The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-19 00:00:00

ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL.

The public distribution of prizes to the scholars,
and t!.e recitation of speeches in our great seminaries, is always
an interesting scene. It is gratifying to notice the display of
early genius, and to observe that it is cultivated on the best prin-
ciples, and the purest classical models. Such was the case yes-
terday, at the meeting technically called " The Apposition," at
St. Paul's School. The new and beautiful edifice was for the first
time devoted to this purpose. His Royal Highness Prince
Leopold of Saxe Cobourg condescended to honour the solem-
nity with his presence. The Bishops of London, Llandaff,
Chicester' Chester, and Nova Scotia, Sir John Sewell, Sir
Thomas Lawrence, Sir George Burgmann, the Master and
Wardens of the Mercer's Company, Governors of the School,
the Head-masters of the Charter-house, Merchant Taylors,
and Christ's Hospital Schools, and a great number of Clergy-
men and Gentlemen, assembled at noon, at the house:of the
Rev. Dr. Sleath, the High-master, by whom, at one o'clock,
they were conducted to the School-room. This magnificent
apartment is 12 feet larger than the former room; and it
displayed a splendid assemblage of elegant females, the
boys of the school, their parents, &c. The young gentle-
men who were selected for recitation on the occasion,
were eighteen of the seniors. It is an ancient custom to com-
memorate the virtues of Dean Colet, the founder of • the
school, in three orations, Greek, Latin, and English, which
tasks were ably executed by Messrs. Soames, Steele, and Has-
sal. Four prize compositions were then recited, of which Mr.
;.•;oarnes had gained three, viz.-1. In Latin verse, on the ad-
vances made by England in Greek literature during the reign of
.Henry VIII.-2. In Latin prose, on the peculiar merit of those
who found schools.—And 3. A Greek Sapphic Ode on the
late naval rctories of the Greeks. The other prize was gained
by Mr. Steele, in English verse, on the lonian Islands.—Se-
veral scenes and orations from classical writers were then recited
in Greek, Latin, and English. Those by which we were most
struck were 6., following:--Messrs. Blakesly and Ormrod,
recited Lucian's dialogue of Charon and Mercury, with
great ease of manner, freedom of action, and an entire con-
ception of the dry humour of the Author. It is seldom that
one sees such young persons so totally unconstrained in
their action, and so fully imbued with the spirit of the cha-
racters they represent ; and when it is considered that the reci-
tation was, in Greek, the credit due to the young performers
will be acknowledged to be greatly enhanced. Messrs.
Tawney, Burgmann, and Wilkinson gave great effect to
the Ist and 2d scenes of the 2d Act of Terence's Eunuchus ;
all of them performed well, but Mr. Wilkinson's Guatho was
peculiarly happy. In comic expression of countenance, indeed,
this young Gentleman evinced very extraordinary powers; and,
without degenerating in caricature, he gave varying but ap.
propriate • force to almost every word of the Dramatist ; as in
the line—
Qui color, nitor, vestitus, gum habitudo est corporis

And a-gain—
Quicquid dicunt laudo: id rursuns si uegant laudo id quoque.
Negat quis ? nego. Ait? aio. Postremo imperavi egomet mihi,
Omnia assentari—.
Mr. WILLIAMS delivered the first Philippic of Demosthenes
with much energy, and Mr. Hassall told the story of Vulteius in
Horace's Epistle (14. 1. Ep. 7.) very pleasantly. Horace was
perhaps the best story-teller of antiquity, and the reciter hap-
pily contrasted the case of Vulteius in his original state—
vacua tonsoris inumbri,
Cultelloproprios pergantem leniter ungues,
With his subsequent miseries as a farmer-
-übi oyes fusto, morbo peritre capellze,
Spem men tita seges, boa est enectus arando.
/a short, the exhibition was very gratifying in respect to the
talent evinced by the young gentlemen, and equally so with re-
ference to the skill and industry of the Preceptors.