place of her or them so dying, for ever, such rents to be paid halfyearly, at Whitsuntide and Martinmas. The electing, placing, and displacing of the said widows for misdemeanors, to be in the said Margaret Frank, her heirs and assigns, the mayor and three senior aldermen, or comburgesses, of Pontefract, resident in the said town, for the time being, and their successors, or the major part of them.

The testator also appoints the same persons and the vicar of Pontefract, and his successors, to elect and place the poor widows, upon vacancies, into the almshouse in Micklegate aforesaid, founded by his great grandfather or great uncle, or one of them, as also in the almshouses in Naut Market, in Pontefract, founded by Mr, Cowper.

And he also declares that if the rents and profits of his close, called Rancal Pits, should be let for four pounds a year, then he charges the same with the payment of ten shillings a year, to the said poor widows, in the said almshouse for ever, to be paid by his said daughter, Margaret Frank, her heirs and assigns, out of the rents, issues, and profits of the same close.

Couper's, or Butt's, Hospital.

Mr. Robert Cowper, of Darrington, by his will, dated May 20, 1668, gave two cottages or tenements, in Pontefract, for the use of four poor widows of the town of Pontefract, and appointed Samuel Drake, D. D. John Ramsden, John Frank, and Robert Tatham, gentlemen, feoffees, to elect poor widows, of the town of Pontefract,

when and as often as vacancies should happen in either of the said two tenements; and did likewise desire and appoint that when any of the said feoffees die, that the surviving number shall have power to elect another to act in his stead.

And he also gave unto the said four poor widows for ever, twenty shillings each yearly, to be paid by his heirs, out of his close at Purston Jacklin, for the repairs of the said cottages, and their relief for ever.

N. B. This twenty shillings each to the above poor widows, is now paid out of the rents and profits of a close, in Bailygate, in lieu of the above lands in Purston, every Christmas-Eve.

Mr. Robert Frank, son son of John Frank, by his will*, appointed the following persons trustees for the above hospital, (but query by what power)-viz. Mrs. Margaret Frank, his daughter, the mayor, for the time being, the three senior aldermen, and the vicar, for the time being, of Pontefract.

This hospital was situated at a place formerly called Boner Hill, in the middle of the Beast Fair, where the Corn Market is now held, but being in a very ruinous state, as well as inconvenient in point of situation, in the year 1765 it was pulled down, and a new hospital erected at the Butts, at the expence of the town, in lieu of the old one, which cost the sum of ninety pounds.

Perfect's Hospital.

This hospital is situated at the bottom of Micklegate, and was built in the year 1667, See the clause of his will under Frank's Hospital.

at the joint expence of the town and the corporation.

It is called Perfects Hospital from the endowment thereof by the late Alderman Wm. Perfect, who by a deed gave to the corporation several houses and gardens thereto, situate near to the said hospital, in trust for the poor persons in the same hospital; who were to be three poor antient decayed housekeepers belonging to the town of Pontefract, and their wives.

The placing and displacing the said poor persons in the said hospital was vested in the said William Perfect, during his life, and after his death in the mayor and aldermen of Pontefract, for the time being, for ever, who were made perpetual trustees for the same.

It is the custom when any of the poor people in this hospital die, to remove the survivor into Knolles', or Trinity, Hospital, upon the first vacancy that shall happen there, in order to make room here for another poor married couple, and so from time to time, in order that it may be always enjoyed by three poor ancient decayed housekeepers and their wives.

Dr. Watkinson's Hospital,

The late Edward Watkinson, of Ackworth, M. D. by his will, dated April 1765, gave (after payment of some small legacies) all the residue of his personal estate, after the death of his wife, unto the rector of Ackworth, the rector of Hemsworth, and the vicar of Pontefract, for the time being; the mayor, recorder, and two senior aldermen, of the borough of Pontefract,

for the time being, upon trust, that they and his friend Mr. Alderman Samuel Saltonstall should put the same out at interest, and pay and apply the produce thereof (after payment of some annuities) for the maintenance, support and comfortable living and subsistence of nine poor unmarried persons, of the protestant reli. gion, for ever; to be nominated, chosen and elected as follows, viz. the said trustees to nominate and chuse two poor men and two poor women, who should live in Ackworth, and two poor men and two poor women, who should live in Pontefract, and also one other women, who should live in either of the said townships, to be the servant of the said eight poor persons, and to wait and attend upon them as such; and which said eight poor persons, and their servant, should from time to time have the said interest, produce and dividends, paid equally amongst them, share and share alike.

And the said testator wills and declares that no married person shall be capable of being elected one of the said nine persons, and that if any of them do afterwards marry, that such person shall cease to have any share in the said produce and dividends, and be displaced from having any benefits or advantage.

And he also gives the said trustees power to displace any of the said persons guilty of any immorality, misconduct or bad behaviour. And also to fill up vacancies, so as there shall always be therein two poor men men and two poor women, belonging to each of the said townships of Ackworth and Pontefract, and a maid servant.

And he gives the said trustees a discretionary power as to the best method of perpetuating and performing the trusts of his will, and all matters and things relating thereto.

On Feb. 9, 1778, the trustees held their first meeting, to put the said will in execution, and soon afterwards purchased a piece of ground in Northgate, and built a handsome house thereon, under the direction of the said Mr. Saltonstall.

On Oct. 25, 1779, the said hospital being ready for the reception of its intended inhabitants, the trustees nominated eight poor persons and a servant to dwell therein, according to the said will, and ordered them to be paid ten shillings each every calendar month.

The vacancies arising by death or otherwise have been regularly filled up from time to time, and the trustees have laid out the testator's estate in the purchase of South Sea annuities, the dividends of which are paid monthly to the poor people of this hospital, now amounting to fifteen shillings each person; and the trustees take care to keep their respective apartments clean and in good repair, rendering this place a desirable and comfortable retreat to old age and infirmity.

The King's Free Grammar School.

Few of our kings deserve so much the grateful remembrance of the nation as young Edward VI. If the importance of a reign be estimated from the general good that results from it, his reign, though short, is one of the most Important in the annals of Britain. It is true Fff

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