The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-20 00:00:00

THB BLUE COAT SCHOOL.

Dr. Jacob, the head master of Christ's Hospital, has
been declared by the Committee of Almoners—the ma..-
ringing committee—unfit to continue in his present posi-
tion. The Court of Governors meet to-morrow to deli-
berate and take measures consequent upon this declara-
tion. Dr. Jacob, exclaims some person, who hears of
this fact for the first time, must of course have been con-
victed of immorality, of want of scholarship, or incom-
petency to teach. As far as the public has yet been
informed no one of these crimes has been laid to the
charge of the heal master. The only fault that he
has yet been accused of is that he has told those
persons who ought to have the greatest interest in the
management of the institution that something might be
dome to render it more perfect. He simply tells the
Governors in substance : " Here is an establishment of
which you have placed me at the head, to do the best I
can with it. Now I wish to engage your sympathy and
co-operation, without which nothing can be done. You
who have no knowledge of the practical working of the
institution, or of the technical methods necessary to
elevate it to its proper position, will of course listen to
me, who have both, and I tell you that you can do much
to render this institution more perfect." This is nothing
mere than a good steward would say to the proprietors
of an estate, in order to prevail upon them to make such
alterations as would tend to the proper development of
the land. He has been posted there by the proprietors
to do what they want either the leisure or the know-
ledge to do themselves. He points out the alterations
necessary to the production of the effect which he is
bound to accomplish in the performance of his duty. If
the surveyor of any of the Christ's Hospital estates had
said to the Governors : "Here is this estate which is
going to rack and ruin, for the want of that proper su-
pervision and the exercise of those due means which my
experience and skill tell me are accessary," is it not to
be supposed that the Governors would have given the
surveyor carte blanche, to take proper measures for the
' due improvement of the property ? This is oily giving
them credit for being men of business.
Well, the Managers for the time being of the Christ's
Hospital revenue have, in addition to their landed pro-
perty, another estate, another little property to manage
—that namely of the bodies and souls of some 800 or 900
boys who are committed to their care. This property
has Leen entrusted to a steward, who brings due creden-
tials as to his qualifications for the office. He endeavours
to turn it to the best account, but finds that the means
placed at his disposal are antique, inefficient, aid other-
wise insufficient. He states this honestly and truly to
the Governors—and is told that he is guilty of an insult!
If the Qommittee of Governors to-morrow dismiss
Dr. Jacob without a thorough investigation into the
truth of the charges which be has brought against the
constitution of the school, they will have shown them-
selves utterly unfit to Le the managers of the immense
funds entrusted to them for the public benefit. If what
Dr. Jacob has said is false, let him be dismissed with
ignominy for accusing the managers without cause. If,
on the contrary, it is found out to be true, let the
Governors prove their fitness for the responsibility which
they have assumed by doing their utmost to repair the
evils complained of.—Daily New.