members of the Corporation, it was not fit that the account of rents should be carried further back than the time of filing the information, and it was ordered that it should be referred to the Master to take an account of all moneys received by the defendants or by any persons for their use in respect of the 67. a year under the will of Wm. Norton, and the sum of 67. a year for loans under the will of G. Bishop, and the sum of 101. for loans under C. Meredith's will since the 4th May 1830. And it was declared that the defendants were seized of the property in and near Wood Street in the City of London, purchased with 1,2007. in the information mentioned. As to 3/24th parts thereof in trust for the charity founded by J. Norton's will with 1507. therein mentioned. As to 20 24th parts thereof in trust for the charity founded by the will of said J. Norton with 1,000l., and as to the remaining 1/24th part thereof for the use of the Company, but subject to the payment thereout of 52s. yearly for the poor of St. Martin Vintry, under Billage's will. And the said Master was also to inquire and state to the Court what messuages near Wood Street aforesaid were then in the possession of the said defendants, and how the same were let, and for what rents respectively, and whether there were any and which of such messuages, or any and what parts or shares of such messuages which had been at any and what time and by what means acquired by the said defendants for their own benefit, and as to the 5007., part of the 6207. bequeathed by Evan Tyler to the Company in 1682. was declared that inasmuch as the same might have been lost in the due execution of the trusts, notwithstanding due diligence on the part of the Company, the Company were not answerable for the same.

It

The monies found to be due to the Company in respect of the estate were paid into court to the credit of the cause, and were afterwards expended in the purchases and buildings authorised by the Court in prosecution of the scheme ultimately adopted.

The Master, by his report of the 12th February 1833, found that the Company were in possession of the following property in and near Wood Street aforesaid, consisting as follows:

And the Master found that the Company had, by a state of facts and charge laid before him, stated that since the making of the decree they had discovered by their solicitor, inrolled in the Court of Hustings of the City of London, the purchase deed of the 21st September 1619, whereby Wm. Langhorne and Anne his wife, in consideration of 1,2007., bargained, sold, granted, enfeoffed, and confirmed to Richard Field and eight others all those eight messuages, tenements, cottages, gardens, and hereditaments, and the Alley called Friar's Alley, situated in the parish of St. Michael, Wood Street; and another purchase deed of the 16th July 1744, whereby Matthew Snow and Marianne his wife conveyed to trustees for the Company a moiety or other undivided share of a messuage or tenement in Friar's Alley, Milk Street, in the parish of St. Lawrence Jewry. And the defendants also thereby stated the application of their own proper monies in the redemption of a yearly rent of 10s., payable to the Crown, and also of the land tax on their property in Wood Street aforesaid. And upon the evidence thus produced the Company insisted that they held for their own use and benefit previously to the said purchase from the said Wm. Langhorne, with the said sum of 1,2007. (but could not ascertain precisely at what time they had acquired them), the messuage or tenement and premises comprised in the lease granted to the said

CHARITY OF JOHN NORTON.

By an order of the board, dated 25th March 1879, the property known as Nos. 11 and 12, Wood Street, has been let on a repairing lease to Mr. Samuel Thompson for the

James Richardson, except such part as they had subsequently purchased of the said Matthew Snow as aforesaid, and that they had since acquired also for their own use and benefit the said fee-farm rents and land tax. And the Master found that the defendants were entitled to such portions of the said estate accor ugly. The Master's report was confirmed, and the Court, on further directions, on the 12th June 1833 declared that the defendants were entitled to the several annual rentcharges thereinafter mentioned, issuing out of the premises certified by the Master to have been purchased with 1,2007. in the decree mentioned; that is to say, 10s. per annum issuing out of the premises on lease to Messrs. Melville in lieu of the feefarm rent purchased of the Crown; 41. 4s. and 27. 16s. per annum, issuing out of the said last-mentioned premises in lieu of land tax redeemed by the said Company; 51. 5s. per annum issuing out of premises leased to Thomas Brocksopp, also in lieu of land tax redeemed by the Company, and 51. 5s. a year issuing out of premises on lease to John Worsley, also in lieu of land tax redeemed by the Company. And the defendants were to be at liberty to retain the said several rentcharges out of the rents and profits of the said premises, and to be allowed the same in taking the account thereinafter directed. And it was declared that 3/24th parts of the premises on lease to said Thomas Brocksopp, John Worsley, and Messrs. Melville, being the premises certified by the Master to have been purchased with said 1,2007., were held for the use of the Company, subject to the weekly and annual payments, amounting in value to 77. 16s. yearly, to poor freemen of the Company, and poor persons of the parish of St. Faith, and the clerk of said parish, and 10s. to the preacher of said parish, according to the will of John Norton in respect of the 1507. by him bequeathed. And it was declared that 20/24th parts of the rents were applicable to the making of loans in the manner in which the loans of 67. from year to year were directed by the will of Win. Norton to be disposed of. And it was referred back to the Master to approve of a scheme for the future regulation and management of the several charities founded by William Norton, George Bishop, and Christopher Meredith, and by said John Norton, in respect of 1,000l. by him bequeathed, and the application of the rents of the property belonging to same respectively.

