THE
PETERITE. w,
VOL .
VII .
MAY, 1SS5 .
No . 51.
THE WILL OF LADY ELIZABETH HASTINGS. Y a codicil to the will of Lady Elizabeth Hastings, the daughter of Theophilus Earl of Huntingdon, dated the 24th of April, 1739, she bequeaths : "First,—I give and devise all my manors, lands and hereditaments in Wheldale, otherwise called Queldale, in the West Riding of the County of York, with all the quit-rents, or chief-rents, and royalties belonging to the same, to the Provost and Scholars of Queen ' s College, in the University of Oxford, for ever,—subject, nevertheless, to a term of ninety-nine years, determinable upon the lives of one or more annuitants, as the case shall be, and as is more fully explained in a former codicil, for charging annuities for lives, pursuant to a power * * * " * reserved by my will . "And I will that, after the expiration of the said term of ninety-nine years, determinable as aforesaid, 2140, out of the clear rents and profits of the same premises, shall from time to time be applied for Exhibitions, towards the maintenance of five poor scholars of the said College, to be nominated and elected in manner hereinafter directed, each of which poor scholars shall be entitled to a yearly payment of zS but shall receive for the four first years (to be computed from
B
the Pentecost preceding the election) only Zzo each year, by quarterly or half-yearly payments ; my will being, that the remaining ZS out of each sum of Z28, be laid up and deposited yearly in the College chest, and that out of this deposited money, Z 20 shall be paid at the middle of the fifth year, and Zao more at the end of the said year, (over and above the first-mentioned yearly payment) to each of the said exhibitioners that shall have taken their Bachelor of Arts degree,
2
THE WILL OF LADY ELIZABETII HASTINGS.
and shall strictly and religiously conform to the directions, limitations, and conditions hereinafter given, made, or expressed. "And in regard to the qualifications, nomination, and election of poor scholars, who shall be entitled to such exhibitions, my will is, that ci;'*t of the principal schools in the County of York, viz., those of Leeds, 1Wakefield, En/di; ird, Bez'crlcy, Slrinton, Sedhzn fr, Ripon, and Shcrburii, and two more in the County of Tfreshnarcland, viz., Appleby and Hamersham, and two more in Cumberland, viz ., St. Bees and Penrith, shall each of them have the privilege or liberty of sending one poor scholar, every five years, to the place of nomination hereinafter appointed, provided the head master of each school send along with such scholar a certificate, that he hath distinguished himself above the rest of the same rank in his school for his morals and learning,—that such scholar is well grounded in the principles of the Church of England as by law established,—that he hath competent parts and remarkable industry, and that he hath applied himself to the reading * * * * * of Greek authors at least four years . * " I will also, that fair copies of this codicil be writ out in parchment, and sent to every one of the said respective schools there, to be safely kept by the Master for the time being, who is desired to read the same, or cause it to be read, to the scholars, candidates for the Exhibitions, four times or oftener in the two last years antecedent to the election. "And I make it my earnest request, that the Rectors of Barwick, Sp earth, and Bolton Percy, and the Vicars of Lrcds, la/sham, Tho/pArch, and Collingham, in the County of Iuuk, will, in the year wherein the Exhibitions shall commence, (if the year be not too far advanced, for giving notice, as is hereafter directed .) and so likewise at the expiration of every five years, for ever after, meet together at the best inn in Abberford or Abberforth, in the same county, viz ., on Thursday in \Vhitsun-week, before eight of the clock in the morning. "Allso all the boys to meet at the said best inn at Abberforth the night preceding the day of nomination, in order to be ready to begin their exercises the next morning. " And I entreat the Rectors and Vicars aforenamed will be there half an hour atter seven, that they may choose the boys' morning exercise, and put them upon beginning the same by eight of the o ' clock. " And my will is that their exercise be a part of an oration in Tully, not exceeding eight or ten lines, to be translated into English, and part
THE WILL OF LADY ELIZABETH HASTINGS .
