditure ; and they find, that during the time 
 i'nat they have had the care of his affairs, he has expend- 
 ed above 1,000/. the produce of his lectures, in travel- 
 ling, and preparing for the same ; that he has main- 
 tained himself during this period by the profits of his 
 publications and printing office ; and in having educated 
 above 6,000 children free of expense, at the lowest rate 
 of payment, the sum of 7,500/. has been given to the 
 education of the poor." 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF 
 
 THE FINANCE COMMITTEE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 INSTITUTION 
 
 FOR PROMOTING THE 
 
 KOYAL LANCASTERIAN SYSTEM 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 EDUCATION OF THE POOR, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 GENERAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS, 
 
 MAY 11, 1811. 
 
 In presenting the following Report of the Royal Lan- 
 casterian Institution* for promoting the education of the 
 poor, the Finance Committee trust that the subscribers 
 will view with pleasure the success which now attends 
 this most important undertaking. 
 
 It is well known, that by the improvements mp.de by 
 Mr. Lancaster in the art of communicating instruction, 
 the business of education is reduced to a perfect system, 
 and benefits similar to those which have attended the 
 establishment of the Royal Free School in the Borough 
 Road, may be extended to every town or populous dis- 
 trict. The principal requisites are, spacious school- 
 rooms, and school-masters who have been instructed on 
 the principles of the system. 
 
 The formation of new schools, and the providing of 
 qualified teachers, are the objects which have chiefly 
 
13 
 
 ijngrossed the attention of Mr. Lancaster during the 
 jastyear. For this purpose he has given public lec- 
 j ires, descriptive of his plan, in many parts of the king- 
 lam where the establishment of schools has been desir- 
 Idor much needed. He has taken different journies, 
 :cturing in the towns lying in a particular route. 
 
 In England he has lectured at Reading, Newbury, 
 iath, Bristol, Gloucester, Chichester, Portsmouth, Nor- 
 wich, Ipswich, Bury, Yarmouth, Lodden, Nottingham, 
 Uorthampton, Leicester, Loughborough, Wellinbo- 
 ough, Coventry, Derby, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, 
 ■hields, Alnwick, Berwick, and Carlisle. In Scotland 
 c was received with much approbation, and delivered 
 ictures in Edinburgh and Glasgow, at which cities, as 
 veil as in most of the other places, committees have 
 een formed for raising subscriptions for the erecting of 
 chool-rooms. It is hoped that in Ireland also the plan 
 .ill shortly be fully introduced ; a large school-room has 
 een built in Belfast, and the Committee have applied 
 or a school-master. The following concise statement 
 /ill exhibit the ardour, with which Mr. Lancaster pur- 
 ues the benevolent object of promoting the education 
 if the lower classes of the people. In the year 1810, he 
 ook seven journies, travelling in the whole 3775 miles ; 
 \t delivered 67 lectures to audiences composed of 
 !3,500 persons, the effect of which lectures has been, that 
 0 new schools are founded, in which not less than 14 
 >r 15,000 children will be educated. These lectures are 
 attended by a double good, a knowledge of the plan of 
 nstruction is diffused, and an opportunity is afforded to 
 he richer public to display their liberality, by adopting 
 he system for the benefit of their poorer neighbours ; 
 md it is truly gratifying to behold the spirit of chris- 
 .ian philanthropy, which animates all ranks of the com- 
 munity, in their endeavours to chase the clouds of igno- 
 rance from our highly favoured island. 
 
 B 2 
 
18 
 
 To provide school-masters for the many school' j 
 which have been opened during the past year, and t< I 
 prepare others for the schools expected to be opened ii I 
 the course of the present, has been an arduous task. 
 