The scheme subsequently approved I append to this report.

The present estate of the Charity is as follows:

£ s. d.

400 0 0

Nos. 11 and 12, Wood Street, Cheapside, let to Thompson and Carter on lease for 21 years, from Lady-day 1858 (together with the redeemed land tax, which belongs to the Company) No. 13, Wood Street, let to Messrs. Morley, being on lease for 91 years, from 25th March 1847, at a rent, from 1858 (together with the redeemed land tax reserved to the Company) 100 0 0 The agreement for granting a building lease was dated the 28th August 1847, and was made between the Company and John Samuel Morley, to the effect that when J. S. Morley had taken down the premises the Company should grant a lease for 91 years, from Lady-day 1847, at the yearly rent of 1131. for the first 11 years and 1007. for the remaining 80 years. The covenant of the lessee being performed, to lay out not less than 2007., and the lease was granted 5th March 1858

The Company account under the scheme for 20/24ths of this income as applicable to the school charity. This amounts to about 4101. a year, including the return of the income tax. The sum of 97. 11s. 9d. (which is about the usual sum) was paid to the churchwardens of St. Faith, in 1862, 71. 10s. 3d. (deducting income tax) to the churchwardens term of 80 years, from Lady-day 1879, at a rent of 4801. per annum, together with 107. 10s. in lieu of redeemed land tax in consideration of a sum of not less than 4,0007. being expended in the erection of new warehouse buildings.

BISHOP'S CHARITY.

George Bishop, by his will of the 25th February 1607 (reciting that he had demised to the Company two tenements called Newton, in the parish of Milbourn, Salop, for 500 years at a peppercorn rent, on condition that if the master and wardens should not yearly pay to Christ's Hospital 67., and should not deliver to freemen of the Company 61. yearly to be lent without interest, and pay to a preacher at St. Paul's Cross 101. yearly (that then the demise should be void), gave to Christ's Hospital the said two tenements, they paying yearly after the determination of said lease the several sums of 61., 6., and 107.

The Company pay 101. annually to the Chamberlain of London for the preaching at Paul's Cross, the terms of the bequest referring it to the judgment of the Corporation of London whether the preacher be sufficiently provided for, 61. to Christ's Hospital, and carry 61. to the school account. This was one of the subjects of the suit, Attorney-General v. Stationers' Company. (See report on John Norton's Charity.)

MEREDITH'S CHARITY.

Christopher Meredith, by his will of the 24th February 1652, gave to the Company 101. a year out of messuages in St. Paul's Churchyard, to be lent to poor freemen gratis. And he gave 107. a year, charged on same premises, to bestow among his tenants at Kempsey, county of Worcester, so many Bibles as could be bought with 31., and to provide amongst the poor scholars of Kempsey School books of the value of 31., and for Bibles to Christ's Hospital 41.

The Company receives the sum of 181. 3s. 4d. annually from the proprietors of two houses, Nos. 57 and 58, St. Paul's Churchyard, deducting income tax, in respect of which they pay 41. a year to Christ's Hospital and 81. 14s. 1d. (or one moiety of the net sum received) to the School Account, and retain the residue. The Company remit every third year to the treasurer of the Kempsey School, in the city of Worcester, a sum of 181. for the purchase of books for distribution. This charity was included in the suit, Attorney-General v. Stationers' Company. (See John Norton's Charity.)

TYLER'S CHARITY.

Evan Tyler, by will of the 8th May 1682, gave the Company 6201., of which 5007. to be lent to 10 young men free of interest, and out of the interest of the remaining 1207. the master and wardens should have a yearly collation.

This charity was one of the subjects of the suit, AttorneyGeneral v. Stationers' Company, which led to the decree and scheme set forth in my report on John Norton's Charity.

BILLAGE'S CHARITY.

Henry Billage, prior to 1604, gave 521. to the Company, for which they were to pay to the poor of St. Martin Vintry for bread 52s. yearly.

It appears that the sum of 501., part of this sum, was invested in the purchase of the Wood Street estate, described in the report on John Norton's Charity. This bequest was one of the subjects of the suit, AttorneyGeneral v. Stationers' Company mentioned in the report on John Norton's Charity, in which the investment is stated.

