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Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign 2015








A LETTER
TO
THE COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATION.
&C. &c.A LETTER
TO
THE COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATION fn Irelani),
ON THE
COURSE OE STUDY PRESCRIBED TO THE CANDIDATES FOR THE ROYAL SCHOLARSHIPS
CONNECTED WITH
THE SCHOOLS UNDER THEIR CHARGE,
IN REPLY TO THAT OF
THE REV. F. H. RINGWOOD OF DECEMBER 2 1st, ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
BY
JOHN GREHAM, LL. D.,
MASTER OF THE ROYAL SCHOOL, ENNISKILLEN.
DUBLIN:
HODGES AND SMITH, GRAFTON-STREET,
BOOKSELLERS TO THE UNIVERSITY.
1854.TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATION.
Portora House,
10th January, 1854.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Having been favoured with a copy of Mr. Ringwood’s Letter, recently addressed to your Lord-ships, in answer to those of mine which I had the honour of submitting to you : I trust I shall be borne with in respectfully soliciting your attention to my reply to it, which I shall endeavour to render as brief as the nature of the case may admit.
From the very excursive character which the controversy has assumed, I fear I shall scarcely succeed in this attempt to the extent I should desire ; I shall proceed, however, with all the dispatch I can command, to consider the comparatively minor points upon which Mr. Ringwood dwells throughout the far greater portion of his Letter ; that I may the sooner arrive at the “ one more observation,” the “ beginning of his end,” with which he prefaces his conclusion ; and where, as if in a postscript, according to the well-known law of all epistolary pro-
a 2( 4 )
ductions of a racy and pungent character, the “ pith and marrow” of the whole missive, may, I conceive, be found.
In the first place, then, I would dispose of Mr. Ringwood’s subtle attempt to impale me on either of the horns of his dilemma, when he reasons that “ the Candidate Exhibitioners of the Enniskillen School either do, or do not, study Arithmetic, Algebra, &c., during the two years preceding entrance,” &c.; and adds: “ If they do, how can Dr. Greham object to their proficiency in these studies being tested at the Exhibition Examination ?” &c.
Of this argument I might at once dispose by saying, that it is built upon the assumption of a principle distinctly resisted by both Mr. Guillemard and me, namely, that whatever topics of instruction constitute the ordinary school-course should also be ingredients in that for the Royal Scholarships; my words on the subject in my second Letter being-I hold, in opposition to Mr. Ringwood, that, whatever the ‘topics of instruction’ may be, or should be ; a selection from them must be made to form a course for examination, when such a distinction as I have proved the Royal Scholarships to be is at stake.”
I therefore might admit, that the Candidate Exhibitioners of the Enniskillen School do study Algebra, &c., during the two years preceding their entrance ; and they generally do so for a considerable portion of that period; without granting that( 5 )
these branches should become component parts of the Exhibition Course.
But further, as regards Mathematical Science, lest it should possibly be supposed that I have any especial reason for shrinking from the proficiency of the Enniskillen Candidate Exhibitioners in this branch being tested ; I find myself compelled to say, that, when at the University, I proved that I was not neglectful of that most essential branch of a liberal education; and, what is more to the purpose, that my pupils have repeatedly given, and are still from time to time giving, conclusive proofs, that, in their case I succeed in laying a sound and secure foundation for future distinction in that department.
I think it well to state these two facts ; since, without one or other, if not both of these guarantees, my experience would lead me to hold that little, if any, weight should be attached to any display or programme, however imposing, of a course of instruction for young persons in the more severe sciences.
Mr.Ringwood applies this argument, thus disposed of, to the case of modern languages,* &c. &c. We may, therefore, pass to another of these minor points.
As regards the word “ shallowness,” then, on which the changes are so pertinaciously rung, my
* With regard to Modern Languages, I think it right to state, that German does not form a part of our school-course; and that, as to French, with a view to accommodate those pupils whose circumstances are not affluent, it is optional with their parents and guardians whether they shall receive instruction in it or not; and further, that in order to meet the requirements of( 6 )
argument was this —that either shallowness must be the result of the extension of the course proposed by Mr. Ringwood; or that “ the Royal Scholar,” like a Fellowship Candidate in the nineteenth century, may complain that he is regarded as a sort of Admirable Crichton, &c.
