o > "-^O entitled, " An act to incorporate the society institu- ted in the city of New- York, for the establishment of a Free-School, for the education of poor children, who do not belong to, or are not provided for, by any religious society." In this act it was directed, that, on the first Monday in May in every year, there should be elected thirteen Trustees to manage the affairs of the society, who should be members of the said corporation, and actually residing in the city of ^ew-York : that the Trustees should meet regularly on the second Monday in every month, and that se- ven or more of them, so convened, should be a legal meeting of the Board : That any person, who should contribute to the society the sum of eight dollars, should be a member thereof; and that any person, who should contribute the sum of twenty-five dol- lars, should be a member, and be further entitled, during the life of such contributor, to send one child to be educated at any school under the care of the so- ciety; and whoever should contribute the sum of forty dollars, should be a member, and be en- titled to send two children, to be educated at any school under the direction of the said society. In conformity with the provisions of this act, thirteen Trustees were elected on the tenth of the fifth month, (May) 1805: and as they were chief- ly persons, with whom the plan of the institution originated, it may not, perhaps, be unimportant to record their names. The first Board of Trus- tees was composed of th^ following persons: De Witt Clinton, President, John Murray, Jun. Vice-President, Leonard Bleecker, Treasurer, Benjamin D. Perkins, Secretary, Gilbert Aspinwall, Thomas Eddy, Thomas Franklin, Matthew Franklin, Adrian Hegeman, William Johnson, Samuel Miller, Benjamin G. Minturn, Henry Ten Brook. The association had now assumed a responsible shape ; and the Trustees soon perceived that they had undertaken a great and arduous task. The erection of a building suitable for a school, the salary of a teacher, and other charges incident to such an establishment, would require a fund of considerable amount. Sensible, however, of the importance of the undertaking, and anxious that the friendless objects, whose welfare they had in view, should begin to participate in the benefits designed to be bestowed upon them, they deter- mined to make an immediate application to their fellow-citizens for pecuniary assistance. To afford a full view of the wishes and in- tentions of the society, an address to the public, with the names of the Trustees annexed to it, was circulated in all the Newspapers of the city. It was stated in this address, that the society did not intend to interfere with any existing in- stitution ; but, like gleaners in the wide field of benevolence, they sought such objects only as were left by those who had gone before, or were fellow- labourers with them, in the great work of charity. They considered early instruction, and fixed habits of industry, decency, and order, to be the surest safeguards of virtuous conduct; and that, where parents were either unable or unwilling to bestow the necessary attention on the education of their children, it became the duty of the public, and of those individuals Avho had the power, to assist them in the discharge of this important obligation. Although considerable exertions, in the business of soliciting subscriptions, were made by the Trus- tees, yet several unexpected circumstances occur- red to prevent, in that respect, the immediate realization of their wishes. Nearly twelve months elapsed, before they had collected a sum suffi- cient to warrant them in making the requisite en- gagements for opening a school. A mode of teaching the elementary parts of learning, as novel in its principles, as it is suc- cessful in its practical results, had been recently adopted in Great Britian. It was the discovery of Joseph Lancaster, who was then superintending, in London, a school of about one thousand children, with extraordinary success. Economy in expense, and facility and expedition in communicating in- struction, were the characteristic distinctions of this system. It comprehended reading, writing, and arith- u metic. The scholars themselves were made ihe in- struments of their own instruction. A school wag divided into classes of ten or fifteen scholars, who were placed under the care and direction of a monitor, and he was himself a scholar in a class of a superior grade. Particular accounts of this excellent system had reached this country ; and the Trustees did not he- sitate to avail themselves of the advantages which it so peculiarly possessed. In carrying it into effect, they derived essential aid from one of their own bo- dy, who had seen it in full operation in England, and who was acquainted with its regulatioji^ from a personal communication with its author. A teach- er, who appeared well qualified for the under- taking, and who is still employed by the soci- ety, was found ; and under his superintendence a school was opened on the nineteenth of the fifth month, (May) 1B06, in a small apartment in Ban- ker-street. In a few days it contained forty-two scholars. This was the first establishment of the Lancasterian system of education in America: a system, which has since been extensively adopted, and which, it is hoped, will yet include, within the sphere of its operation, the whole indigent popu- lation of our country. One clause in the Act of Incorporation, which regulated the meetings of the Trustees, being pro- ductive of inconvenience, an act was passed by the Legislature on the second day of the fourth month, (April) 1806, providing that the Trustees might hold their monthly meetings on any day of the week they might deem convenient. It was therefore immedi- ately resolved, that their regular meetings should in future be held on the first sixth day (Friday) in every month. In the same month, Col. Henry Rutgers, with a liberality truly munificent, presented to the Society a lot of ground in Henry-street, for the purpose of erecting thereon a school-house to meet the wants of the indigent in that populous part of the city. He afterwards added an adjoining lot to this gene- rous donation ; and their united value was estima= ted at twenty-five hundred dollars. In the winter of 1806, the Trustees received from many charitable citizens contributions of cloth, stock* ings, shoes, and hats, which were so distributed among the children, as to make them all comfortable during the inclemency of the season. The benevolence of some individuals has enabled the Trustees to make further distributions of these articles at subsequent periods, but not to an extent commensurate with their wishes, or with the necessity of the case. In the first month, (January) 1807, the Trustees presented to the Legislature a memorial, containing a statement of what they had done, and soliciting pecuniary assistance to enable them to carry into further effect the benevolent objects of their associa- tion. This memorial met with a very favourable re- ception : and the Trustees had soon to congratulate the friends of humanity, on the passage of an Act, appropriating four thousand dollars towards build- ing a house, and one thousand to be paid annually towards defraying the expenses of the schooL B 1§ This act was passed on the twenty-seventh of the second month, (February) 1807, and it was the more satisfactory, as it was understood, that this liberal appropriation was made unanimously in both houses. About the same time, the Trustees applied to the corporation of the city, for their assistance in this great work, which promised to be of incalculable benefit to the rising generation. A committee of that body visited the institution, and they soon after appropriated a building adjacent to the Alms-house for the temporary accommodation of the school, and the sum of five hundred dollars to assist in put- ing it in repair ; and the society agreed, on their part, to receive and educate fifty children belong- ing to the Alms-house. To this place the school was removed on the twenty-eighth of the fourth month, (April) 1807, and, before the close of the year, it consisted of one hundred and fifty scholars. In the year 1808, the Trustees had the pleasure of witnessing the growing utility of the institution, and the union of public and private exertions in their fa- vour. The charter of the society not being suffi- ciently comprehensive to embrace all classes of poor children, and desirous that the benefit of the establishment should not be confined in its applica- tion, they solicited and obtained from the Legisla- ture, an act, which was passed on the first of the fourth month, (April) 1808, ordaining that the corpo- ration should in future be denominated " The Free- School Society of New- York," and that its powers should extend to all children, who were the proper objects of a gratuitous education. u And the more effectually to provide for the fit- ture exigencies of the school, on an enlarged plan, the Trustees petitioned the Legislature, at the same session, for a liberal portion of the school-fund of the state, whenever it should be in readiness for dis- tribution. The tenement adjacent to the Alms-house could not accommodate more than two hundred and forty children ; this number was soon completed^ and nu- merous demands for admission continued to be made to the Trustees. A further