The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-15 00:00:00

BRIDGWATER SCHOOL OF ART.

The distribution of prises to the successful competitors
it the lest exainination took plus on Thursday evening.
The meeting was made public, and was presided over
by our worthy chief magistrate (J. Browne, Fag).
There were also present several other gentlemen of the
town, and included Dr. King, the 'Town Clerk, A.
Barham, KN., Rev. Mr. Holland, Ac., to.
The prizes consisted of two modals, two framed
matificatea, • number of untrained certificates, and
about twenty books. We also noticed two electro-
plated ornaments—namely, a vase and an Imhoff
tankard —which were selected by the master (Kr. J. H.
Davie) for the use of the siadents, in lieu of casts or
models worth the same amount, the latter having been
gained for the school by the pupils taking medals.
The CHAIRMAN expressed the pleasure it gave him
to be present that evening, and trusted that the result
I of the present meeting would be to add largely to the
prosperity of the institution. He then distributed the
prime, as follows :
Medals. —Edward A. Jones and Samuel Taylor.
Books (awarded to those pupils who have already
obtained medals, and are therefore precluded from again
winning theni).--Charlso 8. Searle, Thomas Chant,
John Gale, Vincent Darn John Coombs (prize student),
Blanche Josue, Mary Spitler, A. W. Bickerton, and G.
B. Head.
histriasesils.—E. A. Jones and Thomas Chant,
artifice/ea—A ngelo Edwards, Abraham Squibb
( student), Mary Abbot, Lacy B. Poole, Henry
Dyer, Henry Chant, John Coombe (prize student),
Blanche Jones, John Clavey, Wm. Foster, and Cicero
Edwards.
Framed Ceryieales. —John Coombe and Abraham'
Ektuibb (both prize students).
Where "prize student" is added to the name it Ira- I
plies that the person had been made a free student for
• twelvemonth.]
The UCH/TART then read the report, which showed
that sinoe the school had been establiehed, which was
in 1860, there has been • gradual decline. Though
other classes had gone down, however, it was very satis-
factory to find that during the past three years the
artisan class had slightly increaseiL
The CHAIRMAN said his first impression was, when he
heard the report read, that it was unfavourable; but on
reviewing it • second time it did not appear to be en-
tirely so, for it seemed this: Feat deal of good had
been done by it, and he ho that the fair, open,
candid report of the state of e school, which had been
laid before the public, would induce the latter to Bub-
scribe liberally towards supporting an institution which
could not fail to be of great benefit to the rising gene-
ration. It was true that drawing could be learnt with-
out • school of art—without such an establishment as
this ; but it could not be learnt under the same ad-
vantages, or with the same effect, because it was utterly
impomible that any print' teach., of painting or
drawing possessed such oasts and moulds as the school
of art diet. He should be sorry to see the school dia-
coetinned, for the sake of the town.
Mr. CARILAIR advocated the necessity of keeping'
the ochooL The school was not yet insolvent; they did
not now sue Ms forme paitperis—becituse the outs and
models on their premises would pay off their debts; but
if the school woe once closed, there was an end of it. ,
As to It. proepecte, it was thought that after clearing
off the debt 4EIOO, by getting a small subscription in
future, they would be able to carry it on. The reason
of the present debt was purely this : in the first instance,
at the starting of the school, they ressived donations
and subscriptions to • very decent amount, but since
that year they had not troubled the public. In some
places these schools of art had gone into very great
arrest ; in Bristol they were in debt to the amount of
70O; and in =my other places they managed to get
Into debt, and then the steam was put on a bit, and
after • time they went on all right again. The closing
or continuing of the school was entirely in the hands of
the Fluidic.
The CHAIRMAN quite agreed with the remark" of the
previous speaker. He believed the 'eked bed hum •

great benefit to the town, and it was not only a local
but a national advantage. He remembered one of our
greatest statesmen saying, that the effect of thee.°
schools had been to place our English manufseturers on
• footing with these of other countries. This was a
position which we had never held before, but which we
should maintain under the supply of talent which the
schools of ert of ties country continually produce.
The Rev. Mr. linctien advised that aid should be
given to the school by bending more pupils, as well as
by pecuniary help. The committee felt that they had
not been supported by the town as they should have
becn, seeing at what en amount of toil and care, and at
what an outlay the school was estallsbed. He urged
the ladies to give ell the help they could, not only in
the shape of money, but also by attendance at the
school ; for in Taunton the ladies' class provided the
institution with the bulk of its revenue, while in Heidi
-
water it seac only flO a-year.
Mr. Tmonrsos moved that the report read by the
secretary, together with facts, be adopted, printed, and
circulated, and that efforts be made to clear off the
debt by a general !subscription. He regretted that the
school was in such a deplorable condition, and said he
should be happy to pay his share of subscription when
called on to do so. . . . .

Mr. wAas seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
The (2 eel a is AN said he should not despoir, although their
accounts looked none of the brightest. They were in the
hands of the town, most of whom were ladies ; and if
they could be got to lend their countenance and support
to the movement it was sure to succeed. It was • work
peculiarly relying on the ladies. During the last month or
so the subject of the school had been on his mind, and
he had spoken to several gentlemen about it, and among
them all he had not heard • single word d complaint
against the school ; but all of them had expressed their
desire that the school should be kept up, because
although they could not sand their children nos they
hoped to do so some day.
Mr. J. HUIIMAN suggested that they should infuse
new blood into the committee, and with that view pro.
posed that the names of Dr. King, Mr. Ford, Mr.
Barham, and Mr. Ware be added. He was pleased
that the artisan class was getting on so nicely, and he
considered that this was the prime object of the echooL
The resolution was seconded, and on being put to the
meeting was cordiallf carried.
A vote of thanks was then unanimously Toted to the
chairman, after which the proceedings terminated.