We read that St. Paul was of the same craft with Aquilla and his wife Priscilla, for by their occupation they were tent makers.

"The system of education adopted by the Children's Friend Society was excellent. Here were children brought from the most neglected homes, in order to rescue them from the haunts of wickedness and vice, and to give them the benefit of good training and religious instruction. The school consisted of about 120 boys, who were well taught in reading, writing, and accounts, and most carefully instructed in religion. Their conduct was most orderly and respectful. Connected with the establishment were ten acres of land, there the boys were instructed in the elements of farming and gardening. They were further instructed in the use of the forge, to work in iron or tin; then others were employed as carpenters, tailors, and shoemakers.

"It is to be hoped that ere long some such addition may very generally be made to our National Schools in towns and large villages." "Norfolk House, Shirley, May 12, 1847."

The Rev. Herbert Smith to this paper subjoins the following explanation.

Many have erroneously imagined that, because indisposition of more than three years continuance checked my proceedings, therefore my plans have failed, and some have lamented such imagined failure. But such, I thank God, has not been the case; the success which has encouraged me to persevere, has been sufficient for my own comfort and support, through no ordinary exertions and difficulties.

Still I remain the staunch advocate of those principles, which both Scripture and the science of Political Economy unite in recording are ordained of God for a nation's welfare. I never relax in advocating the cause of the poor amongst all classes of society. As the chaplain of the New Forest Union Workhouse, I raised my voice against the Poor Law Commissioners, their assistants, and the Board of Guardians for their inconsiderate and inhuman administration of the New Poor Law. I maintain that the poor and labouring classes have a claim to the kind consideration of the affluent and influential classes of society, and that did the State duly attend to the condition of the able-bodied, and the Church take care of the impotent, the one would not be destitute of the fruits of their industry, nor the other of the offerings of charity.

The Rev. Herbert Smith sincerely thanks those friends and neighbours who have kindly contributed towards the Shirley Industrial School, and he begs to assure others that further contributions will be thankfully received by him.

Norfolk House, Shirley, May 13, 1847.

fe

FOR

THE AGED AND INFIRM POOR AT BRANSGORE,

IN THE PARISH OF CHRISTCHURCH, HANTS.

On Friday Evening, September 4th, 1846, a Thanksgiving Sermon was preached at Bransgore Church, as a grateful acknowledgement to Almighty God for his mercy on the completion of the in-gathering of the Harvest, and a collection was made after the Sermon, to commence a fund for the erection of Alms Houses within the Ministerial District of Bransgore.

There is a piece of land adjoining the Church Yard in all respects the most desirable for the purpose. Mr. John Holloway, the Architect of Christchurch, and No. 5, Bloomsbury Square, London, has drawn a very neat design for Alms houses, in which sixteen aged persons might be most comfortably accommodated. The design includes an iron pallisade extending 300 feet, which by bringing out to view some beautiful oaks near the Church, would, with the Parsonage House and the School Houses on the other side of the road, make a most complete and beautiful village establishment, well calculated to become a pattern of what ought to be in every village in Great Britain and Ireland. Every exertion will be made by the Rev. Herbert Smith for the accomplishment of this object. He will feel much indebted to those benevolent individuals, who as the best friends of the Poor, will aid him in his endeavours.

Norfolk House, Shirley, Southampton, February 12, 1847.

From the OXFORD UNIVERSITY HERALD, February 26th, 1842.

"THE POOR.-Our attention has been called to an institution established at Shirley, near Southampton, for the virtuous aged and infirm poor, the object of which is to provide an asylum, distinct from the Union Workhouses, for those persons who, known to be respectable and of good character and conduct, may require assistance, and who may in this institution retire to a quiet and comfortable abode, where living rent free, and under the superintendance of the clergyman and committee, they may receive the attention and aid of the benevolent. We cannot but regard this as a most desirable plan, one which, if carried out extensively through the country, would materially increase the comforts of the deserving, whilst it would do away with much that is harsh and reprehensible in the Union Workhouses, and tend generally to abate the hostility shewn to a system which, if more judiciously and humanely carried out, has still much in it that is good. The public are indebted to the Rev. Herbert Smith, the Curate of Stratton, for the idea of the Shirley Asylum. That gentleman has printed several cheap pamphlets developing his plan, and urging the propriety and necessity of adopting some measure of this description; and we are bound to own that his suggestions appear to us not only to be of great national importance, but generally practicable, and highly deserving the attention of the public. It appears that the Asylum at Shirley has worked well, and fully answered the purpose for which it was designed. During the last year sixteen persons, whose ages vary from 55 to 77, have been domesticated in this peaceful retreat, and eight others are about to take up their residence there; and it is most satisfactory to find, from the testimony of Mr. Smith, that a general kind feeling has existed among the inmates towards each other, whilst a spirit of contentment, gratitude and cheerfulness has generally prevailed, which, as he says, may be regarded as the best indication of the real comfort and benefit enjoyed in the Asylum. Give us, in the agricultural districts, a liberal supply of poor allotments and such institutions as the Shirley Asylum, and the labouring population of Old England will once again become a happy and contented people. Only prove to the poor that if they are deserving, they shall be taken care of; not, as at present, thrust into a prison with the profligate and idle; prove that you have a regard to their conduct, and that their future comfort depends upon their conduct, and you will not find them ungrateful, nor your own benevolent exertions thrown away."

