SCHOOLS tius, viii, c. 5 — Callisthenes' reproof of Cleon), French (Beranger — On the Birthday of Shake- speare), and English authors (including a scene from Shakespeare's Henry IF, pt. ii) ; while the performance concluded, no doubt impressively, with what was probably an original oratorical efiFort by the school Demosthenes, in which
- ' England bids defiance to France.' It is note-
worthy that the school authorities did not, as in some places,^' show their patriotism by inter- tlicting the study of French. In 1808, the year of Bradford's resignation, probably as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, the fortunes of the school were at a low ebb. In that year there is a note in the school register to the effect that there were ' but three exhibitioners at the University and not one boarder.' Brad- ford's successor, the Rev. John Doncaster, who ruled for thirty-eight years, soon re-established the reputation of the school. An old boy, pupil of Dr. Orme, he had gone with a school exhibition to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1790, where he was admitted a sizar. From Trinity he mi- grated to Christ's College in 1791, being elected scholar. In 1794 he was thirteenth wrangler and first chancellor's medallist. He was ordained deacon in the same year, and in 1796 was elected a fellow of his college, in which he held various offices. He retained his fellowship after his election at Oakham until 18 14, when his college presented him to the living of Navenby in Lin- colnshire, which he held together with the master- ship. On his return to Oakham he at once per- suaded the governors to make the schoolhouse more habitable, although after the improvements were effected, it still remained, according to the re- port of old boys who suffered there, miserably cold, with the bedrooms opening on to an outside gallery, after the fashion of the inns of that time, and a floor of concrete. Nicholas Carlisle, who made his inquiries in 1 8 1 5, says, however, that there was a good house for seventy boarders, the board- ing fee being 50 guineas a year ; so that Oakham was, perhaps, not more uncomfortable than other schools. To Dr. Doncaster's energy, at a later period, the school was also indebted for its cricket ground, and when presenting an adjoining mea- dow, now used as the school football ground, to the local infirmary, he inserted in the deed of gift the condition that the head master should always be allowed to occupy it at a fair rent. His methods of instruction in matters intellectual and moral were of a rough and ready type. He apparently utilized a public execution as a solemn •object lesson,^' demonstrating in an impressive way the natural consequences of vice. On such ■occasions not only was a whole holiday given, but ■special places were reserved for the scholars. The " At Birmingham, for instance ; F.C.H. Warm, ii, 354- '* This was somewhat unnecessary. The school was not likely to forget the fate of Dodd in 1777. late Bishop of Gloucester, Dr. Ellicott, used to tell how as a boy he was actually taken on to the scaffold by him. To each boy on leaving the school he was accustomed to present a seal, repre- senting the Powers of Good watering a fruitful tree and driving back the devil, suitably portrayed in black, with cloven hoofs and ass's ears, carry- ing in both hands an uplifted axe ready to strike at the roots. In 1 810 Richard Williams, who had been Vicar of Oakham from 18 January 1806," was succeeded in the ushership by William Cooper Taylor, of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, who matriculated 3 May 1792, took his B.A. degree in 1796, and his M.A. in 1799. He remained until 1815, when Anthony Gordon, of Trinity College, Cambridge, B.A. 18 16, was appointed. He, in 18 19, made way for an old boy, Zacha- riah Shrapnell Warren, of Sidney-Sussex College, senior optime in 18 18, who stayed for ten years, resigning on his election to the head-mastership of Beverley Grammar School. The Commissioners appointed to inquire concerning Charities and Education,^* found, in 1820, from twenty-eight to thirty boarders, but apparently only one day boy, a free scholar, at Oakham Grammar School. The townspeople seem to have had no need for the classical educa- tion which the school afforded. Yet more generous terms were offered them than the statutes re- quired. All children of the town were instructed free of charge, without reference to the ability of their parents to pay. There was, it is true, an entrance fee of one guinea and a quarterly charge of 4J. for firing, and of half a guinea, payable to the assistant, for instruction in reading and writ- ing, as well as the cost of books and stationery. The head master occupied the hospital premises free of rent and taxes, except that he paid 3 guineas a year for three ground-floor rooms which he sublet as shops. No distinction was made be- tween boarders and day scholars with regard either to the place or course of instruction ; all were taught together in one room in classics and mathematics, and the school aimed at preparing its scholars for the universities. The head master's salary since 1816 had been ;^I05, and the usher's ;^ioo. Three years later, the usher was allowed an increment of ^10. In addition to his salary he received one-half of the admission fees, j^3 6x. 8^. from the head master, being the equivalent of the 5 marks provided for in the statutes, and £ z. year in lieu of quarters in the hospital. The school exhibitions to the univer- sities now numbered eight, and were of the annual value of /^40 ; they were assigned by the governors on the recommendation of the masters, children of poorer parents, caeterh paribus, receiving pre- ference. All scholars of the school were eligible, but during Dr. Doncaster's head-mastership they " Foster, Index Ecd. Char. Com. Rep. 277
