and patronage, and which, by uniting the different classes of society, and by infusing into the poor, the principles of decency, order, social harmony and true religion, promises to provide an antidote for, at least, some of the worst evils to which Ireland is subject.

APPENDIX,

CONTAINING

EXTRACTS OF CORRESPONDENCE, &c.

FORM OF THE QUERIES,

To be answered by Applicants in behalf of Sunday Schools, as far as they may be able to do so.

FOURTH EDITION.-1817.

N. B. It is requested that the answers may be written in a fair and very legible manner, and with good ink.

1. What is the name of the Sunday School? 2. In what Parish is the School?

3. In what County is the School?

4. What is the nearest Post Town?

5. When was the School established?

6. How many Male Teachers are there?

7. How many Female Teachers are there?

8. Do any of the above Teachers receive a Salary; if so, what is the amount of it?

9. How many Male Scholars are there?

10. How many Female Scholars are there?

11. On what hours during Sunday is the School held?

12. Is there any probability of the School being increased, by what means, and to what number?

13. Under whose direction is the School placed; whether of an Individual or a Committee? State their names.

14. How many of the under-mentioned Books are wanting?

Bibles.
Testaments.
Alphabets.

Spelling-Books, No. 1.

Spelling-Books, No. 2.

Hints for conducting Sunday Schools.

15. Who in Dublin can be referred to, as knowing the School and the Managers of it? State where the person lives.

16. What is the probable Annual Income? State how it arises, and the sums. 17. What are the probable Annual Expenses? State them under their

several heads.

18. Are the Children or Parents called upon to pay any sum for the Books sent by this Society?

19. To what person or place shall the Books be sent, when packed, within the City of Dublin? To whom shall the parcel of Books be addressed?

The Books may be left, if required, at the Depository till called for.

20. Are there any Nobility or Gentry in your neighbourhood, concerned in promoting religious education? Do they, or, is it probable, would they countenance your School? State their names and residences. Are any steps taken by you to interest them and the public in behalf of your School, or of this Society?

21. Are there any other Sunday Schools in your Parish, or in your immediate neighbourhood, or Societies formed for their support? State their 22. Could any other Sunday Schools, even of the smallest description, be established in your neighbourhood, on holding out the encouragement of the assistance of this Society?

names, and places in which they are situated.

23. What appears to be the effect that your Sunday School has produced in reforming and improving the habits of the people?

24. Are there any, or what causes impeding the progress of Sunday School instruction in your neighbourhood? if so, what means may be used to remove or diminish these causes?

25. Is your Sunday School broken up during the winter months? If so, has any provision been made by the Committee or Teachers, to bring together the children for the purpose of carrying on instruction during the Sunday, in separate or mixed classes, in their own houses?

day of

181

Residence,

Signed this
WE the undersigned believe the above Statement to be correct.
Dated this

181

day of

of

of

of

State underneath the circumstances of your neighbourbood with respect to the state of the Education of the Poor.-State the mode of Teaching in your School-the form of Books-Rules of your School; with any other observations which you may deem interesting; and detail the progress of the Children.

1

FORM OF THE REMARKS, &c. &c,

Directed to the Patrons and Conductors of Schools.

SECOND EDITION.-1816.

THE Committee of our Society have directed me to communicate to you the following Remarks, from a desire to make the principles of the Society known, and to facilitate, as much as they can, the intercourse between them and the Schools in connexion with the Society.

1st. The principles on which this Society has been instituted are, that it shall promote the establishment, and facilitate the conducting of Sunday Schools in Ireland, by disseminating the most approved plans for the management of Sunday Schools; by supplying them with Spelling-books, and copies of the Sacred Scriptures, without note or comment, or extracts therefrom, (the only books which the Society disseminates,) and by contributing to defray the expenses of such Schools where it may be deemed expedient: and that it shall not assume to itself any control over the internal regulations of the Schools in connexion with it; nor use any other inteference in their concerns than that of kind admonition and advice.

ed. The Committee will assist any Sunday School by a gratuitous grant of books yearly, proportioned to the number of children: and the Conductors of Schools known to the Society have at all times the privilege of purchasing books for the use of their Sunday Schools, in addition to any gratuitous grants, at the following reduced prices :

3d. The Books of the Society, granted or sold at reduced prices, are expected to be used by children bona fide attending Sunday Schools.

