" Reading maketh a fu ll man; Conference a ready man; and Writing an exact m an.''— BA CON.

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ORIGINES BARNETIENSES.

(II.)

As was hinted in our last number, we propose to continue our series of articles with the above heading. Such a literary venture might seem over ambitious; but we are more fortunate than many schools in possessing authentic records of our early history in an almost uninterrupted series of minutes o f the proceedings of the Governors from the first days; and our task will be rendered easier by the fact that these records have lately been the subject o f an admirable paper, read before the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, by the Rev. F. C. Cass, who has kindly given his consent to its being used by the editors. “ Aut agitur res in scena aut acta refertur,” which we may translate—■ “ Events are either related to the reader, or he is to suppose them to have taken place.” But we need suppose nothing of our early history. W e have guidance at every step. The official minutes are contained in two books, the one extending

32 ORIGINES BARNETIENSES.

from 1587 to 1665, and the other from 1688 to 1860. No record unfortunately remains of what happened between our foundation in 1573 and 1588, and Mr. Cass very justly remarks with respect to the hiatus of twenty-three years between J 665 and 1688, that this break “ commences with the year o f the Great Plague, and it might not perhaps be regarded as a very far-fetched con­jecture that the earlier book was temporarily lost or mislaid during the excitement that accompanied that visitation,” and that entries then made may have disappeared. We cannot but congratulate ourselves on the small periods taken up by these breaks.

We have then an authentic and fairly complete chronicle of the appointment of Governors, of the election o f masters, and o f the regulations which were drawn up at different times for the better management of our School. W e are also not unprepared to read “ of the pressing necessity that “ frequently arose for raising voluntary contribu- “ tions on the part o f the Governors towards the “ needful repairs.” As we go on to examine we shall find some interesting and important names among the governors and masters. One o f the Governors, Dr. W estfield, had been Head Master of St. Peter’s College, Westminster; another was Bishop of Bristol in the reign of Charles I.; while another in the same reign was imprisoned in the Tower and fined £20,000 “ for having as one of

ORIGINES BARNETIENSES.

the Justices of the King’s Bench pronounced for the legality o f Shipmoney” ; two of our Head Masters also became Irish Bishops. A t present, however, we shall say no more o f these worthies, as we propose in future numbers entering into more detail concerning them. As to past alumni we do not know that their bead-roll is remarkable for its length or brilliancy. But however obscure they may have been, their manner of life cannot fail to be interesting. The “ histoire inedite” of our school must excite a lively sympathy in us who work within walls which have for three centuries enclosed successive generations of schoolboys. The boys o f to-day who come up comfortably to school by nine in the morning, must congratulate themselves that they are not subject to the Spartan rule against over-indulgence in morning slumbers which prevailed in former days: “ It ’m— That upon every Schooleday all the Schollers come duely to Schoole at the calling of the Schoole bell betweene sixe and seaven a clock in the morning.” With this hard nut to crack we take leave o f our readers till the next number.

FROM PENANG TO ENGLAND.

We left Penang, an island in the Straits of Malacca, about the middle o f 187-, in the steamer---------- o f nearly 2,000 tons. W e took a lastfarewell of home at about four o’clock in theafternoon and went on board, although th e ----------did not sail till eight the next morning. On the first day we passed Acheen Head in Sumatra. W e then sailed on with splendid weather for more than a fortnight. We passed through the Maidive Islands some of which are only barren rocks without sign o f vegetation. The sea wears them into all kinds o f fantastic shapes. One exactly resembles a “ lion couchant.” After leaving the Mai dive Islands the weather began to change, the wind rose by degrees until it blew a gale. W e had by this time come near to the African coast. I was in my berth when the gale sprang up, but the pitching o f the ship made me “ turn out” as the sailors say. I rose and tried to jump on to my feet, but fell over by a sudden lurch of the vessel. After several attempts I managed to stagger to the saloon where I found my fellow-passengers huddled up together in a corner where the third officer was trying to cheer them. The storm lasted till about midnight. When we went on deck the next morning we could see the damage done to the sails, &e. We soon sighted the entrance to the Red Sea, which is guarded on each side by stately rocks.

FROM PENANG TO ENGLAND.

In the Red Sea the water was beautifully calm. We saw very interesting objects all along. In some places the water was covered by large masses o f fishes’ eggs, which gave it quite a red tinge. W e were not longer than two days in the Red Sea when we saw Suez before us. It was now about five in the evening, and on account of ships not being allowed to steam through the Canal at night we anchored at Suez and waited till morning. Early next morning we hauled up anchor and ploughed through the Suez Canal. It is so narrow in some parts that a person could easily jump from ship-board to the land. We saw a collection of Arab boys who dived down into the water for pieces of biscuit. W e soon emerged into the Mediterranean, and anchored at Port Said for coals. I went on shore with some of the passengers, and having procured a guide saw a great many places of interest. Most o f the inhabitants here are French, and even the “ street Arabs” commonly speak French. W e went on board in the evening and started on our journey. The water was smooth, and we had a very pleasant journey till we got to the Straits of Gibraltar where it was rather rough. The sea was swollen all the way up to the English Channel where it gradually became smoother. The first part o f England that we saw was the Isle of Wight, but rather at a distance. W e soon entered the mouth o f the Thames and steamed on to the Victoria Docks where we landed. W. S.

SLR W ALTER SCOTT AS A POET.

