THIS ACCOUNT

IS ADDRESSED

TO THE

LANDOWNERS AND LAITY

OF

SOMERSETSHIRE.

An English Gentleman generally only needs to be convinced, in order to that conviction leading to right action: but the difficulty is, to induce him to trouble himself with a subject, not only foreign from his own pursuits, but which has been thrown aside from time immemorial, as "only belonging to the Clergy." Thank God, there is also another virtue equally characteristic of an English Gentleman, and that is, a willingness to bear plain and straightforward dealing,

I do not hesitate then to ask those whom I now address,-Is it fair that the Clergy should be, not only the Establishers, the Superintenders, oftentimes the frequent Teachers, but also the chief Payers of the school expenses? Are the temporal as well as the spiritual claims of the Labourers upon us alone, or upon us chiefly? Whose then are the broad acres which form the Parishes, of which our Glebes form but a

vi.

small and insignificant part? Whose the Manufactories and Collieries, yielding their rich return, to which the Vicar's rent-charge is but as a grain of sand in value.

Bear with me a little longer. In most instances we do not desire to lessen the burthen of Educational exertions lying on ourselves; the few exceptions are cases that You yourselves would be the first to regret that the charge had ever been so oppressively laid; but we do earnestly desire the aid and co-operation of Yourselves and of your Families to do that which yet remains to be done-to afford to each parish and large Hamlet in Somersetshire, a good school equal to the wants of its inhabitants. We do anxiously desire to interest the Lords of the soil in the cultivation of those who cultivate that soil; to interest the Gentry of the County in the moral and religious well-being of those who live around their thresholds.

To effect this object the present account has been drawn up with minute care from personal inspection, in order to give to every one resident within the Diocese the means of knowing the objects and ability for good of the Diocesan Board of Education, and the peculiar deficiencies of the different localities in which they may live.

I have firm faith in the Justice and Benevolence of those to whom I speak, when they do consent to look for themselves and judge for themselves; when at length they are roused to trace the close connexion between vice and ignorance, between immorality and the state of the Cottages, between dishonesty and the

pressure of unfairly small earnings. That these things are so, is but to record the daily events of village life: that they be not so, rests with our Country Gentlemen.

These pages will find their way to the hands of many, who have long been noble examples of what wealth and influence can effect; of many, who are turning their attention to remedy the evils of former apathy; of some, who perhaps have hitherto felt little interest in the enquiry.

To all I would dedicate the results of experience and of facts, the only data which can afford satisfactory information to sensible men; of facts, which prove that we need only the cordial and collective help of our Landowners and Laity, to meet and second the aid which we may reasonably expect from Government, to enable the Wells Diocesan Board of Educa tion to fulfil every object, so far as Education is concerned, which Prudence and Zeal can desire.

J. B. B. CLARKE.