The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-11 00:00:00

THE LANCASTERIAN SCHOOLS

A presentation soiree to Robert Dun, Esq., head master of
the Lancasterian Schools of Edinburgh, was given in Sin-
clair's Hotel, Waterloo-place, the Rev. D. Campbell, of Luss,
in the chair. After a service of tea and singing of the
Queen's Anthem, the chairman delivered a long and eloquent
address on the origin of the Lancasterian schools, and the
immense amount of good of which they ha I been productive.
When Mr. Dun, he said, had been appointed master of the
schools, in 1827, he found them, as regards numbers, perfect
wrecks; but, under his care, they have improved rapidly
and progressively. He then paid a graceful tribute to
the talents and industry of the ister aid brother of
their guest, Miss Dun, and Mr. John Dun, who.
for twenty years, had been associated with him in the work of
instruction. It was gratifying to know that nearly 7000
boys and girls had been educated during Mr. Dun's con-
nection with the schools. The rev. gentleman concluded
a very able address by describing the working of the
monitorial system, and the combination of religious with
secular instruction, which, under Mr. Dun, had been
highly successful. Mr. Colquhoun, the secretary of the
Lancasterian club, then read a scroll, bearing the signa-
ture of nearly 100 of the former pupils, expressive of
their obligation to Mr. Dun. and their admiration of his
scholarly attainments and manly worth. A presentation
to Mr. Dun was not now mooted for the first time. Again
and again had it been attempted, but his modesty had led
him uniformly to object to it, and on the present occasion
he had in a manner been compelled to yield to the wishes
of the club. The secretary then read letters of apology.
for absence, from Mr.:John Gray, Mr. David M'Lagan,
and others.

The Chairman then, amid cheers and waving of hand-
kerchiefs, presented Mr. Dun with a silver tea-service,
bearing the inscription, " Presented to Robert Dun, Esq.,
of the Lancasterian'Schools, Edinburgh, as a mark of the
high estimation in which he is held by his former pupils."
Mr. Dun replied in a very feeling manner.
The Right Hon. the Lord Provost said it had been his
fortune to be connected with the Lancasterian schools
for a long time,ffirst as secretary, and then as a director.
He had also many opportunities of knowing how other
schools are conducted in Edinburgh, and he might safely
say that, with all his experience, he could place no
seminary that he knew of in comparison with the Lan-
casterian schools. They are conducted with an amount
of talent, and, he would add, of affection, that cannot be
anywhere surpassed ; and he never had occasion to go to
that school without feeling that Mr. Dun was an ornament
to Edinburgh.

Professor Pillans had much pleasure in giving testi-
mony to the ability and worth of Mr. Dun. He (Profes-
sor Pillans) was one of the few now living who met on
Calton Hill many years ago, when Lancaster visited
Edinburgh ; and a more remarkable meeting had hardly
ever taken place, not for the numbers, but for the char-
acter of the meeting. He had every opportunity for know-
ing the progress of the Lancasterian Schools, and he was
happy to say they had exceeded all his expectations.
When distinguished foreigners or other strangers visited
Edinburgh, and expressed a desire to see it remarkable
institutions, he invariably directed them to the Lancaster-
ian Schools ; and he had never found them disappointed.
He had always held up Robert Dun as a man who
deserves a statue; and, assuredly his labours would jus-
tify the country at large in bestowing upon him some
still more substantial mark of honour than the present
tangible outpouring of gratitude from his former pupils.
During the interval between the addresses, the meeting
was enlivened with several airs on the piano-forte, and
with vocal music and recitations.
We understand that Robert Dun, Esquire, so very
favourably mentioned in the above, is a brother of the
Messrs. Dun, schoolmasters, Birkenhead.

SECOND TRIAL OF THE REV. PR. VAUGHAN.--On Satur-
day the Rev. Dr. Vaughan was tried at the Central Criminal
Court on a second indictment preferred against him for
tampering with the parish registry of Brixton, and acquitted.
There was a third indictment against Dr. Vaughan on a
similar charge, but it was abandoned by Mr. Serjeant Wil-
kins, who conducted the prosecution.