 It has been highly gratifying to the Committee, whilsil 
 they have most anxiously exerted themselves in solicit I 
 ing the necessary funds, to defray the very essential, bu I 
 expensive part of the institution, in boarding and cloth ] 
 ing the young people under training for school-mastenri 
 that the labours of Mr. Lancaster have been attendee I 
 with so much success ; having received the sanction MM 
 only of the public in general, but also of characters tht 
 most distinguished and exalted. On his arrival at Aln- 
 wick, he was invited to the Castle by his Grace the 
 Duke of Northumberland, who received him in the mosi 
 condescending manner, and stated his intention of build- 
 ing a school room at Alnwick, and bearing all the fu. 
 ture charges of the school. '1 he foundation of this 
 school was laid on the late Anniversary of His Majesty'! 
 Accession, and will shortly be opened ; his Grace has 
 desired Mr. Lancaster to furnish him with a qualified 
 school -master 
 
 • The Royal Free School, in the Borough Road, was 
 visited last autumn by their Royal Highnesses the Dukes 
 of Kent and Cambridge, who examined with great atten- 
 tion the operation of a system of truly national import- 
 ance, exhibiting the stages of intellectual improvement, 
 through several hundred children, from that of the child 
 who is learning to repeat the letters of the alphabet, to 
 that of the most advanced in the school, who have ac- 
 quired a competent knowledge of reading, writing, and 
 arithmetic. The attention of their Royal Highnesses to 
 the children, together with the commendations bestow- 
 ed on those who excelled, at once excited them to re- 
 newed diligence, and created an affectionate regard to 
 the family of our beloved Sovereign, producing in the 
 vouthful mind the most lively feelings of loyalty. 
 
19 
 
 The school was likewise visited very lately by his 
 Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, w ho inspected 
 the whole system with the greatest care, and departed 
 highly gratified with the truly interesting spectacle. 
 
 His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, has set a most 
 important example, by introducing the Lancasterian 
 system into the army, having attached a school to his 
 own regiment. The school consists of the children of 
 the privates, and amounts to 2"0 ; a young man, a ser- 
 geant in the regiment, was trained for the school-mas- 
 ter at the Borough Road, and the school was instituted 
 at Maiden, in Essex, where the regiment was then quar- 
 tered. Great credit is due to Lieutenant-colonel 
 M'Leod, and the other officers, who co-operated with 
 their Royal Commander in his benevolent design. The 
 regiment lately removed its quarters to Dunbar, where 
 the establishment was carried on. Mr Lancaster on 
 his journey to Scotland found it in an excellent state of 
 order. By permission of the Duke, a number of these 
 boys went to Edinburgh, to illustrate the system in the 
 lecture delivered there by Mr. Lancaster. The regi- 
 ment is now quartered at Stirling ; and the school, at 
 the request of the magistrates, is kept in the Guild-hall 
 of Stirling Castle, many of the town's children partici- 
 pating in its benefits. The Committee have great plea- 
 sure in adding, ihat the commanders of several military 
 depots, and also of militia regiments, have applied to 
 Mr L. for assistance in forming schools. In last March, 
 Mr. L. opened a school at Windsoiyestablished by Lieu- 
 tenant-colonel Newdigate, for the children of the pri- 
 vates of the King's own regiment of Staffordshire mili- 
 tia ; and it is hoped, that these examples will speedily 
 be followed by all commanders. On joining the Duke 
 of Kent's regiment, if a recruit is found incapable of 
 reading, he is sent to the school, and as a powerful sti- 
 mulus to exertion, those who make a good proficiency 
 
20 
 
 in learning, are put clown as duplicate non-commission- 
 ed officers. 
 
 Of the new schools lately formed, that at Fenny Strat- 
 ford, Bedfordshire, merits particular notice, on account 
 of some circumstances deserv ing to be recorded for ge- 
 neral imitation. 
 