4th. Bibles are not granted to any School during the first year of its existence. 5th. The books granted may be left at the Depository of the Society until called for, or they shall be delivered at any place within the City of Dublin which shall be specified: but the Conductors of Schools should send a note by the messenger, signed by a name known to the Society, in cases where they send for their books to the Depository.

6th. No books are to be delivered out of the Depository, at full or reduced prices, until paid for.

7th. It is particularly requested that the names of the Schools, Parishes, Cor. respondents, &c. and indeed all communications, be written in a plain, correct and legible manner, and with good ink, as this may tend to prevent confusion in the transmission of letters, parcels, &c.

8th. The names of Schools ought not on any slight grounds to be changed. If a necessity occur for changing a name, it is requested that such change be communicated to the Society.

9th. It is of great importance that the children should have the use of their books during the week; and that they may possess this advantage without pressing too much upon the funds of the School, and that both children and parents may be induced to take better care of the books, the Committee advise the Conductors of Schools to put some small price upon the books, and to appropriate the proceeds thereof to the general purposes of the Schools, or to remit them to this Society.

10th. The hours of attendance at Sunday Schools should in no instance interfere with those usually set apart for Public Worship, which the children should be urged to attend.

11th. The Schools should, when possible, be opened both in the morning and afternoon; the labour will thus be lighter on Teachers and children, and more time gained for the purposes of the Institution.

12th. The increasing demands on the Society render it incumbent on 'the Conductors of Sunday Schools to use their utmost exertions to procure funds for promoting their objects, by soliciting Annual Subscriptions from the neighbouring Gentry; by Penny-a-week Societies; Charity Sermons; and, perhaps, in some instances, by contributions from the parents of the children. Funds thus obtained would excite an interest in the neighbourhood for the welfare of the School; enable the Conductors to provide many conveniencies; lighten the burden on the Society; and in some instances might, after the wants of the individual School are supplied, enable the Conductors to promote the general education of the country, by contributing to the funds of this Society.

13th. The friends of this Society in the country would greatly promote its interests, by explaining its principles, detailing its objects, circulating its Reports,

procuring subscribers to its funds, and influencing others to co-operate in spreading more widely the education of the poor.

14th. The Conductors of Schools are requested to communicate any information which may be deemed important to the general objects of the Society; and, for this purpose, to keep up a constant and intimate correspondence with the Secretary; to be accurate and punctual in preparing and forwarding, before the first of December in each year, their Annual Reports, Accounts and Returns, according to the form accompanying this: to be particular in filling up the List of Queries, (without regular answers to which no grant will be made,) and on every application to give a full account of the School, as from this document chiefly the Committee derive their information.

15th. A new memorial must be transmitted on every application to the Society.

16th. The Conductors of Schools will find it advantageous to keep accurate Registries of the admission and attendance of the children, Roll Books, Account Books, &c. &c. and to conform, as far as they can, to the principles laid down in the "Hints for conducting Sunday Schools;" a hew edition of which, con siderably altered and improved, the Committee are now preparing for publication.

17th. The Committee would advise, that when the Schools are necessarily broken up in winter, the Conductors and Teachers should endeavour to collect the children into their houses in their respective neighbourhoods, so as to keep up order and instruction during the recess of the School.

18th. The Conductors of each School are requested to appoint some one person as Secretary to correspond with the Society.

19th. All applications should be made to the Society as early as possible, since some delay necessarily occurs in the form of granting books, &c. &c. 20th. As the Committee do not feel themselves at liberty to recommend the teaching of writing and arithmetic on Sundays, they would suggest the expedi ency of opening a Morning or Evening School on one day during the week, for the purpose of instructing the Sunday Scholars in these branches of education; the privilege of attending which might be given as a reward for good conduct, and good attendance on Sunday. They would also suggest to the Teachers the necessity of watching over the conduct of the children during the week, visiting them at their houses, and, by every kind and conciliatory method, endeavouring to win them to the paths of religion and virtue. Instruction should be given on the principles of mildness and affection, and all corporal punishment should be as much as possible avoided, and, when necessary, not inflicted until after School-hours,

With every wish for success,

I remain

Your obedient faithful servant,

JAMES DIGGES LA TOUCHE,
Secretary.

You are requested to preserve these Remarks, and cancel the former, since

it may be found useful for you to refer to them in the course of your correspon» dence with the Secretary of the Society.