In 1763 the number of children was augmented to 200; from which time it gradually advanced till 1798, when the number was 327. Since that period the number has varied in 1817 it amounted only to 220; but at the end of the year 1823 there were 320 scholars; and in 1827 they were increased to 350, since which time 250 boys and 100 girls have been boarded, educated and clothed, at an expense of about £5,400 per annum ; to meet which the Institution is only provided with a permanent fund of about £1,700 per annum; leaving the Trustees dependant upon the liberality of a benevolent public for an annual sum of £3,700. By another decree from the Duchy Court of Lancaster, of the date of 1803, the Trustees were increased to 100; and their number, character, and influence form a sufficient guarantee that the trust which they have undertaken will not be abused. Thus established by our ancestors from the purest motives, chiefly, they declare, as a mark of their gratitude to God, who had blessed their "adventures," and prospered their rising commerce, this noble institution has, for many years, participated in the increasing wealth of the town, and has stood forth, not only as a monument of charity, but as a memorial of the continuance among us of that spirit of religious dependance on Providence, which actuated and directed the original founders. If they, when the solitary bark returned with its cargo to our unformed haven, devoted in pious thanksgiving a portion of their comparatively insignificant gains, to provide for the godly bringing up of the orphan and the destitute, shall we with our innumerable ships and our countless stores suffer this admirable work of theirs to languish, or to be restricted in its usefulness, for want of those means which require from us less sacrifice to bestow? There is no one, in this populous and wealthy town, who is not, or may net at some period be connected with this Institution. The descendants of several of those who once contributed to its funds have, from misfortune or from the vicissitudes of a mercantile life, been thankful to share its blessings; while others, nourished within its walls, have gone forth into the world, carrying with them the excellent principles they had imbibed here; and have, by the favor of the Almighty, prospered in their undertakings, so as to turn with a kind of filial affection, to that place which had afforded to them the comforts of a home, and have gladly communicated-to the passing generation of the destitute, that aid, which they had long before received and feelingly appreciated. All classes of society, therefore, are interested in the maintenance and efficiency of the Blue Coat Hospital; and every one, who considers the fluctuations of society, will not neglect, in the time of his prosperity and affluence, generously to uphold that asylum, which his dearest connexions may, at some time, be happy to find open to them. This Institution was managed by the family of the Blundells for eighty-two years; and their descendants of the present day still maintain a lively interest in its welfare. From the resignation of the Treasurership by Jonathan Blundell, Esq., in 1796, the Treasurer has been elected annually; from 1818 to 1885 that office was filled by Richard Dobson, Esq.; through whose active and unremitting exertions the Institution attained to a degree of excellence not surpassed by any similar establishment in the kingdom; and in testimony of which a monument was erected in the Chapel of the Hospital, with the following inscription : SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF RICHARD DOBSON, BORN 20TH OCTOBER, A.D. 1781, DIED 9TH JUNE, A.D. 1835, WHO, FOR THE LAST SIXTEEN YEARS OF A LIFE DEVOTED TO THE INSTITUTION. THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE TRUSTEES AS A SINCERE BUT VERY INADEQUATE TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS INESTIMABLE SERVICES. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."-REV. xiv. 13. A few years ago, a monument was placed in the Chapel to the memory of the late Mr. Harrocks, on which is the following inscription: - Bryan In the Board Room are the following Paintings : Blundell, Esq., one of the original founders, and father of Jonathan Blundell, Esq., presented by Mr. Hamlet Winstanley. Jonathan Blundell, Esq., presented by his son, Henry Blundell Hollinshead, Esq. Henry Blundell Hollinshead, Esq., presented by his son, Richard B. B. Hollinshead Blundell, Esq., painted by Lonsdale; by whom also is a portrait of George Brown, Esq., who was educated in the School, and who, upon all occasions, acknowledged with gratitude, that to the instruction he received within its walls, he owed all his future success in life; and who was no less distinguished for his commercial integrity, than he was in private life, for his unaffected piety and Christian benevolence. During his lifetime he had eontributed largely to the funds of the Institution, and at his death in 1836, he left a legacy of £500. There is also a very good likeness of the late Mr. Harrocks, presented by Mr. Brown; and a fine old full length painting of George II., presented by the late Mr. James Holme, of Everton, together with a portrait of the late James Aspinall, Esq. Mr. Richard Ansdell, A.R.A., who was educated in the School, has also presented his picture, representing "The Meeting of the Trustees in their Board Room," as an acknowledgment of the benefits he received within its walls. The tablets which adorn the walls of the Institution indicate, in language that cannot be misunderstood, the estimation in which this Charity has been held. We there read that in 1735, Mrs. Ann Cleveland left, by will, premises in Drybridge, now Fenwick-street, which produced £1706. 