Now, in maintaining this view, I was, in the first place, influenced by the well-known principle, that he who is “ aliquis in omnibus,” is generally “ nul-lus in singulis;” and that, therefore, unless when you have to deal with an exceptional case—a second juvenile Pascal—u shallowness” is likely to result from the process of attempting to prepare “ boys,” even though they be “ promising,” in a Course which, according to Mr. Ringwood, “ ought not to be confined.”
Further, I had especial regard to two of the new topics proposed to be introduced, viz., Geometry,
the first and second books of Euclid,—and the “ Elements of Natural Philosophy.”
As regards the former of these, either the mere text of the first and second books of Euclid will be examined ; in which case nothing in the way of improvement will be gained, inasmuch as that all the
“ the mercantile and middle classes,” whose case is especially put forward in the memorials against some of the Royal Schools, addressed to the then Lord Lieutenant, I have made arrangements by which young persons may receive at the Enniskillen School a mere English education, fully sufficient to qualify them, in the highest degree, for commercial pursuits, at the very minimum of cost in schools of a purely mercantile character.candidates, at least from schools of any note, are, under the existing order of things, made acquainted with it before entering College ; or, if, on the other hand, the same range is taken as at the Term Examination, an unreasonable weight of preparation will be laid upon the candidates ; seeing that the making up of this business alone, under a first-rate private tutor, furnishes employment for never less than three, and, as I am informed, frequently for six, and occasionally even twelve months !
Again, as to the “ Elements of Natural Philosophy.” According to the mode of examination pursued, either “ a few primer-taught, popular notions of Mechanics and Natural Philosophy” will suffice ; in which case “shallowness ’ will result ; or, a field may be opened including virtually all the physical science of the Undergraduate Course ; and thus, if not expanding so far as to reach the “ Mécanique Céleste,” at least verging on, if not including, the “Principia.”
In this case, I submit, an unreasonable load of preparation would be imposed upon the Candidate Exhibitioner.”
While on this subject, I must remark, in answer to Mr. Ringwood’s “ emphatic protest” against my assuming that he was arguing for “ a boundless extension of the Course,” that I know not what else I could infer from his maintaining, without any qualification whatsoever, that “ the Course ought not to be confined.” And when Mr. Ring wood tells me that, in his first Letter, he had in substance stated that “thep
Course should be confined,” I reply, that a dialectician cannot be allowed to base his argument upon contradictories. He would thus, in truth, occupy a truly inexpugnable position, resting securely upon two supports, of a nature so antipathetic that the process by which you cut away the one from under him insures the permanent immoveability of the other. Only grant him a pair of such reciprocating fulcra and, by shifting alternately from one to the other what would he not “ move” ?
u In the next Place> Mr- Ring wood asserts that I appear to have no objection to the proposed introduction of Euclid and Algebra” into the Course •
and refers to page 7 of my second Letter as proving this point.	°
Now, on turning to this passage, which stands at he very close of that Letter, it will at once appear that what I there say is, in substance (not to trespass upon you by quoting it in full),this-I deprecate any change that would divest the Eoyal Scholarship of its exclusive ly Classical character; but, should the authority to which I must bow, think some change necessary I have less objection to the introduction of Euclid and Algebra than to that of any of the other proposed additions ; while, at the same time, I think that great precaution should be taken lest evil result even from the admission of them.
Further, Mr. Bingwood complains of my stating that he never contemplated the discontinuing the practice of Greek and Latin Versification if the( 9 )
school under his charge ; and yet, in the very next paragraph he admits the truth of my statement, when he says that he is “ quite aware that the ne-cessary amount of skill in that craft, viz., Versification, may be obtained before a lad has passed his sixteenth year, which would leave two years free from any engrossing attention to it being necessary.”
He here admits that some attention to Latin Ver-sification during the “ two years before Entrance” is necessary ; and how this attention, be it much or be it little, can be given to it, without continuing, in some form, the practice in question, I cannot see.
Mr. Ringwood also denies that there is any a difference between his views on the value of Greek and Latin Versification, as expressed in his Letter and in his Supplement.”
