GENERAL CHARITIES.—The sum of £308 17s. was expended in the purchase of an estate at Ellesmere, in 1726, which consists of 19A. 3R. 22P., producing a yearly rental of £45. Of the said purchase money £200 was the gift of Thomas Baker, in 1685; £30 the gift of Thomas Cotton, in 1683; £50 the bequest of Stephen Rogers; and £20 the gift of Richard Presland. The rent is received by the churchwardens, and carried to one account with the produce of several other charities, and disposed of in bread, and small sums of money, to deserving objects of charity. The sum of £1. 6s. is received every alternate year from a farm in Willstone, which was bought subject to this payment, about forty years ago. This is known by the name of _Diana Robert’s Charity_, the like payment being made every alternate year to the parish of Cardington. _Brook’s Charity_. The particulars of this charity will he found noticed with those of St. Alkmund. The yearly sum of £2. 10s. is received on account of this parish, and carried to the general charity account noticed above. _The Rev. Samuel Presland_, by will, in 1750, as appears from an entry in the book of charities, gave £10 to be placed out by the overseers, and the interest to be distributed to the poor. In the same book it is stated that _Thomas Presland_ gave £20, and directed the interest to be given among poor housekeepers. These two sums, with £50, the legacy of Richard Williams, are placed out on the security of the house of industry, and the interest carried to the general charity account. _Mary Griffith_, in 1781, left £50 to the churchwardens and overseers, the interest to be distributed every Sunday in twopenny loaves. This sum is placed out on the security of the tolls of the Leighton turnpike road, and £2. 10s. annually received as the interest thereof. _The Rev. Philemon Hayes_ left to the minister of the parish 10s. for a lecture on Candlemas day, and the same sum to be distributed to poor people by the churchwardens. John Bryan by his will made an addition to Mr. Hayes’s gift of 10s. for the said sermon and 10s. to the poor. In respect of these charities the sum of £2 is charged upon land called the Tenter Field, near the Quarry, Shrewsbury. _Elizabeth Hanmer_, in 1755, left £20, the interest to be distributed in bread; she also left a house on the stone bridge, the rent to be paid to the clerk of the parish. The stone bridge above-mentioned with the house thereon has since been taken down, and a sum of money was awarded to the clerk as compensation for it, with which sum, and the £20 left to be distributed in bread, another house was bought for him. The house is now let by the clerk, and he receives the rent and pays thereout 20s. yearly, as the interest of the legacy of £20.