superintend the erection of the school-house in Henry street, and the necessary contracts having been completed, the corner-stone of the new building was laid on the 11th of November, 1810, by the benevolent donor of the site. The ceremony was witnessed by several members of the Corporation of the city, and other citizens.

In December of the same year, one hundred dollars were appropriated to the purchase of suitable books, to commence a circulating library for the school, additions to which were solicited from the members of the Society. During the same month a legacy of two hundred and fifty dollars was bequeathed to the Society by CHARLES LE ROUX, Esq.

The year 1811 was marked by the further extension of public patronage and assistance. The Legislature again testified their approbation of the institution, by the passage of an act, on the 30th of March, in which a grant of four thousand dollars was made to the Society for building purposes, and an additional annual sum of five hundred dollars, until the pleasure of the Legislature should otherwise determine.

Two eligible positions for schools having now been obtained, it appeared to the trustees that an additional school in the northwestern part of the city would enable them to extend the sphere of their usefulness with great benefit to that vicinity. The village of Greenwich at that time comprised a suburban population of considerable magnitude, presenting, in the character of a large class of its population, a ripe field for the labors of the Society. A large portion of the landed property belonged to the corporation of Trinity Church; and, inspired with some hope that the petition would be responded to, the trustees appealed to the vestry, in the spring of 1811, for a site for a new free school. The vestry promptly and generously granted to the Society two large lots of ground at the corner of Hudson and Grove streets, near the village of Greenwich. The estimated value of the lots was one thousand dollars.

The building in Henry street being completed, it was opened on the 13th of November, 1811, and known as School No. 2. The edifice was eighty feet in length and forty in width, and accommodated three hundred children; while in the lower story was an apartment suitable for the use of one hundred and fifty others. The building resembled that erected for No. 1, in Chatham street, although much smaller in size, and, like it, had ac

commodations for the family of the teacher. It was completed at an expense of about $11,000.

The increasing labor and responsibility devolving upon the trustees led them to desire a further addition to their working force by an increase of their number, and they applied to the Legislature for authority to make this election. In compliance with the request, that body passed an act, on the 28th of February, 1812, directing that the Society should thereafter elect six trustees in addition to those primarily authorized by law.

The system which had been commenced with so much solicitude and care had now reached a point in its history when it was regarded as being not only a permanent, but an expansive, institution. The responsibility of so organizing and maturing the system of instruction as to make it at once thorough in its operations and as faultless as possible in its details, in order that it should commend itself to the public favor and confidence, was deeply felt.

The original object of the Society having been to provide for the education of those children "who did not belong to, or were not provided for, by any religious society," the question would naturally present itself to the minds of all who were impressed with the importance of inculcating moral and religious truth, whether such a class of children, and so numerous as they appeared to be, should be left without such instruction. Pleasure and satisfaction were expressed by all acquainted with the schools at the results which had been reached in the literary training of the pupils, and the improvement in their conduct and intercourse, to which special attention was given. Yet there were some who thought that sufficient care had not been bestowed in the communication of specific religious instruction. A concern of such high importance had not, however, been overlooked by the trustees; and they had pursued such measures in regard to it as they considered to be most expedient. The board was composed of persons of almost every religious denominationmen who were attached to their respective creeds, and who would not fail, on suitable occasions, to recommend them to the attention of others. But, in the schools under their care, they had studiously avoided the inculcation of the peculiar tenets of any one religious society or denomination. From the commencement of their effort, they had directed that the Holy Scriptures should be read daily in the schools; and it was thought that the

minds of the children could not fail to be impressed with the sublime precepts and the inspired teachings of the Sacred Volume. In order, however, to meet the wishes of all, it was deemed expedient to suspend the exercises of the school on Tuesday afternoon of each week, and devote the time of the session exclusively to the religious instruction of the children. An association of more than fifty ladies of the first position and character, and belonging to the different religious denominations in the city, volunteered their services; and they accordingly met at the schools to examine the children in their respective catechisms on the day appointed for that purpose.

In addition to these labors, it was also determined that the children should assemble at their respective schools on the morning of every Sunday, and proceed, under the care of a monitor, to the places of public worship to which they respectively belonged.

Thus far the schools had been organized for males only; but apartments were reserved in both the buildings for the use of female schools, and in these rooms the FEMALE ASSOCIATION, composed of ladies, members of the Society of Friends, conducted schools for girls. They adopted the Lancasterian plan cf instruction, similar to that of the male schools, and besides the elementary parts of education, they taught needle-work and other useful employments. The two schools were attended by about three hundred girls, while the boys' schools numbered about eight hundred pupils as the average attendance.