3
of an oration in Demosthenes, about the same number of lines, to be translated into Latin ; and two or three verses of the Latin Testament to be translated into Greek ; and four books of each sort being provided, immediately put them upon beginning the translation, four- of the boys being employed in one kind of translation, four in a second, and four in a third ; and then changing the books till they have gone through the three several translations. "And whilst the boys are making their morning exercise, the said Rectors and Vicars, or the greater number of them, shall proceed to choose the afternoon exercise (which shall be upon two subjects)— one of Practical Divinity out of the Church Catechism, upon which each boy shall give his thoughts in Latin, in not fewer than eight lines nor more than twelve ; the other subject, some distinguished sentence of a classic author, upon which each boy shall write two distichs of verses—all which translations and compositions are to be written out fair upon one sheet of paper, and signed by the name of each boy they belong to, and then sheaved to every nominating Rector and Vicar, who are desired impartially to weigh and consider, and return ten of the best of the said exercises (each of which ten to be signed by the greater number of the Rectors and Vicars present) to the Provost and Fellows of Queen ' s College, in the University of Oxford. " And when the said Provost and Fellows have received the same, they are hereby required to meet together, as soon after as conveniently may be, to examine into them carefully and impartially, and choose out of them eight of the best performances, which appear the best, which done, the names subscribed to those eight shall be fairly written, each in a distinct paper, and the papers rolled up and put into an urn or vase by the Provost, or, in his absence, by the Vice-Provost or Senior Fellow, and after having been shaken well together in the urn, shall be drawn out of the same by some person whom he or they shall appoint, and those five whose names are first drawn, shall, to all intents and purposes, be held duly elected, and entitled to the whole profits each of his exhibition for the space of five years, as before provided, from Pentecost then next preceding the election. " And though this method of choosing by lot may be called by some superstition or enthusiasm, yet, as the advice was given by an orthodox and pious Prelate of the Church of England, as leaving something to Providence, and as it will be a means to save the scholars the trouble
4
CAMBRIDGE LETTER.
and expense of a journey to Oxford under too great an uncertainty of being elected, I will this method of ballotting be for ever observed. " Provided also if any one or more of these twelve schools herein mentioned, shall so far come to decay as to have no scholar or scholars returned by the Rectors and Vicars, to take their lot by ballotting as before appointed in four successive elections, I desire the Provost and Fellows of the same college to place, constitute and appoint one or more other School or Schools in the county, where the School which has come to decay, in the room and stead of any one or more of these twelve schools herein mentioned. " And I will that the new appointed school or schools shall have all the benefit and advantages, and be subject to the same rules . restrictions and conditions as the other schools. [This has been inserted for the benefit of members of the school whose interest and surprise were excited by the election of holders of these scholarships .—ED .]
CAMBRIDGE LETTER. T it again . This refers to the P /rite editors of course . I had just returned from a pleasant sojourn beside the briny wave, where I had laid in a large stock of health wherewithal to carry me through the sultry heats of the coming summer, when—horresco rcfcrens—I received a notice from the P.E . commanding me to write a Cambridge letter . Ale miscrrim ! Needless to say my hard-earned health is scattered to the winds, and to the reeds of Cam I have returned a shattered and broken down wreck . But before life leaves me for ever my public pen shall try to tell you something of recent
A
events. The boat race is now a thing of the past, and about the result silence best befitteth ! Our most blood-thirsty opponents, however, will surely admit that we were severely handicapped . The loss of Brown at 6 was hardly compensated for by the presence of Hardacre at and the general change of relative positions must have affected the crew 's chances of success . Add to this our bad luck in losing the choice of sides, and our cup of misery was filled to overflowing .
THE SCHOOL LETTER.
