things; but of the success of his earnest and constant endeavors to impress on his pupils the important truths contained in the sacred volume the Editors have witnessed far more than a solitary instance: they have now in their employ, persons reared both in the Upper and the Lower Schools, on whose faithfulness and in tegrity they can rely with the utmost confidence. The number of children now in the Upper Orphan School are 109, of whom 72 are Female Orphans. Those in the Lower School are 526,of whom 315 are Females.

3. The Calcutta Free School.

This School has the honor of being the fruit of the first ema nation of general benevolence manifested relative to the education of youth at this Presidency. It was founded about seven years after the Military Orphan School. It might indeed have been expected that after the example set them, nothing would be wanting to call forth the benevolence of the whole community beyond the mere occasion. This however was not soon furnished. Though no provision was as yet made for the support and instruction of indigent Christian children in general, Mr. Kiernander had long supported a school, partly by contributions, and partly by his own exer tions, which might probably render the need of a permanent insti tution of this nature less apparent. There appears also to have been from a very remote period, another school for the instruction and support of Twenty Boys, as may be seen by a letter on that subject from the late Charles Weston, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Hays then Clerk of the Vestry, given in a valuable work by "Asiaticus," to which we have been greatly indebted. From this letter we learn, that a charity of this kind had existed as early as the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty, or even forty-five. The school was held in the Old Court House, then the property of the charity. Its fun ds as it confined itself strictly to the number mentioned, ultimate

* See page 7, No. I.

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ly increased to a great extent, partly from money paid by Surajah Dowlah as a compensation for the destruction of the Old Church in 1756, from legacies,—from annual subscriptions and donations, -and from a monthly rent of 800 rupees generously paid the charity by Government for occupying the Old Court House. As the Charity however was still considered as sacred to twenty boys, it by no means met the general necessity, which, from the increase of the Christian part of the population, became too evident long to escape the notice of the humane.

In 1789 therefore, about two years after the decline, and pos sibly the extinction, of Mr. Kiernander's school, proposals were issued for the establishment of a new Institution, which were met with so much ardor by the public, that in a few weeks a fund of Twenty-six Thousand Rupees was raised, in addition to a monthly Subscription of above a Thousand Rupees. This Institution Earl Cornwallis himself encouraged by a donation of Two Thousand Rupees, and by condescending to become its Patron. He was se conded in the most generous manner by Mr. Titsingh, the Governor of Chinsurah, who, in a Tetter addressed to the Committee, begged their acceptance of a Thousand Rupees with his earnest wishes, that the Institution might be productive of "deserving citizens, meritorious members of society, and subjects who should do honor to mankind." In the beginning of the year 1790 the old Calcutta Charity identified itself and its funds with the new In stitution; the funds of which alone were so increased by June that year, as to amount to nearly Sixty Thousand Rupees, and when augmented by those of the old Charity, they exceeded Three Hundred Thousand Rupees. In the year 1795 the school was fixed at the house in Jaun Bazar, which in the first purchase and in subsequent additions and alterations, had in 1803 cost the Institution 56,000 Rupees.

This important Institution is now under the immediate Pa tronage and Superintendance of the Right Reverend the Lord Bi

shop of Calcutta, from whose active care, assisted by that of the Vestry, it derives essential advantage. It has, in its operation, been a public benefit to the settlement, many a helpless youth having been reared and educated here, who must otherwise have fallen a prey to ignorance and misery and it is still the only institution at the Presidency which gratuitously supports as well aș instructs Christian children without any regard to the occupation or profession of their parents. The labors of Mr. Hutteman therein for nearly the fourth of a century, will not be soon forgotten by those youth who enjoyed his mild and gentle, but affectionate instructions.

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There remain two more Institutions in Calcutta, due in their formation to the last century, which, if they do not come fully under the class of Institutions we are describing, are too impor tant to humanity to be passed over in silence. These are, the Native Hospital, and the Fund for the support of the necessitous..

4. The Hospital for Natives.

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This hospital, the first possibly that India ever saw for the re> lief of human sufferings, was planned in the year 1792, when proposals were published for erecting an hospital with a view to the relief of such Natives, as from accidents which their ignorance of surgery and anatomy rendered them incapable of retrieving, were liable to perish, or to become helpless for life. In a city like Calcutta, nothing could be more humane, and nothing more necessary. It is no wonder therefore that it immediately met the approbation of the highest ranks in society. The Marquis Cornwallis, with the Supreme Council, approved the plan, and generously aided it by a regular monthly allowance of Six Hundred Rupees. On the 31st of July, 1792, a general meeting of the Subscribers nominated Twelve Governors for the new Institution, of whom the Rev. Mr. Owen, to whose exertions it had

been highly indebted, was deservedly nominated the first. house was immediately opened in Chitpore road for the reception of patients, and soon after premises purchased in an airy situation in the Dhurrumtulla Road, and the present Hospital erected there. on; which, including the purchase of the ground, &c. cost the Institution Forty-one Thousand Rupees.

The benefits derived from this Institution by the Native part of the community have been exceedingly great. In the first eight years, of Eight Thousand Five Hundred patients, above Seven Thousand Five Hundred had been restored to society and to use ful labor; and the number in the last sixteen years has been far greater. Of this vast number, it is probable from the ignorance of the natives, that scarcely one fourth would have survived, -ex cept in a state of helplessness and pain almost equally terrible with death itself. Were it possible to extend Institutions of this nature throughout India, the aggregate benefit to the natives would al most exceed belief. Such an application of science and skill to the removal of misery from the natives, is worthy of a nation by Divine Providence elevated in Eastern Asia above all the rest of Europe.

5. The Fund for Distressed Europeans, and others.

The institution of this Fund for the relief of the Distressed, which is under the direction of the Select Vestry, closes the cen⚫ tury. It owes its origin almost wholly to the Rev. David Brown, then first Chaplain of the Presidency; and it arises from Sacramental collections, from occasional contributions, and from stated collections made at both churches on Christmas Day and on Easter Sunday. The value of this fund is very great. It affords a striking proof of the superiority of relieving distress by volunta ry contribution, to the plan of relieving it by rates often assessed on those who almost need relief themselves. It exalts chari

ty, while it lessens necessity. No one feels that he has an indubitable claim on this Fund: the idle and the extravagant cannot therefore depend on it as a certain resource in time of need, as its being granted is really optional, though humanity and wisdom render it almost certain in every case of real distress. The relief granted is therefore esteemed a favor, and hence the Fund constantly nourishes the finest feelings of the human mind, in the pity and tenderness with which it is imparted, and the gratitude with which it is received. Nor, should the necessities of the community increase, is any great diminution of these feelings to be anticipated. The consciousness that nothing can be de manded, will stimulate to exertion as far as found practicable, and excite gratitude for any degree of relief granted ; and on the other hand, should humanity require double or even treble the sum now annually contributed, this, while completely voluntary, will never be felt as an insupportable burden.

We have now traced to the close of the eighteenth century, the various attempts made at this Presidency for relieving misery, and dispelling ignorance, with the exception of ONE Institution, the fruit of the enlightened mind of Sir William Jones. For this, materials had been prepared, but it was found that to do justice in the slightest degree to the Asiatic Society, would occupy a disproportionate share of room in this little work. It is therefore reserv ed for a more suitable place. Of another century we have not yet seen a fifth part ;-and it is impossible to say what it may produce. What has already appeared, as far as propriety will permit its becoming at present the subject of narration, must be reserved for a future Number.

(To be continued.)