The Court, in the suit therein referred to, declared that 20/24ths of the estate was applicable to the making of loans in the manner of the loans directed by the will of William Norton, and 3/24ths were the property of the Company, subject to the payments of 81. a year and 61. a year under John Norton's will. It does not appear that any claim was made on behalf of the parish of St. Martin Vintry for the 1/24th as arising from this investment, nor were the parish officers of St. Martin Vintry parties to the suit. Their interests must, however, be considered as represented by the Attorney-General, and a declaration was made as to this 24th part of the investment, that the Company held it to their own use, subject to the obligation of paying the 52s. annually, which sum is paid to the churchwardens of St. Martin Vintry, deducting the property tax.

PARKHURST'S CHARITY.

Thomas Parkhurst, by will, in 1713, bequeathed to the Company 501. to provide 25 English Bibles and Psalms to 25 of the poor of the Company annually. The Company give a Bible and Prayer Book (a Bible supposed to be from this donation) to every apprentice bound at the hall. In the year ending February 1862 there were 93 apprentices bound.

GUY'S CHARITY.

Thomas Guy, in the year 1717, gave to the Company, for the use of their poor, 1,000l., they distributing 507. a year. Also 1,1007. to the Company, paying 50l. to such uses as he should appoint.

And also a further sum of 1,6501., the Company paying 751. a year, as he should appoint, and in default of appointment to the Governors of St. Thomas' Hospital.

The first gift of 1,000l. does not exist in any form of investment, but the Company pay 721. a year in quarterly pensions of 20s. each, making 41. a year, to 18 poor freemen or their widows, who are called Guy's pensioners. There are at present one freeman and 17 widows of freemen on this foundation. The Company voluntarily pays the 221. a year beyond the 501. from their own funds.

In respect of the other gifts the Company pay 1257. a year out of their stock fund to St. Thomas's Hospital.

The Company, in pursuance of their bond for this sum of 1,0007. on the annual attendance at St. Martin's Church on the 2nd December (or if on Sunday the day following), pay 17. each to 14 poor freemen of the Company, nominated by the court, and 10 from each of the parishes of St. Martin, Ludgate, and Christchurch, Newgate, nominated by the respective parishes, together with 17. 11s. 6d. to the minister for a sermon, and 17. 6s. 6d. to the reader and other officers of the Church. The residue of the interest is carried to the account of the Company.

To the parish of St. Faith, London, for the same purpose

14

2

Towards the Company's dinner on the
1st December

The sum of 1,1001. New 24 per cent. Annuities, formerly New South Sea Annuities, stands in the corporate name of the Company, producing an annual income of 271. 10s. The Company pay 7. a-piece for the apprenticeship of two boys or girls for each of the parishes mentioned when it is applied for. In 1862 71. was applied for apprenticeship at St. Faith's and 147. for Hornsey.

From the commencement of the establishment of the charity 169 apprentice fees of 71. each for apprentices from the parish of St. Faith have been paid. The last fee paid for the Hornsey apprentices was in the year 1863, and from the same commencement 183 apprentice fees have been paid for that parish. The parish of St. Faith are therefore in arrear of about 14 apprentice fees, which, however, would be paid on application, subject to its proportions of the reduction of 10s. a year, from the present income being 271. 10s. instead of 281.

WILKIN'S CHARITY.

Beata Wilkins, by her will of the 24th November 1773, gave the interest of the money to arise from her 401. share in the stock of the Stationers' Company (computed at 3207.) to the said Company to dispose of the interest among six poor men and six poor women, not pensioners. The stock in which this was invested now consists of 3767. 9s. 10d. New 31. per cent. Annuities, producing 101. 178. 6d. a year. The Company pay annually to six freemen and six widows sums of 30s. and 20s. a year, two men and one woman have 30s. a year, and four men and four women 20s. a year. The 30s. pensions will be discontinued on the occurrence of vacancies.

BOWYER'S CHARITY.

William Bowyer, by will of the 30th July 1777, gave to the Company such a sum as would purchase 2,000l. Reduced Annuities on trust, to pay the dividends equally amongst three printers, compositors or pressmen.

Also he gave 3,0007. Consolidated Annuities, the dividends to be divided between six other printers, compositors or pressmen.

And also he gave to the Company such a sum as would produce 1,000l. Reduced Annuities for the use of one journeyman compositor.

And he give to the Company 2501. in case they should accept the trust.

The sum of 6,000l. 31. per cent. Reduced Annuities stands in the corporate name of the Company, and produces 1801. a year, and is given to six annuitants of 157. a year each, three of 201. a year each, and one annuitant of 301. a year. These are not confined to freemen. There were twenty-six applicants for the last annuity of 157. a year at the disposal of the Company.

STRAHAN'S CHARITY.

