educated gratis as many as they chose to send. From this circumstance a plain inference appears, that the charges made to other boys ought not to be subjected to the control of the Trustees, but left to the disposal of the Master, whose interest would always induce him to keep them within the bounds of moderation.' On this subject it should not be forgotten, that his salary is only 401. a year, and that he is obliged to perform divine service twice on Sundays at the Chapel of the Hospital, for a most inadequate compensation, and thus deprived of the advantage of a more profitable clerical employment.

Of late, since the real cause of the opposition to Dr. L. appeared more urgent to its movers, the storm against him became so boisterous, that he found himself obliged to vindicate his conduct and his character by the publication, in December last, of the pamphlet under our notice. On that very day he was formally dismissed from the School by a majority of the Corporation. Believing, and encouraged by his friends in the persuasion, that a superior tribunal would redress so summary and arbitrary an act, he came to the Metropolis, to consult some of the most eminent characters in the Courts of King's Bench and of Chancery. By them he was informed that, however hard his case was, he could obtain no redress, because the Corporation were both Trustees and VISITORS.

To a common observer it will appear inconceivable, that the same men should be both Trustees, and Visitors over themselves. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? We are indeed told that the same case occurs in the appeal from the Court of Chancery to the House of Lords, in both of which the Lord Chancellor is supposed to decide. But we conceive the case to be widely different. The House of Lords will always, most properly, pay a great deference to the opinion of their illustrious president; but that opinion does not necessarily, or constantly, determine their decision.

But, presumptuous as it may seem to differ from the great authorities, who were consulted, we humbly conceive that the word visit, used in the Deed, does not confer on the Trustees the power of SPECIAL VISITORS. "The Maior and Comon Counsell" are empowered "from time to time, and att all times hereafter, to visite the said Schoole, and to order, reform, and redresse all disorders and abuses in and touchinge the governmente and disposinge

The price of eight guineas appears reasonable to the writer of the account of Exeter School, in Carlisle's "Description of Endowed Grammar Schools," Vol. i. p. 317; an account sent by a person evidently not partial to Dr. L. VOL. XIX. NO. XXXVII.

Cl. Jl.

N

of the same." Now to us the word visit expressly signifies only to examine, to inspect, and in consequence "to order and reform, and redress." And this surely might have been effected without the expulsion of the Master. If they possessed this authority, the path of candor and moderation was clear and simple. They had only to "order" that six guineas only should be paid to the Master, and with that "order" he would have complied.

This is a subject of such vital importance to the cause of liberal education, that we trust it will be taken into public consideration; and that such obsolete and absurd charters, formed in times of comparative darkness and ignorance, will not be suffered to remain uncontrolled either by special visitors of rank and talents, or by the dispassionate and enlightened decision of those courts of law, the boast of our constitution, whose object and whose practice it is to secure "the rights of persons and of things," and to vindicate "private and public wrongs." Our sole view in noticing this subject is the preservation, as far as our humble but sincere endeavours will permit, of the comfort and security of a body of men, whose learning is, in general, deep, whose talents are extensive, whose assiduity is incessant, whose conduct is exemplary, whose exertions are meritorious, whose success is incontrovertible; but whose influence on society is not duly considered, whose worth is not always properly appreciated, and whose services are seldom adequately rewarded.

We shall finish this article by inserting a copy of a paper lately sent by Dr. L. to those, whom it may concern.

Exeter Free Grammar School.

I OUGHT to apologise for intruding the subject of Exeter School on the public attention; but it is momentous, not only to myself, but also to all masters of schools, and to the rising generation.

The able Chancery Lawyers, whom I have consulted, are all of opinion that "as the charter of St. John's Hospital” (that charter, of the existence of which I was ignorant, till within these few months)" allows the trustees themselves to be visitors, and to control the school; the Lord Chancellor has no jurisdiction over their act, however harshly or capriciously they may have exercised their authority, and whatever may be the merits of my case in a moral point of view."

It should be recollected, that the trustees of Exeter School excuse themselves for signing my dismissal, because agreeably to the official letter of their town-clerk, written under the direction of their president, I asserted the right of unlimited charge for tuition. Though in my absence, and without my knowledge, they passed a

clause to restrict the admission fee, their leading members, on my arrival in Exeter, when I separately expostulated with them, saw the impropriety of a regulation which for 200 years had never been attempted either in the Latin or English schools, (into both of which they exercise the power to send as many sons of freemen as they please, to be educated gratis,) and they promised that it should be rescinded. Trusting to this promise, which I regarded as the honorable pledge of men desirous to evince the consistency of the conduct of their body, as well as the respectability of the master of the school, I left the parents of children, not freemen, to pay whatever they thought proper, sometimes six, sometimes eight. guineas; and the contribution was never regarded as immoderate by those who liberally considered, that the taxes of the house swallowed up the salary of 40l. together with the small pittance received from the pews of the chapel, where I was bound to preach two sermons every Sunday, and that I had no other emoluments from the Hospital from which to pay the masters, of whom the classical assistant alone received double my own salary.

