80 tire ESSAY ON cnAarrv- scsccot.s`, Answer. The foregoing account of the slender and low de- grees of learning, which are bestowed on the children in our charity-schools, seems to anticipateand exclude this complaint: There are none of these poor who are, or oughtto be bred up to such an accomplished skill in writing and accompts, as to be qualified for any of these posts; except here and there a single lad, whose bright genius, and whose constant application and industry have out-run all his fellows : And for such an one I have pleaded before, that he might not be thrust out of school the sooner, and be punished- merely for his ingenuity and dili- gence. As for the children or orphans of those who have fed and clothed the poor, and have lived in good fashion in the world, but have fallen into decay and poverty, I presume it would not displease the persons who make this objection, to see bere and there one of them qualified for ,a littlebetter business : For this is perfectly agreeable to their own sentiments, viz. That the children of persons who have lived well, and paid taxes, should have the first and chief benefits and advanta -- ges -of lower life offered them, since they have the best preten- sions to them. Objection IX. Suppose it be allowed, that the children of the poor, be indulged the favour of learning to read and write, to add and subtract a few figures, since you have shewn that these things are so useful to servants and labourers : But why then are they not all made servants either to gentlemen, to far- mers or tohouse- keepers ? 'Why are they not bred up all to the plough in thecountry, or to be mere labourers in the city, or confined to household services or menial offices of life? " Why must any of them be placed out in a way of apprenticeship, to trades and manufactures ?" Even this is a discouragement to the children of those persons of a little higher rank whohave paid taxes, and helped to maintain the poor in their parishes. And unless all these children of a littlebetter rank were suppliedwith such trades, none of the poor bred up by charity should have the advantage of such apprenticeships. Answer. In most of the schools of the country, and in some of those in London, both the boys and the girls, arebred up with a design for service and hard labour abroad, or for such mean works or businesses, as their own parents can employ them in at home. The girls, as I have hinted before, are taught to read, spin, sew and knit, and to perform domestic labours, and been made fit for service in families, they are placed out in such services. The boys are called home perhaps, to assist their fathers in their poor labours of life, wherein they get their bread. But in some of the schools in and near London, andin somecon- siderable towns, if there be a small provision made for their being put apprentices to the poorer trades, such as shoe-makers, taylors,
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