Free Schools

Foundation.

SCHOOL OF ARMAGH.

The Lands with which the School of Armagh is endowed, contain, as appears by of Royal the last survey, made in the year 1771, fifteen hundred and thirty Acres, English measure, including Roads, Lakes, Rivers, and also about one hundred Acres of Bog. The Lands are situate in the County of Armagh, between the towns of Newry and Armagh. It appears that these Lands produced, in the year 1804, the gross annual rent of eleven hundred and forty-four Pounds ten Shillings and five Pence Halfpenny; and that after making certain deductions, amounting to the sum of one hundred and sixty-nine Pounds seven Shillings and eight Pence (the particulars of which are sct forth in the Evidence of the Master of the School) the net annual Rent received by the present Master, was nine hundred and seventy-five Pounds two Shillings and ten Pence. It has however been represented to us by the Master, that this rent was likely to rise, from the 1st of May 1806, to the sum of one thousand and forty-three Pounds four Shillings and six Pence Halfpenny net.

These School Lands have been let at different times by the Primate, and by his two immediate predecessors, under the provisions of the Act of Parliament 11th and 12th of George the 3d, chapter 17th, to different persons, in Trust, for the Masters of the School; and on the 1st of May 1804, were let in Trust to Hector Graham, Esquire, for twenty-one years, reserving an annual rent of six hundred Pounds for the Master and his successors, during the continuance of that Lease. It appears also, that these Leases have at different times been renewed upon the payment of a Fine, at the rate of one hundred Pounds per annum, which fine has been appropriated to the repairs of the Buildings belonging to the Foundation; and that the last renewal made for the present Master, took place in May 1806.

It also appears, that there is a charge upon the Endowment of seven hundred and seventy-one Pounds, to be paid to the representatives of the present Master, being three-fourths of the sum of one thousand and seventy-eight Pounds paid by him to his predecessor, Doctor Gruebere, for Money expended in building the Master's house. The remaining expense, of erecting the School-house and the other Buildings belonging to the Foundation, was defrayed partly by the Primate Robinson, who advanced three thousand Pounds for that purpose, and partly by Doctor Gruebere, the then Master, who expended the additional sum of one thousand Pounds, in consideration for which he procured the Trust Lease to be made for his benefit.

The Buildings belonging to this Endowment, which were completed in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-two, at an expense of above five thousand Pounds, and which are very spacious and commodious, comprise a School-house, a house for the Master's residence, and offices. The School-house is capable of containing from eighty to an hundred Boarders. These buildings, which are situated near the town of Armagh, are stated to us to be in excellent repair, excepting the flooring of the School-rooms, which is wearing out. There were in January last, eighty-seven Boarders and twenty-nine Day-scholars at the School. The terms for Boarders are, thirty-two Guineas per annum, and six Guineas entrance; and for Day-scholars, four Guineas per annum, and one Guinea entrance.

The present Master, the Reverend Thomas Carpendale, A.M. was appointed by Primate Robinson, in the year 1786, to be Master of the School during good behaviour. He was appointed Master upon the resignation of Dr. Gruebere, who resigned to Mr. Carpendale, upon the condition of receiving two hundred and fifty Pounds per annum during his life. Mr. Carpendale afterwards, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, purchased Dr. Gruebere's interest in his Trust Lease, and paid the sum of two thousand pounds to Dr. Gruebere for the same. From this period, the Lease has been constantly renewed to Mr. Carpendale's Trustee; and upon the first renewal to him in that year, a fine of six hundred Pounds was paid by Mr. Carpendale to Primate Robinson, six years of the Trust Lease for Dr. Gruebere being then expired.

Mr. Carpendale has four Classical Assistants for his School; the three first at salaries of sixty Pounds per annum each, the fourth at fifty Pounds per annum. The principal Assistant has his board and lodging in the School-house; the other three are provided by the Master with dinner only, and have lodgings in the

town.

Mr. Carpendale appears to us to have paid, during the whole time that he has been Master, the closest and most laudable attention to the duties of his School; and no

School

School in this Country maintains a higher reputation than that of Armagh. Mr. Free Schools Carpendale is one of the Vicars of the Cathedral of Armagh, and has no other of Royal. church preferment.

DUNGANNON SCHOOL.

The School of Dungannon is endowed with Lands situated about five miles from the town, containing above sixteen hundred Acres English. They are let at present to Undertenants, for fourteen hundred and eighty-one Pounds four Shillings and nine Pence per annum, by the Son of the present Master, who holds them under a Trust Lease for his Father's benefit, at the reserved rent of seven hundred and ninety-six Pounds twelve Shillings. Such a Lease appears to have been first granted in the year 1785, when the present Master had the Lands valued at five hundred and seventy Pounds per annuin, and procured the Lease for his Trustee from the then Primate, at the reserved Rent of four hundred and twenty-seven Pounds ten Shillings, paying a Fine of twelve hundred and thirty-five Pounds, which was applied towards building a School-house.

