Star.
London, England, 1830-10-27 00:00:00

READING SCHOOL MEETING.

Tuesday se'unight, being_the daylof the 60th school meeting sines
Dr. Valpy became master of Reading School, was appointed for
presenting to him the; splendid service of plate subscribed for by his
pupils. The office of presenting the plate was assigned by the com-
mittee to Mr. Baron Bolland, who was one of Dr. Valpy's earliest echo.
lays, and who had written the inscription, but he was prevented from at
tending by the necessity of visiting some very aged relatives In York-
shire, and Mr. Talfourd was requested to till his place. The entire
area of the spacious school-room was laid out with an elegant breakfast,
Ito which 160 ladies and gentlen.en sat down at 10 o'clock. Attar break,
fast the plate wu arranged on the desk which has been for 60 years oe-
' cupicd by Dr. Valpy at the head of the school; the scholars of the
school were all admitted and lined the room on each side, and Mr. Tal.
I fourd being called for, to express the feelings of the subscriber, ad-
vanced to the desk and addressed Dr. Valpy nearly as follows :
In the absence of your distinguished @tholes, who si.ruld have
been the organ of our sentiments to-day, but who La. teen detained in
a distant port of the country, I have been suddenly called to the high
and unmerited honour of representing that large body of your pupils,
who now offer to you this little token of their affection and gratitude.
In this pleasure there are more than '250 abaras,--na n scatzered through
different parts cf this and of other countries, Litt ..11 acknowledging one
home of their early hopes, loves, and joys, to which their thoughts
have often delightedly reverted, to which they have them elves been ever
welcomed with butt:dies% hospitality ar.d unfailtrig kindness ;--of ages
rang;i:g through a lar;;e ;tendon of human life, yet all alike young in
the vitid perception of the happy days they ?Tent under your care ; of
far different avocations and degrees in this world's wealth and esteem,
but all equal in that great treasure of int' erishabk recollections sett.
which its chances have no power, and in those principlts of ir.t,6:;()
and honour winch have been instilled into them here: of opinions va-
rious as those of freemen will be in a free country on the grtatest sub-
jects of speculation, but all animated by presentiment of regard for the
institution in which they were fostered, aid for him w1:0 bout raised anti
adorned it through 60 years. In 3Lor kind lit.d tia/ cyte (reef tistAl to
look indulgently on our impetfect performaitest.), this gif:, els
know, wiil not be esteemed lightly ; par we eller it with an alines' jai.,
ful sense how inadequate it is to 14 Len our I tugs towards you, and
how powerless are all words to express them.

" if in any place we should feel the insufficiency of words to convey
our thoughts and wishes, how must this atet..e press upon minds, in
the place where l have the pleasure to atioress uu ! Here, all around
lbs a silent c!nquente beynr.d that of tdd flamiline object
ha?. a speech and a language ; the years lit, g post are rushing by us,
" and more than echoes talk along the walls." Here have your peacefol
virteries been wan, here hove we shared in tilt b!e•ssirgs of an education
in which learning and charity met together ; le r.. have our minds Leto
led On, rot by the straight and barren march of intellect, but its easy.
varied, and delightful Journey ; hew, have we listened, on how many
Sabbath evenings! to precepts which the virons and labours of the
week es: ..tplilitd. and which tell upon the heart of joyous and unthink_
ing boyhood, in tones tit to awaken its first sympathy with Lwow, in-
firmity el sorrow. Here, do we hail and wticoote you en the close Or
50 yeses of honourable tutu on which the seal of time is already set ;
and ye rejoi,e eta believe, that here that system of instruction, in which
the chsrieets of life are interwoven. will yet hang be vital, ur adminis-
tered by one who is endt and to we by a double tic, as our schoolfellow
and your son ; who has emulated your karnirg and your tame and
who, we trust. through many years a all here impact to other; those les-
sons which he has learned so well, at d infuse into our children, and our
children': children, the principles and the feelings which be, together
with us, has (liana from his fattier. And now, dear and he:loured
master, accept with this little ofier;itees our earnest wishes and prayers,
that you may yet king be spared to us ! As your season of labour has
been protracted beyond the usual pet .oel in which wan is called to wore. •
so may your season of repose be lonir and happy ! Long, very lt•ag.
may you live to enjoy the store of triuniphani recollections which yew
long life has gathered ! Long, very lung, may you live to share in v.r
successes, and rejoice in our ivy ! Lang, very long, may you exult 's,
the consciousnesa that you have done as much good, that you Lave do.
fused as much happiness. and, allow me to add, time you have tattoo
as much veneration and hive, as ary individual ef your litre !
(ion preserve and bless you !
The plate consists of a set of three silver salvers, chased,
an elegant soup.tureen and rover, alter the pattern of the Wm wieashe,y
vase. When the cheering which followed .31e. Talfoutu's chap...•t

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