Bound Volume of Eleven Early 18th Century Irish Imprints – Ten Church of Ireland Sermons and A Copy of His Majesty’s Royal Charter for Erecting English Protestant Schools in the Kingdom of Ireland, 1716-1733

Quarto, eleven titles, bound in full contemporary plain calf, spine label, binding somewhat worn and scuffed, with the remains of the engraved armorial bookplate of Barto[lomew] Will[iam] Gilbert Esq., handwritten date on the title page of first item above text of January 23 1764.

The Church of Ireland was the reformed, established state church in Ireland until 1871, authorized by the Irish Parliament of 1534-37, under Henry VIII. The eighteenth century was a period when the constitutional privileges of the established church of Ireland were further secured by laws against Catholics and Dissenters, though the church, a minority throughout the country, was not immune to feelings of insecurity and well into the following century resisted government moves towards toleration as undermining the Protestant nature of the state. Even 'high church' clergy, deeply conscious of the need to preserve the prerogatives of the church as against state. Looked to the government to support the church's mission to promote morality and fight infidelity, Popery, and dissent. The changing intellectual climate of the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century Europe made the position of the minority Church of Ireland increasingly untenable, as did British political necessity. The government increasingly sought to appease Catholic opinion by major concessions, particularly in education and the tithe system, and by addressing by legislation the growing anomalies presented by an established church that was slow to reform its own structures, in which wealth was inequitably distributed, and some of whose evangelizing societies were engaged in proselytizing activities.

The volume includes the 1733 royal charter establishing the Irish Charter Schools. Irish Charter Schools were operated by The Incorporated Society in Dublin for Promoting English Protestant Schools in Ireland. The Charter Schools admitted only Catholics, under the condition that they be educated as Protestants. These schools were intended, in their own words, "to rescue the souls of thousands of poor children from the dangers of Popish superstition and idolatry, and their bodies from the miseries of idleness and beggary."

In 1731 Hugh Boulter, Primate of Armagh, submitted the findings of the Inquiry into Illegal Popish Schools by the House of Lords, which was set up "to prevent the growth of Popery, and to secure this Kingdom from any dangers from the great Number of Papists in this Nation." He advocated a school system "to teach the children of the papists the English tongue, and the principles of the Christian religion," as long as they converted to Protestantism. The same year, the archbishops and bishops of the Established Church in Ireland, among others, petitioned George II for a charter to set up schools where the children of Irish Catholics would be given free instruction in the English language and the Protestant religion. Boys would learn a trade and girls domestic skills and might even be given a marriage portion – assuming they remained Protestant. At this time the Penal Laws were in full force: the Catholic clergy was outlawed, and no Catholic was permitted "publicly or in private houses teach school, or instruct youth in learning>, so there was no source of education for Catholics. The charter was granted in 1733 and the king promised £ 1000 per annum. The first school was opened at Castledermot on 20 acres of land donated by the Earl of Kildare.

Over the following decades further finance was provided by the British government. The school system was overseen by a Committee of Fifteen who met weekly in Suffolk St. in Dublin. However, the numbers attending fell far short of expectations, despite various stratagems resorted to keep up the intake of children, such as taking beggar children off the streets and taking in orphan babies. In the 1780s large discrepancies between the numbers reported to be at the schools, and the actual number found there were found and reported by John Howard, FRS. At that time there were 41 schools and four nurseries in the system. The schools were viewed with the deepest suspicion by Catholics.

John Wesley visited the school at Ballinrobe in 1785, where he found children being kept in atrocious conditions. Inspections towards the end of the century showed massive abuse of the system, many children receiving little instruction but being used mainly as farm laborers or weavers and subject to squalid conditions, punishment and disease. The reputations and population of the schools continued to decrease from the turn of the 19th century until they waned in the middle of the century.

The collection, listed in bound order:

Synge, Edward, A Sermon Preach'd at St. Andrew's Dublin: Before the Honourable House of Commons; On Saturday, August the 1st. 1719. Being the Anniversary of His Majesty's Happy Accession to the Throne. By Edward Synge, M.A. Prebendary of St. Patrick's, Dublin: Printed by James Carson, for J. Pepyat, Bookseller in Skinner-Row. 1719. Quarto, 44 pages. ESTC; T8329, OCLC locates seven copies.

Synge, Edward, Christian Zeal. A Sermon Preach'd before their Excellencies the Lords Justices of Ireland, at Christ's Church, Dublin, On Sunday February the12th, 1715/16. By Edward, Lord Bishop of Rapho. (Synge) Publish'd by their Excellencies Command. Dublin, Printed by A. Rhames, for Jer. Pepyat in Skinner-Row. 1716. Quarto, 32 pages; bottom corner of last page torn away, no loss of text.

ESTC;T165591, and OCLC note only an octavo edition of 24 pages, this 32 page quarto edition is not listed in OCLC.

Hutchinson, Francis, A Sermon Preached in Christ-Church Dublin, on Thursday the 30th. Day of January, 1723. Being the Anniversary Fast of the Martyrdom of King Charles the First, Before his Grace Charles Duke of Grafton, Lord Lieutenant, and General Governor of Ireland. And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, Assembled in Parliament. By Francis (Hutchinson) Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. Published by Command of his Grace the Lord Lieutenant, and by Order of the House of Lords. Dublin: Printed by A. Rhames, for J. Hyde in Dame-Street, and E. Dobson in Castle-Street, MDCCXXIII. Quarto, 19 pages. ESTC; T180860, OCLC locates 10 copies.

