CHARTER-HOUSE (a corruption of Chartreuse, i.e., Carthusian) is a hospital, chapel, and school-house, in London, instituted in 1611 by sir Thomas of Sutton, Camps castle, in the co. of Cambridge. It had originally been a Carthusian monastery (founded in 1371 by a sir Walter Mauny and the bishop of Sudbury), but on the dissolution of monastic establishments by Henry VIII., it was made a place of deposit for his nets and pavilions. After undergoing many alterations, and passing into the possession of various distinguished persons, it was finally purchased from lord Suffolk, for £13,000, by sir Thomas Sutton, who endowed it with the revenues of upwards of 20 manors, lordships, and other estates, in various parts of England. This "masterpiece of Prot estant English charity," as old Fuller calls it, serves three uses—it is an asylum for poor brethren, an educational and a religious institution; hence Bacon terms it a "triple good." The poor brethren are 80 in number. None are admitted under 50 years of age, and only those who have been housekeepers are eligible. • Each brother has a separate apartment, a share of attendance from domestics, an ample, though plain diet, and an allowance of about £20 a year for clothes and other matters, and four weeks' holiday every autumn. The brethren must be bachelors and members of the church of England. Among the poor brethren in by-gone years were Elkauah Settle, the antagonist of Dryden , John Bagford, the antiquary; Isaac de Groot, a descendant of Grotius; and Alexander Macbean, who assisted Johnson in the preparation of his dictionary. The scholars are 44
in number, admissible between the ages of 10 and 14. They are understood to be "the sons of poor gentlemen to whom the charge of education is too onerous;" as in the ease of the poor brethren, it is not always the proper parties who are chosen. There are exhi bitions, scholarships, and medals competed for at certain times by the scholars. In addition to the scholars properly so called, i.e., such as receive a free board and education, a large number of youths are sent to the charter-house school because of its reputation. These either board with the masters, or simply attend during the day. The number of extra boarders is nearly double that of the scholars. The institution is under the direction of the queen, 15 governors, selected from great officers of the state, and master himself, whose salary from the foundation is £800 per annum. Among the eminent individuals educated in this establishment, are Dr. Barrow, Judge Blackstone, Addison, Steele, John Wesley, bishop Thirlwall, George Grote, W. 31. Thackeray, and sir Charles East lake.
The charter-house, which is situated at the upper end of Aldersgate street, is a quaint old building, interesting, though not very beautiful. The chapel contains Sut ton's tomb, which was opened in 1842, when the body of the founder was discovered in a coffin of lead adapted to the shape of the body, like an Egyptian mummy-case.