The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-06-19 00:00:00

DORCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The annual award of exhibitions and prizes in oon-
neetion with this Classical Institution, took place in the
Sclimil-rouni on :Saturday last, in the presence of a large
number of ladies and gentlemen. The hall was very
tastefully decorated for the occasion with wreaths and
festoons of flowers anti evergreens, and the flags of all
nations were ling round the walls. The chair was
occupied by John Floyer, Esq., J. 1., and aniongg those
prei:ent we observed the Rev. T. F. llaskew, Head
Mister, the Rev. L. D. Lamer, the Rev. Mr. and Mrs.
Vyvyan, the Itev. Reginald Smith, the Rev. Mr. flail, the
Rev. Mr. Falkner, the Rev. C. W. Hingham, the Rev
T. W. Baker, the Rey. J. P. F. Davidson, the Rev. H.
Monte, 11. Locke, E,q., George Andrews, Esq., Mrs.
and Miss Andrews, J. F. Hodges, Esq., Mrs. and Miss
Hodges, W. D. Tstiti, Esq., F. Cousins, Esq., Mrs.
Cousins, Mrs. Par miter, •Ix.
The proceedings were ciatimenced with prier by the
Rev. T. R. Ils,kew.

The examiners were lii Claoics and Divinity
the Lee. C. W. M. A., Rector of Bingham's
M .Icombe, and late fellow of New College, Oxford in
English Literature and Modern Languages, the Rev.
Talbot W. 11. Baker, M. A., vicar of Preston, Dorset,
and in Mathematics, the Rev. Osmond Fisher, M.A.,
vicar of h:linstearl, Essex, late fellow of Jesus College,
Cambridge.
There were five Exhibition Candidates, who were
examined in Divinity. Latin, Greek, French, Mathema-
tics, and English literature, the result of which was
that they obtained the following number of marks :--
Scott, 2414.3; Thomas, 2240; Cowdell, maxim/is, 7208 ;
Lock, minor, 20I4; Lock, major, 3.114 ;and Beach, 1707.
The feuffees' exhibition of F4O was accordingly re wardl te
Scott, who stem' highest on the list, but as Moutons, who
stood second, was ineligible from not being of sufficient
*tending iii thee school, and ILA Cowden, mot. and Lock,
min., were exhibitioners last year, the suescribers' ex-
hibition of 1:10 was awsrded to Lock major, who stood
fourth oil the hat.

The prises were awarded as follows a— 14 Mathemat-
ical claim, Thuluaus ; 2nd, ditto, ditto, Cowdell, major ;
lird ditto, ditto, Cordell. fainisitsm; 4th ditto, ditto,
Lock, Milli/11W; French, Lack, minor ; Senior Mathe.
inatical, Lock, major ; Junior Mathematical, Pope ;
English I.iterature, Thomas ; and the Rector's prize for
examination in the Church Catechism, Andrews, minor.
The Hoe. C. W. Binglouri, M.A.. in suldreming the
company, said that he should not detain them long on
the present occasion, for whatever this might be to the
farmers it was not quite the e'er-eine:ea market day ;
and perliapa it would have been more satisfactory to his
clerical brethren, if any other day of the week than
Satunlity, had been fixed for awarding these exhibitions
and prices. He must, Ito sever, state in the outset, that
he owed some little debt of gratitude to the Dorchester
tirllllllllllr S4:11001. It was here that 40 years ago he
firit commenced his classical education, and the old
screen which he now saw before him he should never
forget. When, therefore, he was applied to to become
one of the clamical examiners of the school, he felt 1111111 r
little lets hesitation than perhaps he otherwise would
have done, to fitrbiah up somewhat his acquirenients
during his classical career, to du what he could towards
the examination of the buys now being trained here.
He felt it was an arduous duty to perform; and as years
went on he did not perceive that there was any
motion of their labours or any decrease of their difficul-
ties. 111 short, lie did not know that Mr. Baker and lie
even before felt more difficulty in given their ,leoisiuuuia
than at the present eaansination. Their friend, Mr.
Fisher, had a far less difficult task to perform. He hail
to do with the exact sciences of Algebra, Euclid, end
Arithmetic. It was a mere matter of numbers,
and when these were accomplished, there WILY
an end of the in utter ; hut Mr. Baker and lie (Mr.
Bingham, lied to juolgu, of sheer conflicting work. They
had to judge of the respective value of each Imy's
attainments, One superior in one branch of study,
and one superior in another, and io put a proper
estimate upon the whole. This they found exceedingly
difficult, and this year, with so many boys of nearly
equal attainments upon the whole, the difficulty had
increased. But this examination, notwithstanding the
difficulties, was must satiafactory. He thought he might
say that he bad never conducted • mute satisfactory
examination than on this occasion. (Cheera.) When
he first undertook the office of examiner they had no
Greek examination, or, at all events, hut a very humble
one ; now they hail a very respectable Greek examin-
ation. Ile very much questioned whether, when his
friend Mr. Floyer, elm occupied the chair that (lay,
and he (Mr. Bingham) were at the Winchester school
togetkr, they would either of them have given better
translations of the. Alcestes or Horace't Satyrs than they
had had this year. Ile did not mean to hay that on
some points they were not Nuperior, especially upon
',rowdy. In this the bays were better than they were 1
heat year, but they had not yet reached the point at
which they should aim. He did not know whether lie
was right or wrung, but he thought he was right in
saying that they could not obtain a greater or more :
correct insight of the structure of the Latin and Greek
languages than in venification. He knew that when
they were at Winchester they spent very much time ih
,1 Latin and Greek verse. By this means they not only
acquired a greater knowledge of mental and iirosurly,
but also quantity, and he did not know how these
defects were to he overcome except in veraification.