application for assistance was there- fore made to the corporation in the autumn of 1808^ and that body, with a liberality worthy of those, who, as the constituted guardians of the city, were deeply interested in the right education of its youth, presented to the society an extensive lot of ground in Chatham-street, on which was an arsenal, on con- dition of their educating gratuitously the children of the Alms-house. The value of this lot and, the old building were estimated at ten thousand dollars. To this important donation, the corpora- tion afterwards added the sum of fifteen hun- dred dollars, to aid in preparing a new building for the reception of the school. The attention of the Trustees, in the year 1809, was principally occupied in the completion of the new building. A brick edifice was erected, one hundred and twenty feet in length, and forty feet in width, capable of commodiously accommodating in ©ne room five hundred children. In the lower sto- ry there were apartments for the family of the w teacher, Ibr the meeting of the Trustees, and for another school, which would contain one hundred and fifty scholars. In the adoption of their plan the Trustees had economy constantly in view; but at the same time, they were desirous that the style of architecture, and the external ap- pearance of the building, should comport with the liberal patronage which the institution had received, and with the rank of our great and flourishing me- tropolis. Among the means of lessening the ex- pense of the establishment, they solicited and ob- tained, from several benevolent individuals, con- tributions of timber and other materials to the amount of one thousand dollars. They also nego- tiated with a master-mason and two carpenters, who generously superintended the work, and paid the la- bourers, without receiving themselves the customa- ry profit. In the erection and completion of this extensive building, the society expended above thir- teen thousand dollars. The following are the names of the persons, io whose benevolence the society was indebted for the superintendence of the work, and the contribution of building materials : Abraham Russell, Isaac Sharpies, William Til- ioriy Jones Sf Clinch, J. G. Pierson Sf Brothers, George Youle, John Youle, Whitehead Hicks, M. M, Ti- tus, Forman Cheesman, Richard Titus, John Rooke, Joseph Waikins, George Lindsay, B. W, Rogers, SC Co, Jonathan Dixon, Richard Speaight, J. Sher^ red, Abraham Bussing, Alexander Campbell, Dan- iel Beach, Wm, SC G, Post, P. Schermerhorn, Junr. 13 Joel Davis, l^homas Stevenson, Henri/ Hillman, Thomas Smyth, Eheneser Basket, John Mc. Kie, Peter Fenton, Wm. Wickham, Wm. Mc. Kenny, The School in this edifice was opened on the eleventh of the twelfth month, (December) 1809 ; and, on this interesting occasion, when the in- stitution had acquired a spacious and permanent habitation, the president of the society delivered to a numerous assemblage of its friends and be- nefactors, an address, delineating the origin and progress of the association, and expatiating on the benefits which might justly be expected to flow from the difiusion of knowledge among the great mass of the people. Every person present felt and acknowledged the interest of the scene. A building, dedicated to the gratuitous instruction of five hundred children, under the care of a single individual, was a spectacle, which had never before been exhibited on the American continent. At the request of the Trustees, the Legislature passed an act on the 24th of the third month, (March) 1810, directing that no person should hereafter become a member of the society, un- less he contributed the sum of fifty dollars, and that every member hereafter admitted should have the right to send one child to one of the schools of the society ; but that nothing in the act should be deemed to affect the rights of those, who were members of the society at the time of its passage^ It was also enacted, that at each first meeting of the Trustees after every annual election, it should be in their discretion to appoint, out ©f 14 the members of the society, an additional num- ber of Trustees, not ex:ceeding five. In the same act, tlie Legislature made a further liberal appro- priation of the sum of four thousand dollars, to aid the Trustees in the prosecution of their be- nevolent designs. The Trustees deeming it advisable to establish, without loss of time, another school on the ground presented to the society by Col. Henry Rutgers, it was determined, in the spring of 1810, tliat sub- scriptions should be opened in each ward of the city, for the purpose of enabling the Trustees to erect the contemplated building. The bene- volence of the citizens of New-York, great on all occasions, shone conspicuously on this. Al- though the Trustees had collected from their fel- low-citizens in former years the sum of seven thousand dollars, they obtained, on this occasion, the additional subscription of upwards of thir- teen thousand dollars. In the autumn of 1810, the Trustees were de- prived of the services of one of their ablest co- adjutors, by the death of their secretary, Benj. JD. Perkins. His labours in the cause of the so- ciety had been truly valuable ; and a record was entered on the minutes of the Trustees, expressive of their sense of the loss which they had sustained, and of their sincere respect and esteem for the memory of their fellow-labourer. On the second of the eleventh month, (November) 1810, the corner-stone of the new building in Henry- street was laid bv the benevolent donor of the soil* 15 Iti the presence of several members of the coipora- tion of the city, and other respectable citizens. In the twelfth month, (December) 1810, one hun- dred dollars were appropriated to the purchase of suitable books, to commence a circulating library attached to the school, and additions to it were re- spectfully requested from the members of the so- ciety ; and in the same month, a legacy of two hun- dred and fifty dollars was benevolently bequeathed to the society by the late Charles Le Roux. The year 1811 was marked with the further ex- tension of public patronage and assistance. The Legislature, with a benevolence worthy of the fa- thers of the state, again testified their approbation of the institution, by the passage of an act, on the 30th of the third month, (March) 1811, by granting to the society four thousand dollars, and the further 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 north-western part of the city, would enable them to extend with great benefit the sphere of their usefulness. Impressed with this sentiment, they presented a petition to the vestry of Trinity Church, in the spring of 1811, who prompt- ly and generously granted to the society two large lots of ground, at the corner of Hudson and Chris- topher-streets, near the village of Greenwich. The value of these lots was estimated at one thousand dollars. The building in Henry-street being completed, it was opened on the 13th of the eleventh month, (No- 16 vember) 1811, as school No. 2. It is eighty feet in length and forty in width, and will accommodate three hundred children ; and in the lower story is an apartment in which one hundred and fifty migKt also be admitted. The building is the same in appearance as the one in Chatham-street, possessing also accom- modations for the family of the teacher, and was completed at an expense of about eleven thousand dollars. In compliance with the request of the Trustees, an act was passed by the Legislature on the 28th of, the second month (February), 1812, directing that the society should hereafter elect six Trustees, in addition to those authorized by law. Every person, who wsa acquainted with these schools, was ready to express his satisfaction with the literary improvement of the children ; but there were some, who thought that sufficient care had not been bestowed in the communication of instruction specifically religious. A concern of such high im- portance had not, however, been overlooked by the Trustees; and they had pursued such measures in re- gard to it, as they considered to be most expedient. The board was composed of persons of almost eve* ry religious denomination ; men who were attached to their respective creeds, and who would not fail, on suitable occasions, to recommend an acquaintance with them. But, in these schools, they had studi- ously avoided the inculcation of the peculiar tenets of any religious society. From the commencement of the institution, they had directed that the Holy Scriptures should be read daily in the schools ; and it was thought, that the tender minds of the children 17 could not fail to be impressed with the sublime pr-e- cepts and the beautiful morality of these excellent Tolumes. To satisfy the wishes of every well-mean- ing person, it was however determined, that the schools should be suspended on the afternoon of every third day of the week (Tuesday), and that this time should be exclusively devoted to the religious instruction of the children. An association of more than fifty La- dies, of distinguished consideration in society, and be- longing to the different religious denominations in the city, volunteered their services in the work, and they accordingly meet at the schools to examine the chil- dren in their respective catechisms on the day appoint- ^d for that purpose. The parents and guardians de* signated the