PUBLIC CHARITIES. CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ST. NICHOLAS. This mode of benefiting mankind is the most laudable and fubftantial of almost all others. The primary intention of erecting charity schools was to defeat the pernicious effects of the feminaries fet up by the papifts, during the fhort and inglorious reign of that furious bigot, James II. about the year 1688. But the power of Rome, by the glorious revolution, falling into contempt, the generous and humane, perceiving the happy effects of fuch ufeful inftitutions, not only continued their affiftance when the fears of popery had fubfided, but encreased their number and their means of fupport; and it reflects no finall degree of luftre upon the times in which we live, that there is fcarcely a town or village where we may not find charity schools, in which numbers of poor, fatherlefs, friendlefs orphans are carefully inftructed in the most neceffary branches of ufeful education. This honourable and laudable foundation in St. Nicholas had its exiftence from the pious benevolence of a worthy lady, Mrs. Eleanor Allan, of Newcastle, who founded this school February 20th, 1705, for the education of forty boys and twenty girls, born in the parish, and in the chapelry of St. John. Effectually to endow this charity, Mrs. Allan, by her deed of gift, dated as above, affigned a farmhold and tenant-right in Wall's End, of the yearly value of fixty-one pounds nineteen fhillings and five pence, pence, to the trustees in truft to herself for life, and after her death, for fetting up a fchool for teaching forty boys and twenty girls, in the faid parish of St. Nicholas. The boys are taught reading, writing, and accompts, and after that are put out by the truftees to fome trade or handicraft, or to fea, and have forty fhillings a piece for that purpofe, with a Bible and Prayer-book bound together, a Whole Duty of Man, and Lewis's Explanation of the Catechifi. The girls are taught to read, write, few, and knit, and then apprenticed out or put to fervice, and have twenty fhillings allowed them, with the fame books as the boys. The mafter's falary is twenty-five pounds per annum, and twenty fhillings for coals. That of the mistress is ten pounds per annum, and ten fhillings for coals. The parishioners were fo well pleased with the usefulness of this foundation, and the progrefs made by the scholars, that they entered into an annual fubfcription to cloath, decently, the children of the fchool. Liberal and ample acceffions were made to this endowment from various quarters. A. D. 1723, Mr. Gilbert Campbell, innholder, left by will the fum of twenty pounds, and Mr. Samuel Nichols, organift, ten pounds, to be put out at intereft for the benefit of this fchool. Mrs. Chisholm, relict of the reverend Mr. Chif holm, of Wooler, bequeathed it for ever the interest of five hundred pounds. A. D. 1738, John Hewit, goldfinith, left it by will the fum of two hundred and fifty pounds, which was was lent to the corporation of Newcastle, at four per cent. John Fenwick, efq. of Newcastle, gave in perpetuity fifty pounds to the corporation, for the annual payment of twenty fhillings to the charity school of St. Nicholas, and twenty fhillings to the prifoners in Newgate, to be made feven days before Chriftmas for ever. A. D. 1786, the corporation of Newcastle built a new charity school for this parish in Manor-chare. It has a fine front towards the street, well lighted and aired, having more the appearance of the dwellinghouse of fome wealthy family, than that of a seminary for charity children. The more credit is due on that account to the worthy patrons of the institution. ST. JOHN'S CHARITY-SCHOOL. This was founded and endowed in the year 1705; but the name of the munificent founder was then unknown; nor was it difcovered till after the death of that worthy character, Mr. John Ord, who was the perfon, and who had entrusted the late Dr. Thomlinfon alone with the fecret. This gentleman did not disclose it, agreeable to his engagement, till after Mr. Ord's decease. This charity school is for forty-four boys, but no girls. For its fupport Mr. Ord bequeathed a large field, called Great Magdalen-clofe, or Mill-clofe, without Pilgrim-treet Gate. The clofe was let in Mr. Bourne's time at twenty-five pounds per annum, but probably lets now at double that fum. In the year 1707, Mrs. Margaret Allgood, widow, bequeathed one hundred pounds to be put out at intereft for the benefit of St. John's charity school; and an an annual fubfcription of thirty-three pounds fourteen fhillings is alfo raised for its maintenance. There is likewife an anniversary fermon preached for the benefit of the fchool, which is generally pro-ductive. The boys are annually cloathed, and have fhoes and ftockings twice a year. The fchool-houfe was built and is kept in repair by the corporation. The mafter's falary is twentyfour pounds per annum, forty fhillings for teaching the boys church mufic, and fixteen fhillings a year for paper, pens, and ink. The patrons of the school are, the heir of Mr. Ord, the mayor of Newcastle, the vicar, the lecturers of All-Saints, St. John's, and St. Andrew's, or any five of them, to choose a mafter for the school. The private benefactions to this charity are: CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ST. ANDREW. The charity-fchool of this parifh was founded by ir William Blackett, baronet. It is for thirty boys, and was first opened in the year 1708. A. D. 1719, Sir William Blackett, baronet, fon of the founder of the school, ordered cloathing for the scholars. The master's falary is twenty pounds per annum. The patrons for choosing a master are, the vicar and the churchwardens of the parish. A. D. 1792, a handsome school-houfe was built without Newgate, by fubfcription, for girls, and a gallery was alfo erected for them in the fouth porch of the church. CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ALL-SAINTS. This ufeful foundation was raised by a voluntary fubfcription, in the year 1709. It is for forty-one boys, and feventeen girls. The boys are taught to read, write, and caft accounts; the girls to read, write, knit, few, and make and mend their own cloaths. The fubfcribers are very numerous, and many of the donations liberal and ample; but our limits preclude the infertion of all the names: among others, This fchool ftands at the east end of Sandgate, in the corner of the field adjacent to the chapel. It is a large, airy, light room; has two mafters, and a great number of fcholars. SUNDAY |