Between the years 1871 and 1892 no less than 1496 pupils passed in the Cambridge Local Examinations, of whom 494 took honours.
There is an amusing letter to Miss Davies just before the examination of 1865, which shows how these things looked thirty years ago—
“12, Camden Street, Dec. 5, 1865.
“My dear Miss Davies,
“Pray excuse my not answering your note till now. I am literally ‘over head and ears’ in work. There is so much to look after just now.
“Those dreadful Cambridge examiners! Their digestion would certainly be impaired if they only knew how indignant I am with them. Why, the time hitherto allowed for an examination is an ‘insult’ to us; but now they have added ‘injury,’ by curtailing the time for English subjects—English, too! The subject in which a girl might hope to pass with credit! But we must endure it, as we can’t cure it.
“No doubt you are blissfully ignorant of the change. You are not an unfortunate school-mistress, with a reputation to maintain!
“And our girls! We sometimes think they have taken leave of their senses. Either we have taken up too much, or they are hopelessly stupid. I almost fear the former.
“Is the Cambridge Exam. to take place at that room in Conduit Street? And, please let the unhappy victims have plenty of paper before the bell rings. And I hope Miss Craig or Miss Bostock, or some one, will be there to help you in distributing the examination papers, wherever there is any English going on, for even one minute is worth something when the time is so limited.
“I hope this is not asking too much; it is for all, at any rate....