and now that New College has extended its borders, and, having become young again with fresh life, is a large and growing College, there is not the danger of Wykehamical education rolling on in a too narrow channel. Yet one who passes from Winchester to New College still carries on the same tradition in a fresh place, becoming doubly a Wykehamist, so that in after life the associations of school and college are blended into one whole. And thus to the existence of New College, as well as to the greater antiquity of these traditions, mainly must be attributed the fact, of which the universal testimony of Wykehamical after-dinner speeches leaves no doubt, that Wykehamists retain in after life a closer sense of brotherhood than do men from other public schools.

Besides the College scholarships, there are eight exhibitions of 50l. a year tenable by Commoners at Winchester, two of which are usually open to competition at the same examination as the scholarships, and it is further intended to give a certain number of exhibitions in College, relieving those who obtain them from all school expenses. The College also annually grants exhibitions of various amounts to several of those who have acquitted

themselves best on their going to the University, in addition to any scholarships they may obtain. These are the leading applications of its endowments. Whether they are exactly such as the founder would direct is not the main question, but whether, having them, the school does good and true work, and what can it show for them. Winchester still remains chiefly a classical school, but not in the old exclusiveness. Studies other than that of the classics have greatly increased of late years. Either French or German forms part of the regular work in every part of the school. The study of mathematics also has made great progress, and has become a very important part of the teaching. Neither can any boy pass through the school without receiving some instruction in the rudiments of physical science; in short, Winchester offers an education mainly classical, but including, perhaps, as wide a variety of other subjects as can well be got into the twenty-four hours.

Unfortunately, the seemingly difficult problem of finding a mode of punishment which shall be good in itself to supersede the writing of lines, with the use of the birch as an extreme measure, has not been solved. Notwithstanding the school discipline

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is adequately maintained, and a kindly feeling prevails between the boys and masters. As for the masters, they are a remarkably united body, and, in spite of variety of age, tastes, or opinions, there has never been any hint of disagreement amongst them; of their chief but few words need be said, for the story of the reforms of the last twelve years is the story of Dr. Ridding's Head Mastership. No stronger testimony to his capacity as a ruler can be borne than the fact that, through all changes there has never been any opposition party among his subordinates or question of their loyalty. If ever Wykehamists have forgotten their ancient motto, the school is little likely under his rule to forget that 'Manners makyth man.'

147

RUGBY.

IN July 1567, when Shakspeare was a boy of three, and just about the time that Mary Stuart was taken a prisoner to Lochleven, Lawrence Sheriffe, a London grocer, made a will, leaving 100l. and certain lands near his birthplace, Rugby in Warwickshire, partly for almshouses and partly to build a fayre and convenyent schoole house. . . . that forever there should be a free grammar schoole kept within the said schoole house, to serve strictly for the children of Rugby and Brownesover, and next for such as bee of other places thereunto adjoyneing.' The subjects of instruction and other details were prescribed in another paper left by the founder, and called 'the Intent of Lawrence Sheriffe.' The most important points are given in one sentence. 'And that for ever an honest, discreete, learned man should be chosen and appointed to teach grammar freely in the same schoole; and the same

man, yf it may conveniently bee, to bee ever a Mr. of Art.' Fortunately for the school, about five weeks later he came down to Rugby, and was moved to revoke the bequest of 100%, and substitute a legacy of eight acres of land in London, called the Conduit Close. The name still survives in Lamb's Conduit Street, where the property lies. The effect of this change in the grocer's will was immense. The London field, which at the founder's death produced 87. a year, now brings in an annual rental of over 5000l.

In the early days of Commissions on Charities, the fear was commonly expressed by those who resisted reform, that if benefactors' wills were thus profanely tampered with, the fountain of benevolence would be dried up. In the sixteenth century, however, the pious founder's legacy was liable to a much more serious danger than the diversion of the money into more widely beneficent channels. The lands left for founding Rugby school were partly in the hands of two trustees, partly occupied at a fixed rent by the founder's nearest relatives—a sister and brother-in-law named Howkins. In neither selection was Lawrence the grocer particularly fortunate. The relatives appropriated part, and one trustee