Rugby, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, and the like, are the public schools that will most benefit by this recent relaxation; but the ordinary Grammar Schools of this period are not required to promote boys (not students) to a comprehensive knowledge of Latin authors, algebraic lore, and mathematical expositions, attainments which do not come within the scope of the class intended to be benefited by such institutions, for it is too often the case that a superficial exterior is made to suffice for an empty ground-work; and I fully concur with the Rev. Master, “that a few subjects well taught would be a better training for the middle classes than a superficial knowledge of a larger number of subjects.”
Having reasons to suppose that the Head Master has had very little to do with this important alteration, I trust, for the welfare of both boys and the town, that he will use his professional and scholastic influence to induce the trustees of the Prize Fund to rescind their resolution of awarding medals instead of books, believing that a persistence in this unwise step will not only alter the acknowledged character of the school, by producing a pecuniary loss to the funds of the same, but inflict an uncalled for injustice upon the minds of parents in this neighbourhood, who have an undoubted right to the best-devised advantages that can be derived from that heirloom of knowledge handed down to us for the last two centuries.
If, Sir, an annual gold medal prize can be of any use in elevating the ancient renown of this Grammar School, pray let the trustees appeal periodically to the parents of the boys attending the school for the funds for that specific object, and rely upon the well-known generosity of a Dudley public; rather than inflict an ungracious discouragement upon the junior classes of the school.
INVESTIGATOR.
Dudley, June 25th, 1858.
September 14th, 1858. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Worcestershire was held in Dudley this day, but, contrary to usual custom, there was no walking in procession or prayer sayings at Church, but nevertheless the usual dinner was celebrated with due solemnity at the Hotel. “So mote it be.”
September, 1858, we had a very miserable and unwise “strike” for an advance of wages amongst the “colliers” in this district, which extended to a period of sixteen weeks; adding great deprivations and distress to that already existing through the bad state of trade in the neighbourhood. The stoppage of the usual daily supply of coal to furnaces and mill forges, &c., became a source of serious inconvenience to the completion of contracts in manufactured iron; and had not a limited supply of coal been obtained from Wales and Leicestershire, the iron trade would have been suspended also; fortunately, this additional evil was averted, and although we had to pay an increased price for our coals, yet a sufficient supply was secured to keep the works in motion. The misguided colliers were compelled from sheer want to give in at last, and resumed their labour at a reduction of one shilling a day in their wages.
THE SEBASTOPOL GUNS.
To the Editor of the Dudley Times and Express.
Sir,—Your many readers will recollect that (at Midsummer, 1857) Dudley was the scene of much rejoicing and loyal demonstration, on the event of the Sebastopol Guns being drawn into the Castle Court Yard, amid the din of drums and flourish of trumpets.