In answer to this, I shall merely beg of your Lordships to consider, in juxtaposition, the passages in each that bear on this subject ; “ to look on this picture, and on this ;” and I confidently anticipate the conclusion at which you will arrive.
It is, however, only doing him justice to state, that, on his attention being drawn to this difference, be it real or be it only apparent, he seems to return to his first love, and to reiterate against “ efforts for the attainment of skill in making verses,” that is, against efforts for accomplishing that which your Lordships require of the candidates—every epithet penned in his first Letter—these epithets being, “ unclassical,” “ barbarous,” “ anile,” &c.As to the point raised by Mr. Ringwood on my objection to his argument in favour of his proposed extension of the Course, derived from the regulation of the Board of the University, which allows prizes either in Science or in Classics to be qualifications for retaining Royal Scholarships,—my object merely was, to show that, so far from any analogy existing between his proposed extension of the Course and this regulation of “the Board,” there was a direct opposition; inasmuch as the “regulation” permits the Royal Scholar to devote himself exclusively to either Classics or Science ; while Mr. Ringwood’s proposed changes would force him while a Candidate to attend equally to both.
And here, at once, an answer is suggested to the exception taken by Mr. Ringwood (p. 6 of his last Letter) to my words, “ pursuits of a wholly different character ;” namely, that they refer to Science as of a character different from Classics, and vice versa; the precise distinction taken by “ the Board” in the regulation referred to.
I have to apologise to your Lordships for detaining you so long on matters of very subordinate moment, rather turning upon verbal distinctions, than affecting the essence of the question.
I come now, however, to matter of a very different character—I mean that contained in the following paragraph m p. 6 of Mr. Ringwood’s last letter; the simplicity, perspicuity, and directness of which contrast remarkably with all that has preceded it; and( 11 )
prove conclusively that his heart went with every word as he penned it. I transcribe it verbatim
“ There is one more observation which I wish to make to your Lordships, which is this,—that except some such change as I have proposed be made, the Examination for Exhibitions can never be a test of the real merits of the Institutions under your Lordships’ control. Since I have become connected with the Royal Schools, the boys of the Enniskillen School have been always first at the Exhibition Examination ; those of Dungannon, second; and those of Armagh followed. Now, as far as can be gathered from Dr. Greham’s Letter, it appears that the training of the Candidate Exhibitioners of Enniskillen is the narrowest of the three, and most strictly limited to what is necessary for success at that too confined ordeal ; and on the other hand, it is clear from Mr. Guillemard’s Letters, that the training of his pupils is of a much more liberal and expanded character. If this be the case, I ask your Lordships is it fair that the attention paid by Mr. Guillemard to the cultivation of the Modern Languages, Modern History, Science, &c. &c., during the two years preceding the Exhibition Examination, should not be in any way recognised and rewarded on that occasion ; and is it not strange that Mr. Guillemard himself did not perceive that the measure which I have advocated was calculated to pay a debt of justice to that extension* of the educational system which he has introduced at Armagh, notwithstanding the nature of the regulations still existing in reference to Exhibitions ?”
It is matter of History, that even, when, to use the words of one of Mr. Ringwood’s quotations, a revo-
* Mr. Ringwood (Supplement, page 42) speaks of “ Mr. Guillemard’s impossible ideas of schools which are nurseries of the Universities being able to keep themselves free from the influence of the regulations of the latter.”
He here eulogises Mr. Guillemard for “that extension of thelution, whether political or religious, is ripe ; he who is ultimately to prove the hero of it, remains passive, as if unconscious of the mighty destinies he is to ulhl: until roused to action by some startling iniurv or series of injuries, which come home to him or to his personally.
The familiar instances of Harmodius, Virginius William Tell, and countless others, will immediately present themselves to your Lordships.
Tims, in Mr. Ringwood’s case, it is possible that al the evils resulting from the existing Exhibition ourse and against which he so earnestly protests anc vehemently declaims, might have remained undenounced by him, and therefore unredressed byyour Lordships, had not its inherent and essential viciousness been palpably demonstrated to him, by the starting fact just stated by him, that “ since he has become connected with the Royal Schools, the boys
the Eexfhv t Sch°01 haVe b6en alw^ &st at Exhibition Examination ; those of Dungannon
second ; and those of Armagh followed.”
