DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1213#0017
6 TAL'LIS S ILLUSTRATED LONDON ;
vileges are extensive. The yearly expenditure exceeds
■£30,000. Its government is placed in the hands of
the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and a certain number of
Common Councilmen, elected by lot; and benefactors to
the amount of £500 are also governors. Every Sunday,
from Christmas to Easter, the boys sup in the'large hall,
a domestic spectacle to which the public are admitted
by tickets. These banquets commence at 6 o'clock.
" Three tables are covered with neat cloths, wooden plat-
ters, little wooden buckets of beer, with bread, &c. The
ceremony begins with three strokes of a mallet, pro-
ducing the most profound silence. One of the seniors
having ascended the pulpit, reads a chapter from the
Bible; and during prayers the boys stand; and the
' Amen/ pronounced by such a number of voices, has a
striking effect. A hymn, sung by the whole youthful
assembly, accompanied by the organ, concludes this part
of the solemnity at the supper. The treasurers, go-
vernors, and those of the public who procure admission,
are seated at the south end of the hall; the master,
steward, matron, &c, at the north end; and the several
nurses at the table to preserve good order. At the con-
clusion of the whole, the doors of the wards are thrown
open, and the boys pass by the company in procession;
first the nurse, then a boy carrying two lighted candles;
others with bread baskets and trays, and the remainder,
two by two, who all pay their obedience as they pass."*
On Easter Monday and Tuesday the boys attend the
Spital Sermons, preached to recommend the various
charities under the care of the Corporation of London to
the consideration of the affluent. The sermon on the
Monday is invariably delivered by a bishop; that on
Tuesday by some distinguished divine. On the Monday
the Bluecoat Boys walk in procession to the Royal Ex-
change, where they wait for the Lord Mayor, who on
this occasion comes in state, and whom they accompany
to Christ Church to hear the sermon. On Tuesday they
* Cooke.
vileges are extensive. The yearly expenditure exceeds
■£30,000. Its government is placed in the hands of
the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and a certain number of
Common Councilmen, elected by lot; and benefactors to
the amount of £500 are also governors. Every Sunday,
from Christmas to Easter, the boys sup in the'large hall,
a domestic spectacle to which the public are admitted
by tickets. These banquets commence at 6 o'clock.
" Three tables are covered with neat cloths, wooden plat-
ters, little wooden buckets of beer, with bread, &c. The
ceremony begins with three strokes of a mallet, pro-
ducing the most profound silence. One of the seniors
having ascended the pulpit, reads a chapter from the
Bible; and during prayers the boys stand; and the
' Amen/ pronounced by such a number of voices, has a
striking effect. A hymn, sung by the whole youthful
assembly, accompanied by the organ, concludes this part
of the solemnity at the supper. The treasurers, go-
vernors, and those of the public who procure admission,
are seated at the south end of the hall; the master,
steward, matron, &c, at the north end; and the several
nurses at the table to preserve good order. At the con-
clusion of the whole, the doors of the wards are thrown
open, and the boys pass by the company in procession;
first the nurse, then a boy carrying two lighted candles;
others with bread baskets and trays, and the remainder,
two by two, who all pay their obedience as they pass."*
On Easter Monday and Tuesday the boys attend the
Spital Sermons, preached to recommend the various
charities under the care of the Corporation of London to
the consideration of the affluent. The sermon on the
Monday is invariably delivered by a bishop; that on
Tuesday by some distinguished divine. On the Monday
the Bluecoat Boys walk in procession to the Royal Ex-
change, where they wait for the Lord Mayor, who on
this occasion comes in state, and whom they accompany
to Christ Church to hear the sermon. On Tuesday they
* Cooke.