This Lease appears to have been renewed in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, at the same reserved Rent; and a Fine of three hundred and fifty-four Pounds eight Shillings was then paid for the renewal, which is also stated to have been expended on building: it was afterwards renewed every year for four years at the same rent, and a Fine at each renewal of twenty-three Pounds six Shillings and eight Pence paid.

Of these Fines for four years, the two first are also stated to have been applied to the same purpose; of the two last, for the years 1798 and 1799, amounting to forty-six Pounds thirteen and four Pence, we have received no account.

From the year 1799 there was no renewal until the year 1804, when the Lands were new valued by order of the present Primate, and a new Lease granted at the above-mentioned reserved rent of seven hundred and ninety-six Pounds twelve Shillings, on the payment of a fine of six hundred Pounds, which is in the Primate's hands, together with a fine of one hundred and six Pounds four Shillings and three Pence, paid on the renewal of the Lease in one thousand eight hundred and six at the same reserved rent. This last renewal was granted by the Primate, on its being represented to him, that the rent of the Lands had not been raised above the annual gross value set upon them in the year 1804, which was twelve hundred and seventyfour Pounds eleven Shillings and one Penny.

The present Master, the Reverend William Murray, D.D. was appointed by Primate Robinson, during good behaviour, in the year 1778. He states, that he has expended on building a School-house, a House for the Master, and necessary Offices, the sum of three thousand one hundred and twenty Pounds twelve Shillings and three Halfpence. Of this sum, sixteen hundred and thirty-six Pounds one Shilling and four Pence appeared to have been produced by the Fines on granting and renewing Leases; nine hundred and nine Pounds twelve Shillings is a charge upon the Endowment, being the amount of two years income, calculated on the first reserved rent of four hundred and twenty-seven Pounds ten Shillings; to which is added the value of the demesne Lands (as they are called) of nine Acres and sixteen Perches near the House, and estimated at twenty-seven Pounds six Shillings per annum. The Balance of Expenditure in favour of the Master appears from this Statement to be five hundred and seventy-four Pounds eighteen Shillings and nine Pence Halfpenny: but to this balance he relinquished his claim, on the grant of the new Lease in the year one thousand eight hundred and four.

The School-house is stated to be capable of accommodating sixty-four Boarders, and to be at present in exceeding good repair. The School-room and Play-ground appear to be too small, the dimensions of the former being thirty-six feet by twenty, and the latter containing a space of only sixty yards by forty-four.

There were in January last, twenty-seven Boarders in the House (exclusive of four who had been some time absent on account of sickness) and twelve Dayscholars. The terms for Boarders are twenty-six Guineas per annum, and five Guineas entrance; and for Day-scholars a Guinea per quarter, and a Guinea entrance. There are usually two Classical Assistants in the School, to whom the Master pays fifty Pounds per annum, with diet and lodging in the House.

Doctor Murray states, that he has always attended in person the duties of his School, and that he has no church preferment.

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It is however to add, that from age and the decay of his memory, he of Royal is at present, and appears for some time to have been wholly inadequate to the Foundation. conduct of such a Seminary; and we think it our duty to recommend that measures should be taken immediately for procuring a more efficient Master.

The School Lands of Enniskillen School appear, by a survey taken in the year 1795, to contain about three thousand three hundred and sixty Acres English, of which two thousand five hundred and forty-eight are arable and pasture, and are situated about six or eight miles from the town; there is no Lease of them at present in existence, nor has been since the appointment of the present Master, the Reverend - Robert Burrowes, D.D.; the Tenants pay their Rents according to a letting made by the late Master's brother, who held the Lands under a Trust Lease for his, the Master's benefit, granted by the then Primate (Newcome) at the reserved rent of eight hundred Pounds per annum, with a covenant for renewal fines, at the rate of one hundred per annum; they were then let to Undertenants for fourteen hundred and sixty-one Pounds per annum, which is the rent now paid; but the Trust Lease having being surrendered before the appointment of the present Master, the Leases to the undertenants of course became void, and no new ones have been since granted.

Doctor Burrowes states, that if they were now to be let, there would be a considerable rise of rent. His appointment is dated January the 24th, 1798, and is during pleasure. He receives the whole of the Rents, together with ten Pounds . per annum for a house in Enniskillen, which was the old School-house; and 5. per annum paid by Lord Enniskillen.