 The Lancasterian school at Wobourn, established by 
 his Grace the Duke of Bedford, had attracted the atten- 
 tion oi a few individuals residing at Fenny Stratford ; 
 who having visited this school, and witnessed its bene- 
 fits, were so impressed with a sense of the value and im- 
 portance of the system, as to determine upon the esta- 
 blishment of one for the youth of their own neighbour- 
 hood. But these worthy men were not rich; no suita- 
 ble place for a school-room was to be found, and they 
 could not expect to raise sufficient funds by way of gift, 
 equal to the expense of building a school-room. This 
 difficulty was obviated by raising subscriptions in the 
 way of loan, in shares of ten pounds each, to receive in- 
 terest for their money as the rent of the place. The 
 shares are transferrable, and may be paid off as the Com- 
 mittee may be enabled to do it by future donations ; but 
 the building is never to be appropriated to any but the 
 original purpose. 
 
 The spirited conduct of these few individuals, soon 
 attracted the notice of the neighbouring gentry and cler- 
 gy, several of whom have given donations and annual 
 subscriptions to a considerable amount ; and the insti- 
 tution now bids fair to meet with success equal to its 
 merit. 
 
 On New Year's Day of the present year 1811, schools 
 were opened at Reading for 400 boys, at Chichester for 
 200, at Brecon for 150, and at Coventry for 300; many 
 other schools are in a state of forwardness, and will be 
 opened soon. 
 
 The Lancasterian system of education being calculat- 
 ed for universal adoption, it has been an essential pain* 
 
21 
 
 with Mr. L. and his friends, to extend its benefits to 
 foreign parts; and as education must be considered the 
 parent of all civilization, Africa has engaged a consider- 
 able portion of their attention : with this view a young 
 man, a native of Africa, brought to this country by a 
 person who had purchased him in the West Indies, hav- 
 ing expressed to a gentleman his fears, that if taken 
 back by his master, he would be again sold and fall into 
 slavery, he was humanely informed by this gentleman, of 
 the rights he could exercise in Britain ; on which he 
 quitted his master. The case of this youth having been 
 represented to Mr. L. and it appearing that he possessed 
 good abilities, it was resolved that he should be admit- 
 ted into the house, and trained for a school-master, in 
 the hope that, on a future occasion, he might be useful 
 in this capacity in his native country, and be the means 
 of establishing the Lancasterian system, amongst ihe 
 hitherto oppressed inhabitants of Africa. The talents 
 and perseverance of this youth raised the most sanguine 
 expectations of his future usefulness. It is therefore 
 with grief the Committee are obliged to report, that all 
 those expectations have vanished with respect to his in- 
 strumentality ; as after a short illness, he died suddenly, 
 in the month of August, in consequence of the breaking 
 of a large abscess which had formed in his lungs. 
 
 Depressing as this melancholy event has been, the 
 Committee have to mention with much satisfaction, that 
 the system is still likely to be extended to Africa, as the 
 missionaries Wilhelm and Klein, who are destined to 
 that part of the globe, under the patronage of the Socie- 
 ty for Missions to Africa and the East, have received 
 the most ample instruction, by a daily attendance at the 
 Borough Road school for near two months ; and there 
 is no doubt, but that by their zealous exertions, much 
 good will be done to the children of the natives of Afri- 
 ca, who it is understood are exceedingly desirous to be 
 instructed in what they term, U the white man's book." 
 
The Committee cannot forbear expressing their ad- 
 miration of the plan of this society, and they trust that, 
 by the formation of schools, a sure foundation will be 
 laid for much progress in the civilization of Africa. 
 
 Beside the instruction of these Missionaries, who 
 seem to be men of considerable intelligence and ability, 
 the Committee have thought it their duty to seek for 
 native Africans who may be qualified as school-mas- 
 ters ; and to realize this very desirable object, they have, 
 by a communication to his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 Gloucester, Patron, and to the Directors of the African 
 institution, offered to board and educate, at the expense 
 of the Lancasterian Institution, two African youths, of 
 good abilities, to be selected by the Directors, in order 
 that they may be qualified as school-masters for the sta- 
 tions of the institution in Africa. 
 
