Wesley Corpus

Wed. 18.--Learning that a little girl had sat up all night, and then walked two miles to see me, I took her into the chaise; and was surprised to find her continually rejoicing in God. The person with whom the Preachers lodge, informed me, that she has been two years possessed of his pure love. We break fasted at Athenry, once a populous city. But now seges est ubi Troja fuit.* In the afternoon, we went on to Ballinrobe. Having heard a remarkable account of the Charter-School here, I resolved to see it with my own eyes. I went thither * Corn is growing on the spot where Troy formerly stood.--EDIT. 308 REv. J. Wesley’s [May, 1785. about five in the afternoon, but found no master or mistress. Seven or eight boys, and nine or ten girls, (the rest being ram bling abroad,) dirty and ragged enough, were left to the care of a girl half the head taller than the rest. She led us through the house. I observed first the school-room, not much bigger than a small closet. Twenty children could not be taught there at once, with any convenience. When we came into the bed chamber, I inquired, “How many children now lodge in the house?” and was answered, “Fourteen or fifteen boys, and nineteen girls.” For these boys, there were three beds, and five for the nineteen girls. For food I was informed, the master was allowed a penny-farthing a day for each ! Thus they are clothed, lodged, and fed. But what are they taught? As far as I could learn, just nothing ! Of these things I informed the Commissioners for these schools in Dublin. But I do not hear of any alteration. If this be a sample of the Irish Charter-Schools, what good can we expect from them? In my way from Limerick hither, I read and carefully con sidered Major Wallance’s Irish Grammar, allowed to be the best extant. And supposing him to give a true account of the Irish language, it is not only beyond all comparison worse than any ancient language I know anything of; but below English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or any other modern lan guage.