In addition to the local expenses of the meetings, (1) for worship, (2) for the use of schools, (3) for the maintenance of the poor, etc., there were also quotas to be raised for the yearly meeting stock, which added materially to the burden of each of the preparative meetings. The quota for the meetings belonging to Falls in 1797 was £500.[382] If we may look over the Quaker treasurer’s shoulder as he runs his accounts at the end of the century, we find him situated financially as follows: [Sidenote: Financial status of Falls at end of century] We the committee appointed to examine and settle the Treasurer’s accounts, having attended thereto, find a balance in his hands of £136/8/11 school money; also, £3/10/7 poor money; and £9/00/00 of interest received on John Large’s legacy, making the whole £148/19/6, in the treasurer’s hands, and the monies upon interest stand as in the following statement, viz. Bonds for School Money 1 bond for ” ” £250/ 1 ” ” ” £7/9/4½ 1 legacy without a bond £50 1 bond for ” ” £50 1 ” ” ” £50 1 ” ” ” £130 1 ” ” ” £100 1 ” ” ” £50 1 ” ” ” £40 Included in a bond of £75 £40 --------- £777/9/4½ Interest due on school money £40/00/11 And one year’s rent on house and lot £12/00/00 And one year’s rent on house and lot £12/00/00[383] [Sidenote: Middletown] The Middletown Meeting began its educational work more promptly than did Falls.[384] Ten years after the first establishment of the meeting a request was brought forward as follows: [Sidenote: School requested in Middletown meeting house] Some Friends have signified the likeliness of having a schoolmaster hereabouts to instruct children and also requested that they might have the privilege to teach in the meeting house, to which this meeting does give their free consent, provided it be no hindrance to Friends Meetings.[385] [Sidenote: Again requested] It is quite probable that the school established as requested, was a temporary and irregular affair, depending on the will of the individual patrons. Certainly, it had not any official connection with the meeting, and probably did not have for many years. In 1699, a request similar to that of 1693 was made by Thomas Stackhouse and others, desiring the use of the meeting house for a schoolmaster,[386] which implies they had not advanced much beyond their state of 1693. This request was likewise granted, provided no hindrance be caused to the meetings.