THE HISTORY OF CHURCHER'S COLLEGE, PETERSFIELD, HANTS: WITH A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MR. RICHARD CHURCHER, THE FOUNDER; AND OBSERVATIONS ON ITS MANAGEMENT, THERE are few objects of research more substantially valuable and important, than the institutions which individual benevolence has created, and the history and design of their Founders. The observations prefixed by Dr. Lowth, the late Lord Bishop of Winchester, to his admirable life of William of Wykeham, the illustrious Founder of Winchester College, may properly be applied to all inquiries of a similar kind, though of humbler pretension and value. The learned and elegant biographer observes,—“ that natural curiosity, which leads us to enquire into the particular circumstances of the lives of such as have in any way made themselves greatly eminent, cannot be more properly or laudably employed, than in reviving the memory of those illustrious persons, who have more especially distinguished themselves. by their beneficence and public spirit; by their endeavours to do good to their own age and to posterity; to their country and to mankind. In this case, at least, it is not merely the effect of an idle inquisitive disposition, nor does it purpose to itself only an empty amusement; it partakes, in some measure, of the same generous principle which engages its attention; perhaps it arises from a mind possessed with a sense of benefits received, and is no improper exertion of that love, gratitude, and respect which is due to the author of them." a If, then, our object in exploring the history of Churcher's College, Petersfield, were merely to illustrate the life and designs of its Founder, we should be justified in claiming the attention of those, at least, who reside in the neighbourhood which he intended to benefit; but we hope, also, to assist in restoring the Charity to its rightful uses, and to afford an instructive lesson to those who are interested in removing the abuses of similar foundations. In estimating the importance of adhering strictly to the plans laid down by public benefactors, we ought not to overlook the motives, by which they are induced to leave behind them the permanent memorials of their goodness. Actuated, no doubt, in a great measure by a wish to increase the sum of human happiness and virtue, they feel, also, the natural desire of giving to their own memory a larger extent, and a more solid duration. The anxiety, which men indulge to survive, in some manner, even on earth, their own personal existence, is a part of that noble instinct of immortality, which also leads them to cast their hopes forward into other modes of being. It is natural, that even amidst the anticipations of more perfect felicity, their thoughts should cleave to the scene of their long struggles and cares; in which their affections were developed ; to which their habits have grown; which sorrow has endeared to them no less than pleasure; and that even here they should desire to retain some fancied portion, and to be held in undying remembrance. How can they better satisfy this natural longing, than by ESTABLISHING CHARITIES which shall bear their name, shall embody their feelings, and shall impress the memory of their virtues, from time to time, in living characters, on the hearts of those whom they shall ennoble or relieve? If such are the feelings, which induce good men to dispose of their wealth, for purposes of general advantage, it is obvious, that policy and justice alike require the scrupulous fulfilment of their directions. We religiously perform the injunctions of dying friends, even when we regard them as fantastical and useless; and, surely, we should attend to the pure and pious wishes of those who seek, by their dispositions, to promote the welfare of those who shall come after them. Strict justice is never so well exemplified, as when it is paid to the dead, who are no longer able to ask for it, and to demand redress against those who may pervert its course. When the rights of those who can no longer be heard are sacredly respected, the integrity of social life is well upholden, and men are led to recognize a principle of good faith and honour in society, on which they can safely rely. They who have laid plans of good, the accomplishment of which they did not expect to witness, have the best claim on the disinterested justice of survivors. It is no light offence, then, to wrong the dead, by diverting their benevolence to other uses, than those which they have contemplated, even though the innovation should be specious. It weakens the trust in human virtue, and deters the good and charitable from effecting schemes of lasting utility. Even the most extensively munificent have their particular fancytheir chosen range of charity and kindness-within which their affections are enkindled with peculiar warmth, and exerted with characteristic pleasure. This personal feeling will probably be most powerful at the season when they are contemplating posthumous benefactions; when they are seeking to identify themselves with the blessings