 It is with much satisfaction the Committee have heard 
 of the increased extension of the Lancasterian system 
 in North America; in addition to the schools establish- 
 ed in New-York and Philadelphia, accounts have been 
 received of the opening of one at Boston ; and lately a 
 very respectable application has been made to Mr. L. 
 from a society formed for the education of the poor in 
 George-Town, Maryland : this society has requested a 
 suitable school-master, that they may be assured of the 
 perfection of the plan. 
 
 They are also happy to be able to announce, that, 
 there is a prospect of the introduction of this system 
 into South America. The deputies from Caraccas, in 
 company with General Miranda, visited the Royal Free 
 School, and have left this country with the intention of 
 sending over two young men to be instructed by Mr. L. 
 The most pleasing intelligence has been received from 
 Antigua of the success which has attended the efforts 
 of a benevolent individual, who had formed schools on 
 this plan for above 900 souls. The Committee judged 
 it expedient to present this gentleman with all the rc- 
 
23 
 
 quisile lessons, &c. for the complete out-fit of two 
 schools. 
 
 All these circumstances tend strongly to encourage 
 the Committee to continue their exertions in support of 
 a discovery, which cannot fail to be a blessing to the 
 whole human race. 
 
 By the statement of receipts and disbursements, it 
 will be seen, that the income of the institution, is by no 
 means adequate to the unavoidable expenses of the es- 
 tablishment. The Committee have to acknowledge with 
 gratitude the very handsome donation of 525/. from a 
 member of the Society of Friends ; and also the liberal 
 donation of 200/. sent in a letter to one of their num- 
 ber, John Jackson, Esq. M. P. with the signature A. D. 
 K. These munificent gifts enabled them to extend ma- 
 ny of the advantages of the institution, particularly that 
 of taking into the house twelve lads of promising abili- 
 ties, in addition to those already in the establishment, 
 making in the whole, thirty young people to be trained 
 as school-masters : this expensive part of the institution 
 must be regarded as one of its main springs, because it 
 is self-evident, that new schools cannot be properly or- 
 ganized unless there are persons duly qualified to su- 
 perintend them. 
 
 The British System of Education having, under the 
 fostering patronage of our beloved Sovereign, and his 
 illustrious family, become an object of national concern, 
 Mr. Lancaster has found it expedient that his establish- 
 ment, which for the last three years has been privately 
 aided by a small Financial Committee, should now be- 
 come a more public institution, with the aid of a large 
 Financial Committee, composed of persons whose rank, 
 talents, and public and private worth, will ensure the 
 most public confidence, and give effect to these plans 
 for promoting the general education of the poor. 
 
 In concluding this Report, the Committee think it in- 
 cumbent on them to subjoin the following extract from 
 
24 
 
 their minutes, which gives a full exposition of the actu- 
 al state of the finances of the institution ; and they 
 trust, that when the public see in what manner this 
 work, so important to the welfare of the country, has 
 been carried on, that they will generously come for- 
 ward, not only to promote the extension of the design, 
 by an annual subscription, to the support of school-mas- 
 ters in training, but also by their donations, to exonerate : 
 those Gentlemen, who, by their timely and liberal ad- 
 vances, have not only preserved this system from ruin, 
 but have contributed to its extension, and secured its es- 
 tablishment. 
 
 " The Trustees, in conformity to a minute of the Fi- I 
 nance Committee, of Dec. 17, 181o, desiring them to I 
 lay before the Committee on some future occasion a I 
 statement of the present condition of Mr. Lancaster's I 
 affairs, specifying what sums have been advanced by I 
 themselves and others, for the promotion of his plans ; I 
 report, 
 
 " That when, in 1808, they first examined into his 
 affairs, and the nature of his embarrassments, they were 1 
 exceedingly gratified to find that his debts originated i 
 from engagements entered into, with different trades- j 
 men, for accomplishing the various objects of rendering 
 his system for the education of the poor, an institution ; 
 for national benefit. The principal of these were foi 
 Bricklayer, Timber-merchant, Carpenter, Type-Foun ; 
 der, Stationer, Furniture, and other necessaries for sucl 
 an establishment. They found, that although then 
 were at that time in the family twenty-four persons t(| : 
 be boarded, there was scarcely a debt owing to an; I 
 Butcher ; for the family, during a considerable time! 
 had only enjoyed the taste of Butcher's meat, when at 
 occasional donation at the school furnished them wit I 
 the means of purchasing a small quantity. 
 