The works o f Sir Walter Scott are probably more read by schoolboys than those o f any other single writer. We have ourselves just’ had his boyhood brought before us in a most interesting manner at the first meeting o f our Literary Society. Now, though his poems oftenest come before us as repetition lessons, may it not yet happen that we, many o f us, extend the admiration excited by his novels to his poems? N o,one disputes Scott’s claim to rank among the very best o f novelists; while many consider that he occupies a very different position among poets. We propose then to offer a few remarks which bear upon the question o f his position as a poet.

O f course the first thing to settle is what we mean by a poet. The word itself means “ maker,” and according to Aristotle, the poet is the gifted man who can bring before our minds vivid pictures o f scenes, events and persons. In this sense Homer is pre-eminently the poet. But such a definition will surely not satisfy us at the present time. Or else, how is it that no poetry has now any chance o f success unless it is more or less metaphysical? I think we must therefore add something to the definition which contented Aristotle. When men were

SIR WALTER SCOTT AS A POET. 37

mostly occupied in hunting, war, or similar occupa­tions, their poetry would naturally be that which can be made to invest these pursuits. But when men are mostly engaged in sedentary occupations, their poetry, if indeed their way o f life allows o f any poetry at all, must be that which springs from their actual circumstances. It must arise from such hopes, ambitions, sentiments and passions, as our modern life supplies. Without therefore presuming to give a definition, I would say, that whatever other qualifications a poet must have, he must certainly be able to throw new light on our modern ways o f living. He ought at any rate to be able to lay before us something o f importance to our lives in a better way than any one else has ever done before him. And that something must bear rather on the imaginative than on the purely intellectual side o f our nature.

I might at first sight by this reference to modern life seem to be excluding the great poets o f antiquity. But really this is by no means the case. For where can we find a more complete contrast to modern life, something therefore which more deserves our attention, than in those great interpreters o f the best o f their own times? I trace to this cause the fascination which the poems o f Homer have exercised on the minds o f two most active modern politicians.

Well then, a great poet ought to present to us

38 SIR WALTER SCOTT AS A POET.

some new aspect o f life. Without going to greater names, he ought like Wordsworth to have to reveal to the world the simple beauty o f nature, a beauty which glowing words more obscure than interpret. Or like Shelley he should have his mind full o f higher things than other men perceive. Or like Keats he should have an extraordinary faculty for appreciating the beautiful. Or rather, he should have something to tell us as important as any o f these have, but in a different way. Has Sir Walter Scott this? No doubt he has written very clever poetry, some parts o f which are very beautiful. And no doubt there are passages in his poems which have taken deep root in the English language. But surely neither for pathos, nor for sentences which infix themselves on the mind, can he compare with Goldsmith. Gold­smith’s heart is constantly touched with genuine feeling as he writes ; and it would be easy to select a score o f lines from his poems which will last as long as the English language. At least Goldsmith is superior to Scott. For while Gold­smith merely lacked culture, was merely deficient in scholarly training, Scott lacked that poetic insight, which, if we are not mistaken, is to be sought for in the poet.

The true rank of Scott as a poet seems rather to be with Macaulay. Both were men o f genius, learning, and prodigious memories. Scott wrote fiction as instructive as history; and Macaulay

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wrote history as interesting as fiction. Both wrote in excellent prose, and neither was contented with prose alone. The poems o f both, excepting perhaps Scott’s Lord of the Isles, are undoubted works o f genius. And I think we should rather say that they were both perfect masters o f prose, and wrote some excellent poetry, than that they were poets. O f course the styles o f these two writers are totally different, and all that is meant by the comparison we have instituted is that no writer except Macaulay occupies an analagous position in English literature to Scott. In this view we reluctantly differ from Keble. We would far sooner place Keble himself than Scott “ in the front rank o f poets.”

F A S T I .

The Christmas Concert.—The work o f the year 1876 was brought to a pleasing close on Thursday December 21st by the second of a series of concerts which may now, we hope, be looked forward to as an annual treat by all parties interested in the welfare and progressive develop­ment of the School. Though only our second year

40 FASTI,

of re-organization, the promise of this being the case is good, as is clearly indicated by the very creditable performance on this occasion; and it will be surer as our present boys grow into “ Old Boys,” who will be able at this festive season to contribute with their heavier voices useful aid to the harmony. The germs of a stringed and wind band are apparent, and it should be a pleasing ambition of the boys to employ what leisure and musical powers they have in making this as effective as possible, both as to skill and numbers. Our hall, which was tastefully though simply decorated, is from its small size and low ceiling a great marrer of sound effects; but with the increase of the School it is not unreasonable to expect that this drawback may after a time be remedied by the erection of a “ Big School.” Great credit is due to Mr. W hitmore who conducted for the careful manner in which he drilled the performers and the successful way in which he guided them through the performance; to Messrs. Stevens and Clarke, who aided, for the heartiness of their help and trouble; to our schoolfellows for the interest they showed in their agreeable and self-imposed task; and to Mr. D iemer (Boyal Acad. Music), who presided so ably at the piano. The part-songs were generally very satisfactory. In that o f “ Old Towler” the addition of the “ Huntsman’s Horn,” with its echo, was taking. It would, however, have been more so had some voice imitated the huntman’s call to the dog. “ The Snow drop” was