denomination in whose tenets they wish- ed their children to be educated ; and it may not be uninteresting to state the number belonging to each, at the time when this measure was adopted. They were found to belong to the various religious societies as follows, and the numbers are not materially different at the present period, Presbyterians ----- 279 Episcopalians - - ^ . - 205 Baptists ------142 Methodists 130 Dutch Church ----- 33 Roman Catholics - - - - 20 Associate Reformed - - - 16 Total 825 18 It was also deteimined, in relation to this subject, that the children should assemble at their respective schools on the morning of every Sunday, or first day of the week, and proceed under the care of a monitor, to the place of public worship to which they respectively belonged. The two schools will contain about eight hundred scholars. That number is generally complete ; and they are educated at an annual expense of about three dollars each. About four hundred children are admitted, and the same number discharged, every year. JNine years have now elapsed since the society commenced its labours, extending the blessings of education to the children of the indigent in this me- tropolis. Every succeeding year has afforded them the gratification of announcing to the public, the uniform advancement of the interests of the in- stitution, and of its great and rapidly-increasing utility ; and the Trustees have also had the satisfac- tion of seeing the benefits of the same system ex- tended, either in whole or in part, to several other schools in this city. The two rooms in the lower stories of the buildings in Chatham and Henry-streets, are occupied as female schools, and are under the care of an association of young women in profes- sion with the society of Friends, who teach in these apartments, with signal success, the elementary- parts of education and needle-work, on the Lancas- terian plan, to about three hundred poor children. The Orphan Asylum Society educate about ninety children, on the plan of this institution, at their 19 excellent establishment in the suburbs of the city. The Economical School in Anthony- stieet, whose principal object is the instruction of the children of the Refugees from the West-Indies, is also, with some modifications, conducted on this plan ; and the same system has been adopted in the school founded by the Manumission Society, for the education of people of colour, consisting of more than one hun- dred scholars. A school has been established in Albany under the patronage of the corporation of that city, and of several very respectable and benevolent citizens t and the association, which established it, have been incorporated by the name of the " Albany Lancas- ter Society." Several others have also been opened in different parts of the state. Deputations from the neighbouring states have visited the Free-Schools in this city, for the express purpose of examining their merits ; and the reports of these committees have been so favourable, that numerous schools, on this plan, have been esta- blished in various parts of our country. An asso- ciation of the citizens of Philadelphia, under the name of the " Adelphi Society," composed of mem- bers belonging to the society of Fiiends, have erected a handsome two-story brick building, se- venty-five feet in length, and thirty-five in breadth, which will contain, in its several apart- ments, about six hundred scholars. In other insti- tutions in Philadelphia, the same system has been adopted. A school has been opened in Baltiinore, and flourishes beyond expectation ; and at George- 1% town, in the district of Columbia, a society has been formed, who have established a seminary on the same plan. In several towns in New-Jersey, and at Hart-- ford in Connecticut, very considerable progress has also been made in its introduction and establishment. Thus has this excellent system of instruction been carried, in the United States, to an extent, which it is impossible to contemplate without pleasure. The importance of communicating to all classes, a plain education at least, is now readily acknowledged in every part of the civilized world* And in no country is the extension of general instruction more expedient than in this, where men enjoy an equality of rights, and where the character of the government is formed by the virtue and intelligence of the people. In large and populous cities there are also additional reasons for cultivating and strengthening the public mind : for it is there, that the contagion of bad example more particularly exists; and there, is the com- mission of crimes encouraged by the superior chance of concealment. Liberal as the donations to this society have been, they are yet insufficient to enable the Trus- tees to erect a building on the lots in Christopher- street. A school in that quarter would give the society an opportunity of distributing more equally the advantages which it bestows ; and even then the w ants of the indigent would be far from being fully supplied. The Trustees, however, confidently rely, for future assistance, on the bounty of their 21 fellow-citizens, and of tlie constituted authorities; and they cherish the hope, that the period is not far distant, when every child in this extensive city will be furnished with that knowledge, which will fit him for the creditable performance of the pr? dinary concerns of life. Fifth month, (May) 1814. ACTS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE, RELATIVE TO THE FREE-SCHOOL SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK. — — or are not provided for, by any religious society, have, by their memorial, solicited the aid of the Le" gislature ; and whereas their plan of extending the benefits of education to poor children, and the excellent mode of instruction adopted by them, are highly deserving of the encouragement of govern- ment. Therefore be it enacted by the people of the State of New-York, represented in senate and assem- bly, that out of the monies appropriated by the acts entitled " An act to lay a duty on strong liquors, and for regulating inns and taverns," to the payment of the contingent charges of the city of New- York, and which s,hall come into the treasury of the said city, after the first Tuesday of May next, there shall be paid to the Trustees of the said society, for the purpose of erecting a suitable building or buildings for the instruction of poor children, the sum of four thousand dollars, and every year hereafter, until the pleasure of the Legislature shall otherwise determine, there shall be paid to the said Trustees out of the pro- ceeds of the said fund the sum of one thousand dol- lars, for the purpose of promoting the benevolent ob- jects of the said corporation. April 1, 1808. Whereas the Trustees of the Society for establish- ing a Free-School in the city of New- York, for the education of such poor children as do not belong to, ©r are not provided for, by any religious society, 32 have by their petition represented to the Legisla- ture, that the act incorporating that society re- strains them unnecessarily in the communication of the advantages of their establishment, by confining them to a certain description of poor children ; and have also petitioned for a competent portion of the school-fund applicable to the city of New-York, in order to be the better enabled to proceed in the execution of their important duties; and whereas the said fund does not as yet amount to a sum suffi- ciently large to render an immediate distribution advisable ; but as the Legislature are desirous of en- couraging an institution, so laudable and useful, by granting the petition of the said Trustees in other respects: Therefore, Be it enacted by the people of the state of New- York, represented in senate and assembly. That the name of the said corporation shall be, and hereby is, changed, and that it shall, in future, be de- nominated " The Free-School Society of New- York," and that its powers shall extend to all children, who are the proper objects of a gratuL tous education. An act respecting the Free-School Society of New- York. In compliance with a memorial of the Trus- tees of the Free-School Society of New-York, 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of New- York, represented in senate and assembly. That no person shall hereafter become a member of the said society, unless he shall contribute the sum of fifty dollars to the funds, and be elected by a majority 33 of the Trustees ; and that every member, hereafter admitted, shall have a right during his life to send one child to one of the schools of the said society. Provided that nothing herein contained, shall be deemed to affect the rights of the present members and benefactors of the said institution. 