The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-28 00:00:00

feel that they are furnishing a moral safeguard to those who
ought to be especial objects of care, as such persons may be
traders in vice if they are not in virtue, inasmuch as they
are elevated by nature above their equals in social position.
" Besides this the committee have had regard to the
peculiar wants of the neighbourhood in-which they reside.
The special avocations of multitudes in this part of the
metropolis render a knowledge of design of great importance
for the efficient discharge of their callings in life. Engineers,
potters, joiners, and other mechanics, by learning to draw,
achieve a success in their several employments which would
otherwise be denied them, and thus their zeal for the cul-
tivation of their natural talent is artistically increased by a
conscious accession of power, and by a sensible addition to
those material comforts which they win for themselves. And
thus self-interest has urged them to study, whilst the self-
discipline thus acquired, it may fairly be hoped, adds stabi-
lity to their general character, and so becomes a valuable
element in their moral education.
" The success which has attended the efforts of the com-
mittee furnish evidence of the truth of the principles upon
which they have acted. Each year that their school has
existed it has grown in numbers and efficiency. Commenc-
ing with a few pupils, who found ample accommodation in
a corner of a room lent for their use, they now find them-
selves unable suitably to provide for all to enjoy the advan-
tages they offer; whilst they have refrained from publish-
ing more widely the existence of their school, lest more stu-
dents presented themselves than could be received. They
now muster 120 pupils in their classes, and the fees paid
by these students, with the usual help afforded by the
Department of Science and Art, suffice for the
maintenance of the school, so that no subscrip-
tions have been received during the last tw o
years for defraying its current expenses; nor have
the results been less marked and satisfactory in
other respects. Students of great natural ability have
been found who, but for the assistance afforded by this
school, would never have had the opportunity of cultivating
the special talent with which they had been endowed. A
potter, for example, who had no instruction in drawing till
he entered the school last year gained a national medallion
for designing and executing a most beautiful piece of pot-
tery ware, and by general competition this year the school
has obtained 12 modals and 29 prizes, strong evidence that
its success is not confined to the number of students it col-
lects within its walls, whilst the unvarying good conduct
of those we instruct is convincingly proved by our never
having been called upon to exercise any severe censure
during the five years that the school has existed.
" For these reasons the committee hope they were justi-
fied in praying your royal highness graciously to counte-
nance the undertaking on which they have embarked, and
for these reasons they hope they are borne out in appealing
to the liberality of those who share with them in desiring
to further:the cultivation of art, also to supply the deficiency
which still exists in their building fund.
" I concluding, the committee wish to state how highly
honoured they feel in their school being the first which will
have received its foundation-stone from your royal hands.
And standing as we do on ground which tradition asserts
to have formed part of the chase or the gardens of one of
the most illustrious and best beloved of your royal high-
ness's predecessors—whilst we welcome the advent of our
duke on this ancient manor of his house, we pray that he
may emulate in peace the fame and glories which that great
prince first won in war; and that whilst he resembles him
by being our pride and our boast as prince, we hope that he
may come at a distant day to that high dignity to which he
is born, a worthy successor to our most gracious Queen."
His ROYAL ,HIGHNESS having received the ai-
dress, made the following reply :—" Gentlemen, I
thank you very sincerely for your address, and for
the gratifying terms in which you allude to my
presence here to-day. Although I have hitherto
refrained from taking part in ceremonies of this
nature, it has afforded me much pleasure to accede
to your request, and thus to associate myself with
an undertaking the objects of which you have so
well described, and with which I most heartily
sympathise. Permit me, then, to tender to you my
warm congratulations upon the success which has
already attended your zealous and judicious exer-
tions in behalf of those who could not otherwise
have obtained the advantages which this institution
is intended to confer, and to express my earnest
hope that the results, both as regards the indivi-
duals immediately benefited and the public at large,
may exceed your most sanguine expectations."
The Prince's gracious reply, which was pro-
nounced with admirable effect, was received with
loud cheers.
A special form of prayer, which had been pre-
pared for the occasion, was then commenced by the
Rev. George Wm. Herbert, M.A., of Exeter College,
Oxford; immediately after which the choir and
people sang the 148th Psalm—" Laudate Do-
minum."
The Bishop of Winchester, who, as diocesan, was
vested in his episcopal habits, read three prayers
from the Book of Common Prayer and the follow-
ing special collect :
" 0 Almighty God, who shadowest forth Thine untreated
beauty in visible forms, and drawest the minds of Thy ser-
vants to the things unseen by the contemplation of thosethat
are seen : Vouchsafe Thy blessing, we beseech Thee, upon
this effort to advance Thy glory, and grant that they who
within these walls shall study the works of Thy hands, and
trace the forms of Thy good creatures here below, may raise
their hearts to Thee, their Maker and Fashioner, and be
filled with the plenteousness of Thy blessing, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, Amen."
His Royal Highness, having received the trowel
from Mr. Pearson, the architect, proceeded to place
the stone, saying—" In the faith of Jesus Christ we
place this foundation stone, in the name of God the