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decidedly the best rendered the few solid notes of the tenor stimulating tonal agreement to the trebles. “ Mark the Merry Elves” was capitally given, the second voice (French max.) singing very tunefully and carefully. The treble was, however, a little sharp, but he improved in the encore. The glee “ From Oberon in Fairyland” was marred somewhat in the beautiful slow movement, indicating, perhaps, insufficient practice; but all through, especially in “ Fiends, ghosts, &c.,” the boys showed unmistakeably that thejr had worked well at their several parts. The violin solo was very nicely played by D. A dair, accompanied by Mr. W hitmore on the piano. H udson and Taylor also gratified us by their piano duett, and though evidencing room for improvement, they agreed well together in bars of difficulty. M ilne ma., who shows considerable musical taste, ability, and love for the art, added to our pleasure by his correct solo playing of “ Shells of the Ocean,” and in the vocal parts which he took. In “ Rain drops patter," M itchell ma., did himself much credit by very tuneful singing. J osling’s careful singing seemed to earn its encore partly by the nasal of the last line of each verse, that being in French. The Chorus “ March in Norma” was given in a very spirited manner, and the energies of the voices came out fully. The evening was thus spent very agreeably, and the thanks of all are due to the Head Master who had evidently much interested himself in the matter, and to the other masters and

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boys, whose combined efforts to harmonize their labours till the very close of the “ Old Y ear” are calculated to have a good impression on all around. The proceedings terminated with the NationalAnthem and cheers for the Head and for theAssistant Masters. Below is given the programmewith its list o f performers:—

Part I.Overture. . . .Piano and Harmonium • • • •

Messrs. Diemer and W hitmore,Part-Song. .“ Hail! Merry, Merry, ’Xmas” . . YoungSong “ Far on the Deep Blue Sea ” . . Thomas

Milne W. J.Y iolin Solo . . Sonatina . . Farmer

Adair D.Part-Song . . “ Old Towler ” . . ShieldSong . . “A Winter Night ” . . . . Hansford

Spicer W . T. H.Trio “ Mark the Merry Elves ” . . Calcott

Hart W . J., French J. H., Milne W . J.Carol . . “ Bethlehem ” . . . . GounodPiano Solo . . “ Shells of Ocean ” . . . . Abbott

Milne W . J.Glee “ From Oberon in Fairyland ’ ’ . . Stevens

Part II.Part-Song ,. . “ Winchester Domum ” . . (Reading 1690)Piano Solo

Mr. Diemer.Part-Song . . “ The Snow drop ” . . Eliz. StirlingSong . “ Bain drops patter ” . . . . Gatty

Mitchell 0. W. F.

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Chorus . . “ March in Norma” . . BelliniSong . . “ Little Bird on the Green Tree ” . . Clanbel

Josling A. G.Glee . . “ The Bells of St. Michael’s Tower ” . . KnyvettPiano Duett . Sparkling Sunbeams ” . . Harriott

Hudson P. Y., Taylor G. F.Scotch Air. . “Auld Lang Syne ”Finale. . . . “ God Save the Queen ”

Performers.— Trebles: Anstee F., Crosbie A., Cross S. It., Dearberg R. E., Dodd J. E., Dodd E. J., Engleheart H. W ., Francis H., Fraser G., French R. H., Glave E., Green J. F., Hart W. J., Hildebrand H., Hudson P. Y ., Josling A. G., Meek C. C., Milne D. T., Mitchell C. W. F., Mitchell P. W ., Newth H. F., Newth L. S., Prit'chard H., Ramsay A., Samuels J., Sutton J. G., Taylor G. F., Woolnough A.

Altos: Cross A. Me., French R., Newth R., Samuels T.

Tenors and Bases: Mr. S. Clark, Mr. H . Stevens, Huggins S., Milne W. J., Spicer W . T. H.

Violin and Flutes: Adair D., Cull R. T., Huggins S.

Piano: Mr. P. H. Diemer, R.A.M. Harmonium: Mr. S. Clark. Conductor: Mr. J. Whitmore.

F ootball.— W e have not had very many matches of football this season as most o f the clubs around us play the Rugby Game whereas we use Association Rules. In the matches we have played we cannot altogether congratulate ourselves on our play. Our boys do not practise enough to show well in matches. They do not yet thoroughly

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appreciate the advantages they enjoy in possessing so fine a field. On the ninth o f last November we played Hertford Grammar School. Our side was as follows— Spicer (captain), Milne ma., Huggins, Fisher, Fraser, Glave ma., Newth max., Edwards, Stewart ma., Hart, McDonald, Grammer, Dearberg ma., Godson, Cull. The Hertford team was as follows:— Coleman (captain), H. Powney, M. Powney, J. Alexander, P. Alexander, Lines, Clark, Elsden, Nichols, Cole, Stokes, Carver, Morris, Gilbert. This match we played at H ertford; it resulted in a “ draw” neither side making a goal. We are not likely to forget this match as through the ill-regulated conduct o f our driver, after we had got out o f Hertford, we found it safer to walk than to ride home. Notwithstanding our weary feet and the darkness o f the night we arrived safely at Barnet about an hour and a half later than we had anticipated. The x'eturn match which again resulted in a drawn game was played on our Ground. The Hertford team was the same as in the last match. Our side was as follows :— Spicer (captain), Milne ma., Huggins, Fisher, Glave ma., Newth max., Edwards, Stewart ma., Hart, McDonald, Grammer, Dearberg ma., Godson, Cull.

