ment of new, or the re-modelling of old schools; and has also addressed public meetings and conducted examinations at Landport, Reading, Hook Norton, Charlbury, Notting Dale, George-street, Lambeth, Islington, and Edenbridge, Kent.

WESTERN DISTRICT.-Mr. Baxter has made sixty-one visits to fifty-five towns and villages. He has also visited and inspected one hundred and one schools, conducted eighteen public examinations, and taken part in twenty-six public meetings.

SOUTH WALES.-Mr. Roberts has during the past quarter paid twenty-five official visits to twenty-two schools in that district, and has also given seven lectures, conducted four public examinations, and attended at the opening of two new school-rooms.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

CHARLBURY.-The school premises, originally erected in 1815, have undergone a complete transformation, been put into thorough repair, and admirably furnished with all the modern educational appliances. The entire cost, amounting to £150, having been defrayed, the re-opening was deemed a suitable occasion for holding a public meeting of the parents of the children, and the friends of education in general. On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Crosse, curate, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Walker, the treasurer, John Allbright, Esq., was requested to preside. The chairman having briefly reviewed the history of the school, called upon Mr. Vardy to address the meeting on the advantages of education. Mr. Vardy in responding commenced by congratulating the persons present upon the altered and greatly improved aspect of the building, and then proceeded to point out the wondrously altered aspect of the present times to those in which the school was founded, whether viewed in relation to the social, intellectual, moral, or religious progress made; attributing the change principally to the scriptural education of the people. At the close of a lengthened address, listened to with great attention, a vote of thanks, proposed by the secretary, Charles Sessions, Esq., seconded, and put to the meeting by the chairman, was carried by acclamation. Mr. Vardy having acknowledged the vote, the meeting separated, apparently deeply interested in the proceedings of the evening.

CAMBORNE. An excellent examination of the boys' school took place here. It was the first that has been attempted, and proved highly encouraging and satisfactory. The school-room was crowded in every available spot by the children's parents and friends, and a great number could not gain admission.

FALMOUTH. After a brief examination of this school, a lecture was delivered to parents and others, on "The objects aimed at in British Schools." The meeting was numerously attended, and much interested. Since last year's visit, the managers have removed the debt owing on the school premises, and it is hoped that a separate girls' school will shortly be established.

CONSTANTINE.-A meeting of the parents was very hastily called here, but the attendance was excellent. The children, too, without previous notice, were examined in the presence of their friends, and acquitted themselves with much credit to their teachers. The suggestion made last year to the parents, that they should provide funds for erecting class-rooms, has been taken up by them with spirit; and this important addition to the conveniences of the school, as well as others not at first contemplated, will be effected as early as the weather will permit. ST. AUSTEL: MOUNT CHARLES.-The school here, after being closed for some years, is succeeding hopefully, and is doing real service among the poor children of

this locality. A public examination greatly interested the parents, who assembled in strong force, and to whom the operations of the school-room appeared to be a great novelty. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. Baxter, and gentlemen of the locality.

TAVISTOCK.-A very crowded meeting was held here in the Guildhall. Before the lecture, a brief examination of the boys, in the presence of their friends, took place. Such examinations not being usual here, no preparations were made; yet the boys gave general satisfaction to those present. We hope Mr. Marshall will be encouraged to bring his boys annually before their friends, that the good which the school is effecting may be seen and appreciated.

KINGSBRIDGE. A public examination of the boys' school was held on the evening of an extremely boisterous and wet day. The Town Hall, however, was crowded with a deeply interested audience. Though the arrangements were not those adapted to make the best of such an examination, yet the boys did well, and gave great satisfaction to the company. The parents especially were much gratified, and a correspondent says, "It has been with them the principal topie of conversation ever since." They did not limit their expressions of appreciation to words, however, for a local newspaper records that “Mr. W. J. Sole, master of this school, has, since the examination of the scholars by Mr. Baxter, had a massive gold pencil case presented to him by the parents of the children under his care, as a token of their appreciation of his successful exertions in the school. The major part of the subscriptions were given by the poorer class of parents."

