of this circular has been sent to the principal school societies,

and publishers of school registers.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your obedient servant,

"R. R. W. LINGEN."

REVISED CODE OF REGULATIONS, 1865.

IMPORTANT MODIFICATIONS.

We invite the attention of school managers and teachers to the new regulations respecting the examination of evening scholars. The concession they make is valuable so far as it goes. The date at which the inspection of such schools is due remains as before, but on the new plan the haste and inconvenience, sometimes the impossibility, of her Majesty's Inspector conducting the examination of the evening school on the same day as the day school, is provided for. To prevent misapprehension we print the provisions relating to

EVENING SCHOLARS.

142. The managers of any school to which annual inspection has already been promised (Article 16) may apply in writing to the Committee of Council on Education, at any time not less than one month before the date at which the Inspector's next visit is due, to be furnished with printed papers and instructions for holding an examination of their evening scholars (Articles 38, 39) on a day to be named in their application.

143. The applicants must pledge themselves that (exclusively of all teachers of the candidates) at least two managers-or, if only one manager, then such manager, and at least one other responsible person-shall be present during the whole of the examination, and shall conduct it in every respect according to the instructions accompanying the examination papers.

144. The examination papers are sent under an official seal, and must not be unsealed except in the examination room, and in the presence of the candidates immediately about to use them.

145. The written exercises, all of which must be upon paper, having been securely sealed up in the presence of the candidates before leaving the examination room, under the seals of the two persons holding the examination, must be forwarded, by the next post, to the Education Department, and transmitted thence to the Inspector of the school.

146. The exercises of the evening scholars transmitted to the Inspector are not returned by him to the Committee of Council, except as part of his next annual report on the whole school (Article 16).

147. Only one examination per annum of evening scholars is held in the same school (Article 17).

148. In order to insure the presence of a responsible manager to receive the examination papers, the managers of each school, in which a special examination of evening scholars is to be held, must renew their application (Article 142) every year to the Committee of Council.

149. The Inspector of the school is at liberty to attend, without notice, at the time fixed for the examination (Article 142), and to hold it in person. The scheme of uniting two or more schools, within a limited range, under one certificated teacher, as a kind of superintendent, has received the attention of the Committee of Council on Education, and a number of "articles" detailing the regulations under which the plan may be carried out form another leading change in the code of 1865. The regulations are added to those previously relating to "Small Rural Schools." They are as follow:135. Any number of schools fulfilling the conditions of Articles 4, 6, and 8,

(a) Not being less than two, nor more than six;

(b) of which no one has, within one and a half miles of it, a population of more than five hundred;

(c) Of which the aggregate number of scholars is not less than forty (annual average); and—

(d) Of which each has its own resident teacher,

may be united under the superintendence of one certificated master or mistress, who must spend two clear hours, at the least, in each week at each school during its ordinary time of meeting, or, if the number of united schools be less than six, such longer time per week as twelve hours divided among the united schools will give to each.

136. The resident teacher of each of the united schools is not required to be certificated.

137. The superintending teacher must have been trained for two years in a normal school (Article 94) under Government inspection, must have been placed not lower than the third division in the examination (Articles 119–121) at the end of the second year, and must have received a certificate after the usual probationary service (Articles 73 and 76).

138. The day scholars of all the united schools must be assembled once per annum, with their resident and superintending teachers, at some schoolroom under inspection, for examination by one of her Majesty's Inspectors, in the same manner as if they formed one school (Articles 16, 17).

139. The whole of the united schools must be represented by one official correspondent, and by one treasurer for the receipt of annual grants (Article 40).

There are minor alterations, hardly amounting to new articles, such as the requirement

"That the meetings of the evening school be not less than forty. "That the meetings of the day school be not less than four hundred. "That infants under six years of age, for whom the grant of 6s. 6d. is claimed on attendance, must be present on the day of the Inspector's visit.

'That, in calculating the average number in attendance, the attendances of half-time scholars reckon for no more than other scholars.

