of assisting in the discharge of her ordinary duties, but to aid in inculcating sentiments of piety and virtue, an essential part of the design of the institution. Sixty children were in a short time received into the school. The institution depends upon subscription of one dollar annually, and upon occasional donations and legacies, for its support. Of the latter it has received two, one of $266 66, from the estate of the late Miss Ann Smith, one of the original founders of the society, and another of $200, from the late Miss E. C. Budd. The school is now held back of the Second Presbyterian church. and More than 300 children have been taught to read, write and sew; have committed to memory.large portions of holy Scripture, many devout hymns, have been instructed in such catechism as was most approved of by their parents. In 1805-6 and 7, the receipts were $1576 11 1174 34 $401 77 The society was incorporated in 1808. Its title is, "The Philadelphia Union Society, for the Education of Poor Female Children." President-Mrs. M. M'Mullin, 114, S. Front st. Secretary-Miss H. Ord, 354, Treasurer-Miss Eliza Hall, do. 71, High street. 5. St. Joseph's Society. This society is composed of members of the Roman Catholic persuasion, and was instituted not only for educating, but maintaining poor orphan children. It was incorporated in 1807. The capital is $4,397 90. Fifteen orphan children were clothed, schooled, and relieved while sick, during the year ending the 19th of March last, 1811. President-Right Rev. Bishop Egan. Vice President-Edward Carrell. Treasurer-James O'Ellers. 6. Adelphi School. This establishment was formed in 1807; and the society incorporated in 1808, under the title of "The Philadelphia Association of Friends, for the Instruction of Poor Children." The plan of instruction is that of Lancaster, but improved. The corporation consists of no more than 45 persons, and they must be of the society of Friends. The affairs of the society are managed by twelve directors, a treasurer and clerk, appointed annually. The managers superintend the schools, provide for their accommodation, and employ teachers. The school opened on the 11th of January, 1808. In settling the mode of conducting the school, much information was obtained in consequence of a visit paid by several of the members, with the tutor, to a school of the same kind previously established in the city of New York, and from reading Lancaster's book. The school is now held in a house, 70 feet front by 35 feet deep, and is calculated to contain, in two rooms, 600 scholars. The number at present (July 1811) is about 200, whose progress will bear a comparison with that of other schools. It is calculated that the annual expense of the school, including teacher's salary, fire wood, stationary, &c. will amount to the sum of 1200 dollars, or at the rate of four dollars a year for each scholar. This calculation, however, is founded upon the supposition of the full compliment of pupils being made up, to wit, 300. No children under five, nor more than thirteen years old, are taken. Those who choose to pay for their children, may have them admitted upon paying one dollar for each child, quarterly. Subscribers paying four dollars annually, or upwards, are authorised to recommend any number of suitable objects, who will be taken on the lists of applicants, and admitted according to priority, as vacancies occur. Fifty dollars entitle a person to the privilege of an annual contributor for life. The managers avoid inculcating particular tenets of religion: "but enforce, with all reasonable and practicable assiduity, the laws of morality, and obligations of virtue:" and though they consider themselves enjoined to embrace every suitable occasion to imbue the minds of the children, with a just and solemn sense of their religious duties, as derived from the gospel, yet it is their design to confine themselves to its most obvious truths, according to their generally received acceptation. The Bible is the only religious book taught in the school. The school is built upon part of two lots in Peg's street, Northern Liberties, presented to the society. by William Sansom and Thomas Scattergood. The association have published," A Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Adelphi School," containing also rules for its government, bye laws, names of contributors, and a sketch of the mode of education adopted in the school, which may be had by application to any of the managers. Managers-John Paul, John C. Evans, David Jones, Clement Biddle, jun. Isaac Donaldson, Samuel Haydock, James P. Parke, Roberts Vaux, Reuben Haines, Charles Allen, Robert Smith, jun. Benjamin Ferris. Roberts Vaux, Secretary to the Board. James P. Parke, Recorder of Admissions. Clerk of the Association-Elihu Pickering. Besides the above schools for the gratuitous education of poor children, there are a number of other schools, belonging to different religious societies. Thus, the Friends have several schools belonging to their corporation,* from the foundation of which, part of their funds have been devoted to the free education of poor children of all denominations. For many years past, and at present, one hundred scholars annually, of that description, derive the benefit of its patronage. The funds of the school corporation have been increased by the bequests of several members of the society; among whom, the late alderman Carter deserves to be particularly noticed. The United Episcopal Churches have one free school, consisting of 60 boys; and one, of about 40° girls. The second Presbyterian Church has one free school. The German Lutherans have six schools, in some of which boys and girls are taught together, and in some separately. The German language is taught in all, and the catechism of the church committed to memory; in some arithmetic is taught. An academy for teaching the learned languages was lately commenced by that society. The German Calvinists, or Reformed Church, have two schools; and the Catholics have two schools; in all of which, poor children, in membership with the several religious societies, are educated gratis. The University of * « Friend's Public Schools, founded by charter of Wm. Penn, in the town and county of Philadelphia, 1697." Pennsylvania also, has had a charitable school connected with that institution, since its foundation. Public Provision for Free Education. By a law, passed April 4, 1809, by the legislature of Pennsylvania, the poor were permitted to send their children to the most convenient school. The teacher of which is to present his bill to the county commissioners, who if they approve thereof, shall draw an order for the same upon the county treasurer for the amount. The price to be charged is to "be agreeably to the usual rates of charging for tuition in the said school." In the counties of the state, where the terms of tuition are moderate, this law has been found useful, but in Philadelphia, where the poor are numerous, and the price of teaching in some schools is high, the tax upon the city and county has been found enormously oppressive, and the law by no means productive of good proportioned thereto, as the following facts will shew. From the 1st of January to July 27, 1811, 1828 scholars have been educated, at an expense of $12,124, 27, which is at the rate of $11, 63 per scholar annually, while the expense of the charity school, in Walnut street, is only $5 81, and that of the Adelphi School is $4 per year. Schools for the Education of Blacks. The following schools have been instituted for the free education of blacks. In the year 1770, a school was established by the monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, under the tuition of a master, and superintended by a committee of said meeting. It was for many years supported by the voluntary contributions of Friends. |