STATEMENT of the ACCOUNTS of the CHARITY called CHARLES CRADOCK'S GIFT, of which the following Persons are the Trustees, viz., the Wardens or Keepers and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of Saddlers of the City of London, for the year ending on the 31st day of December 1881.

1881. Jan. 1

Balance

15 8 11

1881.

STATEMENT of the ACCOUNTS of the CHARITY called BANNER'S CHARITY, of which the following Persons are the Trustees, viz., the Wardens or Keepers and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of Saddlers of the City of London, for the year ending on the 31st day of December 1881. 1.-GROSS INCOME arising or due from the ENDOWMENTS of the Charity for the year ending on the 31st day of December 1881.

TO THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES.

In pursuance of a minute of the Board, of the 1st November 1864, I have inquired into the conditions of the under-mentioned charity under the management of the Scriveners' Company of the city of London, and I have stated in my report the result of my investigation.

NICHOLAS REEVE'S CHARITY.

The style of the Company in the charter of 1689, is "The Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Society "of Writers, usually called Scriveners of the City of "London."

The Court consists of a master, two wardens, and 24 assistants. The number of liverymen are about 30. There are a considerable number of freemen, as under the Notaries Act, 41 George 3rd, c. 79. s. 63. (Public Act), every person admitted as a notary in London or within three miles, must be admitted to the freedom of the Company. This is generally done by service or patrimony, when a fee of 61. 6s. is paid, or by redemption on a payment of 14 guineas.

NICHOLAS REEVE'S CHARITY.

By the last will and testament of Nicholas Reeve, dated 27th February 1625, a sum of money which appears so far as it was received amounted to 1597.. was directed to be laid out in land, and the rents and profits to be distributed to and amongst the poor brethren and sisters of the Company. The money, together with 217., making 1801., was laid out in the purchase of meadow and marsh land at Westham, which was subsequently sold.

By a deed of 8th January 1701, certain premises in Noble Street were conveyed to them upon trust, to pay the rents to the Company, and out of the rents so received to distribute according to their discretion the annual sum of 101. charged upon the said messuages clear of taxes to and amongst the poor brethren and sisters of the said Company, for and as an equivalent and in lien of the said sum of 1591., by a charity given by the will of one Nicholas Reeve, heretofore a member of said Company, deceased, whereby he willed that the rents and profits should be distributed, and with which money, 211., added thereto by the Company, making 1801., a piece of meadow and marsh ground at Westham was purchased.

By a deed of 9th January 1701, the Company, in consideration of 2351., conveyed to Henry Francis a meadow

and marsh of 6 acres at Westham in Essex, freed and discharged from the charitable use for which money was given to purchase land, and wherewith the abovementioned land was purchased, and the rents, issues, and profits arising therefrom ordered and appointed to be paid to the poor brothers and sisters of the said Company in and by the last will and testament of the said Nicholas Reeve. And by the said deed the Master and Wardens declared that in lieu of the said charity chargeable on the said land thereby conveyed, they had ordered provision and equivalent to be made out of some part of their freehold estate belonging to their common hall in Noble Street in the city of London of a greater yearly value than the land thereby conveyed for the support and maintenance of the aforesaid charitable use, and the purchaser Henry Francis thereby declared that the land for several years last past had let for no more than 101. a year with a deduction thereout for taxes and repairs of the marsh well. The 10l. a year seems to have remained to this time a charge on the Noble Street property.

By indentures of the 30th and 31st July 1799 between the Master and Wardens of the first part, William Brown and others of the second part, and Samuel Bradford and others of the third part, reciting that the parties of the second part were surviving trustees of certain messuages for the Company, the said parties of the second part conveyed the said four messuages to the use of themselves and the parties of the third part and their heirs upon trust to permit the Master and Wardens to receive the rents, and distribute there out 10l. a year amongst poor brothers and sisters of said Company, and to apply the residue of said rents to the use of said Company.

Subsequent conveyances have been made, it being the habit to appoint new trustees from time to time.

The Company have always two pensioners with the nominal pensions of 51. each under this gift, but who in reality receive 401. each. The Company have also another Fensioner of 301. The first pensioners are two women, and one man. The male pensioner is a freeman, and the two female pensioners are widows of freemen. A son or a daughter of a freeman are considered admissible. The excess beyond the 10. is made up by the voluntary bounty of the Company.

All which I submit to the Board,

THOMAS HARE,

Inspector of Charities, 2nd June 1865.