THE NATIONAL SCHOOL.
It appears that amongst the ancients a system of national education was considered as essentially necessary towards the well-being of the community, and highly conducive to train a citizen from birth to maturity, in such a manner, that he might be prepared to perform the civil duties of his station, and assist in the defence of his country: hence the histories of Persia, of Greece, and of Rome, clearly prove, that so long as this system, under certain modifications, continued general and operation in these countries, they were safe; the magistrate was incorruptible—the citizen was virtuous. The clergy of the established church, in this country, were not unacquainted with this fact, and to provide the like security for England, they, in conjunction with other influential individuals, succeeded in establishing National Schools, where the children of the poor are admitted at such an age when their minds are most susceptible of those impressions which are necessary to the formation of a good and useful character.
The National School, for boys only, is situate on the south side of Chapelgate, and was erected in the year 1813; it is seventy-five feet nine inches in length, and thirty-nine feet nine inches in width, and is capable of accommodating 160 scholars. It was first opened on the 20th September, 1813, under the presidency of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for the purpose of promoting the education of the poor, in the principles of the Church of England, (on Dr. Bell’s system,) auxiliary to the National Society established in London, under the patronage of his present Majesty, then Prince of Wales. At this period and for some years afterwards, it was well supported by a long list of voluntary contributions; but latterly, from the deaths of subscribers, and other causes, the funds have been in a declining state, and without the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood come forward in its behalf, not only its success, but its duration will be extremely dubious. From the beneficial effects which have already been produced on the characters of several, who have now arrived at manhood, and who received their instruction under its roof, it is surely not too much to request,—and that most earnestly, that the charitable, and those who are favourable to ‘the ameliorating the conditions of the lower orders of society, will come forward in its behalf, remembering that the religious education of the poor tends to make them not only better men, and better subjects, but also better christians.
TREASURERS–- Sir W. B. Cooke, Bart. Childers, Foljambe,
and Parker.
SECRETARIES–- Rev. T. F. Beckwith, and Rev. William Mould.
MASTER–-Mr J. S. Piercy
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