Until about the year 1816, the Foundation boys of the Free Grammar School at Camberwell had been for many years taught only English reading, writing and arithmetic, and appear latterly not to have reached the prescribed number of Twelve. At that period the Governors directed, that the teaching of Latin and Greek should be resumed, according to the Founder's intention. This has since been done, and, in 1819, there were seven free scholars."

DETERIORATED.

Several Schools, perhaps unavoidably, have lost the character of Grammar Schools, as projected by The Founders.

The Grammar School at Lewisham, founded by The Rev. ABRAHAM Colfe, is not conducted according to the intention of The Founder, having for many years ceased to be a Free Grammar School. The number of 31 children, which 7 Rep. I. p. 216.

is always full, is supplied from the parish of Lewisham only, as the remote Parishes have for several years declined sending any children. The boys are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic by an Assistant appointed and paid by Dr. WAITE, who, although he does not instruct them personally, yet frequently inspects them. Dr. WAITE has 16 Private Pupils, who receive a Classical education, and are kept separate from the boys on Mr. COLFE'S foundation. He is allowed by the Will to take 26 Boarders. On his election, he was informed that instruction in reading and writing would be more useful to the free boys, and more acceptable to the parish than Classical tuition, and such had been the practice before his appointment. The Trustees have not prohibited the teaching of Latin to the boys,—but, as the Founder directs in the strongest terms, that the children of poor persons shall be first chosen, and as a Classical education would be of no advantage to them, this probably has been the cause of the

change in the conduct of the School. It is the wish of Dr. WAITE, that the School should be conducted according to it's original institution,—and he is of opinion, that a Free Grammar School would be a great advantage to the neighbourhood.

It appears to The Commissioners, that the present course of instruction is most generally beneficial to the class of persons, who are so particularly designated as the primary objects of the Charity,-and they do not think it probable, that many children would offer, if the School were placed on it's original foundation,-but, as the Ministers incumbent of the parishes of the Hundred of Blackheath have the right of sending their children to this school as a Grammar School, it must not be forgotten that they are, by the present course of instruction, deprived of this advantage.

8

The School at Sevenoaks, as a Free Grammar School, appears now to fall very short of effecting the intentions of • Rep. 1. pp. 123-4.

The Founder. The only cause, to which The Commissioners see reason to attribute this, is, that Classical learning is a sort of instruction not adapted to the wants or wishes of the persons who are entitled by their circumstances, and enabled by their local situation, to claim the benefits of this Charity.9

The Grammar School founded by Alderman HICKSON in Allhallows Barking, though well conducted upon it's present plan by the Master, appears to have fallen below the intention of The Founder in the scale of instruction,-but this seems to have been a necessary consequence of the smallness of the Endowment.10

No particular mode of instruction was prescribed to be used in the School founded by Mr. TROTMAN, in Bunhill-Row,—but, until the year 1740, it appears to have been a Grammar School. An order was made in that year by THE HABERDASHERS' Rep. I. p. 142. 10 Rep. I. p. 162.

COMPANY, who are The Governors, that reading, writing, and arithmetic should be taught in addition to the Classics,—and from that period, the teaching of the Classics appears to have been discontinued. It is stated, that the parents are not willing to send their children for instruction in the higher branches of education.11

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It may deserve to be remarked, that by the original foundation of the Free School at Ratcliffe, by NICHOLAS GIBSON and Lady AVICE his wife, both the Master and Usher were required to be learned persons, and to teach Grammar and the Latin language, as well as reading, writing, and arithmetic, but that grammatical instruction has been so little called for, that the school has ceased to be a Grammar School.12

The boys were formerly instructed in Latin, in the School founded by Mrs. "Rep. 1. p. 175.. 12 Rep. 1. p. 186.