ILFRACOMBE. The first public examination of this school, in its new premises, and under its present master, has recently been held, and proved highly successful. Mr. Griffiths has evidently worked well, and to good purpose, considering how short a time most of the children have been in the school. The examination was preceded by a public tea, and followed by addresses from several gentlemen, including the Society's Agent. The school-room and its approaches were extremely crowded.

BIDEFORD.-A public examination of these schools was held in the boys' schoolroom in the afternoon, "and gave general satisfaction to a large assembly, comprising many of the parents of the children." We quote from the local journal, which goes on to say" In the evening a public meeting, very numerously attended, was held in the Town Hall, in furtherance of the interests of this school. James Rooker, Esq., having, at the request of the committee, taken the chair, the hon. secretary, Mr. W. S. Rooker, stated that the average attendance for the past year had been,-boys, 117; girls, 102; and the average time that children remained in the school,-boys, one year and six months; girls, nine months and one week. Forty-five boys, and eleven girls, had attended 176 days in the past year. Mr. Baxter then, in a very able and lengthened address, which was attentively listened to, stated the principles of the school, enforced with great effect the duties of home and school training, and advocated the establishment of evening schools.” The meeting was also addressed by the chairman, the Rev. J. Whiting, and the Rev. J. Wilshire.

WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE.-A numerously attended meeting was held here, under the presidency of the Right Hon. Earl Ducie, to witness the distribution of the prizes gained by the children of this school at the recent examination in connexion with the Gloucestershire School Prize Association. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. Baxter, and other gentlemen present.

TORTWORTH.-A parents' meeting was convened here to witness the distribution of prizes, and to hear a lecture by the Society's Agent. The proceedings of the evening were opened by the parents taking tea together. This was succeeded by an address from the Right Hon. Earl Ducie, who distributed the prizes to the successful competitors. Then followed the lecture, which was listened to with great interest

by a very crowded audience, whose appreciation was shown very unmistakeably, and in a way that might have done honour to Exeter Hall.

GLOUCESTER.-The attendance of the parents to witness the distribution of the Gloucestershire Prizes, was deemed a fitting opportunity by the school managers for an address to them by Mr. Baxter. The school-room was filled with the children and their parents. The prizes were distributed by the chairman of the evening, A. Price, Esq., and the lecture was received with strong marks of approbation.

WAREHAM. The annual public examination of this school passed, with its usual success, in the presence of a very numerous and respectable audience, of whose interested attention and satisfaction there was no room for doubt. Previous to the examination the public tea was held, which was very fully attended. Certificates and prizes were distributed, after the examination, to the successful boys and girls, by the chairman, J. Panton, Esq. The master of this school sends us the following, which we hope may prove encouraging to other teachers. "About three years ago