Tennison, Edward, A Sermon Preached in Christ-Church, Dublin; Before His Grace Lionel, Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament Assembled. On Monday, the Fifth Day of November, 1733 Being the Anniversary-Thanksgiving for the happy Deliverance of the King, and the Three Estates of the Realm of England, from the most Traitorous and Bloody intended Massacre by Gun-Powder. By Edward (Tennison), Lord Bishop of Ossory. Published by command of his Grace the Lord Lieutenant, and by Order of the House of Lords. Dublin: Printed by George Grierson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, at the King's-Arms and Two-Bibles in Essex-Street, MDCCXXXIII. Quarto, 16 pages. OCLC locates 3 copies

A Copy of His Majesty's Royal Charter, for Erecting English Protestant Schools in the Kingdom of Ireland. With the Contents of each Clause in the Margin. Dublin: Printed by George Grierson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, at the King's-Arms and Two-Bibles in Essex-Street, MDCCXXXIII. Arms of George II on the title; Quarto,16 pages. OCLC locates 10 copies.

Maule, Henry, A Sermon Preached in Christ-Church, Dublin: Before His Grace Lionel, Duke of Dorset, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament Assembled. On Tuesday, the Twenty-Third Day of October, 1733. Being the Anniversary of The Irish Rebellion. By Henry (Maule), Lord Bishop of Dromore. Published by command of his Grace the Lord Lieutenant, and by Order of the House of Lords. Dublin: Printed by George Grierson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, at the King's-Arms and Two-Bibles in Essex-Street, MDCCXXXIII. Quarto, 32 pages, including An Appendix "…which relate to the Employment of the Poor Natives of Ireland, in Work and Labour, as well as their Instruction in True Religion…"

OCLC locates 4 copies. The appendix refers to the Irish Charter Schools established in 1733, see item above.

Ashe, St. George, A Sermon Preach'd At Christ's Church, January the 30th, 1715/16 Before Their Excellencies the Lords Justices, and the House of Lords. By St. George (Ashe), Lord Bishop of Clogher. Publish'd by Order of the House of Lords. Dublin: Printed by A. Rhames, for Jer. Pepyat in Skinner-Row, 1716. Quarto, 24 pages; with the half-title; about ½ the inner edge of which is splitting from the gutter. OCLC locates one location for an octavo edition of 16 pages, and one location for this quarto edition of 24 pages.

Hamilton, William, The Dangers of Popery, and Blessings arising from the Late Revolution, Consider'd in a Sermon Preached in the Cathedral Church of Armagh. November, 5th. MDCCXXII. By William Hamilton, A.M. Arch-Deacon of Armagh. Dublin: Printed by Samuel Fairbrother, Bookseller, in Skinner Row, over-against the Tholsel. MDXXII. Quarto, 24 pages.

This title is not listed in OCLC.

Forster, Nicholas, A Sermon Preached in Christ's-Church, Dublin, on Sunday, November, 5th. 1721. Being the Anniversary Thanksgiving Day for the happy Deliverance of King James. And the Three Estates of England, from the Gunpowder-Plot: And also, for the Happy Arrival of His late Majesty King William on that Day, for the Deliverance of our Church and Nation…By Nicholas (Forster), Lord Bishop of Rapho. Published by Command of His Grace the Lord Lieutenant, and by Order of the House of Lords. Dublin, Printed by J. Carson, for Jer. And Sil. Pepyat, in Skinner-Row, Booksellers, MDCCXXII. With an uncolored historiated initial letter; a couple of small manuscript corrections on the title; Quarto, 22 pages. OCLC locates 3 copies.

Synge, Edward, (the younger), A Sermon Preach'd at Christ-Church, Dublin. On Saturday, the 23d. of October, 1731. Being the Anniversary of the Irish Rebellion. By Edward (Synge the younger) Lord Bishop of Clonfert. Preach'd and Publish'd by Order of the House of Lords. Dublin: Printed for Robert Owen, Bookseller in Skinner-row, M,DCC,XXXI. Quarto, 19 + [3] page Appendix The Address of The Roman Catholicks of Ireland to his Majesty, and the Queries occasion'd by that Address, being mention'd in the foregoing Discourse…to give Specimen of the Temper and Spirit of some of The Roman Catholicks of Ireland and of the Notions they have of Duty and Allegiance to Our Most Gracious Sovereign King George II…"

ESTC; T71283, for an octavo edition with this pagination: 39, [5] pp., OCLC does not record this quarto edition.

Burscough, William, A Sermon Preach'd in Christ's Church, Dublin; Before his Excellency John, Lord Carteret, Lord Lieutenant General, and General Governour of Ireland on Sunday, August 1, 1725. Being the Anniversary Day of his Majesty's Happy Accession to the Throne. By the Right Reverend William (Burscough) Lord Bishop of Limerick. Published by His Excellency's Special Command. Dublin: Printed for Robert Owen, Bookseller in Skinner-Row, MDCCXXV. Quarto, 22 pages.

ESTC; T174817, OCLC locates 4 copies

See: The Encyclopedia of Ireland, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003, pp., 194-95; Milne, Kenneth, The Irish Charter School 1730-1830, Four Courts Press, 1997