FOR preventing further Miſtakes, and ſaving my ſelf daily trouble in giving Account to ſuch as come or ſend to me for ſatisfaction, how the Poor of Sion-College are maintained, and for Vindication of the Reverend, the Governours of the ſaid College, choſen Annually by the whole London Clergy, according to their Charter, who are unjuſtly reflected upon in this Weeks Publick Occurrences, I have here ſent you a brief, but faithful Account how that matter ſtands, from the Regiſter in my Cuſtody, having been Clerk of the ſaid College, for theſe thirteen years laſt paſt, and reſided for the moſt part in the Lodgings appointed me by the Founders Will.

Now by the Books it appears, that according to the ſaid Will, the Alms-people are recommended to the Governours for the time being, by the City of Briſtol, the Merchant-Taylors Company, and the Pariſhes of St. Dunſtan's in the Weſt, and St. Gregory's, London.

And when the College, of two preſented, have choſen one, the reſpective Preſenters give the College Security by Bonds, not only to maintain and relieve them in Sickneſs and other Exigencies, but alſo in caſe of Death, to ſee them decently buried. And I am able to atteſt of my own Knowledg, that the ſaid Preſenters, eſpecially the two Pariſhes, do viſit and relieve them upon notice given; and the Alms-people are ready to acknowledg their kindneſs, except two or three of the Alms-men, that live idly, and ſ • end their ſmall Allowance, chiefly in Drink, to the ſcandal of all the reſt.

I find that but two Women were buried from hence laſt year, one of St. Dunſtan's in the Weſt, the other a Merchant-Taylor's Widow of St. Giles's Cripplegate Pariſh, both which were taken care of during their Sickneſs, and buried by the Church-wardens of the ſaid Pariſhes, as they, and the Nurſes of the Deceaſed, are ready to atteſt.

As to the Ill Management or Miſimployment alledged in the Weekly Occurrences; It is well known, that the whole College and Alms-houſes were burnt down, and quite deſtroyed by the Dreadful Fire, An. Dom. 1666. and that in three or four years enſuing, the Clergy of London, by their own Subſcriptions, and the Charitable Contributions of others, Rebuilt the Library, and the Alms-houſes under it for ten Men, and ten Women, in decent and diſtinct Apartments, which coſt together 1300l. and upwards; this was the firſt Care of the Governours, after the Fire, and the Alms-people ſleep in the Dwellings built by the London Clergy.

And as for their Penſions, being now but 3l. 10s. per Annum, whereas the Founder left 6l. to each Perſon; it is fit the World ſhould know, That the Lands appropriated to the Alms-Houſes, lye in the Hundreds of Eſſex, and were in the beginning of King Charles the Firſt's Reign, Reported and ſetled by Judg Crook and others, to be ſuch as would hold 120l. per Annum, and by Order in Chancery were Demiſed to Mr. Keeling, one of the Executors of Dr. White, for 200 years, at 120l. per Annum, for the Alms-Houſes, without Impeachment of Waſt; That about ten years ſince, the Right of the Leaſe came to a young Woman, a Deſcendant of the ſaid Keeling, and was in the Cuſtody of Mr. Keeling a Merchant now in London; which W 〈…〉 Loſſes in her Eſtate (as Mr. Keeling proved) became ſo poor, as to be maintained by Charity, and ſo all benefit of the Covenant in the Leaſe was loſt; and hereupon By reaſon of Rents falling, Mr. Keeling and his Tenant left the Lands and Houſes without notice, and very much out of Repair, ſo that the Governours of the College then ſent to the Aldermen of Briſt • l, the Company of Merchant-Taylors, and the Church-Wardens of the aforeſaid Pariſhes; and ſome of each appointed by the ſaid Aldermen, Company, and Pariſhes, met at the College, and at Merchant-Taylors Hall ſeveral times, and viewing the Title, with Counſel, ſent down Agents to view the Lands, and Aſſiſt for getting a Tenant; who, after a years ſeeking, could not get a good Tenant, at more than 70l. per Annum; and it was thus Leaſed for 21 years from that time, with Covenants for the Tenant to lay out about 200l. in Repairs, the Farm not being Tenantable without it; and this was one reaſon more why the Rent was ſunk ſo low; and it is to be feared, when this Leaſe expires, it will hardly yield 70l. per Annum, by reaſon of great Damages through Sluces and Salt-water.

Obſerve, that the Poor of Briſtol are not maintained by Lands in the Hundred of Eſſex; but Briſtol will tell you, that the Lands there given them by Dr. White, were ſet apart by his Will, for repairing a Cauſe-way leading to the City, and they alſo are ſo ſunk in value, that the City is forced to pay out of their Chamber, large Sums per Annum, to make up the defects of that Charity.

I know alſo, that of late years, the London Clergy, by their own repeated Subſcriptions, and ſome Contributions, have built the College-Hall, and ſeveral Tenements near it, moſt of which are now let to Students and others; for which they have expended near two thouſand pounds more, and contracted a great Debt, which they are endeavouring to pay by the ſame means.

Obſerve, that the Founder left 40l. per Ann. for four Latin Sermons, and four Dinners every year; but ſince the Fire the Preachers Fee is loſt, and the Dinners (which were diſcontinued for ſome years for want of a Hall) are now reduced to two in a year, and thoſe (ſaving only three years) were all paid for by Contributions of the Clergy at the Baſon, the overplus only being paid by the College.

I do not find much above 20l. per Annum in Ground-rents about the College; (other Rents there are, but newly built, and not yet paid for); out of which, by the King's Quit-rent, Rent-charge to St. Alfage Pariſh, Pariſh Taxes and Duties, Library-keepers Salaries, Porters and Meſſengers Wages, River-water for the Alms-people, repairs in Tiling Glazing Paving, &c. the whole is expended, and as much more.

And now my Hand is in, give me leave to add, That whereas the Clerk's Salary was before the Fire 20l. per Annum, with the uſe of the Hall, and fair Lodgings: I am now contented with 5l. per Annum, and three Little Rooms, for the building of which, in part, I my ſelf laid out 50l.

And as to the 30 l. per Annum, mentioned in the Occurrences, Lately left the College by a Counſellor, of which (ſays the Writer) they have had no Benefit. The Caſe is thus:

Mr. Brewer late of the Temple, left by Will, a Farm in Hartfordſhire to the Poor of Sion-College, which was Leaſed by himſelf for twelve years, expiring laſt Lady-day, for 27l. per Annum, and that he dying in March 1684. the College hath been in Suits, both at Common-Law, and Chancery ever ſince, with the Heir and Executors claiming this Eſtate by Entails alledged; and that in February laſt, the Cauſe in Chancery came to a Hearing, where one of the Defendants appeared by three or four, and the College as Plaintiff, by three Eminent Counſels, and they obtained a Decretal Order againſt that Defendant, for the Land; but the other Defendant, to make more work, did not appear. The Charges of theſe Suits are near 70l. paid, and to be paid out of the Arrears; and the College have already made a Dividend to the Poor, amounting to more than the over-plus in their Hands.

The ſaid Mr. Brewer left alſo his Library to Sion College, which is ſtill detained by the Executors, alledging that they have not Aſſits ſufficient to pay the Teſtators Debts; by which you may obſerve, That the College takes care in the firſt place of the Poor's Right, and I have good Aſſurance that they intend to do ſo, tho it be to their own Damage.

And this, Sir, I hope, is enough to ſatisfie you and all others. I only wiſh, That this Paper may be made as publick as the Occurrences.