On February 21st, 1877, we played our first match against Aldenham Grammar School and were beaten. The other side played much better together, and were heavier than we were. This

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match was played at Aldenliam with twelve on each side. W e have not had a list o f the Alden- ham boys sent in to ns. Their Captain (Bernard) played remarkably well. Our side was as follows: — Spicer (captain) Meikle, Huggins, Glave ma., Hart, Fraser, Ritchie, Raul, Grammer, Newth, Edwards, Wright max:— In reviewing our doings at football, we have to say that so long as our boys don’t play together in our field they cannot expect to win matches. There is not anything like sufficient public spirit among them. We have seen them only too clamorous in trying to induce the senior prefect to ask for an extra half for football, and when we got one about a fortnight back, we are sorry to say that with our own eyes we saw something like a score o f hoys turning their backs on the road to the field and setting; off towards New Barnet. We cannot but think that it is the business o f the prefects to look after this, else why do they enjoy the privileges o f their office?

The L ibrary.— Our School Library has made a good beginning. Last term with the grant made by the Governors one side of our quaint old room was fitted with shelves and the following books purchased :— Macaulay’s Works viii. vols ; Smith’s Bible Dictionary i. vol.; Tarver’s French Diction­ary ii. vols.; White and Riddell’s Latin Dictionary i. vol.; Cowden Clarke’s Shakspeare iv. vols.; Southey’s Nelson, i. vol.; Buckley’s Introduction to Science, i. vol.

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The Library Fees for this term have been expended on the following books:—Trench English Past and Present i. vol.; The Study of Words i. v o l; Smiles’s Life of a Scotch Naturalist i. vol.; Lives of the Engineers ii. vols.; Buckland’s Curiosities of Natural History iv. vols.; Thackeray, The Four Georges; Koutledge, The Inventions of the Nineteenth Century ; Hughes, Tom Brown’s Schooldays, Tom Brown at Oxford ; Defoe, Robin­son Crusoe; Lytton, Rienzi, Last Days of Pompeii, My Novel ii. vols.; Cooper, Last of the Mohicans, Homeward Bound, Pathfinder, Waterwitch. In addition to the above, donations amounting to 71 volumes have been made by various kind friends, so that our shelves already make quite a respectable show.

The Library Committee beg leave with thanks to acknowledge the following donations o f books to the Library:—C. T. Carter, Esq., Hadley— Boswell’s “Johnson.” J. W hitmore, Esq.— “ Paris Illustre,” Joanne. A nonymously— “ Self-culture,” Blackie.F. N ewth, Esq., Lyonsdown— “ Khartoum and the

Niles,” G M elly; “ Records o f Captain Clapperton’s Expedition to Africa,” R. Lander; “ Unexplored Syria,” Barton and Drake; “ Life and Travels o f Herodotus,” J. T. Wheeler; “ Evenings at the Microscope,” Gosse; “ The Narrative of Edward Crewe” ; “ Historical Essays,” Smythe.

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II. W. B ryant— “ A Few Words of Advice to a Public School Boy,” Poyndes.

The Rev. A. J. Stevens, M.A., Fellow and Praelector of St. John’s College, Cambridge— “ The Heavens,” Guillsmin; “ The Percy Anecdotes.”

R itchie— “ The White Bruns wickers,” H. C. Adams.

Joyce— “ Our Forest Home.”B aldwin— “ Life of Havelock,” Brock.K eeling— “ The Orbs of Heaven” ; “ Life of

Cervantes”George— “ The Pickwick Papers.”S. Clark, Esq.— “ The Last of the Barons,”

Lytton.W right, max.— “ The Voyages of Cook.”The H ead M aster—Scott’s “ Waverley Novels,”

25 vols.; Jules Verne’s Works, 14 vols.Spicer— “ The Chelsea Pensioner,” Rev. — Gleig;

“Adventures of an Emigrant,” C. Rowcroft; “ The Polish Lancer, or 1812,” Rellstal; “ M. A. Wellington,” Rev. — Cobbold.

School L iterary Society.— The reign o f Queen Elizabeth has always been noted as the most brilliant period o f English literature. In this reign too there occurred what to the world at large was no doubt a minor circumstance, viz., the founding o f a grammar school at Barnet. But since that time we hope the taste for literature has always been kept alive in Barnet and now with

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the revival o f the school it also has sprung into new life and shown itself by the formation o f a literary society which is to meet once a fort­night. The first meeting took place on February 3rd 1877. Mr. L ee opened the proceedings by a few words in which he explained to us generally what a literary society is and also what he wished ours to be. H udson then played a pianoforte solo after which Mr. Lee spoke on the main subject o f the evening the boyhood o f Sir Walter Scott. Then as no one seemed willing to make any remarks Messrs. W hitmore and Clark gave a duet on the piano and harmonium which was deservedly encored. The proceedings were then terminated by a speech from Mr. L ee, who advised the election on the committee o f three boys from the school in addition to the prefects, Spicer, Beattie ma., M itchell ma., Ritchie, Plank and Edwards. Accordingly at a general meeting o f the whole school in Hall on the following Monday, Stewart, ma., Dale and Cull were elected. Spicer was also elected president, Stewart ma. vice-president, and Ritchie secretary.

On February 17th Spicer (the president) read a paper on “ Waverley,” and as the vice-president was absent the secretary took the vacant chair. The chairman then called on Spicer to commence the proceedings, which he did by giving a sketch o f the circumstances which produced the novel, and then he illustrated Scott’s manner especially

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from the character o f Mr. Falconer o f Balma- whapple. Mr. L ee then made a speech in which he drew out some points omitted by Spicer, and especially remarked on the rapidity with which Sir W. Scott, then a Scotch advocate, wrote the greater part o f the novel. Messrs. M eaden and M ilne also spoke. A vote o f thanks to Spicer was proposed by K eeling and seconded by Mr. W . J. M ilne. Mr. W hitmore and Josling then played a pianoforte duet and Mr. Clark also gave a solo which was encored. Mr. Stevens though unprepared then read selections from “ Pickwick.” The Chairman then said he felt he ought to vacate the chair for the proper president who then adjourned the meeting till March 2nd. Of the members o f the committee Spicer, Ritchie, Edwards, Dale and Cull only were present. It is to be hoped that on future occasions all members o f the committee will endeavour to put in an appearance, especially as Mr. Lee will excuse the English essay for that week from such boys as are present at the meetings.