William Strahan, by his will of the 2nd July 1784, gave to the Company 1,000l. to be invested, and one moiety of the dividends should be paid in the week after Christmas day to five poor journeymen printers of England or Wales, and the other moiety to five poor journeymen printers, natives of Scotland, in the week after Christmas day:

The sum of 1,4571. 5s. 3d. New 21. 10s. per cent. Annuities, which was taken in the place of the old stock purchased with this gift, produces annually 361. 8s. 6d., which is divided into 10 annuities of 31. 12s. 10d. each, paid to five English and five Scotch men elected by the court, the same persons remaining permanently on the list until they receive some better provision.

Richard Johnson, by his will of the 3rd January 1795, directed his executors to collect the money due to him and invest the same, and he directed the Company to pay to the parson of Hendon, for an annual sermon, 17. ls., and to the master and two wardens each 17. 1s. to go to Hendon and hear the sermon and view his father's tomb, and he bequeathed all the remainder of his property to the Company to pay two life annuities, and after the decease of the annuitants to pay the dividends among five very poor widows. (The last life annuity charged by the will expired in February 1847.)

The sum of 1,9021. New 31. per cent., made up of 1,8501. and 521. like stock, the latter being formerly 51. per cent. Annuities, stands in the name of the Company, and the produce, amounting to 571. ls. 6d. annually, is paid in payment of five annuities to widows of liverymen elected at the court of 101. 10s. a year each, making 521. 10s. A sum of 2s. 6d. a year is given to the parish clerk of Hendon. The master and wardens annually charge 31. 3s. for the visit to Hendon, the other expenses mentioned being paid by the Company. The 11. 1s. a year for the sermon is paid when the vicar will receive it, which he has sometimes objected to do, claiming 21. 2s., which was for some time given him.

DILLY'S CHARITY.

Charles Dilly, in 1803, gave to the Company 7001. Consols, to pay the dividends to two poor widows. The sum of 7001. stock stands in the name of the Company, and the dividends, amounting to 217., are paid to two widows of liverymen in equal sums annually.

BALDWIN'S CHARITY.

Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin, by her will about the year 1809, gave to the Company 2501. Consols, to lay out the dividends in the purchase of five great coats for five poor liverymen in the month of December. The five liverymen receive annually the five coats, which cost 30s. a-piece.

ANDREW STRAHAN'S CHARITY.

Andrew Strahan, in January 1815, transferred 1,2251. £4 per cent. Annuities to the Company, and by letter directed the Company to apply the dividends, 491., as follows :—

81. to each of the six pensioners amongst the annuitants of his father's (William Strahan's) will first elected into that list.

14s. 10d. to the beadle of the Company.

5s. 2d. to make up a small deficiency under his father's will.

And in March 1818 he transferred to the Company a further sum of 1,000l. 47. per cent. Annuities, and directed the dividends to be paid to four distressed old printers.

The sum of 1,2251. New 31. per cent. Annuities (late 31. 5s. per cent.) now produces 361. 15s. a year, which is divided amongst six annuitants, aged journeyman printers, of whom one receives 81. a year and five 67. 8s. 10d. each, but these pensions will be reduced on vacancies, so as to amount to no more than the sixth of the dividends to each person.

pro

The second transfer was 1,000l. New 31. per Cents., ducing 301. a year. The Company at present pay 81. 2s. 6d. each to four old printers. This will also be subject to reduction to 71. 10s. each on vacancies.

JOHN NICHOLS and JOHN BOWYER NICHOLS'
CHARITIES.

John Nichols, in June 1817, transferred to the Company 5001. 41. per cent. Annuities, and by a letter of the 1st July same year, stated that he intended the same as a supplement to the works of his late partner, William Bowyer, and directed the Company to pay the dividends to some old and worthy printers, being free of the Company for at least 21 years; and,——

John Bowyer Nichols, by his donation in the year 1854, for the purpose of increasing the gift of his father, the foregoing John Nichols, transferred to the Company a further sum of 5001. New 31. per Cent Annuities. The two sums, amounting to 1,000 New 37. Cents., per are part of a larger sum of like stock standing in the corporate name of the Company, and produce annually 281. 17s. 6d. a year (the income tax on the first fund not being returned). The Company pay three annuities to old printers free of the Company, of 91. 13s. 4d. a year each, making together a sum of 291., being more than they receive.

BLACKWELL'S CHARITY.

Beale Blackwell, by his will of the 30th July 1817, gave to the Company so much stock as would produce 1007. a year for 20 deserving journeyman letter-press printers.

The sum of 3,3331. 6s. 8d. 31. per cent. Consols stands in the name of the Company, and the dividends, amounting to 1001. a year, are given anuually in sums of 51. each to 20 poor printers who are not necessarily free of the Company. The recipients once elected continue on the lists until they have a better provision.