The new School-house is a spacious building, capable of accommodating seventy Boarders, and is stated to be in good repair. There is a Demesne of thirty-three acres attached to the house, not included in the survey. There is a charge upon the Endowment for building, of thirteen hundred Pounds, being half of the original charge of two years income expended by the last Master but one (Mr. Noble.) The number of Boarders at the School in January last, was sixty-five, and of Dayscholars from twelve to sixteen. The terms for Boarders are thirty-two Guineas per annum, and six Guineas entrance; and for Day-scholars six Guineas, and one Guinea and a half entrance.

Doctor Burrowes states, that he has presented a Memorial to the Primate, for permission to build considerable additions to the House and Offices, which his Grace is disposed to grant, with leave to charge the usual proportion of the sum laid out - on the succeeding masters.

Doctor Burrowes has three Classical Assistants (who all live in the School-house) and pays the first 100l. per annum, and the other two 40 each. He has coustantly attended in person to the duties of the School, which he appears to have discharged with equal diligence and ability, and the School is accordingly, and has been since his appointment, in considerable reputation. Doctor Burrowes had till lately the Living of Cappagh in the Diocese of Derry, which he has recently exchanged for that of Drumragh in the same Diocese (both in the presentation of Trinity College Dublin, of which he had formerly been Fellow). He resigned the Archdeaconry of Ferns, on his being appointed Master of the School of Enniskillen.

The Endowment of this School is unquestionably much too large to be enjoyed by the Master alone; when the Lands are new let, (as it appears to us they ought to be) there is little doubt of their producing two thousand Pounds per annum and upwards. A quarter of this sum would, in our opinion, be a suflicient allowance to the Head Master. Another quarter, we think, would be advantageously applied to the foundation of Second and Third Masterships, at three hundred and two hundred Pounds per annum. A great part of the remainder should, in our opinion, be employed in the maintenance of Scholars on the Foundation, agreeably to the original intention in the establishmcut of these Institutions, ' which are expressly denominated Free Schools." A plan for this purpose had been submitted to the late Government of Ireland, by Doctor Burrowes, who is willing, on the ground of implied future compensation, that a part of his present Inconic should be so applied. Such a plan on a larger scale should, we think, be digested and prepared before another vacancy of the Mastership, and adopted on the appointnient

appointment of the next Master; it should be so limited however, as to leave a Free Schools sufficient Fund for the Repairs of the School-house, and perhaps for the erection of Royal Foundation. of other Buildings as they should be found wanting. In the meantime it may be worth consideration, whether Doctor Burrowes's plan, with such modifications as might adapt it for further extension and permanent establishment, should not be immediately carried into execution, as the commencement of a system hereafter to be introduced, as circumstances will allow, into all the other Schools of Roval Foundation. The establishment of Second and Third Masterships, we also consider to be of indispensable necessity in the other Schools; the present condition and appointments of Under Teachers in all of them without exception, are such as must ever discourage men of real merit and liberal minds from engaging in that occupation. We need not urge the importance of such men being employed in the under departments of every Classical School, as well for the purpose of effectual instruction as to supply a succession of well-qualified Head Masters; and we are persuaded the acknowledged inferiority of the Grammar Schools in Ireland to those of the Sister Island, is to be ascribed to no other circumstance so much, as to the deficiency of those who are usually engaged as Assistants and employed in teaching the Rudiments of Classical Learning. The Head Masters of some of our great Schools, are men of eminent literature and talents, and only want the assistance of properly qualified Teachers (which on the present system they are not able to procure) to raise their Schools to as high and well deserved reputation as any in England. The Funds of others of the Royal Schools (especially if relieved from the Trust Leases) would also be adequate to the maintenance of Foundation Scholars.

RAPHOE SCHOOL.

The Lands belonging to the School of Raphoe, are situate in the western part of the county of Donegal, fifteen miles from Raphoe, and four from the town of Donegal, on the great road from Londonderry to Sligo.

By a survey produced to us, it appears, that the Lands contain five thousand nine hundred and forty-six Acres, of which number, eleven hundred and fourteen are profitable, the remainder Bogs and Mountain. These Lands abound with Limestone; and it is stated to us, that the arable parts are tilled as much as they will bear, without greater efforts to manure them than the Tenants, who are poor and very numerous, are disposed to make.

The Reverend James Irwin, A.B. is the present Master. He was appointed by Government in the month of September 1796, during pleasure.

We find that in November 1798, he let the Lands which constitute the Endowment of the School, for ten years (provided his Incumbency should so long continue)~ to one hundred and thirty Tenants, at the yearly rent of six hundred and thirty-nine Pounds. Two farms, producing ninety Pounds per annum, and included in the above, are let by him during his Incumbency.

Mr. Irwin has stated, that his predecessor leased these Lands, sometime after his appointment in one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, at the yearly rent of three hundred and twenty-eight Pounds; he thinks the Lands at present worth seven hundred and fifty Pounds per annum, yet he collects the present rent with difficulty, on account of the number and poverty of the Tenants. Mr. Irwin receives the whole of the Rents, and there is at present no charge upon the Endow

ment.