"That small rural schools (described in Article 132, and in which the services of a provisionally certificated teacher are allowed) must not have an annual average attendance of more than one hundred scholars. Such schools, having an average annual attendance of more than eighty-nine scholars, are subject to the reduction of the grant of £10 (under Article 52 b), that is, for not having a pupil teacher."

The regulations give power to the Committee of Council, in the course of each year, as occasion may require, to cancel or modify articles of the code, or to establish new articles; but they must be submitted to Parliament, and laid on the table of both Houses for at least one calendar month before being acted upon.

FRATERNITY OF OLD SCHOOLFELLOWS.

FOR fifteen years an association bearing the above title has existed in connection with the British School, George Street, Lambeth Walk. Those persons only are eligible for membership who have formerly been scholars in the school; and the institution had its origin in a desire long felt by the teacher of the British School, Mr. J. Horrocks (now the president of the association), that his former scholars should again be brought together, and that means should be provided for their renewed and somewhat frequent intercourse in connection with the place of their early friendship and association, with a view to promote not only the renewal of those friendships, but also their continual progress in knowledge, and in mental and moral improvement. The proposal, first made to a number of his earlier pupils, met with a ready response, and resulted in their immediate union into a society for these objects. A committee was formed, and a treasurer and secretary appointed, and periodical meetings projected. These meetings have from that time, 1851, to the present been held quarterly, and have always been seasons of much pleasure and profit. The time of these meetings is usually occupied by mutual greetings, reading of essays by the senior members, and the delivery of recitations by the junior ones. Refreshments are also provided, and the proceedings are concluded by the reading of a portion of Scripture and prayer. Two clubs for the circulation of good books have worked successfully for several years, which, besides supplying agreeable and useful reading to the members, and forming an additional bond of union between them, have proved an easy means of increasing their private stock of books by their half-yearly sale at reduced prices. It is sought further to develop the usefulness of this institution by the formation of classes for instruction in scientific subjects, and by more frequent meetings for reading essays and discussion.

The anniversary of the "Fraternity was celebrated on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, January 11th and 12th, at the British School, George Street, Lambeth, by an exhibition of works of art, &c., contributed by the members of the association and their friends. The large room in which

the exhibition was held presented a very agreeable appearance, it being tastefully decorated for the occasion with appropriate mottoes, flags, and devices, and the walls being well filled with specimens of works of art, highly creditable to the good taste and ability of the members and friends of the association. Amongst the contributors was Mr. Doulton, M.P. for the borough. Cruikshank's "Worship of Bacchus " was exhibited by Mr. W. R. Selway, who also contributed a large number of diagrams. "Bolton Abbey," contributed by the artist, Mr. J. W. Whymper, is worthy of special mention, as also the very excellent paintings contributed by Mr. J. Harmsworth, formerly of the British School. A highly creditable fruit-piece was shown, the work of Mr. C. Cross, a self-taught artist and a member of the "Fraternity." The picture of a tiger, produced by the application of hot irons on the surface of a piece of wood, or by the process of poker-drawing, as it is generally called, is a curiosity in its way. Mr. Barnard, a member of the "Fraternity," deserves great credit for the very beautifully designed shield which he exhibited. This shield is carved in lime-wood, and the fact of its being a first attempt in carving renders it doubly meritorious. It contains in its quarterings specimens of the profession by which the artist has gained a living since the termination of his apprenticeship. The whole is most ingeniously contrived, the carving for an inexperienced hand is wonderful, and the general effect is very beautiful indeed. The pen-andink sketch of the Bible, exhibited by Mr. Pike, is a most elaborate piece of workmanship, and one of the greatest curiosities of the exhibition. Several excellent specimens of needlework were interspersed throughout the room, and on the tables were arranged various amusing and interesting objects. On the whole, the exhibition was highly creditable to the association which conceived it and carried it out, and cannot but have a beneficial effect on those for whose enjoyment it was designed.

The proceedings each evening were very agreeably diversified by some excellent vocal and instrumental music.

TESTIMONIAL TO J. D. MORELI, Esq., LL.D., ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS.