 " The family had subsisted chiefly on bread and milk 
 and to the honour of a Baker in the neighbourhood, t 
 
'Id 
 
 whom there was a considerable debt owing, it must be 
 mentioned, that when a degree of surprise was manifest- 
 ed at having given so large a credit, he replied, < The 
 
 * good which Mr. Lancaster has done to the poor of this 
 
 * neighbourhood is such, that as long as I have a loaf 
 4 left, I will give the half of it, to enable him to con- 
 1 tinue such beneficial exertions.' 
 
 " At the time the Trustees undertook the finances, 
 from a variety of causes the annual subscriptions were 
 very much reduced, so that they not only had to dis- 
 charge the debts, but also to provide the means of de- 
 fraying the current expenses of the board, clothing, &c. 
 of the institution ; this has been regularly done weekly 
 from that time to the present moment. 
 
 " With a view to provide a sum of money to enable 
 them to meet all these difficulties, they solicited from 
 their friends in the form of a loan to Mr. Lancaster, sub- 
 scriptions of 100/. each, by which they received the sum 
 of 4000/. (a list of the subscribers is annexed.) Of 
 this sum 560/. have since been remitted by the following 
 Gentlemen : John Maitland, Esq. M. P. Richard Gur- 
 ney, Esq. Hudson Gumey, Esq. Joseph Gurney, Esq. 
 and Henry Sterry, Esq. having converted their loan into 
 gifts. 
 
 " It appeared very evident to the Trustees, that this 
 great national work would be materially retarded if they 
 confined themselves to the actual subscriptions they 
 could at that time obtain from the public ; and there- 
 fore, in addition to the necessary advances which had 
 been made to defray the original debts, they have advan- 
 ced from time to time sums of money to make up the 
 deficiencies of subscriptions to the amount of 5772/. 4s. 
 
 " During the time the Trustees have thus assisted 
 Mr. Lancaster, he has been enabled to diffuse a know- 
 ledge of his plan, by giving public lectures through the 
 country, which has caused the establishment of schools, 
 C 
 
26 
 
 and the consequent education of many thousand chil- 
 dren. 
 
 " At the present moment a respectable annual sub- 
 scription is raised, amounting to about 1000/. ; but this 
 is by no means adequate to the current expenses ; as 
 the Trustees find by the experience of past years, and 
 especially in consequence of a recent enlargement of 
 the family, which had become absolutely necessary, in 
 order to meet the increasing demands for masters for 
 country schools, that a sum in annual subscriptions of 
 not less than 3008/. will be necessary to diffuse the ad- 
 vantages of this plan of education through the whole 
 country." 
 
 From this exti - act it will be seen, that since the year 
 1808, when the gentlemen, who were constituted by 
 Mr. Lancaster his Trustees, undertook the superintend- 
 ence of the finances, the debt of the institution has been 
 increased nearly 3000/. This fact will satisfactorily 
 account for the embarrassment under which the Trus- 
 tees found Mr. L. The Trustees, convinced of the im- 
 portant moral benefits which must result from the gene- 
 ral education of the community, felt it to be their duty 
 to anticipate the benevolence of the country, by afford- 
 ing the aid so indispensably necessary to render the 
 system effective. 
 
 The Committee cannot close their Report without 
 recommending the disinterested conduct of the Trustees 
 to the generous consideration of the public ; and they 
 trust that the time is not far distant, when means will 
 be provided for the full accomplishment of the pious 
 wish of our venerable Sovereign, " that every poor 
 child in the kingdom may be taught to read the Bible." 
 