Thus situated, and educating the sons of freemen gratuitously, I felt disappointed that the new members introduced into the Chamber seemed to be actuated by selfish motives, and, concurring with the original party who opposed my election, persisted to enforce that clause, which would enable them, in violation of what was confessedly a proper and usual remuneration, to have their own children educated at a cheaper rate. So truly sensible, however, were the Trustees of the indelicacy of their interposition, that in two subsequent meetings on the subject, they did not order or direct, but merely expressed their opinion and their request, that I would charge only six guineas. Considering their interference as improper, with respect to the sons of residents, not freemen, I charged eight guineas, but never ten, as has been maliciously asserted; and then, after being suffered for ten years to act as my predecessors had done, in raising the terms of tuition according to the circumstances of the times, and as I was authorised by the official letter to believe I could do, they displaced me, without any previous conditional threat, or requiring any positive explanation, though I had simply before me the expression of their request and opinion, and the acknowledged assertion of some of their body that eight guineas were a fair charge.-They displaced me, without pausing, or expostulating with me on this questionable point, or on any point regarding the management of the school, as other men, actuated by common feelings of charity, would have done, before they inflicted so cruel a wound on the fair fame of an innocent individual: yes! they displaced me at the short notice of

twenty-six days, and after a consultation of scarcely five minutes, on the plea that I had lost their confidence, and without alleging any charge whatever against my conduct or character. The evident cause of these violent and illiberal proceedings, therefore, was not incorrectness in the discharge of my duty; but that my situation was wanted for the son of one of these Trustees, who was almost immediately appointed after the farce of an election, on the 27th of January.

Against the capricious decision of these men, who, contrary to the pure administration of justice, have acted in the monstrous character of my accusers, jurors, and judges, it seems that I cannot even appeal for redress to a court of law or equity. Such is the law as it now stands ! Be it so. I submit, and only hope that I shall be the last sacrifice offered to these obsolete charters, vested too often in the hands of men who are guided by interested and arbitrary motives. The disgrace which they have attempted to throw on me recoils on themselves, and, like Gehazi's leprosy, will cleave to their body for ages to come. I feel it no dishonor to be thus treated by men who pay so little respect to public or private feelings, and who so palpably neglect the calls of humanity.

After sinking above 500l. in improvements on the house and premises, and thus depriving my family of a little fortune, and after raising the school to a degree of celebrity which it had never before acquired, I retire from my situation, disappointed indeed in my expectations of redress, but not dishonored,—and insulted in the feelings of myself and of my family, but not injured in reputation. Thus obliged, at an age when the evening shades of life are drawing around me, to seek another home, and with nine children, to begin, as it were, the world afresh, I feel consoled by the reflection that I have conscientiously discharged my duty; and I look with confidence to a more liberal and honorable support at the hands of an enlightened and unprejudiced public, than I have found from these Trustees. I retire from a situation which, with the galling chains that now encircle it, no man of independent mind would undertake. I would not, for all the wealth of India, exchange my feelings with him who was marked, almost from his cradle, for my successor. No! I should read the "by-paths and indirect crooked ways," and "the blood of Naboth," written by an invisible finger against every wall.

"Victrix causa Diis placuit, sed victa Catoni."

JOHN LEMPRIERE.

Exeter, Feb. 1, 1819.

EXTRACT FROM MR. LEY'S LETTER.

Exeter, 1st December, 1808.

"SIR,-In answer of your letter of the 24th November, to Mr. Collyns, I am desired to inform you, that the present number of boys in the Exeter School is 80; of whom 40 are boarders with the master at 30 guineas a year, and 40 are day-scholars at 6 guineas a year. The salary is 207. a year, as mentioned in the advertisement.' I don't know that there are any other perquisites, but there may be some. The contribution for instruction is not limited; it has been increased by the present master. There are two assistants in the school, paid by, and under the controul of, the master. There are some valuable exhibitions in the University."

"HEN. LEY, Town-Clerk."

Literary Intelligence.

PREPARING FOR THE PRESS.

BIBLICAL.

THE Rev. F. Wrangham is engaged in editing Dr. Zouch's various Minor Works, published and unpublished, in 2 Vols. Oct. with a Memoir of his Life.

Mr. T. Yeates, late of All Souls College, Oxford, and author of the "Collation of an Indian Copy of the Hebrew Pentateuch," "the Indian Church History," &c. &c., is now printing a Syriac and English Grammar, designed for the use of British students. The work was originally composed at the request, and under the inspection, of the late Rev. Dr. Buchanan.

CLASSICAL.

No. VII. of Stephens' Greek Thesaurus will soon appear, when the price will be again raised to 17. 5s. small, and 2l. 12s. 6d. large. Present price 17. 3s. and 27. 10s.

Dr. Meier is preparing an edition of two Discourses of Isaus.

Aristaneti Epistolas Græce et Latine, ad Cod. recensuit, notis cum editis tum ineditis Merceri, Pauwii, Abreschii, Dorvillii, Salmasii, Schurzfleischii, Lambecii, Bastii, atque suis illustravit J. Fr. Boissonade. 8vo.

Revue Encyclopédique, ou Analyse Raisonnée des productions les plus remarquables dans la Littérature, les Sciences et les Arts. Par une réunion de Membres de l'Institut, et d'autres hommes de lettres.

The original salary of 401. had been reduced for some years to 201. in order to defray the expense of building the School House. See Carlisle's Endowed Schools, Vol, i. p. 270.