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that at present, the island population offers thirty-six
individuals competent for the office.
At a time when the education of the people, forms
so prominent a feature in all systems of national improvement,
it is necessary that I should bestow a few
words on the means of intellectual improvement in
Jersey.
There are two endowments for free schools in the
island; both in the country parishes,—one, called St.
Anastase ; the other St. Manelier. These were
founded in the reign of Henry VIL, who granted a
charter to the endowers. The property attached to
these chartered schools, is extremely small, and altogether
inadequate to carry into effect the intention of
the founders. The nomination of the masters, lies
with the dean, and the rectors of the twelve parishes;
and the schools are, or rather were, intended to be
free to all,—the inhabitants of the eastern and of the
western half of the island having respectively the right
of sending their children to the two schools. Little
good, however, has resulted from these foundations:
the allowances were too small to secure the exertions
of competent masters ; and it has happened, that for a
considerable period, the whole revenue has been
swallowed up in repairs to the buildings. Such has
been long the case with the school of St. Anastase,
which does not at present boast of a single scholar;
and till lately, when the school of St. Manelier was
put upon a somewhat better footing, twenty was the
greatest number of pupils known to attend. Since
the appointment of the present master, the number
has increased to about forty; but the establishment
still languishes. The States of the island ought to
vote a part of the island revenue in aid of this institution
: their funds are frittered away in ill-devised
works, generally so clumsily executed, that the necessity
for continued repairs, keeps up a constant drain
on the revenue; and prevents their application to
works of greater utility.
In the towm of St. Helier, there is a national school
on Bell’s system, for the youth of both sexes, who are
instructed gratis, in the common branches of education.
This school is supported by subscriptions and
donations; and there is also a fund, from which clothes
are provided; and which are presented as prizes.
The school may be said to be in a flourishing condition;
and it is believed by those who have had the
best opportunity of judging, to have been very instrumental
in improving the intellectual and moral condition
of the low’er orders.
The “ seminaries,” as they are called, in the t O A v n
and neighbourhood of St. Helier, are sufficiently
numerous; there are, I believe, between twenty and
thirty of such “ establishments;” and although I
readily admit, that among the conductors of these,
there are some fitted for the task of instruction, they
are of course trading speculations, and offer no guarantee,
such as that, which under an improved system
of national instruction, ought to be provided.
With respect to the state of education throughout
the island, I should say, that instruction is very
general; and indeed in the country, among the native
inhabitants, scarcely any child is to be found who is
not at school. In some of the parishes there are
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