SUBSCRIBERS 
 
 TO 
 
 3IR, LANCASTER'S LOAN, 
 
 Duke of Bedford . . 
 
 Lord Somerville . . 
 
 Dyses Alexander, Esq 
 
 William Allt n. Esq. . 
 
 Sir Franci. Baring, Bart. 
 
 I. r, B van, Esq. . 
 
 Wil-on Bi kWk. Esq. 
 
 Astl**y CooptT, Esq- . 
 
 William Cortton, Esq. 
 
 William Dillwyo, Esq. 
 
 'oseph Foster, Esq. . 
 
 taeph Fox, Esq. , . 
 
 obn Fot, Esq . . , 
 
 Vili. in. Fry. Esq. . . 
 
 oseph Fry, Esq. . . 
 
 •amuel Galton.Esq. , 
 Richard Gumry, Esq, 
 Hudson Gumey, Esq. 
 Joseph Gumey, Esq. 
 
 100 
 100 
 ICO 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 1O0 
 100 I 
 
 loo 
 100 1 
 
 J Mrs. Anna Banbury 
 1 Anthony Home, Esq. 
 
 John Hull, Esq 
 John Jackson, Esq. M. P 
 Kdward .lanson, Esq. . 
 J. Pooley Kensington, Esq. 
 
 * John Mail i. nid, Esq m I 
 F.benezer Maitljnd. Esq. 
 Daniel Moore, Esq 
 
 ■ Sir George Mackenzie Bart. 
 I Robert Owen. Esq. . 
 
 Or. Pope, . . . . 
 
 Joshua Reeve, Esq. . , 
 
 Samuel Rogers Esq. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Esq. , 
 
 • Henry Sterry, Esq. 
 H. Thornton, Esq. M. P. 
 John Walker, Esq. . , 
 John Wakefield. Esq. 
 
 £ 
 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 200 
 100 
 100 
 100 
 200 
 100 
 
 • By these Gentlemen the loan has been remitted as gift. 
 
■ 
 
ROYAL BRITISH 
 
 SYSTEM of EDUCATION. 
 
 At a very numerous and highly respectable Meeting 
 f the Subscribers and Friends of the HOYAL LAN- 
 ASTERIAN SYSTEM for the EDUCATION of the 
 OUR, held at the Free-mason's Tavern, Saturday, 
 'ay 11,1811 ; 
 
 His grace the DUKE of BEDFORD in the Chair : 
 On the Motion of his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 ent, and seconded by his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 ussex, 
 
 Resolved unanimously, That from a consideration of 
 he salutary effects of Knowledge upon the human mind, 
 " e h tbits of order which education creates, and the per- 
 nal acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures which it 
 reduces; this Meeting anticipates from the general 
 ducation of the Poor, the h.,ppiest results to society, 
 y \hc diminution of crimes, and in the promotion of 
 e usefulness of the great body of the people. 
 On the Motion of his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 ent, seconded by his Royal Highness the Duke of Sus- 
 x, 
 
 Resolved, That the System of Education invented by 
 r. Joseph Lancaster, enables one Master to teach 
 ading. writing, and arithmetic, to any number of chil- 
 en, by the agency of his scholars alone ; at the same 
 e that the most perfect state of di cipline is preserv- 
 ; to which must be added, the reduction of the price 
 instruction, according to ihe number educated, to 10s. 
 . and even 3s. 6d. per annum for each child, rendering 
 in the whole, an invention worthy of the most distia- 
 uished approbation and universal adoption. 
 
 C 2 
 
On the Motion of the Marquis of Lansdownc, and se- 
 conded by Wm. Adam, Esq. M. P. 
 
 Resolved, That it is with the most lively satisfaction 
 this meeting contemplates the sanction and support 
 which the Lancasterian System for the Education of the 
 Poor, has received from their Majesties, and every 
 branch of the Royal Family ; and his Royal Highness 
 the Duke of Kent is most respectfully solicited to re- 
 present to the whole of the Royal Family, the high 
 sense which this Meeting entertains of a patronage, no 
 less important to the prosperity of the undertaking, than 
 indicative of the affection of the House of Brunswick, I 
 for the truest interests of the people. 
 