5
The sports were generally disappointing, but the high wind which swept across the plain will account for the bad times, &c . I hear Grant-Asher's long jump was illegal, but how the authorities failed to see this is one of those things which no fellow can understand . I think Roberts might have propelled himself further than he did . It must have been gratifying to the presidents, McNiel and Eliot, to find themselves winners of events for their respective 'varsities . All Cambridge men will sympathize with Tindall's defeat in the quarter. A little more pace at the start would have enabled him to catch Blair, as he has beaten the Caller's record more than once I believe . But now, ye partisans of Oxford, let me ask you a question . Who won the racquets—a game which in my opinion beats rowing and running to fits ? Ah ! Do not try to evade the question ! Mao won? Go, blush with the shame of defeat and hide your diminished heads. Triumpho
I cannot conclude without wishing Douglas a long and prosperous career, his lithe and active form will be much missed on the scenes of football strife ; and we all shall miss him, as he is a"most mirthful and sympathetic friend. In conclusion, I hope all those who enter the Tripos "Tests " this term will acquit themselves as men, and will not dread the ser r ied ranks of probing questioners . And may you all be successful is the sincere wish of CALLAI".
THE SCHOOL LETTER. INCE our last number many important questions have been settled. In that number probabilities were expressed as regards the future; in this all is settled, and the races are a thing of the past . The races on the whole have been better, and better attended, than they have been for many years . The Junior fours have been remarkably good, and showed great promise for the future. The third boats, which are an innovation, and we hope they will never have to be an innovation again, created no little interest, and will be most useful and helpful in making up the boats next year . The supremacy in the School fours has been wrested from the Civil and now is in the hands of the Sixth. For the last six years, I believe, this event has alternately fallen to the
S
6
THE SCHOOL LETTER.
Sixth and Civil, and, though perhaps not so exciting this year as in former years, still excites greater interest and excitement than any other race . There was one remarkable feature in the Senior fours, viz ., both the Day-boys and the School House had the same four that they had last year . This gave an additional interest to the race . Eventually it was won by the Day-boys . Among the Junior fours the School House was victorious, but only after two very close races. The cricket prospects are exceptionally good . There is only one vacancy in the eleven, which proved itself by last year's exhibition well worthy of the School . The professional engaged for the coming season is John Gill, of Scarborough. Having treated of matters outside the school walls, we would like to treat of those within. The Debating Society has sprung up again into existence fresh and vigorous . The interest taken in it has been greater than in former years . Far more have spoken this year than in former years, and the attendance has always been very good . There has, however, been a change in the rules of the Society, of which we cannot say we altogether approve . Formerly no member unless the mover of the motion was allowed to express his opinion more than once . Now members may speak any number of times they wish . Since this change the speeches have been shorter, and showing less thought than they used formerly to . Members knowing that they can rise again if they omit anything that may be to the point, make their one remark for or against the motion, and then sit down only to rise again in five minutes to make a second remark, their speeches thus requiring no preparation and no previous thought. The School gave a hearty welcome to P . E . Lord on his return from Cambridge entitled to write after his name "Scholar of Clair Coll ., Cambridge . " The Rev . Gilbert is taking the Rev. Clarke ' s place as house master, and the Rev . W . Routh ' s place as master of the Civil . The latter will be head mathematical master. Another matter of interest within the School is the improvements made in the warming apparatus of the chapel by a very old friend of the School, W . F . Rawdon, Esq . In the future the chapel will be warmed and ma le comfortable with very much less trouble and expense than heretofore .
THE BOATING SEASON .
7
THE BOATING SEASON. HE School may be congratulated on the successful close of the Boating season . The entries for the Senior Pairs and Sculls have, we believe, been unprecedently large, six for the former and seven for the latter . In both cases the favourites lost . Another feature is the introduction of 3rd House Fours, which have brought to light one or two promising oars . The Committee have to thank those gentlemen who came forward in response to the appeal made in the last Pe/a-i e and offered prizes . There are still several left, and it is to be hoped that in a few years time the Committee will be no longer hampered by prizes, but be able to pay full attention to the School boat-house and boats. The success attending a representative School Boat against a Corpus (Cambridge) four, renders it desirable that a Regatta Boat should be formed, and an attempt will be made to organise such a boat next term.
