PUBLIC CHARITIES.

CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ST. NICHOLAS.

This mode of benefiting mankind is the most laudable and substantial of almost all others. The primary intention of erecting charity schools was to defeat the pernicious effects of the seminaries set up by the papifts, during the short 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 such useful institutions, not only continued their afsistance when the fears of popery had subsided, but encreased their number and their means of support; and it reflects no small degree of luftre upon the times in which we live, that there is scarcely a town or village where we may not find charity schools, in which numbers of poor, fatherless, friendless orphans are carefully instructed in the most necessary branches of useful education.

This honourable and laudable foundation in St. Nicholas had its existence 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 shillings and fivepence, to the trustees in trust to herself for life, and after her death, for setting up a school 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 some trade or handicraft, or to fea, and have forty fhillings a piece for that purpose, with a Bible and Prayer-book bound together, a Whole Duty of Man, and Lewis's Explanation of the Catechism.

The girls are taught to read, write, sew, and knit, and then apprenticed out or put to service, and have twenty shillings allowed them, with the fame books as the boys.

The mafter's falary is twenty-five pounds per annum, and twenty shillings for coals. That of the mistress is ten pounds per annum, and ten shillings for coals.

The parishioners were so well pleased with the usefulness of this foundation, and the progress made by the scholars, that they entered into an annual fubscription to cloath, decently, the children of the school.

Liberal and ample acceffions were made to this endowment from various quarters.

A. D. 1723, Mr. Gilbert Campbell, innholder, left by will the sum of twenty pounds, and Mr. Samuel Nichols, organist, ten pounds, to be put out at intereft for the benefit of this school.

Mrs. Chisholm, relict of the reverend Mr. Chifholm, of Wooler, bequeathed it for ever the interest of five hundred pounds.

A. D. 1738, John Hewit, goldsmith, 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, esq. of Newcastle, gave in perpetuity fifty pounds to the corporation, for the annual payment of twenty shillings to the charity school of St. Nicholas, and twenty shillings to the prisoners in Newgate, to be made seven days before Christmas 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 inftitution.

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 discovered till after the death of that worthy character, Mr. John Ord, who was the person, and who had entrusted the late Dr. Thomlinfon alone with the secret. 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-street Gate. The close 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 interest for the benefit of St. John's charity school; and

an

an annual subscription of thirty-three pounds fourteen shillings is also raised for its maintenance.

There is likewise an anniversary sermon preached for the benefit of the school, which is generally pro-ductive.

The boys are annually cloathed, and have shoes and stockings twice a year.

The school-house was built and is kept in repair by the corporation. The master's salary is twentyfour pounds per annum, forty shillings for teaching the boys church mufic, and fixteen shillings 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 master for the school.

The private benefactions to this charity are :

CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ST. ANDREW.

The charity-school of this parish 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, son of the founder of the school, ordered cloathing for the scholars.

The master's falary is twenty pounds per annum. The patrons for choofing a master are, the vicar and the churchwardens of the parish.

A. D. 1792, a handsome school-house was built without Newgate, by subscription, for girls, and a gallery was alfo erected for them in the south porch of the church.

CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ALL-SAINTS.

This useful foundation was raised by a voluntary subscription, in the year 1709. It is for forty-one boys, and seventeen girls. The boys are taught to read, write, and cast accounts; the girls to read, write, knit, few, and make and mend their own cloaths.

The subscribers are very numerous, and many of the donations liberal and ample; but our limits preclude the insertion of all the names: among others,

This school stands 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 masters, and a great number of scholars.

SUNDAY