He thought ironic of them felt flurried in their rim a ron
examinations because of their false quantities ; in their
Latin and Greek prose compositions they were decidedly
better than he had seen them before. He bad said lie
had been greatly pleased with the examination, soul be
was more particularly so in the exatninatiou fur the
feofera' exhibition of £4O, which had been givento Scott.
For the subscribers exhibition of 210 there were two or
three leays who bail to be passed over, from being dis-
quiditied, either by basing had Liss exhibition before, or
Irons not having been there a sufficient length of time.
The first of these was Thomas, who stood remarkably
well on the list. He was a buy of remarkable talent,
and showed, besides, a qualification far above talent, It

IWI' quite evident that he had worked very hard and
neat perceeritigly, or he never could have stood where
, he did—the second on the lint in the claseicsl examine.
then. He might, however, add that he wished lie rlbl not
scribble quite au much, and not have so many blots and
est many scratchings-out in his papers. Ile was greatly
plessed with the neat appearance of Beach's, taped.
who stood I.t on the list. Ile wrote •n excellent hand ;
there was nothing like a wretch or scribbk about it.
He was quite struck with Beach's translation papers.
His trenelation of Horace WAR very idiomatic,. and. see-
ing that it was only the last half year that he had joined
the Class, he might,
by diligence, look forward is, future
success. In regard to scriptural examination he might
i
also epode AS to a eirtadi amount of improvement.
Perin)so none of them hail set a oil lit lent amount of
value on this, the most important of all studies. He-
slihvting their preparation for iwriptnial exaniination he
might mole these words: "This ought ye to have done,
end not love left the others Undone." We were living in
tPnes whits it might be said the study of the scriptures
was of great impedance. In his echoodboy days, very
little care was taken of their ecriptural knowledge, hut
in these Jays scriptural examinations were very fre•
aunt, and the subject of religion WAS becoming more
universally inquired into throughout our land; and it wad
not without some surprise that he heard from one 1.1 our
Liaisons and his exatuiner that they saw no difference in
the candidates who cause before them for examination
for holy orders, and that in numerous instancea the
most grosi mistakes were Bustle by those who underwent
exalusiliation at Ihiete hands. now lie wished
esperially to address the boys. lie felt that we weee
living in toost serious and solemn times—in far snore
eernest times :Ilan in the days of his youth. On all
hands they saw the friende of truth were inerening
in numba.rs, but they saw that the etioniee of truth
were inerening in numbers also, sod in many placeu
where they would most id all have expected to Alle
truth and righteuueneas abound--am in Oxford—they
law infidelity issuing forth in its. mut dangerous anti
insidious forms. Let him then tell them that to battle
with then enimin of truth they would have no alight
dongers to en:minter. They had a difficult course be.
fore them to steer clear of these men's sophistries, awl
they must barn to fight the ',Ade fur truth and
righteousness by learning how to lAne the sword of the
merit, which ie the word of God ; and, notwithstand-
ing these clever men of Oxforil, who were
writing mircuble essays and reviews—the most per-
nicious that can be places' in a young man's hood but
in language the most powerful at their eotninand --they
(the buys) must learn to exercise en intelligent criticism
(nun that unerring guide, the Word of God. He did
not believe that infidelity with the numerous evils which
followed in its train was to be put down by ignorence,
but by knowledge, aad eeperielly • thorough and critical
knowledge of that Book of books. It was, however,
gratifying to !Stow that side by aide with those erroneous
views which are culminating on every hand, we have
AO.lO remarkably safeguides of biblical criticism ; he
alluded to Elieet's commentaries, and particularly lie
would recommend Dr. Vaughan'e text book and
criticism of the Apostle's eidetic to the %insane, which
Woo a meet admirable work. All the boys lie inost
hdettinly charged to study the Word of Gool, as by so
doing they wined be iti a fair way of supplying theism-
aelvau with weapons for connteracting the elects of
infidel writers, and of building themselves up in the
truth, lie urged upon them, in following their studies
in this place, ha renseitilser that on themeeleva was the
utaiuspring of success. Their plain duty was to study
while young, sad to listen and bear in miud that saying
which wee inn-sired by tine who is wiser than moan.—
"He that gatlisreth in Sallliner is a wise eon; bat he that
aleepeth in lancet is • son that camieth shame."