which they would perpetuate, and to secure to themselves a lengthened existence in the work of their hands. They may, then, naturally, desire to assist that class from which they sprung; and, reverting to their early days, with that enjoyment which is never felt more intensely than in the evening of life, may wish to smooth for others, the paths which they have trodden, and live their own lives over again, in fancy, with those whom their bounty shall encourage to tread in their steps. If men perceive, then, that desires like these are lightly regarded by posterity, they may well be deterred from yielding to the dictates of their generous feelings, and from adding to the number of those institutions, which are the noblest moral ornaments of a Christian land. Nor is this the whole amount of evil, which is produced by departures, from the intention of the founders of public charities. Experience proves, that even when honestly begun, they afford facility for those corrupt influences, which too often render the best institutions subsidiary to the narrow views of family aggrandizement, or party spirit, and sometimes debase them into engines of bribery and low intrigue. A minute investigation of the steps by which some of our Charitable Establishments have been, thus, perverted, would afford a melancholy, but edifying, lesson on the most subtle weaknesses, and pitiable self-deceptions of human nature. These observations will be found strikingly exemplified in the following narrative. Until lately, the knowledge of the affairs of Churcher's College, and of the capabilities of that institution for the benefit of the inhabitants of Petersfield, was confined to a single family. It has now become accessible, through the medium of the compulsory statements, on oath, of those most interested in withholding it, and, therefore, assumes the most authentic form. Its diffusion cannot fail to interest all who are, or may come within the sphere of the Charity, and all who are anxious that, in the administration of funds set apart for benevolent purposes, justice should be done, both to the dead and to the living. Of the personal history of RICHARD CHURCHER, the Founder of Churcher's College, little is known. Enough, however, is certain to enable us to trace the motives which led him to regulate his projected College by the special provisions of his will. He was the eldest son of Richard Churcher, of Fundinton or Funtington in the County of Sussex, Gentleman. He was born in that village in the year 1659, but where he was educated is not known. In 1675, he was apprenticed to Mr. John Jacob, an eminent citizen and barber surgeon of the city of London. His indentures, which bear date the 10th December, in the 27th year of the reign of King Charles the Second, are executed with those formalities, which were at that time, usually, adopted in the city. In 1682, Mr. Churcher's apprenticeship expired, but we have been unable to trace the course of life which he immediately pursued. It is certain, that he subsequently engaged in the service of the East India Company, and went out to India; it is probable, that he chose this line of life soon after the expiration of his indentures; but how long he remained in India, or how many voyages he made, is unknown. His brother, Mr. Adam Churcher, resided in Petersfield, and he consequently occasionally visited at that borough. At these visits, he, probably, formed an attachment to the place, for when he retired from the East India Company's service he settled there, and passed there the remainder of his days. There is a tradition that, even before his settlement at Petersfield, in the course of his visits to his brother, he often expressed an intention of founding A MATHEMATICAL COLLEGE, at Petersfield, for the education of the sons of inhabitants of the town, in order to qualify them for the NAVAL service of the East India Company. From some of his papers and stock receipts which have been preserved, it appears, that in the following years, he purchased stock, towards forming the fund, with which he intended to endow this college. Mr. Churcher, it seems had also purchased other parcels of Bank Stock; for on the 10th July 1710, 2,170. Bank Stock was standing in his name in the books of the Bank of England. He likewise purchased, at the following periods, Part of this Stock was purchased in the names of his friends, Mr. and Mrs. John Hyland, but was afterwards transferred by them into the name of Mr. Churcher. In 1722 Mr. Churcher made his will, which he did not revoke, and as this is the foundation on which this institution was established, it is here given verbatim. " IN THE NAME OF GOD, Amen. The sixteenth of January, in the Year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred twenty and two, "I, RICHARD CHURCHER, of the burrough of Petersfield, in the county of Southampton, East India merchant, being of sound mind and memory, thanks be given to God therefore, calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed unto men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:-FIRST AND PRIN |