November, 1851,

June, 1852,

No. 19.-RETURN of INSPECTOR of DISTRICT 38, relative to the APPENDIX B.
Religious Denominations of the Children attending the
National Schools in his District.

Limerick, 30th June, 1852.

II. Returns from District Inspectors relative to the

Denominations

GENTLEMEN,-I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Religious letter, of yesterday's date, and to state, that since your com- of Pupils. munication of the 12th reached me I have been making inquiries of the Managers of many National Schools, with the view of ascertaining if the united system of Education has been carried out in them; I find, however, that owing to the population of the classes who send pupils to National Schools being almost exclusively Roman Catholic in most parts of this district, that the attendance is generally of that persuasion. I am still continuing to inquire on the subject, and shall forward reports on all mixed schools according to your instructions.

I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant. H. P. CLARke. The Secretaries, Education Office, Dublin.

Limerick, 24th June, 1852.

GENTLEMEN,-Having inspected the Villiers Male and Female National Schools (Roll Nos. 6,031 and 6,141), City of Limerick, I beg to report that they offer a striking instance of how well the system administered by the Commissioners is calculated to afford opportunities to persons of all religious persuasions, of sending their children to receive together, in the same school, a good useful education. They are held in the Villiers Institution, which was founded some years ago It comby means of a legacy from the late Mrs. Villiers. prebends twelve separate residences for poor widows, who are allowed in addition £22 a-year each, and fuel, with two commodious school-rooms and dwellings for the master and mistress attached. The trustees and managers of the schools are the Rev. Robert Stavelly, Rector of St. Munchin's, and the Rev. David Wilson, Minister of the Presbyterian Congregation. Both Schoolmaster and Mistress have been trained in the Dublin Model School, and upon the many occasions upon which I have visited the schools, I have, invariably, found them actively employed with the business of the day. They are of the Presbyterian Communion, and the Master is assisted by a Paid Monitor who is of the Established Church. The following are the numbers of the different religious denominations on the roll the 21st June.

APPENDIX B.

II. Returns

from District

Inspectors

There is, of course, no interference whatever with the religious principles of the pupils, and it is to this that the attendance of the pupils of different denominations is to be attributed; neither is there any reward, pecuniary or otherwise, held out to induce attendance; the advantage to be derived Denominations from the very efficient school education received is the only attraction. The following Table shows the numbers paying the various rates, and free:—

relative to the

Religious

of Pupils.

The schools are situate in one of the poorest parts of the city, and the population is almost exclusively Roman Catholic. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, H. P. CLARKE, District Inspector.

The Secretaries, Education Office.

APPENDIX C.

Page

I. OPERATION SCHOOLS on the 31st DECEMBER, 1852,

350

II. BUILDING SCHOOLS

Do.,

536

III. SCHOOLS STRUCK OFF during the Year 1852,

IV. SUSPENDED SCHOOLS

Do.,

553

V. VESTED or ASSIGNED SCHOOLS which received REPAIR
GRANTS, during the Year 1852,

VI. SCHOOLS in which MONITORS were paid during the
Year 1852, .

VII. TEACHERS of NATIONAL SCHOOLS who were paid

554

561

579

597

[to face 604

IX. TABLE containing SUMMARIES produced from the foregoing List, .

I.-LIST of FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED and SEVENTY-FIVE SCHOOLS in