1, During the whole of this period six Day Schools, with 330 children, were supported by the funds of the Institution; two Sunday Schools were entirely supported by it, and a third was occasionally assisted. Again four from among the Sunday School children were during these two years received into Church Fellowship. The total number of the children who received instruction in the Day Schools of the Institution, from its commencement up to May 26, 1848, amounted to 4519. The number of the Adult Scholars, who were instructed during this period in the Adult School, which was supported by the funds of the Institution, amounted to 292; and the total number of adults who had instruction from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1848, was 1438. The total of the expenses connected with all these schools, during these two years, amounted to 886l. 1s. 11 ½ d.
2, During this period were circulated 649 Bibles and 232 New Testaments. There were circulated from March 5, 1834 up to May 26, 1848, 5746 Bibles and 3760 New Testaments. 74l. 9s. 10d. was expended of the Funds of the Institution, during this period, on this object.
3, From May 26, 1846 to May 26, 1848 was expended of the Funds of the Institution on Missionary objects, 1559l. 1l. 6d., whereby 43 labourers in the Gospel, at Rome and Abroad, were assisted.
4, During this period 64,021 Tracts were circulated, and the sum of 63l. 1s. 5d. was expended on this object of the funds of the Institution. The total number of Tracts circulated from Nov. 19, 1840 to May 26, 1848, amounted to 163,668.
5, There were received into the four Orphan-Houses, from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, Fifty-one Orphans, who, together with those who were in the four Houses on May 26, 18413, made up 172 in all. Of these: 1. Five children died, two as decided believers, one not without some hope, and two as infants. This was the greatest number of deaths we had had for many years; and yet how small is even the number five out of 172 within two years, if it be remembered that we received children as young as two years old; and if it be further remembered that the very fact of such young children being bereaved of BOTH parents is, generally, a plain proof that their parents were very sickly and unhealthy persons, as indeed has generally been the case, since the greater part of the parents of these children died in consumption, which I learn from the certificates of their death. 2. One of the Orphans, who had been above ten years in the house, left the Institution without leave, and went to her friends for two or three days; and for an example to the other children was not taken back again, when her friends wished her to return. 3. Three of the elder girls, who had been several years in the house, were taken back to their relatives and not suffered to remain any longer, because of improper behaviour towards their teacher. All three, however, were of an age to go to service, and would have been shortly placed out, had they behaved better. 4. Four of the children were dismissed because of malignant skin or other diseases, remedies having failed: and in these cases, for the sake of the other children, we were obliged to send them back to their relatives till they might be cured. 5. Seven children were taken back by their relatives, who by that time were able to provide for them, after they had been for several years in the Orphan-Houses. Some of them were able to earn their own bread by that time, and were of use to their relatives. I always act on the principle of at once giving up the Orphans, to their relatives, if they say that they are able to provide for them; having continually a considerable number of very destitute Orphans waiting for admission. 6. Nine boys were apprenticed. 7. Twenty-one girls were sent out to service, eight of whom had been for some time believers.
There were on May 26, 1848, One Hundred and Twenty-two Orphans in the Four Houses. The number of the Orphans who were under our care from April 1836, to May 26, 1848, was 264. The total amount of expenditure in connexion with the support of the Orphans from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, was 3228l. 5s. 11d.
I notice further the following points in connexion with the Orphan-Houses.