2. And be it further enacted, That at each first meeting of the said Trustees, after every annual election of Trustees, it shall be in their discretion to appoint, out of the members of the said corpo- ration, an additional number of Trustees, not ex^ ceeding five. 3. And be it further enacted. That out of the mo- nies appropriated by the act, entitled " An act to lay a duty on strong liquors, and for regulating Inns and Taverns," to the payment of the contingent charges of the city of New- York, and which shall be first received by the commissioner of excise, af- ter the first Tuesday of May next, there shall be paid by him to the said Trustees, the sum of four thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting suita- ble accommodations for the instruction of poor chil- dren. Passed the senate March 3, 1810. Passed the assembly March 24, 1810. An act for the further encouragement of Free-Schools in the city of New- York. Passed March 30, 1811. AVhereas the Trustees of the " Free-School Soci- ety of New- York," have, by their memorial, soli- cited the aid of the Legislature in extending the benefits of their institution ; therefore, E 34 1. Be it enacted hy the people of the state of New- York, represented in senate and assembly. That out of the monies appropriated by the act, entitled "An act to lay a duty on strong liquors, and for regulating Inns and Taverns," to the payment of the contingent charges of the city of New-York, and which shall come into the treasury of the said city after the first Tuesday of May next, there shall be paid to the said Trustees the sum of four thou- sand dollars for the purpose of erecting another building for the instruction of poor children, and every year hereafter, until the pleasure of the Le- gislature shall otherwise determine, there shall be paid to the said Trustees, out of the proceeds of the said fund, in addition to the annual sums heretofore granted, the sum of five hundred dollars, for the purpose of promoting the benevolent objects of the said corporation. 2. And he it further enacted. That no misnomer of the said corporation in any deed, will, testament, gift, grant, demise, or other instrument of con- tract or conveyance, shall vitiate or defeat the same, provided the corporation shall be sufficiently de- scribed to ascertain the intention of the parties. State of New- York, ) Secretary's office. 5 I certify the preceding to be a true copy of an original act of the Legislature of this state, now on file in this office, at the city of Al- bany, the 4th day of April, 1811. Anthony Lamb, Dep. Secretary , 35 An act to provide for the election of an additional number of Trustees in the Free-School Society of New- York, and for other purposes. Passed February 28, 1812. In" compliance with the request of the Trustees for the Free-School Society of New- York, Be it enacted hy the people of the state of New- York, represented in senate and assembly, That it shall and may be lawful for the members of " The Free-School Society of New- York," to elect for ever hereafter, at every annual election of Trustees, six Trustees in addition to those heretofore authorized by law. State of New- York, > Secretary's office. 5 I certify that the preceding is a true extract from an original act of the Legislature of this state, on file in this office. Albany, March 30, 1812. Anthony Lamb, Dep. Secretary^ BY-LAWS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TRUSTEES. — -ww^*- — I. Be it ordained by Ihc Trustees of*' The Free-School Society of Neiv-Yorky" That every election of the Trustees of the said society shall be held at the Trustees' room in Chatham-street, on the first Mon- day in the fifth month, (May) in each year, and shall begin at 10 o'clock, and close at 12 o'clock of the same day. II. The secretary of the said society, for the time being, shall give at least three days public notice in two of the newspapers printed in the city of JVew-York, of every such election, and of the time and place the same is to be held. III. Every such election shall be held under the in- spection of three of the Trustees of the said soci- ety, to be appointed by the said Trustees for that purpose; and the secretary of the society shall k:eep a poll-list at every such election, under the direction and view of the said inspectors ; and they, or a major part of Ihein, shall preside at such elec- tion, and conduct and direct the same in the man- ner herein prescribed. 37 IV. At every such election, there shall be elected nineteen Trustees to manage the concerns of the said society ; and at the first meeting of the said Trustees after such annual election, it shall be in their discretion to appoint, out of the members of the said society, an additional number of Trustees, tiot exceeding five. V. Every member of the said society, qualified to vote for Trustees, shall at such election deliver his ballot to one of the inspectors, which ballot shall be a paper-ticket, containing the names of as ma- ny persons for Trustees as are then to be chosen ; or so many of them as such elector shall think proper to vote for, severally written on such paper- ticket, and designating four of them as votes for President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secre- tary; and the inspectors shall cause the name of the elector to be written down in the poll-list by the Secretary, and shall cause the ballot, without suffering the same to be inspected, to be deposited fn a box, to be provided for that purpose. VI. The said inspectors, or a majority of them, as soon as the poll is closed, shall proceed to canvass and estimate the said votes; and shall thereupon make and sign a certificate, under their hands and seals, who are the persons so elected as Trustees of the said society for the ensuing year ; and shall de- liver the same to the secretary, to be entered by him in the records of the said society, and who 38 shall forthwith give notice to the persons so elected as Trustees. VII. The three IVustees appointed inspectors at the annual election of Trustees, shall prepare the annu- al report of the Trustees, to be made to the general meeting of the members of the society, pur- suant to the seventh section of the act for incorpora- tmg the said society ; and shall, previous to such general meeting of the members, lay the same before the IVustees, to be approved and signed by them, or a major part of them. VIIT. The President for the time being, or in his absence, the Vice-President, or in the absence of both of them, one of the Trustees, to be nominated and chosen as President pro tempore, shall preside at all meetings of the said society, and at all meetings of the Trustees shall regulate all debate, and preserve order and de- corum ; and in case an equal nuujber of votes shall be given on the affirmative and negative of any ques- tion, the person so presiding shall have a casting vote. TJie President also, or in his absence, the l^ice-President, shall call a special meeting of all the members of the said society, when five Trustees of the said society shall request it ; and shall call a special meeting of the Trustees, when he shall think it necessary. IX. The secretary of the said society shall have the custody of the by-laws, records, books, and papers of the society : he shall, under the direction of the 39 President, give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Trustees, or of the members of the society, and shall attend the same : he shall keep fair and accurate minutes of all the proceedings of the Trustees, and of the society ; and in case of his sickness or necessary absence, his duties shall be per- formed by the treasurer, or such other person as may be appointed for the time being. X. The treasurer, when he enters upon the duties of his office, shall give a bond for the faithful perform- ance of the trust reposed in him, to the society, in such sum, and with such security, as the Trustees, or a majority of them, may from time to time require. He shall receive and keep in trust all sums of money due and payable, and all donations or bequests of money made to the said society ; and the deeds and evidences of all real or personal property given or bequeathed to the said society: he shall pay all such sums of money as the Trustees may authorize, he shall keep a true and faithful account of all monies received and paid by him, and once a year, or often- er, whenever thereunto required by the Trustees, shall render a particular and correct statement of the same to the Trustees, who shall appoint two of theii' number to examine and audit his accounts. XI. The regular monthly meeting of the Trustees shall be on the first sixth day, (Friday,) in every month, at the Trustees' room in Chatham-street, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 40 XII. The Trustees, who, from sickness or other causes, are iinal)le to attend their meetings, shall communi- cate to the meeting, either in writing or otherwise, an excuse for tlieir absence. XIII. Candidates for admission into the Free-School So- ciety of INew-York, may be proposed and bal- loted for at the same meeting of the Trustees in which they are proposed, unless one of the Trustees shall request the balloting to be postponed until the next meeting, in which case it shall be postponed ac- Goixlingly. , XIV. There shall be a committee appointed by the Trustees out of their number, to have the manage- ment of the various concerns of the schools during the recess of the board, whose duties are particular- ly pointed out in the rules for the government of the school committees. XV, At the first meeting of the Trustees after the an- nual election in the fifth month, (May) in every year, they shall appoint teachers to take charge of the schools under the care of this society; and shall also appoint the several committees which may be necessary to manage the concerns of the institu- tion. XVI. Seven or more of the Trustees shall constitute a legal meeting of the board. RULES GOVERNMENT OF THE SCHOOLS. — — <^<^(^— — L The school