This monstrously absurd conclusion, it appears,
** i,ntroduced --*■<*-«*-
" °f the reSUla,‘°”S StiU	reference *
MITd for “^ tbe
peer shortly) he	'T"
tmctionbetween a regulation of the Tin'	•, oes he tal:e a
sanctioned by the Uni verity aetth ,	7 “	* "S"““
tion Course f	7’	“ th“	the Etthlbi-( 13 )
has been brought out, not once only, but again, and again, and again, from year to year !
Now, Mr. Ringwood, who has proved himself so “ cunning in his fence” as a logician, instantly perceived, that there must be at least one false premiss, when such a result was obtained.
He seems, at one time, to have thought that this was to be found in the incompetence of the Examiners—in the fact stated by him, that, in Trinity College, “ Classics were taught by gentlemen who had not themselves learned them.”
However—for what reason it does not appear— this ground seems to have been abandoned, or at least not strenuously maintained; and then, nothing remains for him but to hold “the Course,” and nothing but “ the Course,” answerable for those astounding results ; and to maintain, that, unless his proposed changes in it be made, “ the Examination for Exhibitions can never be a test of the real merits of the Institutions under your Lordships’control.” Hence we learn, that, any change in the Course must at least possess one essential and indispensable property, before it can obtain the stamp of Mr. Ring-wood’s approbation.
It must stand this infallible test,—viz., it must displace the “ boys of the Enniskillen School” from their position of “ first at the Exhibition Examination.”	«
And here I am compelled, in passing, to admit that, “ thus do men grow wiser every day.”
In my simplicity, as being one of “ the old school,”1 was wont to regard the Exhibition Course as the fixed standard by which the relative merits of the Candidates was to be determined ; and not the assumed relative merits of the Candidates as the criterion by which the Course,as a gauge of those merits was to be tested. I thought, that, in the Examination for Exhibitions, the proficiency of the Candidates was on trial; and not the adequacy or inadequacy of the
Course to the purpose of ascertaining that proficiency.	r
When I considered the degree of intelligence and integrity that any witness, however reluctant, must ascribe to a body composed of such elements as those which constitute the “Board of Education for Ireland,” I was disposed to take for granted the soundness and justice of the particular mode in which such a body might think fit to encourage and promote the progress of the Schools under their control; and not to fancy for a moment that I, or any other individual ex cathed™, might dictate this or that alteration in it.'
But, “nous avons change toutcela,” the “Course” is no ionger to be regarded as a fixed standard by which the Candidates are to regulate their efforts but as a “ sliding scale,” of no very limited range! the perfection of which, as an instrument, is to be tested by its capability of so adjusting itself, by rising or a ling, as the case may require, as to fulfil one essential condition, viz., that it shall invariably exclude one distinctly specified Candidate, and as invariably admit another.
Thus, at each annual trial, its correctness as an in-( 15 )
strument, and not the relative merits or demerits of the Candidates, is in question ; and instead of its resting with the Commissioners to prescribe a Course, and with the Masters of the Royal Schools to direct their exertions to the due preparation of their pupils in that Course : it is for any one of the Masters to pronounce, “ a priori,” on the order of merit in which the Candidates shall stand ; and for the Commissioners so to modify and vary—so to expand or contract—so to simplify or complicate “ the Course,” that, the result of an examination in it shall place the Candidates in the precise order prescribed by this self-constituted arbiter.
But, to return. Mr. Ringwood, as I have stated, having been thus fully convinced of the utter unsoundness of the system of education prescribed by your Lordships, by its monstrous results thus painfully and reiteratedly brought home to him ; and acting on the generous and liberal principle, that “ true self-love and social is the same :” in obedience to the law which I have glanced at, as regulating the progressively onward movement of the several “master-spirits” of their respective ages, gradually expanded his views ; and ultimately was led to submit to yourLordships his proposed changes; by adopting which, he says, at the close of the peroration of his first appeal to you, “you, my Lords and Gentlemen, will have the satisfaction of having, as far as in you lay, as Commissioners of Education in this country, relieved and revolved the wheel of that in-( 16 )
tellectual and social progress which marks the present era in the history of our long unfortunate, but ever to be loved Ireland.”.
