Trustees, and each party has since holden his part in severalty.2

Annexed to a Deed for appointing new Trustees of The Countess of BATH'S Charity at Tawstock, dated in 1766, is a Schedule, stating, that to prevent any misapplication of the Charity for the future, which had theretofore happened, by giving it to persons not resident within the Manor of Tawstock,-it was agreed by the then Trustees, that they should draw lots, and as such lot should happen, each Trustee, in turn, should receive and dispose of the Charity for one year.3

In 1674, JOHN How, by his Will, devised the dividends of certain Stock to The Mayor of Guildford, who, with the Magistrates of the Town, are to choose two poor Maid Servants of good report, who have served Masters or Mistresses there two years together, who shall throw two dice, or cast lots, and shall pay one year's clear profit of the stock to such Maid as shall throw the highest number,

Rep. vii. p. 562.

3

Rep. ix. p. 80.

or to whom the lot shall fall,—and he directed, that the other Maid shall the next year, if she shall inhabit that Town, and not be married, throw dice or cast lots with another Maid,-but that if any one Maid shall lose by the dice or lots four times, she shall not be afterwards admitted to throw or cast again.*

MARRIAGE PORTIONS.

In the year 1797, Mr. THOMAS HARRIS, by a Codicil to his Will, gave to the Ministers, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Parish of Nunney, the sum of 10007., and to the Ministers, Churchwardens and Overseers, for the time being, of the Parish of Cloford, the like sum of 10007. respectively, to be placed upon good security, and the interest arising therefrom to be applied in the month of December in each year, among such women, natives of those parishes, as shall have been married during the preceding year in the respective Parishes, to men of any Parish or Place, in such proportions and manner, as the said Ministers, Churchwardens and Overseers shall judge proper.

The Claimants, of course, vary in number,-where there are more than one, the gift is distributed according to the wants and deserts of the applicants.

It has sometimes happened, that no Marriage has taken place within the year preceding in the parish, to entitle any person to the bounty, in which case the Dividends are accumulated until an applicant presents herself, who is entitled under the Will. She then receives the whole amount of the accumulated Dividend. This Charity, in the opinion of The Rev. JOHN IRELAND, Curate of the Parish of Cloford, has a tendency to produce mischievous effects. Besides it's general tendency to produce Immorality, young persons have been thereby induced to marry at a very early age, in order to entitle themselves to the bounty, and in some instances they have been known to anticipate the sum, by mortgaging the same before marriage.

The same bad consequences have also been observed to result from this bequest, in the parish of Nunney. It is stated to have produced much poverty and distress, inducing Marriage, without any

other prospect of support than what is holden out by this Charity.1

In 1610, MARMADUKE LANGDALE gave the interest of 1007., among other things, towards the relief of poor Servants and poor Labourers, who should be married in the Chapelry of South Skirlaugh. But it appears, that demands for assistance on Marriage are not encouraged there,-two only having been made of late years, and but one of them attended to.2

Several bequests have also been made, for the Marriage Portions of Servants, of good fame and reputation, and who have conducted themselves with fidelity, diligence, and respect, in their different places, these are confined to particular Parishes, and to various years of Servitude, but all of them are directed to the laudable purpose of a due encouragement to Industry and Gratitude, and to stimulate them to acquire those distinguishing rewards by their commendable manners and merit.

1

1 Rep. I. pp. 317, 318.

? Rep. ix. p. 780.