a tea was provided for my elder scholars in a field adjoining the town. As they were on their way thither, they were followed by a number of idle lads, who pelted and annoyed them. On approaching the spot where I was superintending the preparations for the tea, those lads all ran away, except one, who seemed determined to hold his ground. Soon after, he entered the circle around which my children were sitting, and looked at me with an air of defiance. Of this I took no notice, but, kindly as possible, asked him to take a cup of tea. He appeared very much surprised, but thankfully accepted my offer and volunteered to assist me. On the following Monday he presented himself at the school for admission, in a dirty and ragged state. The elder scholars begged me not to admit him, as two years before he had been expelled by a former master for gross misconduct, since which time he had been roaming the streets, and could hardly speak without an oath. I saw by his countenance that he was a fearless but good-natured boy, and, resolving to give him a trial, admitted him. I found him very backward, and also slovenly in his habits. A few days afterwards he swore at one of the girls out of school, and the elder boys, not being able to cope with him singly, mobbed him, and dragged him before me, swearing all the way. I knew no corporal punishment would affect him, so I tried kindness, showing him the seriousness of his offence. He cried bitterly, and promised not to swear again. Soon a marked improvement took place in his personal appearance, and gradually he became one of the cleanest and neatest boys in the school, saving the money he earned by climbing the rocks for samphire, to buy clothes and pay for his schooling. From one of the lowest classes he rose, by steady perseverance, to the first class, and his society was sought after by the very boys who formerly begged me not to admit him. After a time, his parents, who are drunken and depraved persons, refused to let him stay at school any longer, but soon after he obtained a situation in a wholesale house in London, where he is receiving £20 a year, with board and lodging, and has the prospect of advancement. I received a warm and affectionate letter from him a short time ago, stating that he had signed the temperance pledge, and that he is a regular attendant at a place of worship. He is giving satisfaction to his employers, and, I believe, will do well." BLAKENEY.-A very successful examination of this little school took place in the presence of a room full of parents and school-managers, to whom an address was afterwards delivered by the Society's Agent. A year ago it was thought to be impossible to continue this school another year, but the managers and teachers have since resolved to try further effort, and have been rewarded for their decision. The school has shown renewed signs of vitality, and its prospects are now better than they have been for a long time. The public examination, it may be reasonably hoped, will help to give it a further impulse.

FROME. A public examination of the school here proved very successful, and greatly gratified all who were present. The interest in the schools which brought

together so large an audience at the parents' meeting, held here some months since, has not abated, as the very crowded attendance at the examination proved. The largeness of the assembly was the more remarkable, as there were two other meetings in the town at the same hour, in both of which the same persons must have felt more or less interest.

Similar meetings or examinations have also taken place at Bolham, Truro, Landrake, King's Stanley, Oakhill, East Coker, Modbury, South Zeal, and Evesham.

NEW SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ROOMS.

STREET, SOMERSET.-New and excellent school premises were opened here on September 12th, consisting of school-rooms for boys and girls, mixed, and infants separate. There is also a good residence for the teachers attached. The building has been erected with aid from the Committee of Council on Education. It is a very substantial structure, and an ornament to this improving and busy village. The children of the schools were publicly examined by Mr. Baxter in the afternoon, after which, a public tea took place, preceded by a tea to the scholars. In the evening, W. C. Macready, Esq., gave a Reading in aid of the school funds, which proved highly entertaining and instructive.

HARTLAND. The school at this place, which, since its formation, about fifteen months ago, has been conducted in the Wesleyan Chapel, kindly lent for the purpose, continues to increase, and efforts are being made to provide a suitable room for its accommodation. The North Devon Journal, in reference to the movement, states-"Mr. W. R. Baxter, Inspector of Schools, visited Hartland to promote the interests of this school, and to assist the Committee in their endeavours to effect this object. In the afternoon, a meeting of the Committee, and other gentlemen interested in the movement, was held in a room at the King's Arms.' Sir George S. Stuckey, Bart., took the chair, and, in an address of some length, stated his opinion that it was perfectly unnecessary that a school for the people should insist on the peculiarities of doctrinal teaching; that its institution should rather be based on the broad principles of Christianity, as contained in the Bible. At the conclusion of his remarks, the hon. baronet generously renewed his offer of a piece of ground on which to build a school-room, and, after some discussion, it was resolved to accomplish the object. In the evening, a public tea took place in the Independent Chapel, lent for the occasion. It was succeeded by a densely crowded public meeting; and W. S. Rooker, Esq., of Bideford, having been called to the chair, requested Mr. Baxter to give the address as announced, entitled 'Schools for All,' with which that gentleman kindly complied, and after a vote of thanks to Mr. Baxter, the meeting separated," &c. &c.