Saturday, March 3rd.— Mr. M eaden commenced this evening with a reading from Boswell’s Life o f Johnson. He opened by saying that perhaps the first thing to begin with was to describe the author and the subject. He then went on to describe Dr. Johnson's works and personal appearance, and the way in which Boswell followed him about and took notes o f everything that the doctor did or

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said. Mr. M eaden then read some very amusing anecdotes about the way in which Boswell was introduced to Johnson, Johnson’s first meeting the king, etc., etc. Mi*. Clark gave a piano solo which was very well executed. Although enthusiasti­cally encored he did not reappear. Edwards then proposed a vote o f thanks to Mr M eaden which French seconded. Plank now got up and said he begged to differ from Mr. M eaden for he had read the first page o f Boswell’s Johnson and thought it very uninteresting. After this Edwards read “ Look at the Clock,” Ingoldsby Legends, and the tragic end o f “ Winifred Price,” for which Mr. L ee said he should like to thank Edwards, and called attention to the wonderful faculty o f rhyming which the author (Barham) possessed. H udson then played a solo on the harmonium, after which Ritchie read “ Ivry, or a song o f the Huguenots” (Macaulay.) On its conclusion K eeling asked the reader to explain who “ Henry o f Navarre” was. Ritchie said he could not thoroughly do this but suggested that perhaps Mr. L ee could, which he very kindly did. Mr. Stevens then proposed a vote o f thanks for the spirited way in which R itchie had read the poem. As conclusion the President asked F rench for a pianoforte solo, and then adjourned the meeting till Saturday, March 17.

On Saturday evening, March the 17th, the proceedings were opened with a duet by Mr.

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W hitmore and F rench ma. Stewart ma. then read a paper on The Duke o f Marlborough. He stated at the outset that he proposed to give a character rather than a life of Marlborough. He shewed us how Marlborough always acted with great courage, and seemed never at any time to be subject to fear. How, although so eminent a warrior he was a very inferior scholar, for it was said of him that he would “ rather plan a campaign than write a letter.” Marlborough, too, Stewart went on to shew, although a humane and just man in private life, was ever ready to betray his country if he thought he could thereby ameliorate his position. In short he was an example of the greatness and the extreme pettiness of human nature. Stewart then touched lightly on Marl­borough’s military achievements. He gave us a brief resume of his battles, and shewed us how it had been said of him “ that he never fought a battle that he did not win, or besiege a town that he did not take.” Then we heard how after his great battles his popularity began to wane, how a reaction set in against him. How the charges o f peculation brought against the Paymaster General began to acquire weight and consistency. How though tried and acquitted of having received a large pension from a Jewish contractor, still he found his unpopularity so great at court as well as with the people, that he deemed it ex­pedient to withdraw for a time to the continent, where he remained till the death o f Queen A nne;

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but came back to power witli George I. After Stewart, Plank got up and read a paper com­batting Stewart’s main positions. A very lively extempore discussion then arose between Plank, Spicer, Mr. M eaden and Stewart as to whether Marlborough was destitute of all feeling. Mr. Stevens then questioned whether P lank had proved Marlborough to be a man of humanity and piety, to which Plank ably replied, claiming manly courage at any rate for him. This position Mr. M ilne opposed, giving an instance of clear cowardice and flight on the part of Marlborough when in the face of an enemy. Edwards then pro­posed a vote of thanks to Stewart and Plank for their interesting papers, this was seconded by Mr. L ee, who said the lively discussion elicited by the subject for the evening was particularly gratifying. A dair now gave us a piece on the violin accom­panied by Mr W hitmore on the piano. This was most deservedly encored. Here we think we must thank generally those of our boys who enhance so much the pleasure o f our Literary Society meetings by their playing on various instruments, and we would venture to hope that we may soon hear concerted pieces of three or four instruments. We hope that the boys will feel no diffidence in coming forward at these meetings where they are abashed by the presence of no strangers, but that they will pluck up their spirits, or as Homer says, speak to their magnanimous souls, and not like good “ masons” keep the “ secret of their craft” to

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themselves. After A dair’s encore Mr. M ilne read Dickens’ description of the Free and Easy Grammar School o f Thistledown. As he had been a boy at School before the present alterations were made, and when Hall was as Dickens saw it, with its desks on which incipient sculptors had tried their prentice hands, when the number of boys was not so large as at present, and when the precincts of the School were in every way confined when compared with what they are to-day he was able to explain all Dickens’ allusion. A s we hope to give a separate article in a future number on this paper of Dickens’, we will not go into the details of Mr. M ilne’s remarks. W e will only say in passing that Dickens in a subsequent number o f Household Words retracted his dis­paraging remarks about the lack o f robustness and vigour on the part of the boys. Apropos of this Mr. M eaden said that a gentleman, perhaps not so great as Mr. Dickens, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors from South Kensington, had noticed a few days before, when present at a chemistry lecture, how rosy and healthy the boys looked. And as Barnet Hill must be as high now as it was in the day of Dickens, and as the same healthy air must have then produced the same satisfactory result as it does now, we do not see how the “ author of Pickwick ” could have fallen into this error. However Horace says somewhere that sometimes even “ bonus dormitat Homerus.” After the reading from Dickens we had a song

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from Cross mi., “ Come, birdie, come.” Spicer then adjourned the meeting to April 7th. As this will be the last meeting of this term we hope it will be a good one.