I glanced at a few of the many instances of those liberators and regenerators of mankind, who, through a similar process, were led to undertake, and disciplined to carry out, the disenthralment of their fellow-men. I omitted one ; I will not call him » the noblest Roman of them all,” who, all but describes
himself as having passed through these successive stages.
This celebrated personage, in a passage “familiar,” doubtless, to your Lordships, “ as household words,” thus states the reasons which impelled him to his enterprise of noble daring:—“ Injuriis contumeliis-que concitatus, quod fructu laboris industriœque meœ prwatus, statum dignitatis non obtinebam, publicam miserorum causam pro mea consuetudine suscepi ;” and again, “ quod non dignos homines honore honesta-tos videbam, meque falsa suspicione alienatum sentie-bam.”*
We here find stated, with a naïveté similar to that which we have just admired, that, though the mind of this “ man of his age” was doubtless predisposed to be acted on by every benevolent and philanthropic impulse; yet that the slight thrown upon himself personally was the exciting motive to his espousing the general cause of the aggrieved.
* Catalinæ Con., cap. 35.( 17 )
But, how immeasurably does Mr. Ringwood “tread upon” mere “ Roman glory” !
The wrong that the noble scion of the Sergian line complains of, is one inflicted upon himself, “ me falsa suspicione,” &c.; whereas, that, which seems to have roused Mr. Ringwood to action, was one done, not directly to himself but to Mr. Guillemard, for whose interests alone, in this matter, he evinces any solicitude!
Again, the Roman “ man of his age,” prominently puts forth the personal injury in the foreground, subordinating to it the general cause of the suffering nation. Whereas, Mr. Ringwood, throughout the entire of his published Letter, and published Supplement, dwells exclusively on the evils resulting, or likely to result, to the public, from the existing “Course;” and only at the very close of his unpublished Letter, addressed to your Lordships, suffers to escape from him, almost as it were inadvertently, the particular especial circumstance that appears first to have led him to enter upon his career of reform ; as if, in the engrossing passion of universal benevolence which now possesses him, he was ashamed to admit that the interests of merely one individual, even although that individual was not himself had been suffered at any time materially to influence him.
But, so far, the liberal and enlightened course pursued by Mr. Ringwood in the case before us may be paralleled.
B
( 18 )
Numerous instances can be cited of such an .amalgamation and assimilation of two “ kindred souls,” as all but merges their individuality—as effects a “union in partition”—rendering the one a
“ Second self>” nay> more than a second self—rather a substituted self to the other—as constituting the one and sole engrossing object of his anxiety and solicitude.
A trite and familiar instance of this, in some degree illustrative of the matter under our considera-lion5 here presents itself to us.
“ Nisus” we all know from our school-boy days —starts in the celebrated foot-race, with every prospect, and, animated doubtless by the “conscia vir-tus,” with full assurance, of success.
“The race,” however, “is not always with the swift. By one of those untoward accidents which occasionally mar the mightiest enterprises, he falls and seems to fall ingloriously.
But the very shock caused by the disaster, which has thus deprived him of all prospect of the prize to wnch on starting he had aspired, produces in him a reflux of the tide of impassioned friendship, which in t le excitement of the contest, had been suffered for a moment to ebb.
All consideration of self is abandoned : he is for h.s own part content to remain in his unenviable phglu and position; and thinks only of securing the victory for the “friend of his soul,” who has hitherto been only “ th.rd” in the race, by supplanting or obstructing the competitor who now has the lead( 19 )
But in one respect the parallel signally fails.
Nisus is described as “ insignis amore pio pueri,” when he thus proves his self-sacrificing devotion to his beloved Euryalus : whereas, Mr. Ringwood evinces all this subdued and apathetic acquiescence in his own subordinate position as “ second provided only that he can be instrumental to bringing in, as “first,”—not, an associate of his childhood, for whom his affection has, from his earliest years, “ grown with his growth, and strengthened with his strength”—not, a kindred spirit, with whom his friendship has been cemented and consolidated by a long-continued reciprocation of good offices, and interchange of congenial sentiments and sympathies—but, a gentleman known to him, as it were, but yesterday ; and then only known as one with whom he was engaged in a “ keen encounter of wits,”—“a quarrel which, apparently, seven justices of the peace could not take up !”