TUCKER, PRINTER, CHRISTCHURCH.

The Rev. Herbert Smith having almost despaired of meeting with any one to sympathize with his views respecting the aged poor, who, at the same time, had sufficient means, influence, or energy to aid him in the effective execution of his plans for their benefit, had made known his intention (by advertisement in the Post Office Directory) of devoting the Asylum erected for aged poor, to the service of the Church, as a College for Deacons. Since the insertion of that advertisement, a clerical friend has requested that another energetic attempt should be made to restore it to its original design, so satisfactorily conducted for two years. This has been assented to, and the building is to be reserved for that purpose during the whole of the year 1847. The friends of the aged poor are, therefore, requested to exert themselves to the utmost during the year just begun, to raise a sufficient sum for the purchase of the property at a fair valuation. The expenses attending the execution of such a design have been considerable; but when the expenses are compared with the extent of the design, or with other establishments on a similar scale, they will be allowed (the advocate of the object hopes) to be moderate.

In addition to all the exertions of body and mind which have been most cheerfully given to the object during a period of nearly seven years, the Rev. Herbert Smith now offers to contribute towards the purchase of the building £50; towards the endowment £50. Miss Cotton, of Shirley, has given towards the purchase of the building £3; towards the endowment £3.

COTTAGES FOR AGED AND INFIRM POOR.

-000

Five Freehold Cottages, near the Almshouses, Shirley, are now rented for the purpose of promoting the principles and plans for improving the character and condition of the labouring classes. Two of these cottages are for

the aged and infirm poor, which will be let on the following terms and conditions: The two rooms on the ground floor will be let together at ls. 3d. per week; the front room on the first floor at 9d. per week, and the back room at 6d. per week. A deposit of four times the weekly rent must be paid on entering, as security for the regular payment of the rent. The rent must

be paid at the end of every week. When there is a fortnight's arrears in the rent, the tenant will have notice to quit at the end of a fortnight, unless the arrears of rent are paid up previously. None but the respectable aged and infirm poor will be received as tenants.

From the OXFORD UNIVERSITY HERALD, February 26th, 1842.

"THE POOR.-Our attention has been called to an institution established at Shirley, near Southampton, for the virtuous aged and infirm poor, the object of which is to provide an asylum, distinct from the Union Workhouses, for those persons who, known to be respectable and of good character and conduct, may require assistance, and who may in this institution retire to a quiet and comfortable abode, where living rent free, and under the superintendance of the clergyman and committee, they may receive the attention and aid of the benevolent. We cannot but regard this as a most desirable plan, one which, if carried out extensively through the country, would materially increase the comforts of the deserving, whilst it would do away with much that is harsh and reprehensible in the Union Workhouses, and tend generally to abate the hostility shewn to a system which, if more judiciously and humanely carried out, has still much in it that is good. The public are indebted to the Rev. Herbert Smith, the Curate of Stratton, for the idea of the Shirley Asylum. That gentleman has printed several cheap pamphlets developing his plan, and urging the propriety and necessity of adopting some measure of this description; and we are bound to own that his suggestions appear to us not only to be of great national importance, but generally, practicable, and highly deserving the attention of the public. It appears that the Asylum at Shirley has worked well, and fully answered the purpose for which it was designed. During the last year sixteen persons, whose ages vary from 55 to 77, have been domesticated in this peaceful retreat, and eight others are about to take up their residence there; and it is most satisfactory to find, from the testimony of Mr. Smith, that a general kind feeling has existed amongst the inmates towards each other, whilst a spirit of contentment, gratitude and cheer fulness has generally prevailed, which, as he says, may be regarded as the best indication of the real comfort and benefit enjoyed in the Asylum. Give us, in the agricultural districts, a liberal supply of poor allotments, and such institutions as the Shirley Asylum, and the labouring populations of Old England will once again become a happy and contented people. Only prove to the poor that if they are deserving, they shall be taken care of; not, as at present, thrust into a prison with the profligate and idle; prove that you have a regard to their conduct, and you will not find them ungrateful, nor your own benevolent exertions thrown away."

TUCKER, PRINTER, SOUTHAMPTON.