Cricket Club M eeting.— A t a meeting held in Hall, on Tuesday March 20th, Spicer resigned the office of Captain o f the School Eleven. The follow­ing candidates for the vacancy were then proposed and seconded :—-Huggins, proposed by Clave ma., seconded by Edwards; Clave ma., proposed by Beattie, ma., seconded by Ritchie; Edwards, pro­posed by Stewart ma , seconded by Plank; Ritchie, proposed by Dale, seconded by French m a.; Dale, proposed by Mitchell, seconded by Samuels mi. The result of a ballot which was taken was as follows :— Edwards, 10 ; Huggins, 7 ; Clave, 5 ; Dale, 5 ; Ritchie, 3. As only 30 boys voted, on a motion from Mr. Stevens it was decided to ask the permission of the Head Master to allow a fresh election to take place on the following day after Morning School. The following motion proposed by Ritchie, and seconded by Edwards, was then carried unanimously, “ That the Head Master be asked to permit the First Eleven to wear an embossed Elizabethan crown over the School ribbon, in the place of the usual School badge.”

A t the meeting held on Wednesday, March 21 st, Huggins was elected Captain by a majority o f 36. W e hope for a successful season under our new Captain, and greatly regret that our field will now

FASTI. 55

know our old captain only as an old boy. The field at present offers plenty of scope for energetic action on the part o f a new Captain. W e have had a little turfing done, but we began to turf too early in the spring to think of covering much superficial area with newly-laid turf. However as the spring comes on the Captain will have to see that the grass is kept cut. Nothing spoils a pitch so soon as grass when neglected and allowed to grow long. The grass on a pitch should be regular rather than thick. One of the most im­portant things still requiring to be done is regular rolling, about twice a week for the next month, and once a week afterwards. As we have not yet been able to purchase a field roller o f our own, we must try and get our pitch into working state with a loaned one. But our Captain ought to find no difficulty in the matter of rolling with a club which has so many members. A t this meeting Spicer proposed and Beattie ma. seconded, and it was carried unanimously, “ That no boy be elected Captain of the First Eleven unless two-thirds of Upper School vote.”

A N N U A L P R I Z E S .1877.

The following prizes will be awarded for the results o f the Summer examinations:— Divinity (i.) The Bishop Broughton prize open to all, (ii.) Head Master’s prize open to boys under 18— Subjects— Old Testament History from the birth o f Moses to the capture o f Jericho (with the addition in Form iv. o f the books o f Joshua and Judges), New Testament— The Acts. English History, the Chairman o f the Governors’ prizes, Subject —The Four Georges. Latin Grammar and Composition prizes given by the Rev. T. H. W inbolt, late a Governor, Subjects—Latin Primer, Subsidia, General Latin Exercises; French, Subjects— French Grammar and Translation. For each o f the last three subjects there will be two prizes, one open to all, the other open to boys under 13. English Composition prize open to all, “ History o f the establishment and growth of the English power in India.” Essays to be written on one side only o f foolscap paper and to cover not less than 10 nor more than 15 pages. Essays to be sent in by June 1st to the Head Master. Arithmetic, a prize for boys under 13. No boy will be allowed to take more than two general school prizes. Decided excellence in several subjects might earn

ANNUAL PRIZES 57

special recognition from the Head Master. Prizes may be given in each form for the highest aggregate o f marks in form subjects. Prizes will also be given for the highest marks obtained in the whole work o f the several mathematical Sets. There will be a prize for each German class.

In the Lower School two exhibitions o f the annual value o f five guineas each will be offered for competition to boys who may be under 12 on July 1st. These exhibitions are to enable boys to pass from the Lower to the Upper School. Prizes will be awarded in each division o f the Lower School for the highest aggregate o f marks in all subjects, Any boy in the Lower School may compete for general school prizes.

F I K L i D A C C O U N T ,18*70.

Donations and SubscriptionsL.5

s.8

D.0

Summer Term— 77Fees at 2s. 6d. 9 12 6Michaelmas Term— 88 do. do. . . 11 0 0Grant from Governors 15 0 0Sale of Grass 6 0 0Amount of Fines, &o. 2 16 4

Balance due to the Treasurer) (Rev. J. B. Lee) . . j 29 11 9

Expenditure.

Wood Fencing . .L.

.. 15s.

11D.0

Wire Fencing 1 0 8Account Book . . .. o 1 6Unexhausted Manure in Field.. 15 0 0Expenses of Drawing Lease, &o. .. 8 14 6Rent—8 months 32 0 0

Labour in Field.. . . 0 10 6Cricket— Materials and Carriage 2 17 9Jumping Poles, &e. .. 1 9 10Footballs and Repairs 0 13 4Air-pump for Footballs .. . . 0 16 0

Advertising Matches. . 0 3 0

Locks, Keys and Sundries .. o 10 6

£79 8 7 £79 8 7

E D I T O R I A L .