Enviable Mr. Guillemard, in being allotted a fellow-labourer so meek and placable ! Of a truth,
“ Thou art yoked to a lamb,
That carries anger as a flint bears fire;
Which, much enforced, doth show a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.”
Such is the boundless expansion of mind in “ the nineteenth century!”—and, if I have dwelt upon this part of my subject to an unusual length, it is, because I am anxious to give Mr. Ringwood the full( 20 )

benefit of all the advantage that can be derived from a due appreciation of the exalted motives which influenced him in this matter.
But Mr. Ringwood assigns a reason wherefore Mr. Guillemard should hold the first place.
The reason is this : because that “ it is clear from Mr. Guillemard’s Letters, that the training of his
pupils is of a much more liberal and expanded character.”
Now,^ Mr. Guillemard* may have strong and varied claims to rank first among the Masters of the Royal Schools; but I deny that the bare fact, that the course of instruction pursued by him takes a wider range than that adopted by me, is alone sufficient to establish that claim. I would find you hedge-schoolmasters, in legions, of the “ Caleb Quotem” class who could, on this ground, advance claims far beyond those of Mr. Guillemard or any other Royal Master whatsoever.
And, while on this subject, I must say, that Mr. ingwood is, by his own showing, inaccurate in his assertion in this remarkable paragraph, that “ the training of the Candidate Exhibitioners of Enniskillen is the narrowest of the three, and most strictly
* I have to apologize to Mr. Guillemard for occasionally men-turning his name. Itwas nnt.T,„u	J( 21 )
limited to what is necessary for success at that too-confined ordeal.”
It is evident, from what immediately follows, that he is here speaking with reference to the two years immediately preceding Entrance ; for he adds, “ is it fair that the attention paid by Mr. Guillemard to the cultivation of Modern Languages, &c. &c., during the two years preceding the Exhibition Examination, should not be in any way recognised and rewarded on that occasion?”
Now, Mr. Ring wood stated in his first Letter (p. 13), that “ all these important branches of education” (viz., geometry, algebra, &c.), “must at present be neglected for at least two years before entering College, by the youth who hopes to secure a Royal Scholarship.” And in his “ Supplement” he says (p. 22), “ throughout my Letter there is not any, the slightest, allusion to any establishment except to that entrusted to my own care.”
From these two quotations it is clear that the training of the Candidate Exhibitioners of Dungannon, “ for at least the two years before entering College,” “ is strictly limited to what is necessary for success” at the Exhibition Examination.
Now, at Armagh, “ these branches,” “ neglected,” on his own showing, by Mr. Ringwood, for “ at least the two years before entering College,” are “ regularly followed up till the summer vacation previous to Entrance” (Mr. Guillemard’s Letter, p. 6) ; and( 22 )
at Enniskillen they are, in most instances, attended to, during a considerable portion of “ the two last years ; and Hebrew, which forms no part of the Exhibition Course, is invariably “followed up” throughout the whole of the period in question— the result being,-for I like to refer to results,-that the “ boys^ of the Enniskillen School” generally obtain premiums in Hebrew at Entrance, and occasionally the first of the first-rank Premiums.
Thus it appears, on Mr. Ringwood’s own showing that “ the training of the Candidate Exhibitioners of Dungannon, and not of “Enniskillen,” “is the narrowest of the three, and most strictly limited to
what is necessary for success at that too-confined ordeal.”
But, to return to the denunciation of “the Course” by Mr. Rmgwood, on the ground, that, since he has become connected with the Royal Schools “the boys of the Enniskillen School have been always first at the Exhibition Examination”—he should as is his wont, in this case follow up and work out his principle.
If the success of “ the boys of the Enniskillen c ool, in any particular Course, be of itself sufficient to demonstrate the viciousness of that Course • why then the Entrance Examination, especially that for Sizars-the Term Examinations, as not correcting the erroneous result of the Exhibition Examination, by forfeitures, but confirming it by supererogatory Distinctions-the Examination for Uni-( 23 )
versity* Scholarships—that for the Goldy Medal, nay, even that for FellowshipJ itself, must be radically and thoroughly reformed and new-modelled— so that' Mr. Ringwood need not fear, should he succeed in inducing your Lordships to adopt his proposed changes in the Exhibition Course, lest subject-matter for agitation, with a view to reform, may fail him.