 On the Motion of the Marquis of Lansdowne, and se- I 
 conded by Lord Keith, 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. Adam be requested by this Meet- 
 ing, humbly and respectfully to express to his Royal I 
 Highness the Prince Regent, the sense which they en- 
 tertain of the gracious communication his Royal High- 
 ness has been pleased to make to them, and their grati- 
 tude for his continued countenance and support to the 
 Lancasterian System of education. 
 
 On the Motion of the Marquis of Lansdowne, second- 
 ed by Lord Keith, 
 
 Resolved, That the respectful thanks of this Meeting 
 be presented to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent> 
 whose friendship to soldiers' children has been shown in 
 that princely liberality with which his Royal Highness 
 has established a school in the Royals, as Colonel of that 
 Regiment, and set an example which, it is hoped, will 
 be universally followed by Military Commanders, and 
 thereby promote the welfare, and do honour to the cha- 
 racter of the British Army. 
 
 That the Thanks of this Meeting be presented to 
 Lieutenant Colonel M' Leod, and the Officers of the 4th 
 battalion of the Royals, for \he zeal and benevolence 
 
m 
 
 with which they have superintended a Royal Lancaster! • 
 an School in that Regiment. 
 
 That his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent be res- 
 pectfully requested to communicate the same. 
 
 On the Motion of the Duke of Kent, and seconded by 
 the Duke of Sussex, 
 
 Resolved, That the respectful Thanks of this Meet- 
 ing be presented to his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 Gloucester, for the zeal he has manifested in promoting 
 the Lancasterian System of Education, and particularly 
 for having placed a number of the youth of his regiment 
 under this excellent mode of instruction. 
 
 On the Motion of the Duke of Kent, seconded by the 
 Duke of Sussex, 
 
 Resolved, that the disinterestedness of Mr. Lancaster, 
 in inventing and carrying into effect the Royal Lancas- 
 terian System of Education, merits the approbation and 
 support of the Empire, and that the Thanks of thi6 
 Meeting be presented to him for the same. 
 
 On the Motion of his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 Kent, seconded by his Royal Highness the Duke of Sus- 
 sex, 
 
 Resolved, That by a Report presented to this Meet- 
 ing, it appears that, during the last four years, Mr. Lan- 
 caster has taken numerous journies to diffuse a know- 
 ledge of his plan in the country ; that he has at conside- 
 rable personal expense, travelled near 7,4)00 miles, lec- 
 tured 140 times to different audiences, consisting of 
 near 50,000 persons, in which he has given such an im- 
 petus to public benevolence, that more than 25,000 chil- 
 dren have been provided with instruction, and many 
 thousand pounds have been raised for building and fit- 
 ting up school-rooms and supporting schools ; for all 
 which beneficial exertions he ought to be considered a 
 public benefactor, and is entitled to the thanks and sup 
 port of the nation in general. 
 
 On the motion of Wm, Smith, Esq. M. P. 
 
32 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Meeting are here- 
 by given to the Mayors, Magistrates, Clergy, and Gen- 
 try, of those Cities and Towns in England and Scot- 
 land, who have contributed to the extension of the Roy- 
 al British System of Education, by granting to Mr. Lan- 
 caster the use of their Town Guild, or Country Halls, 
 for the purpose of detailing the particulars of his plan, 
 and that the Magistrates of Stirling be particularly dis- 
 tinguished, who permitted their Guild Hall to be used 
 as a temporary school-room for the military quartered 
 there. 
 
 On the motion of Francis Horner, Esq. M. P. 
 Resolved, That the moral effects of the Royal British 
 System of Education are apparent, from the important 
 
 fact, THAT OF FULL 7,000 CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN 
 
 instructed at the royal free school, borough 
 Road, no instance has been known of any one of 
 these having been charged with any criminal of- 
 FENCE in any Court of Justice. 
 