T
(Prize given by S . T . Atkinson, Esq .) beat C . B . CLARKE. R . D . C . RosE beat R . CRAWSHAW. N . WILLIAMSON beat W . MURRAY. T . H . LITTLE, a bye. The first round of the Sculls produced but poor races, the first two heats being practically walks over for the winners . The third heat lost much of the interest that would have attached to it owing to the bad steering of both the competitors . Williamson, steering a little better than Murray, won by a clear length . The latter was all over the river. The feature of the and Round was the unexpected victory of Wilson over Rose, the latter being apparently out of form, and the former pulling better than he ever did before . Rose won easily last year. The easy victory of Little was rather a surprise. 2nd ROUND. J . G . WILSON beat R . D . C . RosE. Wilson leapt away at the start, and pulling fast and hard was clear at the School Boat-house . Rose pulled hard and made a desperate effort to get level . This he failed to do, and at the corner the race was virtually over, Wilson winning by about three lengths ; the winner's pulling being particularly hard and clean . SENIOR SCULLS .
1St
ROUND .
J . G . WILSON
S
THE
BOATING SEASON.
T . H . LITTLE V . N . WILLIAMSON. Little plunged off at the start, and his powerful sweeps, aided by a fast current, soon put him out of danger. Williamson pulled up pluckily, but could never get on terms with his opponent, who won by three lengths . It is only fair to the loser to say that Little was greatly aided by his station . FINAL. J . G . WILSON beat T . H . LITTLE. The final resulted in a splendid race . Little got off at the start, and at the Boat-house was a length ahead . Here, however, Wilson, getting out of dangerous proximity to the bank, raced after him, and catching him up at the White Railings, showed a length ahead at the Bridge. Little made desperate attempts to overhaul him, but, failing to do so, lost by two lengths. SENIOR PAIRS . Ist ROUND . (Prize given by W . F. Rawdon, Esq .) J . G . WILSON R . CRAWSH_AW (stroke) J . MORTIMER (cox .)
beat C . FABER N . WILLIAMSON (stroke) G. W . LANE (cox .)
R . D . C . RosE W . G . WILSON (stroke) C . LANE (cox .)
beat C . B . CLARKE W . T . MURRAY (stroke) C . METCALFE (cox.)
R . CROSTHWAITE P . E . LORD (stroke) E . STEPHENSON (cox .)
beat H . W . RHODES T . H . LITTLE (stroke) C . Alfa cALE (cox .)
The first race was hollow in the extreme, Williamson's boat being completely outpaced . The second heat produced a good race down to the corner, where Wilson's boat took their opponent's water and won easily . The third heat was fairly well contested down to Scarbro ' Bridge . At this point, however, the odds were all in favour of Lord's boat . At the old coal-drop, however, the latter snapped his oar, and bow and cox . only just managed to land home two feet ahead. SENIOR PAIRS . (SEMI-FINAL.) R . D . C . ROSE beat R . CROSTHWAITE. W . G . WILSON (stroke) P . E . LORD (stroke) C . LANE (cox.) F . STEPHENSON (cox .) A poor race ; the former won easily, greatly aided, however, by the current.
THE BOATING SEASON .
9
FINAL. J . G. WILSON R . CRAWSHAW
(stroke)
beat R . D . C . RosE \V . C . WILSON (stroke) C . LANE (COX .)
J . MORTIMER (COX .)
A complete surprise . The former won an easy victory, though far lighter than their opponents . The beaten crew, though individually stronger, pulled badly together and hardly made a race of it. Wilson got off half a length at the start, but Crawshaw pulling a quick, clean stroke, drew up and away, and at Cat-ditch was a length ahead, his opponents rolling tremendously . Still Crawshaw continued to gain, and won easily by four lengths. SENIOR HOUSE FOURS.
The Senior I-Iouse Fours resulted in some good races . The surprising feature being the excellent show made by the Rev . H . L. Clarke's House . Crawshaw is to be congratulated on turning out so good a crew from the material left him—two of last year ' s Junior. They were only beaten by three-quarters of a length by the School House . The final lay between the latter 'and the Day-boys, and greater interest attached to the race owing to the fact that both had the same boats as last year. The School House were considerably heavier than their opponents, but lacked dash . The Day-boys, on the other hand, showed a tendency to get short and ragged . A good race resulted in the victory of the latter by two lengths. ISt SCHOOL HOUSE
H. W.
RHODES
C . B . CLARKE
T. H.
LITTLE
(stroke) E . STEVENSON (cox .) P . E. LORD
7' .
