committees thus formed were produced at the next general meeting on the 25th of January in the following year, and will be found in chapter LIV.
Early Closing- Ellsworth's Charity
Early Closing
A united early-closing meeting was held in Mr. Banks’s schoolroom on the evening of May the 31st, the said meeting being a crowded one and to a considerable extent made up of members of the two Mechanics’ Institutions, the Atheneum and the Christian Association. Letters of apology were read from several clergymen and other gentlemen, but all expressing sympathy with the object of the meeting. A letter from Mr. Alfred Burton, although one of the shortest, appeared to express the views of most of those who by various hindrances were unable to be present. It ran thus:- “St. Leonards, May 30th, 1854 – Sir, I should be very sorry that the meeting should take place tomorrow evening without availing myself of the opportunity of expressing, as president of the St. Leonards Mechanics Institution, my warm concurrence in the object for which the meeting is called. I cannot but think that upon the success of the Early-closing movement depends in a great measure the success of Mechanics’ Institutions. At all events, a considerable number of young men would be unable to avail themselves of the advantages of such institutions without the aid of early closing. I trust, therefore, that the efforts now being made to obtain this boon for the industrial classes of this borough, may be crowned with success. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, Alfred Burton.” The several addresses delivered at the meeting displayed considerable ability, but the most important resolution was moved by the Rev. J. Stent, as follows:- “That it appearing that the Early Closing Movement in this borough is placed in jeopardy by the opposition of a few individuals, this meeting feels that the prosperity of the institutions is also placed in danger, and therefore urges upon the members to use all the means in their power to enlist public sympathy in favour of the principle of Early Closing.”
Ellsworth’s Charity.
On a motion of Mr. Ross, and contrary to the opinion of Mr. Ginner (an older townsman) as well as that of the Town Clerk (a lawyer) an enquiry was again set on foot respecting the above so-called charity, but like several other matters urged by that gentleman to a legal issue, the Corporation was put to trouble and expense without achieving their purpose. On the 22nd of July an “Information” was laid by the Attorney-General relative to certain property – one fourth of that known as Dissolved Priory of Hastings – left by Mr. Richard Ellsworth’s will in the year 1714 to trustees for the teaching of a certain number of poor children their catchism(sic) and to buy them Bibles &c. The trust had never been carried out, and the -
