AN ESSAY ON CHARITY-SCHOOLS, St vatermen, gardeners, workmen in timber, iron, &c. there are several considerations, which I have learnedby converse about these matters, which may be offered infavour of it. ConsiderationL If all the children of the poor both in city and country, wereentirely cut off from trades and manufactures, there would not be families enough in England, to receive them all as menial servants, or as retainers to the plough. And besides, one may ask the question, why should menial. Servants be multi- plied beyond all necessity, since too many of them in great fami- lies, are bred up rather in idleness thar labour? The business of common handicrafts, is much more laborious than the common domestic service in most families. II. It is not menial servants, but mechanics and manufac- turers that increase the commodities, and thereby the riches of the nation. And if the wealth of the nationbe more increased by the, number of manufactures which the nation produces, -why should the apprenticeships of some of thepoor, to those low mechanicaltrades in great towns and cities, be a forbidden exer- cise of bounty and charity ? At least this argument will hold as to those mechanical'businesses of life, which are not already over- stocked : And I have been assured, that the managers of charity- schools have ajust regard to this, in placing out the children of the poor." III. The same assurances have also been given me, that there is great want of apprentices to several of these meaner trades : The master-workmen address themselves frequently to the managers of these schools, to help them to lads fit to be train- ed up in their trades and occupations. As the nation continually multiplies, so more of the necessaries of life are wanted, and increase the want of these mechanic arts. Let it be observed also, that the children of every common tradesman, are aspiring to better business : The working shops and stalls of these mean- est mechanic artificers want more hands, and seek for apprenti- ces ; so that there is no detriment done to the children of these tradesmen, by supplying them with servants out of our charity- schools. IV, Many of the children of these lower tradesmen are taught to read and write in our schools, and have instructions in the things of religion given them there. Such tradesmen, I mean, who are honest and industrious, but by reason of anumerous family, by losses or sickness, or other events of providence, are kept still under poverty : Their children are not only taughtin our charity-schools, Out also they enjoy the benefit of being placed out in apprenticeships proper to their character. And these very persons have thankfully accepted of the instruction of their children in these schools. V. There is another reason that mpy encourage the mana-
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