[Footnote 1: Mr. Beal sold on Wednesday, March 13th, 1878, at the Mart, 14½ acres of land for £14,500, being part of 20 acres bought in 1850 for the sum of £600. The land is in Battersea Parish, bordering on Wandsworth Common, and was part of the site of the Westminster Union (St. James') Industrial Schools. It was bought by the British Land Company.] The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls supported entirely by _Voluntary Contributions_, was instituted on the 25th March, 1788, at the suggestion of the late Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini, Surgeon-Dentist to his late Majesty, George the Fourth, for the purpose of educating, clothing, and maintaining a limited number of girls, whether orphans or otherwise, the children of Brethren whose reduced means prevented them from affording their female offspring a suitable education. His late Majesty, the Prince of Wales, with other members of the Royal Family, the nobility, clergy and gentry, and many of the most influential members of the craft, gave the project their warmest support, and by their united efforts established this Institution, which has preserved numbers of children from the dangers and misfortunes to which females are peculiarly exposed, trained them up in the knowledge and love of virtue and habits of industry, and cultivated the practice of such social, moral and religious duties as might best conduce to their welfare and eternal happiness. A school-house was erected in 1793, near the Obelisk, St. George's Fields, on leasehold ground belonging to the Corporation of the City of London. At the expiration of the lease in 1851, it was determined by the Committee to remove to a more healthy locality. Accordingly about three acres of freehold land were purchased on the high ground of Battersea Rise. Upon this land the present building, which is an ornament to the neighbourhood, was erected in 1852. It is constructed of red brick of Gothic architecture from the designs of Mr. Phillip Hardwicke, and is noticeable for its great central clock tower. Since the first erection of the building a wing has been added and the wings of the buildings have been extended in front in order to afford extra school-room, dining room and dormitory accommodation. Detached from the main building an Infirmary has been erected in the grounds, including _convalescent room, laundry, and every appliance necessary thereto_. The establishment consists of a Matron; a Governess; three Assistant Governesses; an Assistant to the Matron, and six Junior Teachers; a Gardener and his Wife; and eight female Servants. Since its establishment, one thousand and ninety-one girls have been educated, clothed, and maintained within its walls. There are now _one hundred and sixty-two_ girls in the Institution. The school is open for inspection every day from eleven to four (Sundays excepted) and can be reached by any train stopping at Clapham Junction which is closely adjacent.