HEAT. REV. H .
L.
CLARKE ' S HOUSE.
H . BLOOMFIELD H . DICLELLAN H . SIMPSON R . CRAWSHAW J . MORTIllIER
(stroke) (cox .)
Crawshaw led his boat off at the start, and by the Boat-house was a length ahead, owing to stroke in the School house losing his oar. Lord now recovering set a good long stroke, and the whole crew swinging well together with him, he picked up the leader hand over hand, and at the corner showed in front . Crawshaw pulled up pluckily, but the weight of his opponents was too much for him, and he lost by three-quarters of a length .
IO
THE BOATING SEASON. FINAL.
beat
DAY-Boys T . G . \\ ILsoN W . T . MURRAY
R . D . C . RosE W . G . WILSON (stroke) C . LANE (COX .)
SCHOOL HOUSE. II . W . RHODES C . B . CLARKE T . H . LIITLE P . E . LORD (stroke) E . STEVENSON (COX .)
The boats went off at an even start, but Rose promptly lost his oar. Failing to get it back quickly, the School House shot ahead . The Day-boys at this point were ragged, the strong wind greatly hindering them . They managed, however, to shake together, and at the corner were a quarter of a length ahead . This they further increased by a spurt at the bridge, and at blarygate end drew clear . They still continued to gain, and won eventually by two lengths . The School House went better through the wind than their opponents, being the heavier crew, but lacked dash, and consequently lost. JUNIOR SCULLS . (Prize given by W . L . Newman, Esq .) The racing for the Junior Sculls, as well as for the Junior Pairs, was disappointing in the extreme . The races were a mere exhibition of pluck, nothing more . The competitors could hardly drag their boats up to the winning post. The course ought either to be considerably shortened or the limit of age raised to sixteen . The latter of these two alternatives would be, perhaps, preferable, as few boys learn to row decently before that age . 1st ROUND. W. M . BENNETT beat C . E. STEVENSON.
A . G . EGGINTON „
G . W . LANE.
In the first race Stevenson would have won if he had not unfortunately fouled Bennett under Lendal Bridge. Eggiuton managed to struggle in half a length in front of Lane. FINAL. W . M . BENNETT
beat A . G . EGGINTON.
The winner won easily . JUNIOR PAIRS.
1st HEAT. v. D . CARTER G . C . LANE (stroke)
W . M . BENNETT A . G . EGGINTON (stroke) J . MORTIMER (COX .
C . LANE (COX .)
THE BOA TING SEASON .
II
Lane's boat got the best of the start and led down to the corner ; here Egginton drew up, and though Lane spurted gamely at the finish, won by one length . FINAL. . STEPHENSON V. W. M . BENNETT E A . G . EGGINTON (stroke) C. E . STEVENSON (stroke) C . METCALFE (cox .) J. MORTIMER (cox .) Egginton's boat was the first to show in front, and, rowing well together, were half a length ahead at the corner . Here, however, the superior weight and strength of the other boat began to tell, and Stevenson finally came in winner after a good race by one length. JUNIOR HOUSE FOURS. The Junior House Fours produced the best all-round racing of the year. Then, as in the Senior, the Rev . H . L. Clarke ' s House made a bold bid for victory against the School House . White and MacTurk are to be congratulated on the amount of work done by them . If Rouse had not repeatedly lost his oar, the result would probably have been very different ; as it was they lost by a length . The School House beat the Day-boys after a good race by about a length . It may be mentioned that Williamson, who stroked the former this year, won the Junior last year when pulling for the Day-boys. SCHOOL HOUSE V . REV . H . L. CLARI{E 'S HOUSE. C . FABER P . DOUGLAS J . A . DUNKERBY H . ROUSE R . CROSTIIWAITE H . MACTURK N . WILLIAMSON (stroke) E . R . WHITE (stroke) E . STEVENSON (COX.) J. MORTIMER (COX .) White got off at the start, and at the corner led by a length . Here Rouse lost his oar twice running, and Williamson, aided by his station, brought his boat up and won eventually by a length. FINAL. SCHOOL HOUSE beat DAY-BOYS C . FABER H . HuTCHINGs J . A . DUNKERBY J . B . STEVENSON R. CROSTHWAITE H . HOLMES N . WILLIAMSON (stroke) A . S . RosE (stroke) E . STEVENSON (cox.) C . LANE (cox .) Rose led off at the start with a quick stroke, and at the School boat-house led by a quarter of a length . A good struggle took the
THE
I2
BOATING SEASON.
