Extract from an account of a Society in West Street, for the relief of their poor Neigh- No. CVII. Extract from an account of the Ladies Schools, and some other Charities at Leeds. By Advice to the Foundling Apprentices, on the termination of their Apprenticeships. 93 No. CIII. Extract from an account of a supply of Blankets for the Poor at Hinxton. By the Rev. JAMES PLUMPTRE. IN November 1802, I bought six pair of blankets, at different prices, the whole cost of which was £ 4. 15s. 6d. These I had marked with the initials of my own name and place of abode, and the number of the blanket; and then offered them to cottagers in my parish at two thirds of the prime cost, to be paid by 6d. a week, till cleared; or upon loan, at 3d. per month each, paid the first Monday in every month; the blankets being to be returned, clean and well used, on the first Monday in May. In selecting the persons to whom the offer was made, I gave the preference to those who had large families; and, where there was also superior merit, industry, and good conduct, I allowed F VOL. IV. them to have two blankets. All of them, without exception, preferred purchasing the blankets. Monday morning, between eight and ten o'clock, was the hour fixed upon for payment; when I used to have my book by my side, and as the sixpences were brought in, I noted them down; each persons' name being put at the top of the page, with the number, price, and reduced price, of the blankets; the days, on which the payment were made, being entered below. One or two would have paid me for them at once, and another would have paid 2s. 6d. down; but I thought it better, on several accounts, to have all on the same footing. Except in two instances only (and those by mistake, and corrected the following Monday,) the money has been brought me with the utmost punctuality, and all of them have expressed, how much they were obliged to me, how comfortable they found the blankets, and how little they had felt the expense. It appearing at the meeting of our Friendly Society, at Christmas 1802, that there was £10. of the fund, to be put out at interest, and that there occurred no immediate mode of investment for it, I offered to take it for a quarter, or half a year at farthest, and to allow five per cent. interest, in the hope that by Midsummer, another £10. might be added to the stock, and some useful application might be made of both the sums. I reflected on the success of my former lot of blankets, and was desirous, while I had the money, to apply it to some useful object and to benefit the Friendly Society by it, if possible; at the same time I wished to pay each member some trifling mark of my respect, considering them, as the most industrious and respectable of my parishioners; I therefore offered to purchase ten pair of blankets, calculating that there might be twenty free members, who would each be glad of one, or would wish to nominate a brother member, to have it instead of himself, and thus do him a kindness. The blankets I proposed to be sold at 1s. each |