THE SHREWSBURY HOSPITAL.

This charity originated in consequence of a clause in the will of Gilbert, Earl of Shrewsbury, who died in 1616. His estate, however, being insufficient, the bequest was nugatory till 1673, when, according to an inscription once to be seen on the ancient chapel, this hospital was erected and settled by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Norwich, and Earl Marshall of England, great-grandchild of the aforesaid Earl, in pursuance of his last will and testament.' The endowment was for eighteen inen, and as many women, who had each a small dwelling, with ten shillings a-week the men, and eight shillings the women; besides coals, coats, gowns, &c. The original buildings formed three sides of a quadrangle, with a chapel in the centre, and were situated in the Park, just at the angle formed by the junction of the rivers Don and Sheaf. These ancient buildings have recently been demolished, to make way for a market, and the pensioners removed during the last year to a most beautiful and comfortable suit of apartments, just erected for their reception on the brow of the hill overlooking Claywood, on the eastern side of the town. The new establishment, like its predecessor, consists of a commodious chapel, and eighteen convenient dwellings, with one for the Chaplain, the Rev. T. Robinson, who resides on the spot. The whole ar rangement does great credit to the spirit and judgment of Michael Ellison, Esq., agent to the Duke of Norfolk, who in this, as in other instances, has evinced his disposition to act with the utmost liberality in the improvement of his Grace's Sheffield estate.

HOLLIS'S HOSPITAL.

This charity, locally designated the Brown Hospital, in contra-distinction to that above mentioned, which is sometimes called the Blue Hospital, owes its existence to the piety and benevolence of Mr. Thomas Hollis, a gentleman who acquired large property in London, as a dealer in Sheffield goods.

The

establishment, which occupies the premises where once stood an ancient Dissenting meeting-house called New Hall, contains dwellings for sixteen elderly women, widows of cutlers. They have seven shillings a-week, besides coals, and a gown once in two years. This place was originally connected with the con

gregation of the Upper Chapel, out of which the trustees used to be chosen. On the ascendancy of Unitarian tenets, the trust continued to be locally attached to that place, though the sentiments of the founder were Evangelical; and little did he think, that in after times, it would be required as a sine qua non with the recipients of his bounty, that they should attend an Unitarian chapel !

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The royal letters patent founding the above named school, were granted by King James, 4th May, 1604. The institution, however, which was thus incorporated, appears to have originated in the generous respect of Thomas Smith, of Crowland, in the county of Lincoln, but supposed to have been a native of Sheffield, who by his will, dated 2d July, 1603, gave thirty pounds a year to the town of Sheffield, "as long as the world should endure," for the maintenance of two "sufficient learned men to teach and bring up the young children there in godliness and learning." The lands out of which the original endowment arose, and which were situated in Cambridgeshire, were subsequently sold and lands purchased with the money at Wadsley, and which, with some other and more recent benefac tions, comprise the Grammar School estates. The ancient building formerly used as the school, and which many persons living will remember, was situate in Townhead-street, and erected in 1648, of materials said to have partly been brought from the ruins of Sheffield castle. In 1824, a new school was erected on a handsome scale, at the eastern extremity of St. George's church yard: this building, so creditable to the liberality of the governors, is ably conducted, and likely long to perpetuate the charitable intentions of the original founder.

THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' CHARITY SCHOOLS.

"At the north-east corner of the parish church-yard stands a school-house, where sixty boys are clothed, maintained, and educated till they are of proper age to be placed out as apprentices." The present building which is substantial, airy, and every way commodious, has been recently erected, and is the successor of one which was built in 1710, to receive the objects of a cha

rity which appears to have originated in 1706. This school is supported by various benefactions and legacies, and annual collections in the churches. There is in the school, a portrait of Mr. Thomas Hanby, who left a legacy of £8000 for the benefit of this town. He is supposed to have been educated on the foundation, and to have been a native of Sheffield. His memory and his name still flourish in the benefaction which in this place is dispensed annually, on his birth-day, 29th June, to a number of creditable, poor housekeepers, members of the Church of England, not under fifty years of age.

Another [charity school, for the maintenance, education, and clothing of sixty poor girls, stands at the opposite corner of the church-yard, was established in 1786, and is supported in a similar manner to the boys' school.

NATIONAL, LANCASTERIAN, AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Sheffield has to boast of two large free day schools for the education of poor children. That in connexion with the National School Society, and which is in a very flourishing condition, stands near the top of Carver-street; and is of course exclusively identified with the Established Church.