boats down to the corner without any material change in their position. Here Williamson quickened, and, pulling well, picked up all he had lost, and at 1larygate showed three-quarters of a length in front . This he increased to a length, but only to the coal drop, where Rose reduced his lead to half a length, losing by that amount. SCHOOL Fours. The School Fours did not produce nearly such good racing as last year . The Sixth disposed of the School fairly easily, and a good race was expected between them and their old rivals, the Civil . These expectations, however, were disappointed . The Civil, with questionable wisdom, changed strokes at the last minute . Rose, who had pulled stroke all through practice, going three and Williamson taking stroke. If this change had been effected earlier in the season, the Civil would have had a far better chance. SIxTH
FORM
beat
SCHOOL.
RosE
J . G . WILSON
A. S.
C . B . CLARKE
R . CROSTH\vAITE T.
P. E . LORD
H . LITTLE
(stroke) J . B . STEVENSON (COS.) J . MORTIMER (COX.) The Sixth got off at the start, and gained steadily to the corner, when they showed a length in front . Here Crawshaw spurted, but failed to reduce the distance"between the boats . The current at the Bridge further aided the Sixth, who, pulling well within themselves, won by a length and a half. W . G . WILSON
(stroke)
R . CRAySHAy
FINAL.
SIx'1'H J.
G . WILSON
C . B . CLARKE
beat
CIVIL. C . FABER W . T . MURRAY
R . D. C . RosE (stroke) N . WILLIAMSON (stroke) J . B . STEVENSON (cox .) C . HAVNES (cox.) The Sixth again got off at the start, but stroke lost his oar twice in succession before they had gone twenty yards . Similar mishaps happened to the Civil, and at the Boat-house the boats presented anything but an edifying appearance . The Sixth were the first to recover, and, getting together, drew ahead . The race was practically over at the corner, the Sixth pulling easily down and winning by a length . P . E. LORD
W . G . WILSON
THE BOATING SEASON .
13
THIRD HOUSE FOURS (FINAL .). SCHOOL HOUSE V . DAV-BOYS.
H . R crc IN
IL WALKER
T . E . GOFTON P . ALLEN
L . HUFFAM
G. C . WAUD (stroke)
C . HAYNES (stroke)
E . STEVENSON (COX .)
C . LANE (COX .)
W . GABB
The boats both got off at the start, but at the boat-house the School House were a quarter of a length in front . This they gradually increased, and finally won very easily by three lengths. The winning crew pulled very well together. The Scratch Races were pulled on Thursday and Saturday. There were six boats the first day, and some good racing followed . The course, it may be mentioned, extended from below Scarbro' Bridge to the end of hill's boat-yard . The feature of the afternoon was the stubborn fight between Crawshaw's and Williamson's boats, who had to race three times before a decision could be obtained . Williamson eventually won by a few feet . In the final Lord 's boat won fairly easily. Williamson is to be congratulated on his extremely plucky pulling. The winning crew were J . A . Dunkerby (bow), J . E . Gofton, R. D . C . Rose, P . E . Lord (stroke) . This is the fourth time out of five attempts that Lord's boat has won in the Scratch Fours. On Saturday eight boats entered containing a fair number of old boys. We were glad to see G . H . Eyre pulling . The races attracted a large number of spectators, and throughout the afternoon were extremely fast, and soon a "best on record " was accomplished by one boat who managed to pull sixty to the minute . The average was about fifty . Williamson ' s boat, with F . Ware, T . H . Little, C . B. Clarke (bow), beat W . G. Wilson's boat, G . H . Eyre, J . Walker, R. Crawshaw (bow), by a few feet in the final.