When we took up John Lilly white's Cricketer's Companion for this year we could not help con­trasting our doings in the way of cricket with the doings o f Queen Elizabeth’s School, Ipswich. This school comes next among the Public Schools to Queen Elizabeth’s School at Barnet. A t Ipswich we saw there was a field as large as ours and a club larger than ours only by ten members. Yet at Ipswich fifteen matches were played last season, more than twice as many as we played. There has been no life and no energy about our cricket as yet— why, we do not know, unless it is because too much has been done for us. Without any trouble on the part of us boys we have had a field, nay more, even bats, balls, pads, and stumps procured for us, and we are now convinced that there is a great deal in the old saying that “ what is easily procured is lightly esteemed.” We have carefully examined Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion on the matter of “ fees for the field ” paid at other schools. Nowhere could we find that the First Eleven of any school contented itself merely with the nominal school fee. As we can very easily conceive, under such an arrangement it would be impossible to carry on anything like cricket. To be convinced o f this we need go no further than the balance sheet o f our field account which we

60 EDITORIAL.

have published in another part of this number. There we find a deficit of £30. As a set-off against this deficit we are sorry that we have, as we state above, no reason to be satisfied with our doings in the field. We would suggest to the First Eleven the necessity of holding a meeting as soon as possible to decide on the amount o f subscription they wish to pay, and the number of matches they wish to play. They ought we think to elect a small sub-committee to look more particularly after the club finances. We think this step will be necessary for the monetary arrangements they have made so far have not been satisfactory. We cannot say, for example, that it is business-like to use money which had been collected for cricketing materials towards defraying the carriage hire of the Eleven. W e also understand that a subscrip­tion was started this term for preparing the First Eleven pitch. W e think we may safely say that the subscriptions which have so far been paid for that object are under 10s., whereas in the Second Eleven subscriptions have already been paid in to the Second Eleven Captain for the same purpose amounting to 16s. W e think the First and Second Eleven ought to change places.

Wendell Holmes the Essayist says somewhere that a writer on beetles when rebuking the presumption of a man who called himself an entomologist, concluded his remarks with these words, “ Why I do not even profess to be a

EDITORIAL. 61

Coleopterist. It is a work o f a lifetime to be a Scarabseist.” Now though we do not suppose that any of us boys are so eminently “ boys o f one book ” as to fall under one o f the above heads; still from what we hear there are several of us who are above collecting stamps and crests, and who spend their leisure time in collecting butterflies and beetles. We are not sure that there are not some who collect ferns. W e would suggest that those among us who are actuated by love for natural history should arrange their collections carefully, and should take counsel together to see if it is not possible to start a School Natural History Society, somewhat of the character o f our Literary Society. W e have Buckland’s curiosities o f Natural History in our Library, we have Hadley W ood almost at our door, than which no more happy hunting ground for natural history collectors can be imagined. W e merely then venture to suggest that we have everything ready to our hands for starting a Natural History Society; and if the boys who collect will consult with the prefects, a society could be soon started which might meet once a month at the outset to shew specimens and to listen to papers from the mem­bers of the School. Some boys may think that the starting of such a society is beset with difficulties, but we think these difficulties like Don Quixote’s helmet only look imposing and formidable until they are tried with the sword of proof—or all we want is to have a beginning made.

G2 EDITORIAL.

W e think we should be failing in our duty as editors of our School journal if we did not say something about the apathy and supineness o f some of our older boys. What we more particu­larly complain of is the falling through of a paper chase which ought to have taken place on the terminal holiday, March 5th. I f there is one thing more than another which boys tend to do at a Public School it is to imitate each other, hence the importance of the example set to younger boys by their seniors. Now many of the smaller boys were eager for a paper chase on the only whole holiday of the term. Their desire was not gratified simply because some of the older boys who were asked to take the lead in getting it up, were too inert to give themselves that small amount of trouble. Quite twenty boys wished to have the paper chase but of course they could not carry it out without some assistance from the older boys. It must have been with great chagrin that those four boys who wanted the paper chase, saw quite a stream of boys from some school between here and London running through the town on Saturday March 3rd, at the finish of what to them must have been a most enjoyable paper chase after the hares not­withstanding the rain. W e hope the boys for whom we intend these remarks will take them in good part, our excuse for speaking strongly is that we also think strongly.

We cannot help saying a few words in this

EDITORIAL. 63

number about our circulation outside of the School. We do think that many of our friends around us might have shewn some sign o f the interest they feel in us by purchasing our first literary effort. As editors we may safely say that the circulation among ourselves in the School was fairly what we expected. But we cannot say the same for the circulation outside of the School, in which we must confess ourselves greatly disappointed. We do not suppose that Barnet is vastly different from most other towns which possess public schools, yet to judge from the contents of some of our contemporaries which are kindly sent on to us, we should say that so far as our small experience goes there does not exist a school similarly situated to ours and possessing a school journal which meets with so little external support as we do. W e have increased the size of this number, and have hopes that as we get more known our circulation will increase.

W e are very pleased to hear of so many boys taking up with music this term. It is also gratify­ing to find that all the boys do not confine their attention to the piano, but that several instruments are being learnt. We have already found how useful our musical abilities are at the Literary Society meetings.

Our playground has been much diminished o f late by the operations attending the new buildings,

04 EDITORIAL.

so combining our present want o f amusements for the intervals with want o f space we are very badly off. Our gymnasium is unfortunately out in the open air instead o f being under cover, and this only available mode o f recreation being out o f order, we think that something ought to be done to rouse up the School a little so that we might see some healthy exercise going on during the intervals, instead o f the head boys lounging about with books in their hands and the others playing marbles. Complaints are being made by the masters that the standard o f work is very low, but it must be remembered the standard o f amuse­ments is also very low, and we think that if the latter were increased the former would increase tenfold.

