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 ; andwas 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 breakfasted 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 now growing on the spot where Troy formerly stood.- EDIT. * 308 REV. J. WELSEY'S [May, 1785. about five in the afternoon, but found no master or mistress . Seven or eight boys, and nine orten girls, (the rest beingramb- ling 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 ? " andwas answered, " Fourteen or fifteen boys, and nine- teen 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 aday foreach ! Thus they are clothed, lodged, and fed. Butwhat are they taught ? As far as I could learn, just nothing ! Of these things I informed the Commis- sioners 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 ? Inmyway from Limerick hither, I read and carefully con- sidered Major Vallance'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 any thing of; but below English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or any other modern lan- guage. The difficulty of reading it is intolerable, occasioned chiefly by the insufferable number of mute letters, both of