hours shall be from 9 to 12 o^clock in the forenoon, and from 2 to 5 o'clock in the af* ternoon. IT. A punctual and regular attendance of the chil- dren being of the first importance, the teachers are requested to enjoin it upon them as an indispensable duty. AVhen a child has been absent from the school, the teachers are to ascertain the cause. Should any be repeatedly absent without assigning a sufficient reason, the teachers are desired to notify in wri- ting those who may have the care of such children, and if no amendment then take place, they are to report ihe case to the school committees. III. As cleanliness not only promotes the comfort, but the health of the children, it shall be the duty of the teachers to take notice of every neglect in F 42 this particular, and to use such means as they may deem best calculated to ensure an attention to it. IV. As the mode of instruction adopted by this insti- tution renders the appointment of monitors necessa- ry, the teachers are requested to select none for that station, but those who are distinguished for their exemplary deportment and attention to their studies. The monitors are to hold their offices only during good behaviour. The children are or- dered to respect and obey them. V. To encourage and stimulate the monitors to a faithful performance of their duties, the teachers shall be directed to distribute to them weekly tick- ets of approbation, if their conduct has rendered them worthy of it. The monitors shall wait on the school committees at the end of every three weeks, and exhibit the ticket or tickets they have earned. On such exhibitions the school committees shall dis- tribute the following rewards ; to each monitor pro- ducing one ticket of approbation in the course of three weeks, three cents: to each monitor produ- cing two tickets for the same space of time, seven cents : and to every one holding three tickets, one shilling. VI. When any child, during his stay in the school, has behaved in such a manner as to merit the approba- tion of the Trustees, he shall be furnished, on his leaving the school, with a certificate expressive of such approbation. 4 43 VII. The Trustees being impressed with a belief, that important advantages will result to the children of this institution, from a due observance of the sab- bath, or first day of the week, direct, that all the scholars be ordered to attend on the morning of that day, at the school to which they may belong, and that they there be divided into classes, and proceed under the charge of a monitor, to such places of public worship, as may be designated by their parents or guardians. VIII. The monitors shall be responsible for the attend- ance of their respective classes at the place of public worship to which they may belong : and shall, on the following day, report the delinquents, if any, to the teachers, who shall report the same to the school committees. IX. In the future admission of children to either of the schools, it shall be made an indispensable con- dition, that the regulations with respect to the at- tendance of public worship, shall be strictly assent- ed to on the part of the applicant. X. The afternoon of the third day in each week, (Tuesday) shall be appropriated to the instruction of the children at their respective schools, in the principles of the Christian religion; and in order that they may be educated in the peculiar tenets of the denominations to which they respectively be- long, the several churches, with which they are 44 connected, shall be respectfully invited to send suitable persons to catechise, and otherwise so to instruct them. XL A portion of the scriptures shall be read in each of the schools by the first class twice a day, at the opening in the morning, and at the close in the evening. DUTIES OF THE TEACHERS I. It shall be the duty of the teacher in every school, under the care of the Free-School Society of New-York, with the assistance of his monitors, to keep a book, in which he shall enter, in alpha- betical order, the name of each child admitted into the school ; and opposite the name of each child, he shall insert, in distinct columns, marked for that purpose, the time when such child was admitted and discharged, and the time when he or she was advanced in any of the different branches of learn= ing taught in these schools. He shall immediately make due entry of all the children now in school, specifying, in the proper columns, the present state of their learning ; and shall carefully note the de- gree of learning possessed by those hereafter ad- mitted, at the time of their admissi(»n. And he shall make a report in writing to the Trustees once in three months, namely, at their stated meetings, in July, October, January, and April, of the number 4t> ece-« of children admitted and discharged in the pr ding three months, and also of the number who have been advanced in each of the branches of tuition mentioned in such literary register. II. Every teacher shall also keep in another book, prepared for that purpose, an alphabetical list of all the children belonging to the school under his care, their age, place of residence, native place, what parents, parents' occupation, by whom recommend- ed, when admitted, when discharged, their general character, and finally their destination, when this can be ascertained. III. The teachers shall pay particular attention to the regulations prescribed under the head of rules for the government of the schools. IV. The teacher of school No. 1, shall assist the se- cretary in recording the minutes of the proceedings of the society, and of the Trustees. V. Every teacher shall make a return weekly to the school committee of No. 1, of the number of chil- dren in the school under his care, and of the num- ber admitted and discharged in the preceding week. RULES THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SCHOOIu COMMITTEES. I. There shall be appointed to each school, under the care of this society, a school committee, to con- sist of three Trustees, who shall have the chief over- sight and management of the schools, during the re- cess of the board. II. One member shall be appointed at each regular meeting of the Trustees, to serve on each of these committees, the oldest in service retiring from it. Each member of the committees will thus have ser- ved three months ; and the Trustees shall be appoint- ed to this service in alphabetical order. III. Applications for the admission of children into any of the schools shall be made to the school com- mittee of school No. 1, who shall meet for that pur- pose every second day of the week, (Monday) from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon, at the Trustee?' room in Chatham-street. 4B IV. The school committee of No. 1, shall keep a book, containing an alphabetical list of all the members of this society, designating those who have the right to recommend children, and those who have the pri- vilege of voting only : this book should also specify whether the member possessing the right to recom- mend a child, has availed himself of his right ; and if so, the name of the child. It should also specify the donations or subscriptions received. V. When application is made for the admission of a child, particular inquiry should be made into the circumstances of the applicant, so that none be ad- mitted, who are not the proper objects of a gratuitous education. The school committee may admit, in their discretion, such children as they may think pro- per, without reference to the subscribers; but a prefer- ence must be given to thase who are recommended by the members of the society, possessing that right. VI. The school committee of No. 1, shall also meet at the school every fifth day, (Thursday) afternoon, from 3 to 5 o'clock, for the purpose of inspecting the school, and examining the children in their learning. VII. The school committee of No. 2, shall meet every fourth day, (Wednesday) afternoon, from 3 to 5 o'clock, at the school under their care, for the pur- pose of examining the children in the differei^jt branches of their learning. 