AND FEEDS THE CHILDREN.

7

under instruction, many of whom I educated free of expense. As the number of scholars continued to increase, I soon had occasion to rent larger premises.

'A season of scarcity brought the wants of poor families closely under my notice at this time a number of very liberal persons enabled me to feed the hungry children. In the course of this happy exertion, I became intimately acquainted with the state of many industrious poor families, whose necessities had prevented the payment of the small price of their children's tuition, 'some of whom had accumulated arrears for many weeks. In every such case I remitted the arrears, and continued the children's instruction free of expense.

The state of the poor, combined with the feelings of my mind, had now blended the pay school with a free school. Two benevolent private friends had been in the habit of paying for five or six poor children at the low price I had fixed as the assize of education or mental bread for my neighbourhood. I easily induced these friends to place the money they gave, as pay, in the form of a subscription.'

On the outside of his school-room he placed the following printed notice: All that will may send their children and have them educated freely; and those that do not wish to

8

IS AIDED BY FRIENDS,

have education for nothing, may pay for it if they please.' This filled his school; but, as might have been expected, left his income scarcely adequate to his own board and comfort.

6

6

As the number of his pupils increased, a new school-room became necessary. It was provided, chiefly through the benevolent aid of the late Duke of Bedford and Lord Somerville, who,' says Lancaster, 'appeared to be sent by Providence to open wide before me the portals of usefulness for the good of the 'The children,' he adds, now came poor. in for education like flocks of sheep; and the number so greatly increased, as to place me in that state which is the mother of invention. The old plan of education, in which I had been hitherto conversant, was daily proved inadequate to the purposes of instruction on a large scale. In every respect I had to explore a new and untrodden path. My continual endeavours have been happily crowned with success.'

Such was his position in 1798. A thousand children were daily gathering for instruction, and a few friends were supporting him by their annual subscriptions. Nothing can be more beautiful than the account given of his position and character at this time. He was always domesticated with his pupils. In their play hours he was their companion

AND ENLARGES HIS COURSE.

9

and their friend. He accompanied them in bands of two, three, and (on one occasion) of five hundred at once, to the environs of London for amusement and instruction.

On

Nor did he care only for their intellectual necessities. Distress and privation were abroad he raised contributions, went to market, and between the intervals of school presided at dinner with sixty or eighty of the most needy of his flock. The character of benefactor he scarce thought about; it was absorbed in that of teacher and friend. Sunday evenings he would have large companies of pupils to tea, and after mutually enjoying a very pleasant intercourse, would conclude with reading a portion of the sacred writings in a reverential manner. Some of the pupils would vary the exercise occasionally by reading select pieces of religious poetry, and their teacher would at times add such advice and observations as the conduct of individuals, or the beauty and importance of the subject, required. Is it any wonder that with pupils so trained, to whom so many endearing occasions presented, evidences should abound of affection, docility, and improvement? In them he had many ready co-operators, and, however incapable of, forming designs, never were agents more prompt and willing to execute.' These were his best and most joyous days. Happy would

10

HE NOW BECOMES KNOWN,

it have been for him, though certainly not for mankind, had he never emerged from this scene of humble, quiet, usefulness, into the turbulence of a world which distracted him by its excitement, injured him by its praise, and finally cast him off, for faults of which itself had been the parent.

He was now rapidly becoming an object of public attention. His school-room was visited by foreign princes, ambassadors, peers, commoners, ladies of distinction, bishops, and archbishops;' his publications were passing rapidly through editions, each larger than its predecessor; his school, ably and zealously conducted by youths trained under his own eye, and imbued with his own enthusiastic spirit, was forsaken for lectures in all the principal towns of the kingdom, in every part of which he was received with the most marked and flattering attentions from all classes; even the monarch did not disdain to admit him, uncovered, to his presence, but sustained, encouraged, and applauded him. The interview which took place at Weymouth, in 1805, is thus described by Mr. Corston :

'On entering the royal presence, the king said, Lancaster, I have sent for you to give me an account of your system of education, which I hear has met with opposition. One master teach five hundred children at the

AND IS SENT FOR BY THE KING. 11

same time! How do you keep them in order, Lancaster?' Lancaster replied, 'Please thy majesty, by the same principle thy majesty's army is kept in order-by the word of command.' His majesty replied, 'Good, good; it does not require an aged general to give the command; one of younger years can do it.' Lancaster observed that in his schools the teaching branch was performed by youths, who acted as monitors. The king assented, and said, 'Good.' Lancaster then described his system; and he informed me that they all paid great attention, and were highly delighted; and as soon as he had finished, his majesty said, Lancaster, I highly approve of your system, and it is my wish that every poor child in my dominions should be taught to read the bible; I will do any thing you wish to promote this object.'

Please thy majesty,' said Lancaster, 'if the system meets thy majesty's approbation, I can go through the country and lecture on the system, and have no doubt, but in a few months I shall be able to give thy majesty an account where ten thousand poor children are being educated, and some of my youths instructing them.' His majesty immediately replied, Lancaster, I will subscribe £100 annually; and,' addressing the queen, you shall subscribe £50, Charlotte; and the