Revd. Thomas Corresponding Members. Ellis, B.D., Flint, Senior Fellow of Jes. Col. Rev. Evan Jenkin Evans, Cardigan, Curate of Manafon, Mont Rev. Peter Owen Revd. Hugh Revd. Gronow Thomas Revd. Thomas Revd. William gomery. Evans, Denbigh, Rector of Harlington, Hants. Holland, of Plas Isaf in Conway, Caernarvonshire, Esq. Jones, Rector of Bodffari, Denbighshire. Jones, Curate of Bewmares, Anglesey. Morris, Comptroller of the Customs, and Col- Pennant, of Downing, Flintshire, Esq., F.A.S. Honorary Members. John Bevis, M.D., Fellow of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Berlin, Red-Lion Street, Clerkenwell. John Warburton, Esq., F.R.S., Somerset Herald, Heraldry Office. THE Treasurer and Trustees of The SOCIETY for supporting a CHARITY SCHOOL, for the Instructing, Cloathing, and putting forth Apprentice poor Children descended of Welsh Parents, born in or near London, who have no Parochial Settlement here; Humbly conceiving, that if the State of the said Charity was more generally known, it would induce many well-disposed Persons to lend their Assistance in Support of so good a Work; have therefore thought proper to publish the following Account of the same. About the year 1718, a few Worthy, Public-Spirited Gentlemen of the Principality of Wales, observing that many Children born of poor Parents in and near London, were not intitled to any Parochial Settlement, and consequently had no Opportunity of being instructed in the Principles of Christianity, (to the gross Ignorance of which, Idleness, Debauchery, and all Vices are chiefly owing) formed themselves into an Amicable Society, and enter'd into a Voluntary Subscription for the Setting up and Supporting a School in London, for the Instructing, Cloathing, and putting forth Appren tice poor Children descended of Welsh Parents, born in or near London, as aforesaid, and having no Parochial Settlement. Having thus laid a Foundation, they proceeded to put in Execution their so well-designed Charity; and their first laudable Step was to fix on a sober, discreet and capable Master, who was directed, that at the same Time he was making the poor Children good Christians, and loyal and useful Subjects, he should carefully inculcate that great Lesson prescribed by our SAVIOUR of True Humility; thereby instructing them in the Duties of Servants, and Obedience and Submission to Superiors; as by that Means they would be made willing, as well as fit to be employed, not only in Trades and Services, but also in Husbandry, Navigation, or any other Business of most Use and Benefit to the Public. The Subscriptions at first being too small to answer any great Expence, the Society were obliged to take a Room near Hatton-Garden, and to permit only Twelve poor Children to be taken in upon the Establishment; until their charitable Designs became better known, and the Subscriptions increased. The Resolution and Perseverance with which this charitable Institution was carried on in the Beginning, but more especially the worthy Examples of the Gentlemen concerned, soon induced many well disposed Christians, as well Countrymen as others, to promote it, by either becoming themselves or getting their Friends to be Annual Subscribers, or giving temporary Benefactions: And thereupon the Society immediately resolved, that the Number of poor Children upon the Establishment should be agreeable to their first Plan, which were Forty; and to take a commodious Room for the present, till they were enabled to build a School, for the better carrying on their pious Design. In this State the Charity went on for some Years, and with great Pleasure the Society saw it answer many of the good Purposes for which it was established: Many helpless Children not only found present Relief by this Charity, but were put in the Way to escape the Corruptions that are in the World, and to become useful Members of the Community. -They now imagin'd, that if a School was erected on purpose for these poor Children, it would be a Means of making their good Designs more public, and might probably recommend the Charity to the farther Notice of their welldisposed Countrymen and others, among both the Nobility and Gentry. In the Year 1737 therefore the Society began a Subscription for erecting a new School-House; in which they were generously assisted (to their Honour be it spoken) by several Noble and Worthy Persons of the Principality of Wales, as also by many other charitable Gentlemen and Ladies; to all whom, for their respective Benefactions, the TREASURER and TRUSTEES, in the Name of the whole SOCIETY, beg leave to return their sincere Thanks. The Subscription thus begun, the Society still hoping that in so charitable an undertaking they should be liberally assisted, fixed upon a Piece of Ground on Clerkenwell-Green, belonging to an Honourable Gentleman, (whose Favours are hereby gratefully acknowledged) and contracted with a Builder to erect a School; which, when finished, and the Account of the Building, and the Amount of Subscriptions towards the said School laid before the Society, they, with great Concern, found a Deficiency of above 3407. And though this great Debt has since been discharged by the Bounty of several worthy Benefactors, and the Generosity of their late Treasurer Mr. Ynyr Lloyd, who gave 1007. on an |