49 viir. Each of the school committees shall keep a book of minutes, in which they shall note their own at- tendance, and enter all such transactions as they may consider of sufficient importance to be record- ed. The minutes of their proceedings shall be pro- duced and read before the Trustees at their regu- lar meetings for their approbation. IX. It shall be the duty of the school committees to assist parents in obtaining suitable places for their children, w^ien they shall be discharged from the school ; and all applications on the part of the pub- lic for such children shall be made to either of the school committees. X. The funds of the society cannot, in any case, be appropriated for the clothing of the children. XI. Children may be admitted on the recommenda= tion of all subscribers of fifty dollars, even before such subscribers have been balloted for by the Trustees. G A SKETCH OP THE METHOD OF EDUCATION EMPLOYED BY JOSEPH LANCASTER, IN LONDON I AND ADOPTED BY THE FREE-SCHOOL SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK. METHOD OF TEACHING THE ALPHABET. The children are taught the letters by printing them in sand. A table, suitable for the purpose, constructed as follows, must be provided. B A represents the part where the sand is to be placed, and is an horizontal surface, about fifteen feet long, and six inches wide ; this should be stain- ed with black ink, in order to show the letters ; and to preserve the sand from wasting, ledges about an inch high are nailed round this part of the table : the sand must be dry ; and the instrument for smoothing it, should be a piece of sole-leather, the width of the sand surface, on which are cut 61 three small notches ; these rule lines, and are intend- ed to keep the letters of equal height on the board: and B represents the space, a little declining down- wards for the arm to rest on. Ten children can be accommodated at this table ; each scholar has a stick given to him about the thickness of a quill, and four inches long, with which he is to write the letters on the sand. The al- phabet is divided into three parts, as follows, viz. the perpendicular letters, I H T L E F, i and 1, form the first lesson ; the triangular letters, A V W MNZKYX, vwk yz and x, form the second ; and the circular letters, OUCJGDPBRaS, aobdpqgc mnhtursfj, form the third : these are in succession placed before the class, which is under the direction of a monitor, who, with an audi- ble voice, desires them to form the first letter ; each scholar now makes his best effort, which, perhaps, is a very awkward one ; but the monitor pointing out the defects, and occasionally printing the letter for them, teaches them to retrace it: after repeated trials upon the same letter, the class is soon able to form it readily, and with neatness. The next letters of the lesson are in succession placed before them, and are taught in the same manner. It may be necessary to observe, that on no account what-= ever must the pupil pass on to another letter, until he is able to print the first with neatness. In being thus exercised in forming the letters, the pupil will in a short time know them ; and he is not onl} en- abled to print his letters, but also learns them sooner than in llie usual mode of teachinsT- 52 If the class is continual in its application to form- ing letters on the sand, it will be found that the em- ployment will be insipid and burdensome ; it should therefore be varied by having the class several times a day called from their seats, and formed into a cir- cle round a lesson, which is printed in large letters, and suspended by a nail to the wall, in such a man- ner that the whole class can view it. The monitor then points to the first letter, and asks aloud. What letter is that? The boy, at the head of the class> answers first ; when, if he should make a mistake, the question is put to the second boy, and so on un- til some one in the class answers aright; in which case the boy takes precedency in the class. This exercise soon perfects them in the knowledge of their letters, and is also a pleasing relaxation. SYLLABIC SPELLING AND READING. The children having learned their letters, are re- moved to a higher class by the inspecting monitorj and are taught to spell and read monosyllables* The office of inspecting monitor is very essen- tial ; being his business to examine, and report the proficiency of the scholars to the master, who gives them small prizes : they are then paraded round the school, preceded by a monitor, who proclaims aloud, " these good boys have received prizes for their good behaviour, and attention to their studies, and are to be removed to anotlier class." This has a pleasing effect in the school, and is an excitement to general perseverance. The office of inspecting 53 monitor is extended to all the succeeding classes. The first lesson of syllabic reading should be an easy one, and not more than four or five words. This class is also taught to write their words on the sand, as required by the first class ; the monitor and the class being furnished in the same manner. They are desired by the monitor to make two letters, b — a, who teaches them that b — a spells ba, after this, d — a is given them, and the monitor teaches them as before, and so on in succession. The moni- tor should observe the same rule here as before, that one thing be done well, before another is un- dertaken. We have thus seen the class engaged in learning their letters, and at the same time printing them neatly in the sand. We have seen them go through their exercises of spelling by printing the words as they were spelled aloud by the monitor; the class being now so far perfected in their first spelling les- son, that they not only can print the words in the sand, but they can also spell them from memory, one after another, as the monitor gives them out. The next point to be gained is the reading of them. This however is no ditficult task : the scholars hav- ing frequently seen the words printed in the sand before them, they have become already so familiar, that they have only to see the word, and they can generally pronounce with certainty what word it is. The monitor frequently calls out his class, and forms it into a circle round the reading lesson> when they are exercised, as noticed before. The 54 first lesson may now be considered as learned : for the children in the class can not only print the words with neatness, but they can spell them, and they can read them. The second lesson contains an equal number of words, and is tauc^ht in the same manner. As the class progresses, the lesson may be increased to ten or twelve words, and so on to even twenty, without requiring any more time. In this way the class should be conducted through the monosyllables. They should be able to print and spell every word before they attempt to read them; and should never enter upon a new lesson, until the preceding one has been read with correct- ness and ease. WRITING AND SPELLING ON SLATES The class is now qualified to enter on words of two syllables ; these are not taught at the sand table as heretofore, but are removed to desks inlaid with slates, where each scholar has a pencil, and is taught to write, first a straight stroke, secondly the component parts of letters, thirdly, the lettersand their combinations. The slates are to be ruled with a sharp- pointed instrument : their copy is written by the mon- itor, or with chalk on a black board, and hung up in view. The children should be carefully taught to hold their pencils, as though they were writing with a pen on paper. The class should be daily exercised in spelling and reading; they should be called up by the monitor, at least twice in the morning and twice in 55 the afternoon. After they have gone once through their lesson, they resume their task. All the spelling lessons heretofore learned were monosyllables, and they were learned by printing them in sand ; but words of two or more syllables are to be learned by writing them on slates. And as they have acquired a knowledge of the written alphabet, the shape and proportion of the letters, and the proper mode of joining them together, the monitor again resumes his business of spelling his class. His duty becomes more arduous than before ; for he is not only required to inspect the words as they are written, to detect errors in spelling, but constant attention must be given to the manner of holding the pencil. Being in readiness to proceed, the first lesson, (containing about ten words) is giv- en to the class in an audible voice by the monitor word after word : the fiist time they are given out, they should be spelled by the monitor, but the se- cond time the words should only be pronounced, and written down from memory. The class is then ex- ercised in spelling the words they have written, first in the book, and then out of book ; and also to read the lesson, suitable to the words they have written. After they have become proficient in the first les- son, the second is given, and is to be learned in the same manner ; and in this way they go regularly through the spelling-book. AVhile the children are too young, or too inexperienced to be taught arith- metic, their spelling, reading, and writing should continue without any intermission ; but those who are 56 further advanced, and are learning arithmetic, spell only three or four lessons in the course of a day. READING. The pupils having become expert syllabic readers, and acquainted with an extensive knowledge of words, so as to pronounce them with propriety, are permit- ted to read in the testament, the introduction to the English Reader, &c— So that little more remains to be done than frequent exercise, at least twice a day, and to imitate a good example. WRITING Writing on the slate, in connexion with spelling, has -already been described ; but writing, independ- ently of that exercise, is also taught in the following manner. Copper-plate copies are placed before them, and they write the copy on the slate. The monitor fjequently passes and repasses along his class, teaches the manner of holding the pencil, points out the faults he can discover, and sometimes, by making a letter, or writing a word, teaches the shape and pro- portion of the letters in the copy before them. Suf- ficient time having been devoted to writing, the monitor removes the copies, and the class resume their other studies. The degree of perfection to which boys will attain by writing on the slate, without ever having a pen in their hands, is very considerable ; but as the use of the pen is also to be acquired by practice, this 57 part of their education must not be neglected; and twice in the course of the week, a few lines written in