Possibly, also, your Lordships might, on the grounds here glanced at, incline to grant an “ arrest of judgment” in the case of the Enniskillen School— that it should be suffered still for a season to “ cumber the ground:” inasmuch as that there can scarcely be anything very radically unsound in the tree, which has now so long, from year to year, been putting forth, bearing, and maturing, in regular, measured succession, such healthy buds, blossoms, flowers, and fruits.
I have to apologize to your Lordships for having dwelt so long upon this particular paragraph : and if, in discussing it, I have been led to speak too much of myself and of the School under my peculiar
* On one occasion six out of thirteen University Scholarships were obtained by pupils of the Enniskillen School.
•¡■In 1851 Mr. Frederick Evelyn, a Eoyal Scholar on the Enniskillen Foundation, obtained first of the First Gold Medals, as well in Classics as in Logics and Ethics, being the only instance on record of such success. In 1852 Mr. Eobert Eogers, also a Eoyal Scholar of Enniskillen, obtained double First Gold Medals.
| Two Fellowships have been obtained by former pupils of the Enniskillen School; viz., by Messrs. Lett and Gwynn. None have been carried off by those of the other Eoyal Schools.( 24 )
charge ; you will, I trust, perceive that the occasion called for it : I was, in fact, put upon my defence.
I fear, however, on the whole, that your Lord-ships will be inclined to say of this controversy—
This will last out a night in Russia When nights are longest there.”
Permit me to show that I am not answerable for the undue length to which it has been protracted.
Mr. Ringwood had started in the very outset with complaining that “the Course for Royal Scholarships was at present limited to Classical pursuits.”
This is the first “ heading” in his Table of “ Contents ;” and, of course, forms the subject-matter of the opening part of his first “ Letter.”
I met this, by distinctly demurring to his objection; admitting that the Course was, as he stated, “limited to Classical pursuits;” and maintaining that it should be so “ limited.”
On this latter question issue was joined ; but, as the discussion appeared to me in its progress to’assume a very excursive character, I concluded my last Letter, by an earnest appeal to your Lordships, to “ disencumber the question before you of all the countless collaterals with which it had been mixed up,” and to return to the point at issue, so often lost sight of,^ viz., whether “ the Course for Royal Scholarships” should continue to be, as at present, “ limited to Classical pursuits.”
I then summed up, seriatim, the arguments which appeared to me to be the strongest in favour of my( 25 )
view of the question; and, having done so, respectfully but earnestly endeavoured to press upon your Lordships—as I conceived I was warranted in doing, —the conclusion, which, I thought, must follow from them, viz., that “ the Course” should, in direct opposition to Mr. Ringwood’s views, continue to be “ limited to Classical pursuits.”
Of this formal attempt to bring back the discussion to the main, in fact the only matter properly in debate, Mr. Ringwood takes no notice whatsoever.
Under these circumstances, I feel that no useful end can be answered by further continuing the controversy ; and also that the character given to it by the paragraph in Mr. Ringwood’s last Letter, on which I was obliged to dwell so long, is such as I should deprecate.
I shall, therefore, as briefly as I can, state how the case now stands; and, having done so, I shall respectfully leave it in the hands of your Lordships ; with the assurance, on my part, that no further attempt to “ put me on my defence,” no after-thought of Mr. Ringwood’s, whereby he may meet, or endeavour to meet, arguments of mine, hitherto uncombated by him, shall induce me to resume the discussion.
I also think it desirable that the principle of “ the division of labour,” which appoints one body to enact, and another to administer, the laws, should be adhered to in the case of the Royal Schools.
My own experience would lead me to say, that c( 26 )
the Masters of those Schools may find full nay en grossing occupation, in the discharge of their pro per duties, viz., the due training of those committed to their care, with a view to their intellectual, mo-ral, and religious advancement.
But, to recapitulate. The following, then, are the propos.tionswh.ch have been proved byme,oradmit-
controversy™!’ 7 a" ^ Parti6S engaged in this
iA E°7al ScholarshiPis “ of the most valuable distinctions that can be held in the Univer-
sity, and so intimately and closely connected with the University, that it should be dealt with, no
* Mr'. ,!i,,e"'r,rjd found the demonstration of this proposi.