DR. J. D. MORELL, formerly of Bowdon, having been one of her Majesty's Inspectors of British Schools in the north of England for seventeen years, and having this year taken a district south of London, where he has resided the last few months, teachers connected with the schools that were under his inspection have subscribed to a handsome testimonial, which was presented at à conversazione of the subscribers held on the 24th ult. in the schoolroom of the Swedenborgian Chapel, Chapel Street, Manchester. For the occasion, the room had been most elegantly decorated. In the middle of the central table were the articles constituting the testimonial. The chief of these was a tall gilt striking clock, having at the base figures of boys, and scrolls, the whole being surmounted by a finely modelled figure of Bacchante. Besides these there were, handsomely bound, Keith Johnston's "Physical and Royal Atlases," and the "Index Geographicus," each of which contained a suitable illuminated inscription. The total number of subscribers was 230, and the. total amount of subscription was nearly £90. The subscriptions had come from all parts of the country between Cumberland and Yorkshire in the

North, and Nottingham and North Wales. The chairman was Mr. Edward Brentnall, of Warrington, and he was supported by Mr. Alderman Neild, and Mr. Davis, B.A., Inspector of British Schools.

In opening the proceedings the chairman welcomed the guest of the evening, Dr. Morell, in the name of the meeting, which cordially supported the welcome. He then said Dr. Morell came into the district with the introduction of the pupil teacher system, and with the transition from the first to the second stage of popular education. The monitorial system was just then being superseded by the pupil teacher system. He could not speak disrespectfully of those monitorial times; they were an immense advance upon what preceded; as they were also superseded by something immensely better. The contrast between educational machinery fifteen or sixteen years ago and now was very striking indeed. He did not know where, fifteen or sixteen years ago, they would have found a schoolroom like that in which they were assembled. A gathering of teachers then would have contrasted as greatly with a gathering like that as did the old and the new schoolroom. The same might be said of the internal condition of the schools, the books used, and the standard of education. With all the improvement that had taken place their guest had been most intimately connected as the official representative of the Government in the district, helping teachers by his counsel and by his examinations to raise the efficiency of the schools; and his efforts had been so remarkably successful that they could not do otherwise than award him a large meed of praise. He had done a great work so pleasantly, and yet faithfully, that it became the simple duty of the teachers to recognize his labours, which they had so much appreciated, and to manifest their feelings towards a gentleman whom they so much respected.

Mr. Edmund Salter, of Ashton-under-Lyne, said they sincerely welcomed Dr. Morell, for whom they entertained feelings of solid and lasting esteem, who had honoured them by accepting their invitation, whom they knew, not only officially, but as a man of letters, and whom, above all, whilst respecting his official position, they had come to regard as a friend. The expression of their appreciation was quite disinterested, and, happily, it was scarcely necessary to repudiate selfishness of motive, which the keenest critic could scarcely impute, seeing that Dr. Morell's official connection with the district had terminated. They esteemed him for his abilities, for his distinction in philosophical literature, for his character, his geniality, his goodness of heart; for his promotion of educational progress; for his exquisite tact in the manipu lation of educational machinery, and for the interest he had taken in their own work. If this were the "age of testimonials," it was the age of appre ciation, which must find tangible expression in something more than abstract gratitude. With appropriate reference to the timepiece and the books, and expression of good wishes for Dr. Morell, Mr. Salter concluded by presenting them in the name of the subscribers.

Dr. Morell, on rising, was received with loud and prolonged applause. He said he had such pleasant recollections of the social gatherings he had attended in that room, that he received the present invitation with the greatest pleasure, having no idea of the intention to give him so handsome and substantial a proof of their kindly feeling. He felt that more had been said than was deserved; he had done the best he could in his position; he had done his duty; and they had done theirs. He was glad of the appreciation of his inspection, less for the substantial proof given than for the existence of feelings of kindliness, friendliness, and mutual justice which they had towards one another. These feelings were worth everything else; and he appreciated their gifts, not so much for their intrinsic worth—although they were beautiful as any he had seen-as for their association with many happy years spent in the north of England, and particularly in Lancashire. The minutes under which they had been working together became law in 1846. The first Inspector of British and denominational schools was the