a copy-book, are deemed expedient. ARITHMETIC. The new method of teaching the simple rules of arithmetic in classes, has also been found very expe- ditious. In the first place, the figures may be taught, like the written alphabet, from a copy on the black board. The numeration table may also readily be taught in the same way ; and when the addition table is well understood, the class may be instructed in the following manner ; the monitor holds a book in his hand, which contains the whole work, and the answer of every example that he teaches. A few sums may be two or three figures only ; and when they begin to understand the art of addition, they may be en- larged to several columns, as in the following example : 4 3 2 7 2 5 3 6 4 6 7 5 3 5 2 4 Total 15 6 2 In this example the monitor reads aloud from his book the first number, four thousand three hundred and twenty seven, which every boy sets down in H o8 figures on his slate. This being inspected by the monitor, as he passes along the class, and found to be right, be gives out the next number, 2536, which the scholars place as directed, under the first num- ber, and with units under units, tens under tens, &c. Then the following numbers, which they place as before. The monitor then proceeds to add up the first column in an audible voice, saying 4 and 5 are 9, and 6 are 15, and 7 are 22, put down 2 and car- ry 2 to the next column. All in the class place the 2 under the first column. The monitor then pro- ceeds, as before, to the other columns; and as he passes along the class, sees that every boy has placed the sum total as directed; he knows too that the work is correct by the key that he holds in his hand. This operation is repeated until the pupils have giv- en sufficient proof that they understand the whole process. Another method of teaching the simple rules of arithmetic, and one which should be frequently re- sorted to, is in the use of the black board. The class having written the sum on their slates, and at- tended to casting it up, are now called up by the monitor to exercise in that manner. The same sum is written with chalk on the board, large enough to be seen by the whole class. The monitor points to the first column, when the head boy adds aloud 4 and five are 9, and 6 are 15, and 7 are 22, put down 2 and carry two to the next. The monitor stands by the board with a piece of chalk, sets down the several products, as ihey are found by the boys, who add the columns in their turns, and a new ex- 59 ample is given, when the first is well understood. When a boy in adding makes a mistake, the next, oj any boy in the class, who discovers it, should take precedency of him. This excites attention and lau- dable ambition. This account of the method of teaching addition, will be sufficient in arithmetic : as the same princi- ple is applicable to all the other rules, and may with superior advantages, be adopted by every teacher. Many children enter upon the study of arithme- tic under great disadvantages, for want of a know- ledge of the tables . This should never be the case : w^hen they meet with difficulties, they feel discoura- ged, and from this cause the labour of teachers be- comes very much increased. DONATION!^ FREE SCHOOL SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK. -^V^'^- In a list of donations, so extensive as the following, it is possible that some inaccuracies, in stating the amount of individual subscripr- lions, may have occurred, which have escaped the notice of the Trustees: if this should be found to be the case, or if the name of any subscriber has been omitted, the Trustees will endeavour to exhibit a more perfect account in a future publication. Dolls. From the Legislature of the state, in 1807 From ditto, in 1810 From ditto, in 1811 From the corporation of the city, in 1807 From ditto, in 1809 From ditto, lot of ground and an old building in Chatham-street, valued at 4000 4000 4000 500 1500 10,000 From Colonel Henry Rut- gers, two lots of ground in Henry-street, valued at From the Vestry of Tri- nity Church, two lots of ground in Chris- topher-street, valued at From Charles Le Roux, a legacy DoOi 2,50» 1,000 250 61 Dolls. A From William Adamson 100 John Jacob Astor 50 John Adams 50 James Arden 50 G. B. & 1. Abeel 30 Gilbert Aspinwall 25 John Aspinwall 25 William Ash 25 Robert Abbatt, Jun. 25 Nehemiah Allen 25 Andrew Alexander 20 William Allen 10 David Auchinvole 10 B Ann A. Bancker 100 Samuel Boyd 100 Walter Bowne 75 Cornelius Du Bois 75 William Bayard 75 Divie Bethune 50 Robert Bowne 50 Adam Brown 50 Theodoras Bailey 50 William Bailey 50 George Buchanan 50 Thomas Buchanan 50 Thomas C. Butler 50 John L. Broome 50 Robert Bogardus 50 Noah Brown 50 Priscilla Barker 50 Samuel Borrowe, Jun. 50 Elizabeth Bowne 50 Henry Brevoort 50 Robert H. Bowne 45 Thomas Buckley 40 Peleg Brown 25 Nicholas B. Brower 25 Dom. From Abraham Barker 25 Jacob Barker 25 James Bogert 25 Samuel Burling 25 Ebenezer Bassett 25 Abraham Bussing 25 Daniel Beach 25 Samuel Borrow^e 25 I. E. Birch 25 Leonard Bleecker 25 John L. Bowne 25 J. G. Bogert 25 C. I. Bogert 25 Thomas Burling 25 William S. Burling 25 Jonathan Burrall 25 Benjamin Bakeweli 25 Benjamin Bailey 25 Abraham Brinckerhoff 26 Abraham Bel! 25 Charles Buck 25 Charles Brown 20 Christian Bergh 20 James Boggs 20 John Broome 20 Matthias B. Bruen 20 S. V. Bayard 20 George Buckmaster 15 William Bradford, Jun. 10 G. Baldwin 10 E. Burrill 10 I. Boorman 10 James Buckley 8 Dr. Boyd 5 Henry S. Brookes 5 James Bruen 5 Robert Bird 5 C De Witt Clinton 200 ©2 Dolh From aiary M'Crea 200 Daniel M'Cormick 75 Catharine R. ftl'Crea 50 Henry A. Coster 50 John G. Coster 50 Oliver Coles 5o John B. Coles 50 William Codman 50 Samuel Corp 50 Lynde Catlin 50 Cadwallader D. Colden 50 I. C. Clement 50 Thomas S. Clarkson 50 Peter Curtenius 50 | William Craig 50 Gloriana Cunningham 50 Hugh M'Cormick 50 Abigail Corse 5o John E. Caldwell 50 E. Crary .50 William B. Crosby So Thomas Cadle 50 Isaac Carow 50 James L. Cornell 50 ] John T. Champlin 50 Thomas Collins 40 Richard Cunningham 40 John Craig 40 Benjamin Clark 25 John Clark 25 John JM'Comb 25 John Clark, Jun. 25 Matthew Clarkson 25 Samuel Campbell 25 William Clapp 25 B. P. Cruger 25 B. S. Collins 25 William Collins 25 Isaac Collins, Jun. 25 Dolh From James Concklin 25 R. C. Cornell 25 William Cairns 25 Cornelius Cadle 25 Francis Cooper 25 Israel Corse 25 Richard Chalk 25 Forman Cheesman 25 Aspinwall Cornwall 10 A. Campbell 10 W. Cahoone 6 David Cumming 5 R. Curtiss 5 Jonathan Cowdry 5 D Frederick Depeyster 50 Catharine Depeyster 50 Abraham Depeyster 50 James F. Depeyster 60 Robert G, L. Depeyster 50 Frederick Depeyster, Jun.50 David Dunham 50 Anthony Dey 50 Benjamin Desobry 50 John F. Delaplaine 50 Francis Diederichs 50 Robert Dickey 50 Charles Dickinson 50 Matthew L. Davis 50 John Depeyster 30 J. Dixon 25 Alexander Dunlap 25 John Day 25 S. Denton 25 Samuel Doughty 25 Samuel Davis 23 David L. Dodge 25 Joel Davis 25 Charles Douglas 10 63 Dolls. JJutly Prom Downer, Satterlee &Co. 1 | From N. L. & G. Griswold 2b Gerard Depeyster 5 Samuel Gedney 25 Abraham Dally 5 John Gardner 25 E John Grant 25 William Edgar 50 John Green 25 William Edgar, Jun. 50 Cornelius Grinnell 25 Henry Eckt'ord 50 James Gillespie 25 Thomas Eddy 25 John A. Graham 25 Peter Elting 25 George Gibbs 25 James M'Evers 25 Garrit Gilbert 20 F Edward Gilbert 10 Henry Fanning 50 William Green 10 Thomas Farmar 50 I. Gallagher 10 Fanning & Coles 50 C. Graham 5 Andrew Foster 50 William Gibson 5 Thomas Franklin 40 Andrew Garr 5. Fosdick & Co. 25 James Gibson 5 John Franklin 25 H Matthew Franklin 25 Thomas Hamersley 50 William Franklin 25 Isaac Heyer 50 Benjamin Ferris 25 William Hogan 50 Elijah Ferris 25 John Hunter 50 William Few 25 Renssellaer Havens 50 R. B. Forbes 25 Jabez Harrison 50 M. G. Field 25 John Hone 50 Thomas Freeborn 25 James Heard 50 Peter Fenton 25 John H. Howland 50 Nicholas Fish 25 Abigail Hicks 59 John Ferrers 20 Stephen Hathaway, Jun. 50 Robert Fulton 10 Israel Horsfield 50 J. B. Fleming 5 Simeon Hyde 50 G Asahel Hathaway 50 Archibald Gracie 75 Samuel Hicks 45 Robert Gilchrist 50 0. H. Hicks 40 David Gelston 50 Thomas Herring 40 Maltby Gelston 50 David Hosack 30 Joseph Grinnell 50 E. Hart 25 Nathaniel Griswold 50 Valentine Hicks 25 fohn I. Glover 25 Goold Hoyf 25 64 Dolls Dolls. From Adrian HegemaH 25 From Philip Kearney 50 H. E. Haight 25 Arthur Kinder 50 Elias Haines 25 John Kane 50 Cornelius Heyer 25 Elias Kane 50 Michael Hogan 25 Henry King 50 D. L. Haight 25 John M'Kesson 50 Whitehead Hicks 25 Henry Kneeland 50 Henry Hillmaa 25 Isaac L. Kip 25 Walter Hyer 20 Edmund Kirby 25 Garrit Hyer 20 Thomas Kinder 25 William Hunter 10 William King 25 William Hill 10 John M'Kie 25 Peter Hattrick 10 William M'Kenney 25 H. Hinsdale 5 Aaron Kimberly 25 John E. Hyde 5 Peter M'Kinley 20 William Holmes 5 John D. Keese 20 William Harris 5 L Joseph Haskett 5 Herman Le Roy 75 I & J D. Lynch 75 Samuel Jones, Jun, 75 B. Livingston 50 Edward R. Jones 50 Mordecai Lewis 50 Joshua Jones 50 James Lovett 50 John Jones 50 George Lorillard 50 William Jauncey 50 Thomas Lawrence 50 Stephen Jumel 50 William Lawrence 50 I. W. Jarvis 50 Jacob Lorillard 50 Amasa Jackson 50 Cornelius Low 50 N. Judah 25 John Lang 50 N. Ingraham 25 Hannah N. Lawrence 50 S. F. Jenkins 25 J. G. Lake 50 William Johnson 25 E. Lyde, Jun. 50 Cave Jones 25 Jonathan Little 50 W. H. Jephson 25 William S. Leney 50 Samuel Jackson 25 