13s. 9d.; in 1740, William Clayton, Esq., M.P., left a legacy of £1000; in 1744, Foster Cunliffe, Esq., gave £1000; in 1755, Bryan Blundell, Esq., had given various sums, amounting to upwards of £3500; and Mr. John Harrocks, who died in March, 1823, gave, in a few years, £3022. In 1832, a legacy of £1000 was bequeathed by Wm. Hamerton, Esq., of Rodney-street; £500 by Mrs. Atherton, of Prescot; and £500 by Captain Matthew Hayes, of Liverpool. In 1833, Chisenhale Chisenhale, Esq., of Arley Hall, presented the munificent sum of £1000; in 1834, Wm. Salthouse, Esq., gave £500; in 1836, the Charity lost a liberal supporter by the death of John Bolton, Esq., who in the same year had presented a donation of £400, in addition to several other previous benefactions. Thomas Potts, Esq., who was educated in the School, and who died in 1836, left a legacy of £1000, which was augmented by his sister at her death in 1810, to £1500; and £1000 was presented by the late Mrs. Molyneux, of Ormskirk. In 1844, James Heyworth, Esq., bequeathed £300, making with former donations a sum of £470. In 1850, Thos. D. Lewis, Esq., left by will, the sum of £10,000 to Mr. T. S. Tarleton, for his life, and desired that at his death it should be apportioned in sevenths to different Institutions, oneseventh of which, viz. :-£1428. 11s. 5d. has been invested in a Dock Bond, for the benefit of this Charity. In the same year, the Rev. Thomas Staniforth, A.M., presented a donation of £500, in memory of his father Samuel Staniforth, Esq., who was through life a warm supporter of this Institution. Since then the Charity has also received in addition many other handsome Legacies and Donations-£1000 from Miss Ann Renshaw, £750 from James Moon, Esq., £550 from Miss Twentyman, £500 from Thomas Watkinson, Esq., £500 from Mrs. Margaret Leather, £300 from Mrs. Jane Chapman, £500 from Thomas Robinson, Esq., £500 from Thomas Reay, Esq., £500 from Mrs. Lydia Anne Armstrong, £500 from Miss Catherine Wright, and £1000 from Mrs. Higgin. The Trustees have likewise gratefully to acknowledge the munificent gift of a valuable property in the neighbourhood of the Institution from John Huddlestone, Esq., the rents of which are applied to the use of the Charity. The Trustees rejoice in being able to invite the public to the elosest inspection of every department of the establishment. The great object of a religious and useful education continues to be carefully secured. They do not wish to direct the attention merely to the mode of teaching in the Schools, or to the decorous and most affecting service in the Chapel on Sundays, however gratifying these may be; but also to the general state of order, cleanliness, good conduct, comfort, and happiness which pervade the whole house. Success in after life may not, indeed, in every case, crown their efforts to secure the future welfare of all committed to them; but they are encouraged to hope that most of those children, rescued in their tender years from want, neglect, and vice, will, by the blessing of God, be so strengthened and confirmed "in all virtue and godliness" that they "may continue in the same unto their life's end." The earnest wish of the Trustees is, not only to relieve distress, not only to protect, feed, and clothe the orphan and the fatherless, but to supply the community with industrious and well-behaved servants, seamen, and artizans-to send out into the world young persons qualified to be useful in their several callings, and grounded in those sound principles of religion, which alone can impart to them true peace of mind here, and the hope of happiness hereafter. In the year 1838 a Society, called "The Blue Coat Brotherly Society," consisting mainly of those who had been educated in the Institution, was formed for the purpose of watching over the early career of Boys apprenticed from the School, and since that time 1500 Boys have been carefully visited by its members with the most encouraging success. A somewhat similar Society was established in 1857 for the Girls, by the Ladies' Committee, with equally satisfactory results. : The number of children at present in the Institution is 350; viz 250 boys and 100 girls; of which number 67 are orphans, 280 fatherless, and 3 who have parents, but who are in helpless and indigent circumstances. Children are admissible to the Institution, on producing the following evidence: 1st. Of the Marriage of the Parents of the Child. 2nd. Of the Birth and Baptism of the Child, and of the Burial of the Parent or Parents. 3rd. That the Parent or Parents of the Child, has, or have, resided within the Parliamentary Borough of Liverpool for twelve months prior to the date of the first Application. Boys are admitted at Nine years of age, except Orphans, who are admissible at Eight; Girls are admissible at Eight years of age. February, 1870. A list of Trustees who have filled the office of Treasurer, with the date of their appointment. 1709 Rev. Robert Styth, M.A., Rector of Liverpool. 1756 Richard Blundell, Esq. 1805 John Keay, Esq. 1808 William Leigh, Esq. 1809 George Brown, Esq. 1814 Bryan Blundell, Esq. 1815 Henry Blundell Hollinshead, Esq. 1817 James Bourne, Esq. 1818 Rev. William Blundell, B.A. 1819 Richard Dobson, Esq. 1835 James Aspinall, Esq. 1838 Anthony Swainson, Esq. 1848 Joseph Langton, Esq. 1849 Richard Gibson, Esq. 1854 Edward Guy Deane, Esq. 1857 William Langton, Esq. |