The Bev. T. W. B. linker, after some preliminary
remark's, said dial in dis nay the number of marks
against each boy was greater than last year, and so far,
in this branch d their studies, there had been an im-
provement. T.unias obtained the greatest her in
the examinatiot on the liturgy and articles of the Church;
l'undell (maxi...) the greatest nniuber in the examin-
ation on the scriptures. This was a moot important
branch of study, anal he bore his testimony to the re•
marks by Mr.B.lighatu,with regard to ArclideuonVeugh-
an'a very useful twine I,a copy of which he would like to see
placed in every young luau's band. The French prise
ha.l been awarded to Lock (minor) who, lie believed,
obtained the prim last year. He was decidedly the best
French scholar is the eultuol ; aud lie would here remark
that those boys rho learned regularly under mestere gut
on much better dais those who were taught at home.
It seemed that It. lloriguy had taken very great pains
with those intake Ili* care ; still, upon the whole. there
was not so mind proficiency as was desirable. In his-
tory the hero( marks egainst the boy* renged (runi
111 1.0 1:5) leae half of the examination WAS upon
ancieut, soil the other half on modern history. In
ancient history the answer* were tinny of them very in-
definite indaval, hut the modern part was especially well
doue, us SRL, alai the times of the Great Rebellion. Ile
was not iluite hatiafiall with their views id the ways and
worke of Oliver Cromwell—they insist not consider hint
te have been nuke an ogre. lii IMAICTII geography they
were uot so wastes the examination was last year, but
ancient geograplii was remarkably well shone, amid Tine
inn, to whom tilt tirize was awarded, pasnd hie AA Will..
nation exceediniey satisfactory. Mr. Bingham haul
spoken about las scribble, but his friend Was always a
good writer when at school, and since then lie Inui hien
the secretary of nearly half the eocietice in the comity.
Beach's paters, lie must say, were the beet written; Ind
with reeani to TI Wed dictation, he spelt remarkably
well. Last year lie endeavoured to bring forward mune
ou tttttt endati ins from God's word, and this year he would
bring forwatd one from the book of Proved., and
another frost the epistle of the Apostle Peter.
doubt in both instahcen the sacred writers referred more
particularly to the knowledge of neveal.ll will,
but it Was •10t inteieled that knowledge should stop
there. That knowledge included alum • knowledge of
Isel's tinnily work in hietory,—a knowledge of rued
.hence in the moral world, and a knowledge of His laws
in theitillysical In tho book of Proverb.; it was
said " soul to be without knowledge,' whether ea re-
garded the laws ly which lie governed the waver.,
whether SO; regarded the sciences, and more particularly ,
as regarded God's revealed will to fallen man"— the '
soul to be without knowledge is not good." And the ,
Anodic Peter elm. said " add to your faith virtue ; amid
to your virtue knewledge ; and to knowledge tempers
since ; and to temperance petience; awl to patience god-
linen ; and to valueus brotherly kitidnen ; and to
brotherly kitelnees shanty." Add to your faith virtue, '
and to virtue knowl.dge.
The Chairman, alter congratulating the Head Master
on the proccedinget4 this day, and giving some words
of advice and encouragement to the boys, proceeded to
distribute the prin., cunsieting of those handsomely
and tadeftilly biound volume* which were exhibited by
Mr. Foster in the fine Arts Department at the late exhi-
bition of the West of Eaglets.' Society, and which
attracted so touch attention from the visitors. Having
suitably addressed each boy &she came forward to receive
his prise,
The Bev. T. H. Mukew rote and exprosseel
his gratification at finding tied the boys
under Isis core had pawed so good an examination.
Ile was also obliged to time exantiners for pointing out
in what particulars they considered them deficient.
But with regard to their deficiunev in Latin and Greek
prosody he had to remark that at Winchester anal Eton
and other schools of that class they had to get two
copies per day, wherein in ti is echod, where they had
so much work to perform, two copies per week was as
mud) as they could get. He felt thankful to see SO
many of his own friends and the friends of the boys on
that oecasion. In looking over the former lists and
comparing it with the preseist examination, the progresa
of the school was alf follows : —The total ge of
marks gained by the candidates for the exhibition was
iii IS4, Itn, in INK IVO, in lerel, 1740. and on the
present occasion the average ausouut of marks gained
was 2155, and the difference bvtween the highest
and tile lowest on tl.e list was soil), 400. During
the la-t half-year, owing to Ida (Mr. 3lnkew's)
ill hi slits. the Base. Mr. Moule kindly under-
took to relieve him of the heavy charge of conducting
the echool for several weeks. and lie bad the greatest
pleasure in now publicly thanking that gentleman fur
his kindness, and to express how admirably the bop,
when under his care. had been instructed. He said
just now that he was. always thankful to be toll of any
fault. the examiners might have to 'slake. Ile was nut
hitneelf eatiefied in thoee matters which these gentlemen
hail pointed out, and he hoped that on another occasion
they would do better, lie begged in conclusion to thank
Mr. Floyer fisr taking the chair on the penult occasion.
and also his thanks to the feoffees who were there
preeent. Three cheer's were then given for the queen,
three cheers for the Ci nen. three cheers for the Ex•
*miners. and three elteers for the Head Master, and the
proceeding terminated.