Stephen Prust, the sincere friend of Smith, desirous of encouraging an undertaking so beneficial to the poor, kindly promised that he should not want for assistance, as the Auxiliary Bible Society would aid his endeavours by donations of the Scriptures for the use of the schools. The heart of Smith was now too full to admit of procrastination; he lost no time; he entered the very next day on this new field of labour, with uncommon industry and zeal. He selected two friends from among his humble associates, who accompanied him to what is called the Out-parish of St. Philip and Jacob, a large proportion of which is inhabited by the poorest classes: this parish they traversed, to take down the names of those who were willing to subscribe small weekly sums for purchasing the Scriptures, as recommended by the parent Society in London, in preference to gratuitous distribution, so that they might obtain them at very reduced prices. Many of these, to whom the application was made, observed-" I should be very glad to have a Bible; but it will be of no use to me—I cannot read."-This afforded Smith an opportunity of asking them whether they would like to learn to read, if a school should be opened? Most, or all, embraced the offer, with expressions of pleasure; their names were immediately taken down, and the first man entered on the list of learners was William Wood, aged sixty-three; the first woman, Jane Burrace, aged forty. Two rooms, free of expense, were sought for and obtained the same evening; after which, two persons, who had been formerly employed in teaching in charity schools for children, were applied to, who readily undertook to conduct the two intended schools-one for men, and the other for women. William Smith still laboured under some embarrassment respecting his further procedure, in procuring books for the use of the scholars : after deliberating some time on this point, he applied to Captain John Richards, of Kingsdown, for the loan of a few, with which to commence the Adult Schools; the Captain furnished them cheerfully, and spoke encour

agingly of the undertaking. Notice was now given amongst the poor of the before-mentioned parish, that it was intended to open the proposed schools on the eighth of the ensuing month, only nineteen days from the time Smith first communicated his mind on the subject to Stephen Prust. They were opened at the time fixed, eleven men and ten women being admitted on the day of commencement; the numbers increasing every week, until the rooms were filled. The learners soon evinced not only a desire, but a capability of learning; their progress was encouraging to themselves and to the teachers; their conduct was orderly and becoming; their personal cleanliness beyond what might have been expected of people in very humble stations in life; they likewise demonstrated no small share of gratitude for the friendly and benevolent exertions made for their benefit; and that too by individuals, to whom they could not have looked up with a hope of their becoming the benefactors of the poor. The successful exertions of William Smith have proved him to be a well-wisher to his country, and to mankind at large; and strikingly evince to us, that neither an humble station in life, nor the want of an extended education, precludes the sincere Christian from important usefulness to his fellow-creatures. This estimable man, who, through Divine Providence, has been made ‣ so great a blessing to the indigent in society, occupies a rank in life no higher than that of a door-keeper of a dissenting chapel in this city, for a salary of eighteen shillings per week; out of which he pays three shillings, to have a part of his work done by another person, for the purpose of setting himself more at liberty to perform the duties dictated by that Christian philanthropy which animates his heart, and guides his footsteps to the haunts of sorrow, the abodes of sickness and of want. This is the person who collected the learners, engaged the teachers, and opened the two first schools in England for instructing adults exclusively, in borrowed rooms, and with borrowed books. The success

attending this new undertaking was, unquestionably, most gratifying to the mind of Smith, and of those humble individuals whom he enlisted in the service; this encouraged him to look out for other apartments in the same neighbourhood, for the reception and instruction of those who were daily coming forward with solicitations to be admitted as learners; as the desire of learning to read the Scriptures was now spreading from street to street, and from parish to parish. Thus commenced the Schools for Adults in Bristol, in the benevolent exertions of a poor, humble, and almost unlettered individual, whose example soon excited similar feelings of Christian philanthropy in the minds of many others, disposed to patronize a design that affords a bright prospect of advantage to the poor, as well as to the moral, political, and religious state of the community at large; and which promises, under the direction of the Supreme Controller of events, to become a very important means of inculcating the great truths of Christianity amongst those classes of our fellow-creatures, who have been hitherto unhappily neglected, and suffered to remain in a state of lamentable degradation and moral turpitude.

The morning of prosperity now dawned upon the efforts of that useful man, whom we cannot but hold in esteem, and consider as the Founder of Adult、 Schools in England;* whose heart, we can have no doubt, did then and still does glow with the sincerest gratitude to the great and gracious Author of his Being, and of those benefits he has been made the instrument of conferring upon so many thousands of the poor, as, we trust, will ultimately be partakers of the advantages of these judicious schemes-advantages relative to the life that now is, but more especially to that which is to

come.

*William Smith also founded the first of those called The Methodist Sunday Schools," in the city of Bristol and its neighbourhood, in the year 1804; which are at this time (1814) affording education to 2248 children, of both sexes.

In the course of a few weeks after the establishment of the two first schools, a few friends to the cause of religion, of humanity, and of the poor, met William Smith, and formed themselves into a Society, under the title of "AN INSTITUTION FOR INSTRUCTING ADULT PERSONS TO READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURES;" and, in order to extend their usefulness, entered into a subscription, amounting to 147. 10s. 6d. which was contributed by thirty-two persons. They also resolved upon twelve Rules for the future regulation of the Society and of the Schools. These Rules they printed, to give publicity to their undertaking-Aud to interest the feelings of their fellow-citizens, and induce them to step forward in support of this infant Institution, they prefixed to this pamphlet some introductory remarks, calculated to make a strong impression on the minds of the benevolent; a number of whom entered into their views, and lent their friendly assistance. At the time of this publication, they inform us, that there were "above eighty adult persons learning to read, under the direction of six conductors, and thirty teachers." The motto given in the title-page of this little publication, was the expression of David-" Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

It appears that the first donation for the encouragement and support of this laudable undertaking, was a present of books from Captain John Richards, beforementioned, subsequently to the lending of the books, which has been already noticed; this was previous to any society being formed; whilst Smith, aided by a few associates, was industriously exerting himself for the settlement of a few of the first schools. He now applied to a minister in the Methodist Society, who kindly came forward to befriend the poor, rendered important services in forming this new Society, and was the author of the Preliminary Address, published with the Rules; to which were subjoined the names of the officers and subscribers.

William Smith did not himself undertake to con

duct either of the schools, or to fill the office of a teacher; he was actively and incessantly employ ed during almost every hour he could be spared from the duties of that humble station on which he depended for a maintenance; he exerted every effort to enlist the most suitable persons he could take the liberty of applying to, in order to bring them forward as conductors or teachers; and procured the use of rooms for the reception of fresh applicants, as well as others, whom he sought out, desirous of the instruction these humble seminaries offered them; so that by his great and unwearied exertions, with the help his few acquaintances afforded him, within the space of about thirteen months from the commencement, there were nine schools opened for men, and the same number for women; during which time three hundred men, and three hundred and one women were admitted. Two hundred and twentytwo men, and two hundred and thirty-one women were under education at the time of the Society's publishing their First Annual Report, dated April 19, 1813, including a period of thirteen months and eleven days. Before this time the Society was considerably increased; and Ministers, as well as others, of almost every denomination of Christians in this city, cordially united, and have unanimously and successfully laboured to extend the scale of its operations for the present and future benefit of their poor, ignorant, and neglected fellow-creatures.

The efforts of this Society having been attended with considerable success, in respect to the progress made by the learners, as well as, in many instances, in the evident improvement of their moral character, afforded no small degree of encouragement to those who had been employed in this new field of labour, and to the numerous visitors who occasionally came into the schools, either out of curiosity, or to gain the requisite information as to their plans of proceeding, for the purpose of establishing similar Institutions in other parts of the country.