A large building in Gibraltar-street, includes the Lancasterian schools for children of both sexes: these schools are well filled, and well conducted; and are chiefly under the patronage of the dissenters.

Sunday-schools, conducted under the auspices of all the different religious denominations, are liberally supported by public contributions, generally made once a year in the various places of worship. It may be assumed as a probable fact, that the whole number of Sunday-scholars, in the schools connected with the Sheffield National District Society, and the Sheffield Sunday School Union is at least 14,000.

THE GENERAL INFIRMARY.

This noble institution, the proudest monument of local benevolence, and the worthy object of general support, was begun to be erected in 1793, and opened for the reception of patients, on the 4th of October, 1797. The extraordinary munificence, displayed by the opulent and charitably disposed, in connection

with this splendid undertaking, had its commencement with the liberal offer of £1000 by Mrs. Fell, of this neighbourhood, accompanied by the promise of £200 by Mr. Swallow, who communicated the generous intention of Madam Fell to the public. It should here be mentioned, to the credit of our townsman, Dr. Younge, that he was not only the first individual who printed and circulated addresses on the desirability of such an institution, but likewise that he had frequently impressed the importance of the subject upon the attention of the lady abovementioned, several years previous to the announcement of her humane proposition. In mentioning this charity, however, it would be an act of unpardonable injustice not to pay a tribute to the memory of Dr. Browne-a name which ought ever to be regarded with filial veneration by the inhabitants of this town. His large, active, and discerning mind, had its full scope in maturing the project and watching the progress of this, his favourite design a design which he lived to see abundantly useful, and which, when he died, was justly regarded, in connection with his labours therein, as the best legacy that he could have bequeathed to posterity. The building, which is large and commodious, wa sfrom a design by Mr. Rawsthorne, and stands, in a healthy and delightful situation, near St. Philip's Church, at the north-western extremity of the town. Dr. Ernest, the house surgeon, has published a History of the Infirmary, to which, with pleasure, we refer the reader. The blessings of this charity are dispensed on the most generous and expansive scale; and we trust the funds will always be so maintained as to meet every expense of the Institution.

THEATRE AND ASSEMBLY ROOMS. The Sheffield Theatre was erected in 1762; as were also the Assembly Rooms, which are a part of the same extensive pile of brick building, and present a striking front, relieved by stone pillars and a handsome pediment towards Norfolk-street.

MUSIC HALL.

In the year 1823, a number of gentlemen co-operated in the erection of a large building, which fronts the top of Eyre-street, and which, although especially calculated for musical perform ances, was also designed to be let for various other purposes. As observed below, the Museum, the meetings of the Literary and Philosophical Society, the Subscription Library, and the

members of one of the News rooms, are respectively accommodated under its roof. Besides these, however, and in pursuance of its principal objects, grand miscellaneous Concerts are held during the season, under the direction of the Choral Concert Committee.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY." On the 12th of December, 1822, after a public meeting, held for the purpose, in the Cutler's Hall, interesting addresses were delivered by Dr. Knight, Mr. Montgomery, and other gentlemen, on the foundation of a LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, an institution contemplating the culti vation and display of native or local talent in private discussion, and the acquisition of scientific and general knowledge by the delivery of public lectures by professional strangers and others. We can only refer our readers to the above-mentioned discourses, which were published under the auspices of the society. Mr. Montgomery's contained, besides a general exposé of the advantages of such an institution, and some arguments in favour of the pretensions of Sheffield to the epithet "classic"-splendid eulogiums on the characters of several local worthies, living and dead. The public lectures of the society are delivered in the saloon of the Music Hall, and have heretofore been of a very satisfactory and interesting character. The private meetings of the members are held in a handsome room included in this building. This room contains, besides the experimental apparatus of the society, a good collection of fossils, with many entomological specimens, &c. in neat glass cases: a number of curiosities from the South Seas transmitted by our townsman, G. Bennet, Esq.; an immense collection. of botanical specimens, gathered and classically arranged with great nicety and beauty, by the late Mr. Jonathan Salt, of this town, a man deservingly eulogized by Mr. Montgomery in his introductory address, for his ardent devotion to this delightful science. With the example of such a man, and the advan tage of such a collection, to stimulate us-how gladly should we hail the establishment of a botanical garden in this neighbourhood, either under independent auspicies, or as an adjunct of this society. We must not, however, omit to state, that a principal object of attraction in this room, is a fine full length portrait of Mr. Montgomery, painted by Barber, of Derby, in

1824.