SCHOOL v . CORPUS CHRISTI, CAMBRIDGE. On Friday, April loth, the School rowed a boat composed of members of C . C . C . C . over the usual School course . The attendance was not so good as might have been expected, but the rain and cold explains this . However, considerable interest was taken in the race, and both boats were watched and criticised as they rowed up to the
14
THE DEP,ATING SOCIETY.
starting point . The School on the whole was very well satisfied with its boat, and the general belief seemed to be that the race would be a very close one. The C . C . boat won the toss and elected to row on the right side of the river. The start was a good one, neither boat gaining . They kept level to the School Boat House, but then the School was delighted to see its boat begin to forge ahead . After this the C . C . boat never regained the ground they had lost, and though it made strenuous efforts, gradually fell behind, and was about 2A lengths to the bad at Scarbro' Bridge ; from here to the winning post the School boat had its own way, eventually winning by four lengths . The rowing of the School boat cannot be too highly commended, Wilson 's stroke being long and lively. It is only fair to say in excuse for the defeat of the C . C . boat that their training was not all that they would have wished, and we cannot but thank them for the opportunity they gave us of testing the powers of the School rowing. C . C . C . BOAT .
(Bow) R . T. E . FAUSSET . 2 F . R . RoUINSON . 3
L . EPSTEIN .
(Stroke) H . (Cox) E .
PETERS . MORTIMER .
SCHOOL BOAT.
(Bow) R . CRAWSHAW. 2 R . D . T . ROSE. 3
P . E . LORD.
(Stroke) W . G . WILSON. (Cox) E . LANE.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY. N February 28th, the first meeting of the Society was held . Its transactions were of a purely business character, and the following officers were appointed :—President, the Rev . H . L . Clarke;
O
Vice-President, W. G. Wilson ; Secretary, L . W . Pickles ; Committee, C . B . Clarke, H . W. Rhodes, J . B . Steavenson, J . Wilson, R . Crawshaw, and O . Whaley . Several subjects for discussion during the term were proposed, and the meeting then adjourned till the following Saturday. On March 1st Rev. W . Routh brought a motion in favour of Local Option . In opening his speech the proposer first brought some statistics to show the enormous evil drink was to the country, and then went on to explain how Local Option proposed to remedy this evil. A canvass was to be held in each parish, or other small local division, and where two-thirds of the inhabitants were in favour in that district,
15
TAE DEBATING SOCIETY .
the number of public-houses was to be largely decreased . This might be considered tyranny over personal liberty, but it was better for the majority to tyrannize over the minority than the minority over the majority . In conclusion, the proposer made some remarks as to the effect which would be produced on the trade and prosperity of the country by any such measure to discourage the excessive use of strong drinks . C . B . Clarke seconded the motion, expressing his opinion that drink was the curse of the nation . W. G . Wilson now rose to oppose. He objected to Local Option as interfering with individual liberty, saying he thought a man had a right to drink if he liked, and that he was surprised to find that many radicals who talked so much about extending liberty should support such a measure . After some remarks by Clarke, Walker, and Williamson, R . Holmes said he thought it quite allowable to interfere with individual liberty when the exercise of that liberty was detrimental to all, as in the case of drunkards who caused the rates to be raised in order to support the children which their selfindulgence rendered destitute . Wade objected to the unpleasant crowding of drunken men that would take place in the parts that retained their public-houses ; and Pickles that in the parts most needed Local Option would be rejected, while where comparatively needless it would be adopted . The Vice-President, who was in the Chair, then called on the mover to reply . The Rev . W. Routh in summing up said he regretted an allusion made by one speaker to party politics, that this was not a question on which party spirit could have any part . He then proceeded to answer the various objections urged against his motion, after which the House divided, the numbers being as follows : For the Motion Against .. ... rr Majority for the Motion
2
On March 14th, L. Huffam moved " That the visible existence of ghosts is a fact ." In support of his motion, he related some stories and adduced Dickens and Sir W. Scott as instances of eminent men who have believed in ghosts . N . Williamson seconded the motion. The lead of the opposition was taken by H . W . Rhodes, who urged the House to put away all sentimental prejudice in favour of ghosts, and consider the matter independently . He pointed out some palpable
