The cost of the Ornamented Doorway, paid for by the Usher's two sons, was estimated at £48 13s., but this was exclusive of the Niche and the Statue of Edward VI which it contained. This Statue was an object of the frequent missile and was so often cast down that it was at last removed. On the outside of the Library Wall is a Coat of Arms belonging to the Nowell family and underneath is the extract from the Charter "Mediante Johanne Nowell." One relic of James Carr's School remained, the stone slab with its Hexameter inscription, and as it had found a place inset in the wall of the second building, so it did in 1850, but after a time it was removed owing to its decay.
The first Speech Day in the new School was celebrated in a fitting manner on March 12th, 1851. Three prize Odes were composed on the subject of re-building and were read by their respective authors. F. Howson recited some rapt verses, extolling Queen Victoria and telling her that the New School should stand as her memorial.
O Fairest star, with radiance divine
Gilding the honours of thy royal line!
Too pure thy beauty realms of earth to cheer
A brighter orbit gained in a far brighter sphere.
But unextinguishable still
Thy parting glow!
As from Sol's latest smile of light
Steep Alpine summits of eternal snow
A purpling lustre cast o'er the deep vales below.
So beams thy virtue, after life has fled,
In deeds reflected, which their blessings shed
Still o'er thy people, and will ever be
Illustrious tokens of thy piety.
This spot an endless monument
Of thee shall stand,
And still perpetuate thy praise:
For here from age to age a youthful band
Shall learn the fear of God, the love of Fatherland.
J. Brackenridge gave a short description of the extent of his Classical Studies:—
See this the third! theme of mine ode,
Adorned by sculptur'd art;
Make it, O Learning, thy abode,
Thy gems through it impart.
There may the bards of tragic name
Forever flourish, Graecia's fame—
With Homer's deathless lay!
Here Maro with heroic glow,
And Naso's elegiac flow
Outlive their mould'ring clay.
Jackson Mason was the best of the three, though strongly suggestive of Gray. He describes the tale of a maiden "vanished down the gulph profound" and now
The ruffled water of the well
Mov'd by bosom's fall and swell
Alternate ebbs and flows.
The tale is o'er; the old man gone.
With tottering steps and slow
He pauses ever and anon,
To view the vale below:
And, leaning on his staff the while,
Gazes with pleasure on the pile,
Which crowns that landscape fair:
Then as the grateful tear-drop falls,
For blessings on those goodly walls
Breathes forth this fervent prayer.