BY GEORGE GRIFFITH, Author of "The Free Schools of Worcestershire," "The Free Schools, &c., of Staffordshire," LONDON: WILLIAM TWEEDIE, 337, STRAND. STAFFORD HILL AND HALDEN. AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. Dedication. TO THE RIGHT HON. HENRY LORD BROUGHAM AND VAUX. MY LORD, In dedicating the following pages to your Lordship, I need scarcely say that there is no person more conversant with the past and present state of the Endowed Schools, Colleges, and Hospitals of the United Kingdom than yourself. But on the other hand, the general public are not aware that your Lordship was the originator of the Charity Commissions; the publication of whose investigations in Blue Book Reports places within everyone's reach an authentic History of each and every Endowment in the kingdom. On every opportunity, and in all places, you have now, for more than half a century, advocated the reform of these Endowments, and their restoration to the use of the middle and working classes. Nevertheless, few and far between have been the reforms effected; and the continual patching, by the passing of Act after Act without producing any permanently good results, shows that unless locally governed they will still be what most of them ever have been-sinecures and perversions. Hoping that public attention will be more drawn to this great question, I beg to dedicate this volume to your Lordship; ' And remain, with great respect, MY LORD, Your Lordship's most obedient and devoted servant, MAY-DAY, 1861. GEORGE GRIFFITH. |