e same
time to Mr. Procter's building-fund--these were the very first donations
to country schools made by that estimable institution. Mr. Berkin's
school was at once attended by 140 scholars, and ultimately 350 came. In
the first Report of the National Society it is stated that "many of the
parents expressed their acknowledgments to Mr. Berkin with the tears in
their eyes, exerting themselves to the utmost to enable their children to
be constant in their attendance, in spite of the numerous difficulties
with which they had to struggle--such as the distance of the schools, the
wretched state of the roads in bad weather, and the extreme poverty of
the people, which makes it a hard matter for them to clothe their
children properly, and to furnish them with a slice of bread for their
dinner."

Returning to Mr. Procter's exertions to erect a building for the two-fold
purpose of divine service and juvenile instruction, he found consolation
for former disappointments in the following pleasing offer of Thomas
Morgan, the poor cottager already mentioned:--"Take my field," said he.
"With that I give you five guineas, to which my neighbours have added 15
pounds. We ask of you only to begin and build until the money is
expended; in another year we will again add our mites; only lay the
foundation and begin." Accordingly, in the month of June, 1812, the
building was commenced, and (aided by the subscriptions which were
received, especially from the Duke of Beaufort, the Lord Bishop of
Gloucester, and his secretary, Mr. Ryder) was so constructed as to admit
of its being hereafter enlarged and consecrated. "On the Epiphany, 6th
January, 1813, the public service of the Established Church was, for the
first time, read within its walls, under the authority of an episcopal
licence; but on the commencement of Sunday duty a painful circumstance
presented itself which had not been anticipated, viz. an astonishing
inattention to the prayers of the Church: all appeared a blank--no
interest, no spiritual concern. The cause was evident in the want of
prayer-books, soon however supplied by the Society for promoting
Christian Knowledge, and one of the bishops of the Church. A
schoolmaster, Mr. Edward Hawkins, previously sent to the National School
in Baldwin's Gardens, immediately commenced the education of the
children--300 being entered the first week. On every Thursday evening
throughout the year the scholars were examined in the prese