Nine years had now elapsed since the foundation of the Society, and the trustees had the satisfaction of seeing their efforts not only crowned with success, but their enterprise placed on a liberal and permanent basis, which exceeded all the anticipations they had dared to entertain. They had introduced to this country a method of instruction well adapted to effect its objects, comprehensive and economical. It had demonstrated its utility, its simplicity, and its value, and had so stimulated the labors of philanthropists in other cities and towns, that many similar institutions had sprung into existence, modelled after the parent society in New York. The benefits thus positively reaped were multiplied, and an impetus was given to the work of popular education, which could scarcely have been gained by any other method, however good, which did not possess its novelty and its characteristics.

CHAPTER II.

HISTORY FROM 1817-1822.

New Schools Proposed-Lancasterian Teacher from England-A Legacy-Instruction of Monitors-Economy-Discipline-School No. 3-School No. 4-School Libraries-Teachers Trained-Charles Picton-The Freemasons-Monitors and Apprentices" Morning Schools "-New Regulations-Manual-Shepherd Johnson -Joseph Lancaster-Visit to New York-Finances-Memorial to the Legislature -Grant of $5,000-Address to the Parents and Guardians of Children-Sunday, and Sunday Schools-The Female Association-School No. 4 Opened-Death of John Murray-New Building for No. 3-Manual of Instruction-State of the Schools-Rev. J. N. Maffit's Address to the Schools-School No. 2-Catechism Adopted-Visit of a Committee of the Legislature-The Bethel Baptist Church— Special Privileges-School No. 5-Plans and Estimates for Extension of the System-A Man of Fortune, and a Man in Independent Circumstances-Lots for School No. 5 Purchased-The Bethel Baptist Church.

THE population in the eastern part of the city increased, and offered a growing field for the operations of the Society. In the early part of the year 1817, the propriety of erecting a schoolhouse in a central location, between the Bowery and the East River, was discussed; and Thomas Eddy, James Palmer, Henry Eckford, Noah Brown, and Whitehead Hicks were appointed a committee to ascertain what amount of subscriptions could be obtained toward the purchase of lots and the erection of a building, and also to obtain plans and estimates. In consequence of the difficulty of procuring a proper site, the purchase was not made until 1818, when three lots were obtained in Rivington street, upon which the school known as No. 4 was afterward erected.

The employment of competent teachers for the schools suggested to the board the propriety of securing the services of an experienced teacher, well qualified to conduct a school on the Lancasterian system as taught in England. A committee of three was appointed to correspond with gentlemen in that country, who should select a teacher thus qualified.

During the year, a legacy of two hundred and fifty dollars was received from the estate of Mary McCrea, and another of five hundred dollars, bequeathed by John Van Blarcom, which were valuable contributions to the means of the Society.

The organization of a class of monitors, who should enjoy the benefits of a systematic training in advanced studies, formed an important measure in the work of the year.

The necessity of an economical administration of the affairs of the Society, which had always been of primary consideration with the trustees, was urged upon the attention of the board, and referred to a committee. The report embraced the following recommendations:

1st. That the office of assistants be abolished.

2d. That no rewards be given to the monitors in money, nor in any thing else, except on extraordinary occasions, and those of but small value.

3d. That one or two persons be appointed whose business it should be to purchase all supplies for the institution, on the lowest possible terms.

The first recommendation was promptly adopted, and a resolution was passed terminating the engagements of the assistant teachers at the expiration of the several terms for which they were employed. Jacob Lorillard and Lindley Murray were appointed supply committee; and the question in reference to monitors entered into the general plan of rewards and punishments, and the organization of the monitorial class.

The system of rewards and discipline occupied the special attention of the board during a part of the year, and the report of the committee to whom that subject had been assigned was submitted at the first meeting held in 1818.

During the latter part of the year, the residents in that section of the city known as Corlear's Hook presented a petition for the establishment of a free school in their vicinity; but the trustees were unable to comply with the application.

In the early part of 1818, information was communicated to the board that a room in the building on the corner of Hudson and Christopher streets could be procured from the Corporation of the city for school purposes; and Thomas C. Taylor, Najah Taylor, and John R. Murray were named as a committee to make application for the premises, if found suitable, and super