The history of the diffusion of the new doctrines respecting education, is the detail of his labours, privations, and benevolence. Generations unborn, while reading his life, will bless him, whose exertions of body and of mind, have made the light of science as accessible as the light of the sun.

The school which Mr. Lancaster had opened in the Boroughroad, continued for some years a private concern. Numbers were educated freely. Two benevolent persons, Mr. Thomas Sturge and Mr. Anthony Sterry paid for five or six children. But all this was of a private nature; and Mr. Lancaster gave the whole of the money to defray the expence of the first building, which the increasing number of the children made it expedient to erect. A second building was added, by the liberality of the Duke of Bedford and Lord Somerville; and about 1804 the institution was converted into á free school, for all who chose to attend. In order to extend the plan to a thousand children, a mortgage for 400l. was passed upon the premises.

It was Mr. Lancaster's earnest wish, to extend the benefits of his plan to every corner of the land. In the following year, accordingly, 400l. were raised, to train young men who might propagate the system. The King, who had inquired into its merits, gave it his liberal support, and other branches of the royal family followed his majesty's example.

While Mr. Lancaster was engaged in these benevolent projects, notwithstanding his frugality, economy, and self-denial, notwithstanding the profits of his printing press, and the gifts of individuals, the expence required to carry them into effect was so great, as to reduce him to extreme embarrassment. The sums expended in erecting buildings for training young men, the charge incurred in boarding them, the fruitless attempt to form village schoolmasters at Maiden Bradley, the impositions of some tradesmen, and the failure of a person who had undertaken to defray the expence of a school erected at Camberwell, involved Mr. Lancaster in a debt exceeding by 29497. the whole of his property. That he was brought thus to the verge of ruin, the ruin both of himself and his schemes, was not owing to his carelessness or extravagance. For the trustees, who examined into the state of his concerns, report, that when in 1808, they first examined into his affairs, and the nature of his embarrassments,

❝ they were exceedingly gratified to find that his debts originated from engagements entered into with different tradesmen, 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 for bricklayer, timber merchant, carpenter, type-founder, stationer, furniture, and other necessaries for such an establishment. They found, that although

there were at that time in the family twenty-four persons to be boarded, there was scarcely a debt owing to any butcher; for the family, during a considerable time, had only enjoyed the taste of butcher's meat, when an occasional donation at the school furnished them with 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, to whom there was a considerable debt owing, it must be mentioned, that when a degree of surprise was manifested, 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 left, I will give the half of it, to enable him to continue such beneficial exertions.Report, pp. 24, 25.

There were many persons no less generous and benevolent than this baker, and, happily for the community, the attention of a few of them was attracted toward Mr. Lancaster's affairs. Of these, the most distinguished is Mr. Joseph Fox, who, deeply convinced of the merit of the new system, resolved, at great hazard to himself, to preserve its promoter from threatened ruin. To ward off immediate danger, he gave bills to the amount of 3600l. which he punctually paid, and together with Mr. Jackson, M. P., Mr. William Allen, Mr. Corston, Mr. Sturge, and Mr. Foster, undertook the management of Mr. Lancaster's pecuniary concerns. The large sum advanced by Mr. Fox, was partly repaid. In order to provide for the current expences, these generous men, by soliciting their friends, obtained 4000l. by way of loan, for the support of the institution; and in addition to the time and labour which they have employed, to an incredible degree, in promoting the good work, they have advanced, at different times and in various proportions, nearly 60001.

Mr. Lancaster had already given instruction to thousands of poor children, trained young men capable of conducting similar institutions to that of the Borough-road, and established several in different districts. It was impossible that so much good should be done without alarming the ignorant and bigoted classes of society. Some were enemies of the education of the poor altogether. Others thought Mr. Lancaster carried his project too far, and imagined that no small mischief would ensue from teaching them to cypher: and others were sure that, being a Quaker, his exertions must be dangerous to the established religion. Mrs. Trimmer, a lady who had deserved well of the public by writing little books for children, first gavethe alarm. She prophecied many evils to society, and to religion, especially that by law established, as the consequence of encouraging Mr. Lancaster's schemes. Though she was heard but with little attention, Mr. Archdeacon Daubeny caught the sound. He exhibited Mr. Lancaster as the tool of Deists, and his plan as 'deism under the imposing