 On the motion of E. W. Bootle, Esq. M. P. 
 
 Resolved, That the fact publicly stated by Mr. Lan- 
 caster, that of the 7,000 Children educated at the Bo- 
 rough Road by him, no one of them has been made a 
 Proselyte to his peculiar Religious opinions, affords a 
 gratifying proof that every Religious denomination may 
 cordially unite in the Education of the Poor, upon the 
 broad and liberal basis of this institution. 
 
 On the motion of the Hon. James Ambercromby, M. 
 
 P. 
 
 Resolved, That the energies of the Royal British or 
 Lancasterian System, in developing the talents, and eli- 
 citing the faculties of youth for their own and their 
 country's good, have been remarkably displayed in seve- 
 ral boys of not more than 13 or 14 years of age, huving 
 superintended thr Borough Road and other Schools 
 witli as much facility as the Master himself. 
 
 On the motion of Henry Brougham, Esq. M. P. 
 
38 
 
 Resolved, That in order to extend the benefits of the 
 Royal British System of Education to all parts of the 
 Empire, and to render it in the largest sense a National 
 Good, it is requisite that a considerable number of youth 
 of both Sexes be trained in the practice of the Institu- 
 tion, for the purpose of undertaking the charge of 
 Schools. 
 
 On the motion of Henry Brougham, Esq. M. P. 
 
 Resolved, That as the Annual Subscriptions to the In- 
 stitution are at present by no means adequate to defray 
 the Charges of Board, Lodging, and Clothing, of a suffi- 
 cient number of Youths, (expenses which, in the training 
 of them to the period of their fitness to take the charge 
 of Schools, are unavoidable,) the Friends to this cause 
 are solicited to become Annual Subscribers, of Sums 
 from One to Ten Guineas. 
 
 On the motion of his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 Kent, and seconded by his Royal Highness the Duke of 
 Sussex, 
 
 Resolved, That from a Report presented to this Meet- 
 ing, it appears, that the Donations and Subscriptions re- 
 ceived by Mr. Lancaster, prior to the year 1808, had 
 fallen short of the actual charges for the erection of 
 suitable Buildings, and the maintenance of intended 
 School-Masters, and that a considerable Debt has been 
 incurred ; for which the Gentlemen since appointed Mr. 
 Lancaster's Trustees, actuated by an earnest desire to 
 prevent the failure of so important a work, and relying 
 on the future support of a liberal and beneficent Pub- 
 lic, not only rendered themselves responsible, but took 
 measures for enlarging the operation of the System. 
 
 On the Motion of the Duke of Kent, and seconded by 
 the Duke of Sussex, 
 
 Resolved, That from a consideration of the great 
 utility of the object, and the facility with which the be- 
 nefits of the institution may be extended, not only to all 
 parts of the British Empire, but to the whole civilized 
 
.14 
 
 world, the donations of the Public are solicited to re- 
 lieve it from the burthen of a debt which amounts to 
 about 5,0001. a sum which it is hoped will not be con- 
 sidered as large, when set against the gratuitous Educa- 
 tion of near 7,000 children in the Metropolis, the Soard, 
 Clothing, and Training, near 100 qualified Teachers, 
 and the many thousands now educating through Mr. 
 Lancaster's exertions in the country, to which also must 
 be added, the full establishment of a system, which may 
 be made effective to the instruction of hundreds of 
 thousands, and thereby contribute to the National pros- 
 perity. 
 
 On the motion of the Duke of Sussex, and seconded 
 by the Duke of Kent, 
 
 Resolved, That the Thanks of this Meeting be given 
 to those Noblemen and Gentlemen who have undertaken 
 to act as a Committee in aid of the Finances of this In- 
 stitution. 
 
 Resolved, That these Resolutions be published. 
 
 (Signed) BEDFORD.