One good mode o f filling up part o f this vacuum is already being discussed, that is, the building o f fives’ courts; but as these will cost a large sum of money and take a good time building, we must try and get up something else— something that can be put in motion in a few weeks. We think that with the permission o f the Head Master a quoit club should be attempted. It would cost very little to have a strip o f ground prepared down one side o f the playground, and quoits is one o f the healthiest games in use, being excellent for the muscles and expansion o f the chest and requiring a steady nerve and steady eye. Again, we might start a lawn tennis club. It would be very much

EDITORIAL. 65

better to see boys playing lawn tennis than knocking one another about with knotted handker­chiefs as we have seen some o f the smaller boys doing lately; but we cannot do this without external aid, the requisites being so very expensive.

Our Contemporaries.— The Editors beg leave to acknowledge with thanks the receipt o f the following School Magazines: — The Cholmelian (Highgate), The Magdalen College School Journal, The Huddersfield College Magazine, The Ousel (Bedford), The Elizabethan (St. Peter’s College, Westminster), and The Elstonian (Bedford County School).

The Editors beg leave to acknowledge the receipt o f “ Memorials o f the Flood,” by C. W. F. M.; “A Little o f the Inland o f England,” by P.; “ The Arctic Expedition,” by J. H. W. S.; and pieces o f poetry from “ F. A .” and “A. E. F.” and “ Gr. F. Gnileek.”

Contributions for the next number o f The Elizabethan should be sent in to the Editors o f The Elizabethan by the third week in next term.

NOTES OF NEWS.

N ew Prefects.— A t the commencement of Term, Mr. L ee made B eattie ma., M itchell ma., R itchie, Plank, and E dwards prefects. We have now two prefects for the week, one is library prefect and the other is roll prefect.

N ew M aster.— The Head Master has appointed Mr. S. Clark to the mastership of Lower School vice Mr. Paul. Mr. Swallow our drawing master has left.

Prizes for H oliday Task.— The subject for these prizes was chemistry. The first prize was gained by Cross ma.; for the second prize Seaman and Stewart mi. were bracketed equal.

N ew B uildings— Our new buildings are now roofed in, but we suppose that a large amount of work still remains to be done inside.

The “ B ishop B roughton” P rize.— We are much pleased to be able to call attention to the fact that this prize will in future be given annually for divinity. It was founded in honour of an old Barnet boy who was selected on the suggestion of the great Duke of Wellington for the arduous

NOTES OF NEWS. 67

and important post of first Bishop of Sydney about the year 1835. The fund which provides the means of thus associating the Bishop with his old School was raised, on the occasion of his visiting the scene of his boyhood about 25 years ago, through the energy of the Rev. R. R. H utton, now rector of Barnet.

D estruction of the “ Old Crown.”—At last this “ ancient hostelry” which is supposed to have been the place of meeting o f the School Governors in the reign of Elizabeth is succumbing to our modern requirements. Its demolition will open out the view of our new buildings a little, though a perfect coup d'aiil will not be obtained until the drill shed is removed.

Changes in the G overning B ody. — Lord Strafford and the Rev. T. H. W inbolt having resigned, S. W ilde, Esq., of Hadley, and T. K emble, Esq., of Potters Bar, have been elected in their places.

Science School. — The chemistry class was inspected on Monday March 12th by Captain H amilton T ovey R.A., from South Kensington. The examination comes off in May, when we hope we shall make a good show in the class fist.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

As the Editors of the Elizabethan do not see their way to admitting correspondence in full, hut yet are anxious to invite communications from the School, they have adopted the plan of extracting the pith of all remarks sent to them and of the answers thereto.

P hilology would like to know the derivation of the word Barnet.

J unior asks why fives’ courts are so called.

L ocal H istorian notes that two memorials of the Battle of Barnet exist in this neighbourhood, each claiming to be erected on the spot where the Earl of Warwick fell, viz., the "H igh Stone” at Hadley, and a column at Rabley, about three miles off. He says that the tradition touching the latter is, that the Earl had so far made good his escape from the field when he was overtaken and slain- He asks what are the authorities on which these rival claims rest ?

P edestrian would be glad to be told of objects o f interest, historical or otherwise, within walking distance of Barnet. He would also suggest that accounts o f visits to such places o f interest would make very readable papers for The Elizabethan.

NOTES AND QUERIES. 69

Orthography notices that in The Academy there have for some time been letters on “ Spelling Reform;” and asks if there really is any danger o f the “ Fonetic Nuz” overthrowing the history of the English language.

Y oung Scholar wants to be told some of the chief points in favour of changing the old Latin pronunciation for the new.

A mphibious asks if anything is going to be done this summer to utilize the “ Barnet Swimming Bath” for the School.

Patriotism suggests that boys should purchase more than one copy each of The Elizabethan and distribute them among their friends at a distance. The increase o f circulation thus obtained would, he thinks, re-act upon the magazine itself and improve the quality o f its contents.

NOTICE.

The rate o f subscription to The Elizabethan is 3s. per annum (or, including postage, 3s. 3d.) Subscribers’ names should be sent to the publisher, Mr. Cowing, High Street, Barnet.

The next number will be published in the middle o f next Term (about Midsummer).

The Editors solicit suggestions for answers to queries in the Notes and Queries column. Our readers seem hardly yet to have appreciated the great value of this column, or the many ways in which it can be used for stimulating enquiry. The Editors beg leave to remind their correspondents that no communications can be received from any but past or present Elizabethans.