guise of philanthropy, making a covert approach to the fortress of Christianity.' The clamour, however, of this noisy person, made little impression. Mr. Lancaster published a confession of his faith sufficiently ample and satisfactory. Though it was industriously and maliciously reported, that the King had withdrawn his subscription, he yet, it evidently appeared, steadily continued his patronage. From a man, therefore, whose faith in the Christian doctrines was so unquestionable, it was pretty generally thought, religion had nothing to fear and much to expect: nor couid a plan, which his Majesty, after mature deliberation, had encouraged by his cordial approbation and firm support, be fraught with much danger to the national church. The education of the poor. appeared, therefore, to be a great and desirable good, which Mr. Lancaster's inventions powerfully tended to promote. The clamours and invectives and calumnies of Mr. Lancaster's enemies having failed of their desired effect, a new expedient was devised; and since the poor, it was plain, must be taught, a person was to be found, who might incorporate the national creed with his system of instruction. To the laborious and successful instructor of the poor, whose progress, as he did not train them in the principles either of Churchmen or Dissenters, could not fail, it was concluded, to be destructive of our religious polity, a rival must be set up and encouraged. For this purpose, several circumstances strongly recommended Dr. Bell. He was the cordial friend of the Church. Part of the new system, at least, was of his invention. Something had been done, in 1798, to model, upon his plan, the charity-school of St. Botolph, Aldgate, and in the following year, the Kendal schools of industry were established on the same plan. He had, indeed, for eight years after the publication of his pamphlet, lived in retirement, leaving his doctrines silently to make their way among the wise and benevolent. But, in 1806, he complied with an invitation from the trustees of the parochial school, Whitechapel, to assist them in reducing his theory to practice in that charity, which in two months was fit to be exhibited as a sample. of the Madras system. He gave his time and labour gratis, and the worthy trustees took the opportunity to express their high and grateful sense of the inestimable service he has rendered to mankind, and particularly his benevolent and indefatigable attention to the organizing of this institution.' The charity schools of Lambeth and Mary-le-bone, and also the Royal Military Asylum at Chelsea, were re-modelled according to Dr. Bell's directions. This excellent person, therefore, seemed very fit to take the business of education out of Mr. Lan caster's hands; and, accordingly, those who had heretofore

declaimed against Mr. Lancaster, began to try their laudatory powers upon Dr. Bell.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lancaster's pecuniary affairs being entirely managed by the benevolent individuals already mentioned, he was left at liberty to pursue measures for diffusing the benefits of his system, which he did with redoubled zeal and alacrity. In the three years, ending 1809, he made twelve journies, in all 3,062 miles-delivered seventy-four lectures-and established forty-five schools, at which 11,300 children received instruc tion. From this account it will be concluded that it is very easy to multiply Lancasterian schools, and that there must be a great facility in providing instructors. This, indeed, appears to be so striking a feature in the new system, that our readers will be much pleased in reading the following passage, which sets its resources for indefinite multiplication in a most advantageous and affecting light.

A great number of persons have been instructed in the system at the Royal Free School. By many of these its benefits have been diffused over the nation. From this centre, instruction to the poor has flowed through the empire, and continues to do so with more advantage than

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During a severe illness, which in 1809, confined me to my bed some weeks at Bristol, the master of that school, who had been educated from an early age in my own, attended me in all my painful illness, with the most filial affection. A boy only thirteen years of age, kept school for him with so great success, that when my recovery enabled me to return to town, being in a feeble state, I required the master to accompany me, and during a week's absence, this lad was sole governor of the school. This boy had obtained his knowledge of reading, 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 monitor-general. The committee visited the school in the master's absence, and found this excellent lad, tổ 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, I returned 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 conduct. He received his prize with joy amidst the plaudits of eight hundred persons, among whom his father and mother were not the least happy; and who but for 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 Bristol for twelve months; after which I received him home to the Borough. In a short time he was placed as master at a school at Southgate, built and supported by my friend, John Walker, Esq. to extend the blessing of education to the poor children in that neighbourhood; my worthy friend speaks in the most pleasing manner of

the ability and good conduct of this amiable and excellent boy. In this statement is the pleasing history of a boy, whose talents would have most likely been buried under the rubbish of ignorance, had not the facilities of this system developed them; this, however, is but one proof of many which might be adduced of the good done by it. An ignorant lad comes to school in 1807, in about two years after he is able to conduct the institution in which he obtained his learning; in three years, after a little instruction in the Borough Road, he proves himself qualified to conduct a large school, to the satisfaction 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 Southwark; 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 dinner:" 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 habitua! depression. The close of the year before last he was sent into 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 children; 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 1000 children, which number is likely to be doubled in the ensuing summer, many persons of influence in that part of the country, having been convinced of the great good to be obtained by the universal 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 Mann, Bart. the President, speak highly of the state of the school and conduct of the master.

An excellent lad, net 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 precedent, 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 Chichester, about eighteen, will soon have 300. These facts prove, that this system possesses 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 Somerset for his excellent conduct and usefulness. After this, he organized schools in Liverpool and several other places with reputation and credit. He some time ago settled in Birmingham with a school of 400 children, which it is hoped will soon be extended to a thousand.'

In 1810 Mr. Lancaster's exertions far exceeded those of any former year. He made seven journies, f all 3,775 miles, de