R. R. Lawrence 45 Moses Judah 10 John Leonard 45 D. S. Jones 5 Augustus H. Lawrence 40 K John C. Ludlow 40 Archibald Kerly 50 Gulian Ludlow 30 John W. Kearney 50 John R. Livingston 30 65 Dolls. Dolh. Prom G. Lindsay 25 From John Mason 50 John B. Lawrence 25 Stephen B. Munn, Jun 50 John T. Lawrence 25 G. W. Murray 50 Isaac Lawrence 25 Mary Murray 50 Lawrence & Whitney 25 Hannah Murray 50 Samuel Leggett 25 Harriet Murray 40 James Lent 25 John Murray, Jun. 40 James W. Lent 25 John R. Murray 40 J. H. Livingston 25 Andrew Morris 30 Abner Labagh 25 John Murray 25 John M'Lane 25 William Minturn 25 John Leonard 20 James Minturn 25 D. R. Lambert 20 N. G. Minturn 25 George Lawrence 10 S. B. Munn 25 L. Loomis 10 Washington Morton 25 Samuel A. Lawrence 10 William Moore 25 Jacob Le Rroy 5 James Manning 25 P. V. Ledyard 5 Charles Marsh 25 E. L Lazarus 5 Sylvanus Miller 25 James Lawrence 5 Edmund Morewood 25 James L. Livingston 5 Asher Marx 25 Charles Loss 5 Samuel Mott 25 Jacob Latting 5 Samuel Miller 25 M Mangle Minthorn 25 Thomas H. Merry 25 Peter Jay Munro 75 Walter Morton 25 B. J. Mititurn 50 Mulhenburg & Smith 20 John B. Murray 50 Major & Gillespie 20 Peter ^/Tesier 50 John Movvatt, Jun, 20 Lewis Mark 50 B. P. Melick 10 Moses L. !VIo?es 50 B. Marshall 10 G'Sidon S. Mnmford 50 Peter A. Mesier 10 Ch:irles Miller 5s: Dr. E. Miller 10 Robert B. Minturn 50 Samuel Miiligan 10 Wi!!i?im R. Minturn 50 Stuart Mollan 5 Lindley Murray 60 Dr. M'Neven 5 Ann Musgrove 50 Robert M'Mennomy 5 Tyler Maynard 50 Asa M'lnn 5 James B. Murray 50 James M'-Master 5 66 Dolls. Dolls. N From H. B. Pierpoint 25 From George Newbold 50 W. &i G. Post 25 Timothy Nostrand 10 John Parmiter 10 Stephen Pinckney 10 Samuel Osgood 100 Porri & Rinaldi 5 Andrew Ogden 50 Q T. L. Ogden 50 James Quackenbush 25 D. B. Ogden 50 R D. A. Ogden 50 Henry Rutgers 500 W. F. Osgood 50 William Rogers 50 William Ogden 40 John J. Roulet 60 Jonathan Ogden 25 John Rogers 50 B. Otis 25 Nicholas Romaine 50 William Osborn 10 Moses Rogers 50 P Gilbert E. Russell 50 Pepin & Breschard 74 Eliza Remsen 50 Thomas Pearsall 50 Stephen Van RenssellaeriO Wright Post 50 Mary Rhinelander 50 Frederick Philips 50 J. R. B. Rodgers 50 Isaac Pierson 50 William Rhinelander 50 Stephen Rice 50 Philip Rhinelander 50 Nathaniel Prime 50 Jane Renwick 50 William Palmer 50 Abraham Russell 50 William A. Prince 50 Peter Remsen 30 Samuel Prince 50 James Roosevelt 30 John Pintard 50 Sarah Maria Romayne 25 Samuel Parsons 45 Cornelius Ray 25 B. D. Perkins 40 W. W. Rodman 25 N. Philips 25 Wm. Rhinelander, Jun 25 William P>e 25 John W. Russell 25 Robert Pearsall 25 Henry Remsen 25 William M. Pluymert 25 William Rhodes 25 Benjamin Pell 25 William T. Robinson 25 Benjamin Page 25 William & S. Robinson 25 Henry Post, Jun. 25 John Rooke 25 Abraham Prall 25 B. W. Rogers 25 Nathaniel Pendleton 25 John Rathbone, Jun. 25 Alexander Phoenix 25 James C Roosevelt 25 J. C. PiersoQ 25 Cornelius C. Roosevelt 20 67 Dolls. From W. H. Robinson 20 Henry Rankin 20 James I. Roosevelt 20 Martin Rabbeson 10 Andrew Raymond 10 G. Robertson 10 James Robertson 5 H. F. Rogers 5 J. Roe 5 S Josiah Sturges 50 John Stevens 50 Peter A. Scheuck 5tl Francis Saltus 50 John Suydam 50 Gabriel Shaw 50 Nathan Sanford 50 Edmund Seaman 50 Robert Seaman 50 Thomas Storm 50 N. W. Stuyvesant 50 Ebenezer Stevens 50 Benjamin Strong 50 Thos. & Wm. Stevenson 50 A. L. Stewart 50 John C. Smith 50 Jacob Sherred 50 R. Speaight 40 Allen Shepherd 25 John S. Schermerhorn 30 Isaac Sebring 30 Thomas Smyth 25 Thomas Stevenson 25 John SUdell 25 A. R. Smedes 25 Jacob Schieffelin 25 Gamaliel Smith 25 Samuel Stansbury 25 DotU. From John Stoutenburgh 25 James Scott 25 John H. Sickels 25 Thomas Snell 25 William T. Slocum 25 Thomas Slidell 25 Thomas Stagg, Jun. 25 Peter Stuyv'^esant 25 Isaac Sharpies 25 P. Schermerhorn, Jun. 25 John F. Suytlani 20 Smith & Loomis 20 William Smith 20 Sayre & Richards 20 Margaret Stuyvesant 15 Hector Scott 10 Valentine Seaman 10 George Suckley 10 John btephens 10 James Stewart 10 Jacob Shute 5 T Thomas Tom 50 James Thompson, Jun. 50 Stephen Thome, Jun. 50 John Thompson 50 John Taylor 50 Noah Taylor 50 Henry Ten Brook 40 Francis Thompson 40 James Thomson 25 John Tom 25 John Titus 25 Noah Talcot 25 Michael M. Titus 25 Richard Titus 25 Daniel D. Tompkins 25 Jeremiah Thompson 25 68 Dolls. From Richard I. Tucker 20 John Turner 20 R. & K. Townsend 20 Joseph Thebaud 20 Silas Talbott 5 James Turk 5 * George Tredwell 5 Robert Thomson 5 U & V John M'VicUar 50 Richard Varick 40 Gerrit H. Van Wagenen 25 J. C. Vandenheuvel 25 Van Gieson & Van Blar- com 25 P. C. Van Wyck 25 N. Van Antwerp 25 John Vanderbilt, Jun. 25 Wynant Van Zandt 20 J. Van Blarcom 20 William Vandevoort 20 Joseph Vecchlo 5 Van Dyck & Ainsley 5 William Underbill 5 W Charles Wilkes 50 Wm. M'Adam Wilkes 50 Lemuel Wells 50 Henry I. Wyckoff 50 Augustus Wynkoop 50 John Watts 50 Thomas B. Winthrop 50 Walter Willis 50 M. Willet 50 Lewis Wilcox 50 Henry Ward 50 JOoUs. From John R. Wheaton 50 William Weyman 60 G. J. Waddington 50 G. Williams 50 John Wilkes 30 James Wood 25 Joshua Waddington 25 Thomas Walden 25 Jacob Walden 25 William Walton 25 Isaac Wright 25 E. Weeks 25 George Warner 25 William Waring 25 William Wickham 25 Thomas Wickham 25 John Wheeler 25 Joseph Watkins 25 John G. Warren 25 Robert Wardell 20 James Walsh 15 D. & A. Wolfe 10 L White 10 S. Whittemore 10 J. Wintringham 10 P. H. Wendover 10 J. Werckmeister 5 R. Wiley 5 John G. Wendell 5 Samuel Webb 5 Francis B. Winthrop, Jun.5 R. White 5 George Wragg 5 Y John Youle 25 George Youle 10 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS FREE-SCHOOL SOCIETY OFJ^EW-YOnK, Dolls. Prom the Legislature of the state, annual dona- tion, commenced in 1807 1000 From ditto, commenced in 1811 500 From Gilbert Aspinwall 8 William Ash 8 A. L. Bleeeker 8 Leonard Bleeeker 8 Divie Betbune 8 Jonathan Burrall 8 Robert Bowne 8 Jesse Baldwin 8 William S. Burling 8 George Bement 8 N. B. Brower 8 S. & L. Clarkson 8 John B. Coles 8 Elijah Day 8 Thomas Eddy 8 Pefer Elting 8 Matthew Franklin 8 R. Gilchrist 8 D. Gelston 8 James Gourlay 8 A. S. Glass 8 Thomas Herring 8 D. L. Haight ' 8 H. E. Haight 8 Isaac H. Jackson 8 Jetiiel Jaggar 8 Philip Jacobs 8 William Jauncey 8 Brockholst LiTingston 8 Dolls. From John R. Livingston 8 George Lewis 8 Jonathan Little 8 William Leffingwell 8 John Murray, Jun. 8 John R. Murray g Samuel Miller 8 Benjamin Ogden 8 Manuel Prince 8 Abraham Prall 8 I. Prall 8 W. & G. Post 8 N. Prime 8 Alexander Phoenix 8 B.D. Perkins 8 George Rapalye 8 James Roosevelt 8 J. R. B. Rodgers 8 A. W. Roorbach 8 E. Raymond 8 William Smith 8 Isaac Sebring 8 J. L. Sebring 8 William Stillwell 8 Joseph Strong 8 John Suydam 8 Henry Ten Brook 8 Peter Talman 8 Gerrit H. Van Wagenen 8 Henry M. Van Salinger 8 Abraham Varick 8 William Walton 8 Charles Wilkes 8 William W. Woolsey 8 70 From the precedins; list of donations and subscriptions, it will be seen, that this society has been favoured with many public and private contribufions: and while the Trustees acknowledge, with great satisfaction, the reception of such liberal assistance, they are not without hope that many others will yet be found willing to imitate the same benevolent example; and as some persons, who are blessed with extensive means of doing good, may per- haps feel disposed to contribute to this institution, by will, it may not be improper to add the form of a bequest and a devise, adapt- ed to this particular case. FORM OF A BEQUEST OF A MONEY LEGACY. Item. / give and bequeath to " The Free-School Society of New- York,'" the sum of to he paid to their Treasurer, for the time being, for the use of the said society, in carrying on the benevolent designs of their institution, FORM OF A DEVISE OP REAL ESTATE, AND GROUND RENTS. Item. / give and devise u7ito " The Free-School So- ciety of New- York," their successors and assigns for ever, all that, Sfc. (here describe the property or Ground rent) together with the appurtenances. TRUSTEES OF THE FREE-SCHOOL SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK, Elected in the Fifth Month, {May) 1814. DE WITT CLINTON, President. JOHN MURRAY, Jun. Vice-President LEONARD BLEECKER, Treasurer. THOMAS BUCKLEY, Secretary, HENRY TEN BROOK, THOMAS EDDY, GERRIT H. VAN WAGENEN, JOHN R. MURRAY, HENRY RUTGERS, FREDERICK DE PEYSTER, BENJAMIN CLARK, JOHN VANDERBILT, Jun. ABRAHAM BARKER, THOMAS COLLINS, JEREMIAH THOMPSON, WHITEHEAD HICKS, EBENEZER STEVENS, CADWALLADER D. COLDEN, WILLIAM B. CROSBY, BENJAMIN STRONG, JOHN E. CALDWELL, CHARLES DICKINSON, SAMUEL BOYD, JOHN ASPINWALL. WILLIAM SMITH, Teacher op School No. I. JOHN MISSING, Tbacher of Schoqi, No, II. CONTENTS. Pagt. An account of the origin and progress of the Society -------_-. --3 Acts passed by the Legislature, relative to the Free-School Society 22 By-laws for the j>;overnnient of the Trustees 36 Rules for the government of the Schools - 41 Duties of the Teachers --.----45 Kules for the government of the school Committees -----------47 Sketch of the method of education - - - 50 Donations to the Society ------- 60 Annual Subscriptions --------69 Trustees elected in 1814 71 »RD l04 \. X C> VP I* . » • o ^- ^-^.A^ /Jlfe-v Vy .-istoi-. U^a"^ vv -v/X^' v-^^ \ "^-^-o^ .: C" ♦• r .. » .A C^ %^<^ •0 ♦• 1 DOBBSBROS. ^ ^.. ^<^ ^^* ♦ ./. '^^ aV ... V ;WAY 81 ST. AUGUSTINE ^^„,.„^ ,^^i4 FLA. i^itW^x* 43, K O , -_ ^^•i<^^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESSi 022 118 172 4