{67} The operation of this personal influence on the individual boys with
whom he was brought into contact, was much assisted by the system which about
this time began to prevail at public schools, of giving each boy a small room
called "a study" of his own, in which he might keep his books, and where he
could enjoy privacy. The writer, who was at a public school both when all
the boys lived in one great school-room in which privacy was impossible and
after the separate studies were introduced, would wish to record his earnest
conviction of the advantage of the present plan of separate studies,--of the
vital influence it has on the formation of character, no less than of habits
of study in the young. He can well remember how every better impression or
graver thought was effaced, often never to return, as the boy came out from
the master's room or from reading a letter from home, and was again immersed
in the crowd and confusion of the one common school-room of such a school as
Winchester. He would here venture to suggest that the plan of separate
sleeping-rooms, like those in the model lodging-houses, would present equal
advantage with that of separate studies, and might be introduced at little
expense in public schools. It has already been introduced in the Roman
Catholic College at Oscot.
{71} He appeared, in religious feeling, to approach the Evangelical party at
more points than any other; pungently describing them, nevertheless, when he
said--"A good Christian, with a low understanding, a bad education, and
ignorance of the world, becomes an Evangelical." He appears to have died
before he came to the application of the rules of German criticism (in which
he followed Niebuhr in history) to theological subjects. It is curious to
speculate on what the result would have been in the mind of this ardent
Anglo-Protestant and lover of truth.
{81} These letters, full of information and suggestion, are attributed to
Charles Mackay, Esq., LL.D., the well-known poet and prose writer.
{113} We were happy to find, while these sheets were passing through the
press, that the Birmingham Corporation have introduced a Bill for absorbing
the petty commissionership of the suburbs, which, once distant villages, now
form part of the borough; and that they seek for power to compel efficient
drainage and ample supply of water. To do all this will be expensive, but
not extravagant; nothing is so dear to a town as dirt, with its satellites,
disease, drunkenness, and crime. We sincerely trust that the Corporation
will succeed in obtaining such ample powers as will render thorough drainage
compulsory, and cause clean water to be no longer a luxury. Some of the
opposition call themselves Conservatives. In this instance it means of dirt,
fees, and bills of costs.
{125a} 1 Eliz., c.15.
{125b} Edited by the Rev. Montgomery Maherne.
{126} "Touchinge an anvyle wch he did sett for a yere. The bargayne is
witnessed by two persons, viz., John Wallis Clerke, minister of Porlocke, and
John Bearde of Selworthye, who sayeth that about our Lady-day last past, R.
H. did sell to heire the said anvyle to the said Thomas Sulley at a rent of
iii.s. iiii.d. for the yere."
{127} Showing that the manufactory of muskets had then commenced in England,
contrary to Hutton's statement, see p.85 ante.
{130} The best way to Wednesbury is by an iron Canal Boat, drawn by horses,
at ten miles an hour. The Inn is the Royal Oak, kept by a droll character.
The event of his life is having seen the Duke of Wellington driving over
Westminster Bridge in a curricle. To obtain a good view, as the horses went
slowly up the ascent, he caught hold of a trace and hopped backwards for
twenty yards with his mouth open.
{138} See Cathrall's Wanderings in North Wales.
{144} See Heberts on Railroads, p.19.
{151} We may add that, in 1850, about 160,000 emigrants embarked from the
port chiefly for the United States, employing 600 large vessels of 500,000
tons.
{159} The Earl of Derby has died while these sheets were passing through the
press.
{172} At the Great Exhibition of Industry of 1851, Mr. G. Wallis, at the
suggestion of the Board of Trade, had the management and arrangement of the
department of manufactures.
{193} Mr. Francis Fuller, whose plan of management on this estate affords a
model for both English and Irish landowners, is the gentleman, who, after
taking most active and vigorous means, in co-operation with Mr. Scott Russell
and Mr. Henry Cole, for bringing before the public Prince Albert's plan of a
Great Exhibition of Industry of All Nations, alone saved the whole scheme
from being abandoned before it was made public, by finding contractors in
Messrs. Mundays to advance the 100,000 pounds, and who did actually advance
21,000 pounds, without which the President of the Board of Trade refused to
issue the Royal Commission, on which the whole success of the scheme rested.
Until the scheme was safely launched, Mr. Fuller, as a Member of the
Executive Committee, devoted his time, and freely expended his money, for the
purpose of supporting this great undertaking. When it was fairly launched
the care of his important business, of which Middleton forms a very small
part, occupied the greater part of his time, and hence his name has appeared
less in conjunction with that splendid triumph of Industry than those of
other gentlemen.
{209} A little boy undergoing the operation of being flogged, in the manner
that Mother Hubbard performed the deed before sending the children to bed.