The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

BIBLE SOCIETY, ETC. 295
INFANT-SCHOOLS.
Tlhe Boston East Infant School is situated in Botolph Street, and was built by
subscription. It is not under Government inspection. It was enlarged by subscription in 1853, and will now contain 150 children. The number on the
books, in March 1856, was 112.
The Boston West Infant School. This was built by the Misses GEE, and is
situated in George Street, near West Street. It has a certificated mistress, and
is under Government inspection. It will accommodate 150 children. The
number on the books, in March 1856, was 204.
Mr. Vent left a legacy of 191. 19s. to each of these infant-schools in 1852.
AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY
Was established at a meeting held at the Town Hall on the 4th November,
1813. The report made at the fortieth anniversary of the Society showed that
33,075 copies of the Scriptures had been distributed through its agency. The
amount of the receipts for the year was 911. 11 s. 2d.
THE BOSTON PROVIDENT DISPENSARY
Was established in 1852 by re-modelling the rules and regulations of the
GENERAL DISPENSAkRY, which was established in 1795. The leadcting distinction
between the system upon which the old Dispensary was conducted and the present one being, that the former was entirely supported by charitable contributions, and the object of the present one is, to assist the working classes in obtaining
for themselves and families efficient medical advice and medicine during sickness;
to foster among them habits of reliance on their own industry; and enable them,
by their own small periodical payments, aided by the contributions of the more
opulent, to obtain medical assistance in the earliest stages of disease, and thus to
guard against the evils always likely to arise from delay. The funds of the
existing institution are, therefore, derived from the subscriptions and donations
of the honorary members, and the payments of those who are to be immediately
benefited by it. Qualified medical officers are elected annually; the number is
fixed at eight. Each free member has the privilege of selecting the medical
officer he wishes to attend him in sickness, but he may not change his attendant
during that illness. Once a-year the amount of subscriptions, &c., after paying
all expenses, is divided among the medical officers in proportion to the number
of patients each has attended. The subscription required from the free members
is very trifling. As a proof how properly this institution is estimated by those
for whose benefit it is intended, the amount received from honorary members last
year was 921 5s. 6d.; whilst that received from the free ones was 1021. 7s. 1Id.
The total receipts from all sources was 2431. 12s. 9d.; the expenditure, 501.
18s. 7d.; leaving 1921. 14so 2d. to be divided among the medical attendants.
The institution is productive of much good.1
Mr. Vent's legacy of 191. 19s. was received in 1853.
The number of cases which received medical increase over the preceding year. The funds had
treatment from this institution, during the year also increased, but not in proportion to the demands
which ended June 1855, was 1732, being a great upon them.