No. XIV.

The following Observations on the Seminary for the Education of the Daughters of Clergymen, Officers, and others, to qualify them for being Governesses and Attendants on young Children, have been submitted by one of the Ladies, to the consideration of the Ladies Committee.

It should appear that one of the most necessary attainments for a young woman designed for such a situation, is a knowledge of the grammar of her own language, so as to speak it and write it correctly. Some pains should likewise be taken with her hand-writing, that she may be able to give lessons of writing to her pupils; and she should be competent to teach, at least, the four first rules of arithmetic in perfection. It is also desirable that she should know something of fine work, and thoroughly understand plain work, and cutting out every part of children's dress with attention to economy. Habits of order, cleanliness, and neatness in her own person, should be strictly inculcated; and it is to be wished that the management of children,

as far as effects their food, air, exercise, and cleanliness, should be understood by them, which may be easily learned from such books as Dr. Underwood's on the management of children.

From this class may be selected such girls as appear to have more than an ordinary capacity, who may be instructed in French, geography, and history, and not superficially. Some attention should be paid to form their taste for literature in general. A more extensive plan of education, comprehending music and drawing, would be attended with so much expense, and, during the short time they remain in the school, could only be acquired in so slight a degree, as to make it hardly worth the attempt; tho at the same time, should any extraordinary genius for either of these accomplishments be evinced by any girl, it would be deserving the future consideration of the committee how far, and in what manner, it should be encouraged.

In young women who are to be placed about children it is highly necessary to repress vanity, to give them a desire of being useful to their poor and suffering fellow creatures, and to impress on them a general humility and sobriety

of mind. It is almost superfluous to suggest that a young person, whose temper is not extremely good, or whose health is essentially 'bad, ought never to be intrusted with the care of children. For such as have these misfortunes in any insurmountable degree, the humanity of the Committe will naturally be excited to find other employments. From the young women educated in this school, many valuable companions to sick, infirm, or elderly persons, might be found; and to render them still more useful in this situation, it is to be wished that they might be allowed in turns, to keep the accounts, and manage the domestic concerns of the house, under their governess, or matron. As far as possible, every thing they wear should be made by themselves; and their dress, without being confined to any particular shape, or colour, should be humble and modest. Above all, it it essential that those who are to have the care of youth, should possess the most undeviating love of truth: the slightest appearance of prevarication, or cunning, should be held out as an object of the greatest detestation, and should be discouraged by every possible means; while the contrary quality should be the subject of approbation. No

person who is not of a sincere and candid disposition (whatever their other merits may be), should be recommended as an attendant upon children. It appears evident, that from among the lowest class of the school, many would be found capable of undertaking the management of haberdashers and other shops, when from age, or from other causes, the proprietors were unable to attend to it themselves; and that, upon the whole, such a plan of education as is now proposed, would prove more generally useful, and would better answer the purposes of benevolence, than one higher, or more refined, in its objects and arrangements.

5th June, 1804.

No. XV.

short View of different Proposals which have been made respecting the Poor, during the two preceding Centuries.

THE various projects, for the management

of the poor, which have been offered to the public, since the passing of the 43d of Eliza beth, have evinced the anxiety of the public mind, and the difficulty of the subject. In some catalogues, one may count above two hundred* of these publications. It is probable

*

Many of the titles of them are curious, and declaratory of the immediate and unfailing certainty of the remedy. Such are, England's Way to win Wealth, published in 1614; The Poore Man's Advocate, or England's Samaritan pouring Oyle and Wyne into the Wounds of the Nation, 1649;-A clear and evident Way for enriching the Nations of England and Ireland, and for setting very great Numbers of Poore to Work, by J. D. 1650.-An Appeal to Parliament, that there may not be a Beggar in England, 1660.-The grand Concern of England explained: 1673.-How to revive the GOLDEN AGE; same year.-Good News for the Poor; 1674.-The Prevention of Poverty; same year.-England's Improvement by Sea and Land; 1677.-Provision for the Poor; 1678.-Bread for the Poor; same year.-A Method of Government for working *I

VOL. IV.