College estimation, University distinctions. It would reflect dl discredit on our University if it were possible to prove her guilty of sanctioning such a monopoly as this would necessarily illy»
took	lUbia
or
It, therefore, is wholly irrelevant „„a -	7 demotions.”
J 1 «dovant, and m nowise	tho „
position stated above, as proved by me	P
roi";:	r s^ftom ,he
is-not whether any chancre should ht ° j u dlSCUSS10n who should be eligible to Royal Scholmh^il^i*^ in which those who are eligible should be examined.fc.
( 27 )
matter by whom, whether by ‘ the Commissioners,’ or by the authorities of the University, on the same principles as those which guide the University in ‘ bestowing its most coveted prizes.’ ”—Second Letter, pp. 2, 3.
Secondly.* The principle which is admitted “ to guide the University” in such cases is—that it should u bestow its most coveted prizes upon eminent proficiency in some one branch of study.”
Thirdly. The “ one branch” selected in the case of the Royal Scholarships was Classics.
Fourthly. This selection was made by the Commissioners, on strong and cogent reasons, set forth in full in the conclusion of my second Letter, and recognised as valid by all the parties concerned in this discussion.
Fifthly. The Royal Scholarships, thus founded on this principle of encouraging eminent proficiency in
“ one branch”—that “ one branch” being Classics______
have worked well, and are still working well, toward the attainment of the end proposed to them ; as is conclusively proved by the eminent successf in the
* Mr. Ringwood never contests this proposition, laid down by Mr. Guillemard in the opening of his Letter. He evidently admits its truth; for, as regards it, his efforts are directed exclusively to show that a Royal Scholarship cannot be classed under the category of those “ coveted prizes” to which the principle in question applies.
f It is worthy of note that Mr. Ringwood is totally'silent in his last Letter with regard to this point, urged earnestly and at length by me in the conclusion of my second Letter, although it stands in direct contradiction to his assertion in his first Letter,( 28 )
University of those who hold them, as far as Classical distinctions are concerned.
Sixthly, and lastly. The “ strong and cogent” reasons—admitted by all parties to be such________which,
in the first instance, led the Commissioners to make Classics the “ one branch” selected for the Exhibition Course, are allowed still to exist in full force.
Therefore, I humbly submit—
The Royal Scholarships, proved to be worthy of being dealt with as if they were University distinctions ;—therefore, to be “ bestowed upon eminent
“ that>” speaking of the Eoyal Schools, « their pupils fail in the University.” This is the more remarkable from the fact that, in the opening of my “ first Letter,” I invited your Lordships’ attention, and, of course, must have drawn his, to the consideration of the principle upon which he bases this assertion, viz., “ that all
fail in the University who have not been Candidates for Fellowships!”
In fact, the only notice Mr. Eingwood takes, or seems to take, of the conclusion of my second Letter, commencing with the words, “ But, waiving all minor matters,” &c., and which was especially intended to bring him back to the real point at issue, is, when he says “ why should the Course prescribed to the Eoyal Exhibitioners be shaped merely towards the attainment of Clas-sical FeHowslups?” in answer, apparently, to my statement, that if Classical Fellowships were established, they would, in all likelihood, be filled by those who had been Eoyal Scholars or Exhibitioners.”
The answer to this question of Mr. Eingwood’s is obvious, viz., that if Classical Fellowships were established, and Classics so far placed on equality with Science; then, the especial reason in favour of the exclusive encouragement of Classical attainment by the Exhibitions would be removed ; and then, but not until then, the Exhibition Course might be “shaped” with a view to the attainment not only of Classical but of Science Fellowships.( 29 )
proficiency in some one branch”—that “ one branch” selected for them being Classics—the reasons for that selection, in the first instance, being strong and cogent—these reasons still continuing to exist in full force—and the actual working of the Scholarships having proved that they were well framed for the attainment of the end proposed to be reached by them ;—therefore, I say, they should still continue to be, as they have been from the outset, Classical; and the Course prescribed to the Candidates for them “limited,” as it is “ at present, to Classical pursuits.”
I have the honour to be,
My Lords and Gentleman,
Your obedient Servant, JOHN GREHAM.