( DULWICH COLLEGE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:]
SIR,—May I ask for space to correct a slight error in your .account of Alleyn's foundation ?
You say., speaking of the parishes of Camberwell, St. Saviour's, Southwark, Bishopsgate, and St. Luke's, that "hitherto the benevolent design of Alleyn to help forward . the education of those parishes has been practically abortive, except in the case of the two or three children who have been from time to time placed on the Dulwich foundation as boarders."
The fact is, as appears from Alleyn's statutes, that his bene- volence towards the four parishes above mentioned, in respect of education, was limited to providing for three " poore schollers " from each, who were (and are) boarded and clothed, as well as educated. The inhabitants of the manor of Dulwich were to "have their men-children freely taught in the school of the said College, only giving two shillings for every child's admittance, and sixpence a quarter to the schoolmaster towards brooms and rods, and every year at Michaelmas a pound of good candles for the use of the school." All other than the Dulwich boys and the twelve foundationers are with Alleyn " forreyners," and are to pay such sums as the master and warden shall appoint ; no exception is made in favour of the four parishes. The further rights of the beneficiary parishes to educational privileges at Dulwich date from the Act of 1857.
The Dulwich School was intended by its founder to resemble the "free grammar-schools of Westminster and Paules ;" but he was further anxious to provide industrial training for such boys as were not intended for learned professions ; the latter part of his scheme came to nothing, as being beyond the powers of his letters patent. —I am, Sir, &c.,
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