and is divided into districts. Treasurer, Mr. H. P. Fleetwood, at the Bank; secretary, Mr. W. Slater, at Mr. Horrocks's yard warehouse. The rules and cases are regularly printed, with the reports of the different states of poverty coming under the eye of the institution, and a list of the benefactors and subscribers annexed.

CATHOLIC CHARITABLE SOCIETY.

The Catholic Charitable Society began their benevolent career on the 6th day of June, 1731, and continue to dispense their bounty to the poor and necessitous quarterly, at the house of Mr. Richard Shepherd, the White Hart, Gin-bow-entry. They are governed by rules set forth under the auspices of the Reverend the Catholic Clergymen of the town.

There are various other societies similar in tendency to these we have just stated.

VACCINATION.

Vaccination is now practised with great success, by Mr. Thos. Lodge, honorary and corresponding member of the London Vaccine Institution, also by other respectable surgeons resident in the town.

Wm. St. Clare, M. D. who is now got into years, has laboured much for the comfort of his fellow-creatures, and deserves, for his charitable services, a vote of thanks from the community at large.

ALMS HOUSES.

"Oh take me to your hospitable dome!

Short is my passage to the friendly tomb,
For I am poor and miserably old.”

The Alms-houses existed in their full splendour in 1291, and were contemporaries with the religious hospital extant at that time.-Vide the Lincoln taxation book for further particulars. They were erected at the end of four different streets, viz. Friergate, Churchgate, Fishergate, and Wilfrid-street (now called Church-wiend,) leading to Tythe-barn-street. A vestige of these Alms-houses may be seen at the present day, consisting of three dwellings for decrepid old men and women, and are behind what is termed Seth German's glazing-shop, (now used by Mr. Kilner, chair-maker,) but they are totally neglected, and going fast to decay. Alms-houses stood formerly where Blelock's malt-kiln

now stands (formerly called Alms-house-lane, and Brewery-lane,) at the top of Mount-street. The present House of Correction now stands where Alms-houses stood, containing sixteen dwellings; which are now placed in the road leading to the work-house, consisting of only five dwellings; upon the front of which, engraven on stone, the following inscription occurs :-"These Alms-houses erected at the expense of the Corporation, in the year 1790, during the Mayoralty of Edw. Pedder, Esq."

It is very probable that Spittals-moss was property belonging to either the Hospital or Alms-houses. The word Spittal is derived from the Teutonic, signifying Alms property; but this property, left for eleemosynary purposes, seems to have been lost to these institutions during the civil convulsions which have taken place since the days of Henry the 8th.

WORK HOUSE, &c.

"Man wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long."

This white edifice stands upon Preston moor, on the left hand side leading to the race course, is built in an airy and healthful situation, very commodious, and has the appearance of a country seat; it is subject to a governor, and committee, who regulate the internal business with economy and cleanliness. Divine service is regularly performed once a week here, by our worthy curate, the Rev. M. Mark. The former work-house stood near Syke-hill, and may still be seen; it is now converted into private dwelling houses.

A general vestry was held on Tuesday the 31st of October, 1820, when the Rev. R. C. Wilson, A. M. vicar of the parish, chairman, reported that the select vestry for managing the affairs of the poor, had, within the short space of six months, not only redeemed the

town from debt, but had enabled the acting overseers to deposit more than one thousand pounds in the bank, and to reduce the quarterly poors' rate from 1s. 3d. to 9d. in the pound.

Poor-office, and Vagrant-office, in Church-street. Overseers,Messrs. Robinson, Walker, and Ellerthorpe.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE are three public schools, together with ladies and gentlemen's boarding schools (which will be enumerated in their due place,) and other seminaries of minor importance, within the town. We ought to regard all public and private schools as nurseries of men for the service of the church or state, and those for the softer sex as nurseries of piety and virtue; these tend to raise the mind to its due perfection, and give it a taste for those solid enjoyments which afford the highest transport, without the grossness of remorse which attend vulgar enjoyments. Education when it works upon a mind fraught with virtue, draws out to perfect view every dawning virtue and perfection, which, without such means, are never able to make their appearance. Ladies and gentlemen's seminaries (or boarding schools,) have considerably augmented, of late years, in this pleasant and improving town; a more salubrious situation could not be found than this place and neighbourhood, for the general purposes of educating youth; its public walks and society are, every way, calculated to ensure the permanency of these establishments.

FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AND OTHERS.