16
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
absurdities in the nature of ghosts, such as the sheet which always envelopes them, and must therefore be immortal as well as the spirit. In conclusion he put down all cases of apparition to hoaxes, dreams, muddle brains, or some system of thought transference, and said he hoped his hearers would do the same . Wade told a well-authenticated story in favour of the motion, and J . Wilson, speaking for the opposition, asked Huffam for his authority in calling Sir IV . Scott a believer in ghosts, saying he had lately read the contrary in one of the latest works of that distinguished man . The discussion was carried on by Rev. W. Routh, who said it would be very difficult, or rather impossible, to prove the non-existence of ghosts . There were many apparently'true cases in which the forms of persons far distant had appeared to their acquaintance, but that these might be due to optical illusion, the image being presented to the eye from the brain and not from without. T . H . Little next told a story in which a shaking bed and white figure played a prominent part . W . G . Wilson reviewed the arguments for the opposition, and suggested, as explanation of Little's story, that the shaking of the bed was caused by the shaking of its occupant, and the white figure was a moon beam . After this Huffam replied and the House divided . For the Motion S ... 17 Against Majority against . . .
9
On Saturday, 21st March, the motion "That war with Russia would not be a national calamity " was brought forward by L . W . Pickles. To prove this he endeavoured to show that in a successful war much more would be gained than lost, and that therefore in the long run war could not be a national calamity . J . B . Steavenson ably seconded the motion . The Opposition, opened by J . Wilson, objected to war on the ground of the superior numbers that the Russians could bring against us . Huffam opposed because he thought the Russians had a better base for their operations, and that their troops were in better positions for beginning a war than our s . The discussion was well kept up, T . P . Clarke, R . Crosthwaite, and H . Bloomfield speaking for the motion, while H . W . Rhodes opposed it at some length, taking exception to much the mover said . IV, G . Wilson repudiated the charge of jingoism brought against those who desired war by one of the
17
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
speakers, and expressed his opinion in favour of the motion . Pickles replied on the whole motion, and on dividing the numbers were For the Motion . . . 16 Against 8 Majority for
8
At the conclusion of the discussion, the rule forbidding a member to speak more than once in a debate was abolished, any member being allowed to speak as often as he liked, except the proposer, who might only bring his motion and then reply. On Saturday, Apr 1 4th, W. G . Wilson moved " That compulsory * athletics in a School Ire a mistake . " He said that where the love for athletics was not sufficiently strong to induce participation in games, it was impossible to induce it by compulsory athletics, for that boys would soon find excuses and reasons why they should be excepted. W. Murray seconded, and said that as in school some fellows were always bottom, so it would be in athletics, no matter how much compulsion was employed . In opening, the opposition J . Wilson objected to the parallel draw a by Murray between school work and athletics, and expressed his opinion that compulsory athletics were advantageous. H . McClellan, H . W . Rhodes, L. Huffam then spoke, all against the motion . Wilson then replied, and the House divided. For the Motion 5 Against 14 Majority against
9
On March 28th, J . Wilson moved "That the practice of vivisection is justifiable . " The attendance at this debate was very thin, owing to the boat races . W .NIurray seconded, and H . Holmes opposed . The School reporter was unable to attend the meeting to the finish, but afterwards heard that the numbers on division were For the Motion ... ro Against ... ... 3 Majority for the Motion . . .
7
18
NOTES AND ITEMS.
NOTES AND ITEMS. the Rev . Bennett Hoskyns, A .K .G ., appointed Chaplain of Paignton Cemetery. SIMS, Rev . W . E ., appointed Curate to Christ Church, Turnbull Green. LORD, P . E ., elected Scholar of Clair College, Cambridge. ABRAHALL,
[The Editors beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following Magazines :—" The Leodieusean," "The Lorettonian," "The Alleynian, " "The Lily," c ° The Sutton Valence, " "Ulala, " St . Andrew's College .