APPLEDORE.-Local circumstances having arisen to call the attention of the friends of unsectarian schools to the importance of providing means for educating their own children, Mr. Baxter visited this place to confer with a few leading persons, and to address a public meeting. The meeting was numerously attended, considering the brief notice which summoned it, and the question before it was well ventilated, after an address from the Society's Agent. The immediate result was the passing of a resolution, declaring that an effort to establish a British School in the town appeared desirable; and another resolution, appointing a Committee, provisionally, to take steps to carry the former resolution into effect. The meeting was also addressed by the Rev. P. Gast, Rev. D. Thompson, J. Darracott, Esq., and others. DELABOLE, NEAr Camelford.-A large and increasing population have located themselves around the slate works here, for whom the means of education are of the

most scanty and inferior kind. W. D. Hanson, Esq., of Landere, as owner of the property, has offered to give an admirable site, consisting of a quarter of an acre of land, and the Slate Company have also made a liberal offer of material for building, whilst others have proposed contributions in the form of labour, &c. Mr. Baxter has recently visited the place to ascertain its wants and its capabilities, and to advise with the promoters of the school how best to meet them. A public meeting was called, consisting chiefly of working men, over which Mr. Hanson presided, to whom the characteristics and advantages of a good school were pointed out, and their opinion taken as to the desirability of an attempt to establish such an one among them. The feeling of the meeting was unanimous in its favour. A variety of questions were put to the lecturer as to the principles and plans of British Schools, the replies to which appeared to give the fullest satisfaction. Few places more need a good school, and the present movement appears hopeful.

SCHOOL PRIZE ASSOCIATIONS.

GLOUCESTER.

THIS Association, of which the Earl Ducie is the president, and Lord John Russell, Sir Maurice Berkeley, Mr. Horsman, M.P., the Dean of Bristol, and other gentlemen of influence in the county, are vice-presidents, has just held its Second Yearly Examination. It took place on the 10th June, 1859, at the following places, the different rooms having been again kindly lent for the occasion :-at Bristol, at the Redcross-street British School-room; at Charfield, at the Charfield Church Schoolroom; at Cheltenham, at the Cheltenham British School-room; at Evesham, at the Evesham British School-room; at Gloucester, at the Gloucester British School-room; and at Stroud, at the Stroud British School-room. The four examiners of the Association, viz., Mr. Baxter, one of the inspectors of the British and Foreign School Society; the Rev. C. L. Dudley, B.A., chaplain of the Gloucester County Gaol; Mr. James, and the Rev. W. Wheeler, conducted the examinations at Bristol, Stroud, Cheltenham, and Gloucester, respectively, whilst Mr. Dent, the master of Lord Ducie's Middle School, at Cromhall, attended at Charfield, and Mr. Andrew, the master of the Railway Station School at Worcester, performed the same office at Evesham. A committee of ladies resident in the neighbourhood inspected and decided on the girls' needlework.

"Mr. J. Symons also examined the papers on Social and Industrial Economy, and Mr. Hyett on Euclid and Mechanical Drawing.

"At the last examination 33 schools (boys and girls not being reckoned separately) sent up 86 senior boys, 51 senior girls, 256 junior boys, and 133 junior girls— total, 526 children; of whom 45 senior boys, 32 senior girls, 114 junior boys, and 80 junior girls, obtained prizes-total, 271; the number last year being 41 schools, sending 521 children, of whom 321 obtained prizes."

We have not room for the detailed statistics of the examination, so far as separate schools are concerned. The most remarkable instance of success appears to have been that of the Wotton-under-Edge British School, which sent up 18 candidates, of whom 17 were successful, and to whom alone prizes to the amount of £19 were awarded. The highest prize attainable for general proficiency is £3, an I was gained by a boy from the Cheltenham British School. The best boys in the senior division received £2 each in money, and those in the junior division £1. Less successful competitors in both divisions received prizes of books, according to their several degrees of proficiency, varying in value from 10s. to 2s. 6d. The children were permitted to select their own book prizes. The Dean of Hereford gives two special prizes of £2 2s. and £1 1s., for the best papers on Social and Industrial Economy; and Mr. Hyett also gives two prizes of £2 each for proficiency in mechanical drawing and in Euclid.