"The first great step to the cultivation of the understanding is to get a habit of study." The Grammar school of Preston is situated at Syke-hill, bottom of Stonygate, for teaching the higher branches of classical education, and is patronised by the Corporation, who pay the salaries to the masters; and probably was founded by them. The head master receives £45. and the second master £40. per annum. Mr. B. Worthington left a field, or enclosure, for the benefit of the head master, which is now built upon, and produces £50. per annum for ground rents. The school is open for boys from all parts,

without restriction, except those boys who are not the sons of freemen of the borough, who usually pay by the quarter, but this is now nearly extinct. Boys are admitted at the discretion of the masters, about seven years of age, and are not liable to superannuation. Number of scholars generally average forty. The present masters are the Rev. Robert Harris, B. D. curate of St. George's chapel, head master, whose salary is in all £100. per annum, exclusive of the compliments paid him at Shrovetide, by the boys under his more particular care. The other parts of education are under the conduction of the Rev. John Harrison, curate of Grimsargh chapel, and lecturer to the Penitentiary house in the town.

There was a Blue Charity school, in Midsprit-wiend, endowed by Mr. Roger Sudell, in 1701, which has been recently annexed to the National school. This institution, as well as another, upon similar principles, attached to Trinity church, are conducted upon the Madras, or Bell's system, which it is hoped, in process of time, will superscede the old method of Education. The one at Trinity church was established by means of the Rev. E. Law, A. M. who laboured hard for its endowment and perpetuity.

The Wesleyan Methodists have an extensive room immediately under their chapel, the (entrance out of Fox-street,) well lighted, and supported inside by slender columns, and used as a Sunday. school. They have a library for the purpose of circulation, consisting of books and tracts; this tends much to facilitate the progress of their scholars in the art of reading and moral improvement. Many individuals, of both sexes, give their attention gratis to this laudable institution.

There are other Sunday Schools established, where the children receive every attention from the different teachers, who volunteer their services on this occasion. Adult schools are in existence,

for both sexes, and are well attended.

:

There are five ladies' boarding schools in the town, viz. :-Mrs. Godfrey's, Mrs. Yeats's, Miss Cole's, Misses Jones', Miss Yarnold's; and two for the education of young gentlemen, viz:the Rev. Wm. Hope's classical, mathematical, and commercial academy, (who succeeded the Rev. E. Chadwick.) Mr. Hope has enjoyed the advantages of a full and regular attendance at one of the first Universities in the kingdom; his course of instruction includes English grammar, elocution, composition, and the ele

H

ments of mental philosophy; the Greek and Roman classics; a complete course of mathematics, and the elements of practical and theoretical astronomy; terms £30. per annum for board and education. This school is below Lord Derby's house, pleasantly situated, and very salubrious, having a large space of land behind, for the purposes of recreation, and stands on the north side of Church-street, lighted by 14 windows to the front, with an open space, gateway, and pallisading. The Rev. R. Harris, B. D. takes young gentlemen to board and educate at his own house, adjoining the Free school. The Rev. Joseph Selkirk, curate of Balderstone, has a classical and commercial academy, in Lune-street, for the education of young gentlemen, which seems to be well attended. The Rev. T. Pearson, curate of St. Paul's, also keeps a school for the general purposes of education. The Rev. R. Cree, Churchstreet, near the Unitarian chapel, keeps a school adapted for the purposes of giving a finished education to young gentlemen, in the different branches of the English and French languages. Mr. Patenôtre teaches the French language, in the town, and resides in Lune-street. Mr. Sedgwick has an excellent school, for educating youth, in a room under the Free-school, Stonygate; he teaches also at some of the boarding schools in the town. Mr. Leigh's academy, in Cannon-street, ought not to be forgotten; this young man deserves well of society, by his efforts in teaching the classics to his young pupils; many of whom are well versed in the English and Latin Grammar.

Preston is pleasantly situated for the purposes of educating youth, the air being so salubrious, its standing upon a commanding eminence, its walks, its views, its river, all cause admiration in visitors, who say that Preston is a town well calculated for the purposes of education.

NATIONAL SCHOOL.

"To profit by study, we should determine to possess."

At a numerous and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of Preston and its vicinity, friends to the Established religion, held at Dr. Shepherd's library, on Good Friday, 1814, Rich. Newsham, Esq. in the chair, on the motion of the Rev. R. Harris, it was unanimously resolved,

"1st. That it is expedient to found, without delay, a school