The School-house, which is in the town of Raphoe, can at present accommodate forty Boarders, and, when certain improvements which are intended by the Master shall be completed, will, as he informed us, be capable of accommodating seventy. The Master further stated to us, that he has memorialed for the expenditure of twelve hundred Pounds upon additional buildings, repairs and alterations, having found the House and Offices in a ruinous state, from ten years nonresidence of his predecessor; and that he has already expended a thousand Pounds in improvements, and proposes to complete those intended, in the course of the present summer.

Mr. Irwin has also stated, that the House, Offices, Garden and Play-ground do not occupy an entire acre; and that the Play-ground does not contain more than half a rood. This, in our opinion, should be enlarged; but as there is no Land appertaining to the Endowment in the town of Raphoe, and as the site of the C

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Free Schools School-house is encompassed by roads, and by the offices and farm-yard of the Seeof Royal house of Raphoe, the Master thinks an enlargement of the Play-ground cannot be easily effected.

Foundation.

The number of Mr. Irwin's Scholars, when we examined him in January last, was thirty-five of these, eight only were Boarders in the School-house; the remainder were boarded either in the town, or at Farmers houses in the vicinity, where the terms are cheaper. Three of his Scholars, included in the above number, are instructed gratis. The terms of this School are twenty-six Guineas per annum for board and tuition, and five Guineas entrance; and four Guineas per annum, and one Guinea entrance for Day-scholars. There is but one regular Usher, at a salary of thirty Pounds per annum only; and Mr. Irwin states, that three of his Sons, who have entered College, assist him as Ushers, in their turns.

Mr. Irwin has two Church preferments, that of Castle Connor in the Diocese of Ossory, and the Living of Almoritia in the Diocese of Meath. He states, that he attends sedulously and constantly to the duties of his School, and that it is increasing.

CAVAN SCHOOL.

It appears by a survey made in the year 1805, during the administration and by direction of Earl Hardwicke, that the Lands granted for the endowment of the School of Cavan consist of 570 Acres two Roods and seventeen Perches Irish plantation measure, situate in the county of Cavan near the town, and part of them within three quarters of a mile of it: these Lands, as it has been stated to us, were let by Doctor Cottingham, the late Master, at the annual rent of five hundred and thirty-six Pounds eight Shillings; and the present value of the Lands is about nine hundred Pounds per annum.

We find there never has been any School-house belonging to the Endowment, nor is any part of the School Lands well adapted to such a purpose. A School was kept by Doctor Cottingham, or those employed by him, in a house rented by him, and since converted into a barrack. In fact there has been no efficient Schoolmaster, since the death of a Mr. Arbuthnot, an Usher employed by Doctor Cottingham. Mr. Arbuthnot died in June 1803. Doctor Cottingham's age and infirmities had rendered him incapable of personal attendance to the duties of his School for many years previous to his death, which took place on the 25th of March 1804.

It appears, that on the 21st of March 1806, the Reverend John Moore, A. M. was appointed Master of this School by the Earl of Hardwicke, subject to certain conditions, contained in an Agreement dated the 20th of March 1806, and which is set forth in his Evidence. By the terms of this agreement, Mr. Moore was to receive three hundred Pounds per annum out of the Rents for his own use, and an hundred Pounds per annum for the salary of an Assistant, from the 25th of March 1806. It was stipulated with Mr. Moore, that the Arrears from the death of Doctor Cottingham until his appointment, and also the surplus of the Rents at which the Lands were then let, as well as of the improved Rent upon any new letting, over and above the said allowance of four hundred Pounds per annum, should be applied towards forming a Fund for building a proper School-house, upon such site as should be approved of. It appears, that on the 25th of March, 1806, there was due by the several Tenants on the Lands, the sum of one thousand and seventy-two Pounds sixteen Shillings, being two years Rent, according to the rate at which they were let by Doctor Cottingham. We find that of this arrear only three hundred and sixty-one Pounds nine Shillings and three Halfpence was collected. on the 10th of January last, the day on which Mr. Moore, was examined by the Commissioners; and a sum of four hundred and thirty-eight Pounds nineteen Shillings and four Pence Halfpenny since. These two sums, of three hundred and sixty-one Pounds nine Shilling and three Halfpence, and four hundred and thirty-eight Pounds. nineteen Shillings and four Pence Halfpenny, (subject to the deductions of Agent's fees) have been received by the present Master. It does not, however, appear that any sum has been as yet paid towards the Fund intended to be created for building of a School-house; but the Master has stated to us, that he considers himself as holding the sum received, in trust for that purpose, in the event of the agree ment of the 20th of March being enforced.

We