day from 10:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. The examination will consist of two parts: (1.) A paper of questions, to be answered in the morning; (2.) An essay, to be written in the after

noon.

III. Before the prizes are adjudged to the schoolmistresses, Miss Coutts will endeavour, with the consent and assistance of the managers of the schools, to ascertain whether, in regard to the Teaching of Common Things, the practical efficiency of the schoolmistresses whose papers are most approved corresponds with the amount of attainment exhibited by those papers.

IV. In the event of the fixed standard of acquirement and skill in teaching not being attained by the respective competitors, the respective prize or prizes will not be adjudged.

V. This scheme is for the present experimental, and subject to any modifications which, after midsummer, may seem expedient to the promoter. It has been submitted to the Lord Bishop of London, who in his answer states, "I quite approve of Miss Burdett Coutts' proposal, and shall be glad to have it known that it has my sanction." It has also received the official sanction of the Committee of Council on Education.

New Subscriptions.

The following Donations and new Annual Subscriptions have been contributed since the last announcement, and are hereby thankfully acknowledged. The List is made up to the 18th April.

Contributions may be paid to MESSRS. DRUMMOND, Bankers, Charing Cross; to MR. HENRY STRETTON, the Society's Receiver, 67 Lincoln's Inn Fields, to whom all Remittances should be made; or they will be received at the National Society's Office, Sanctuary, Westminster, or by any of the Local Treasurers to the Society, or by the Society's Travelling Agents.

Hereford Diocesan Board.

The Report of this Board states that steady progress is being made in supplying the educational wants of the country. The resident landowners have very generally come forward to promote the good work; but the Board cannot report the same with respect to non-resident proprietors, who form so large a portion of the owners of the soil in the county. Efforts are making to establish schools in parishes where they are much wanted, as observed in the last Report; and three schools have been opened in temporary premises. Regret is expressed that there is still one parish in the city of Hereford unprovided with parochial school-buildings.

The Report further adds, that

"On the whole, they are able to state that a good deal of activity is being now displayed in supplying the parishes of this county with schools. Twelve have been either recently opened, or are now in the course of erection, which will afford, when completed, the means of instruction to a district containing upwards of 6000 inhabitants; and towards ten of these the Diocesan Board have contributed. They would call attention to one case which gives a hopeful sign of the prospects of education amongst us. In the parish of Ashperton the inhabitants agreed to a rate of sixpence in the pound towards the erection of new school-buildings, an example which it is hardly doubtful will produce its fruits in the rising generation.

The efforts which were made towards combining several smaller parishes into a single school district having proved unsuccessful, and the necessity for aiding these small parishes being at least as urgent as in the case of larger and wealthier districts, the Board would hold out to them also a hope of assistance. They will be ready to aid by grants of books, materials, &c., small dame's schools in parishes of a limited population, provided a school under a competent teacher is within reach, and is open to the children of such parish; provided also the clergyman (or managers of the dame's school) will undertake to use his influence to induce the elder children to pass on to such neighbouring school."

The Board will grant assistance in the formation of children's libraries to be attached to schools. The sale of school-books, &c. at the Depôt, High Town, Hereford, slightly exceeds that of last year. Steps have been taken to increase very considerably the variety and extent of stock on sale.

"The system of diocesan inspection can hardly be said as yet to have come into full operation; and the returns which have been made up to this time are too incomplete to afford any ground for trustworthy conclusions: but as the official appointments will soon be in the inspectors' hands, the Board hope to ascertain the condition and progress of all the parochial schools, and to offer encouragement to diligent and deserving teachers whom the inspectors may recommend to their notice.

The main expenditure of the Board has been this year, as in past years, bestowed on the organising master and the Harvest Meeting of teachers. The following facts, collected from Mr. Lomax's 'Reports, will show what has been done in these respects.

He has visited schools in 58 parishes, and found 29 masters, 29 mistresses, and 16 needlewomen employed; the majority of schools being mixed schools. And he gives it as the result of his observations, that the admixture of boys and girls in one school works well on the whole, though there is yet something to be desired in the management of such schools as to methods of drill and discipline, and for the employment of boys in the afternoon. The agricultural class-book, practical mensuration, accurate drawing of plans, &c., are suggested as useful subjects for boys; while the girls' sewing might be advantageously combined with conversational lectures on household management, preparation of food, and other matters of daily usefulness; and in the sewing itself, a continuous supply of work is in some schools provided by the managers procuring cloth, towelling, handkerchiefs, &c., at wholesale prices, and selling them to the children when made at the same rate.

The points on which he has found most progress are, 1st. The employment of improved books and apparatus; 2d. The greater use of oral teaching and illustration; 3d. The purchase of books by the children.

The Harvest Meeting was held at Hereford, under Mr. Lomax, in the Scudamore School Buildings; and 57 teachers attended, 20 from the Archdeaconry of Salop, and 37 from that of Hereford. They had the advantage of schools still assembled, which materially aided their plans; and the teachers were examined at the close by the Dean of Hereford and Rev. W. Thornton. Of this examination Mr. Lomax observes, I can confidently state that it was attended with good results to those who submitted to it. The kindness and consideration with which it was conducted removed many groundless fears on the subject of examination in general; and suggested on a variety of subjects a method of dealing with them which will be found both interesting and new. The list of subjects studied is appended to the Report.

This was the fourth of these meetings, which have been attended since the commencement by 221 teachers (50 having been present more than once); and several have by this means been enabled to obtain the assistance held out by the Committee of Council.

Thus while there may be perhaps less excitement on the subject of education than existed a year or two back, the work itself is quietly and surely creeping on. The events that are taking place elsewhere bring home to the cottages of the poor the importance of the subject; and they who cannot write letters to their friends in the Crimea, nor read those which they receive, are made keenly sensible of the disadvantages of ignorance, and the more anxious that their children should escape the same misfortune; while the good conduct of our soldiers is the best comment on the efforts which have been diligently employed of late to promote education in the army.

It may well encourage us to proceed. For it is impossible to forget, that if our labourers and artisans have heretofore shown a taste for degrading pleasures, yet it may well have been, because the capacity and opportunity of better enjoyments have been in a great measure denied them. What has been done, and what is doing here and elsewhere, may well urge us on with the strongest encouragement. It bids us, in faith on God's blessing, cast our bread on these waters, that we may find it after many days."

Norwich Diocesan Society.

The Report of this Board for the past year, after some introductory remarks, proceeds to state that the liabilities attendant on the enlargement of the training institution have been met by the sale of stock on the part of the Diocesan Board to the amount of 9001. The new arrangements "have been found to fulfil every reasonable expectation of comfort and convenience;" and a high average position has been awarded to students who were examined by Her Majesty's Inspectors for certificates of merit.

The Report also states, that the supply of Queen's Scholars had fallen short of the vacancies in the various training institutions; and "this fact, combined with the geographical position of the Norwich institution, and the comparatively small number of female pupil-teachers in the district," has caused the institution to labour under difficulties with respect to its number of students. An appeal is made to the clergy of the diocese to encourage suitable young persons to offer themselves for training. It appears, however, that the spare accommodation in the institution has been made use of to great advantage for the temporary students, "who came for improvement during the harvest holidays, and who have in some cases remained for a considerable period under instruction."

"Some were admitted to obtain hints and help in preparing themselves for the certificate examinations; others came, by the advice of the Rev. M. Mitchell, to gain improvement in the mode of managing their classes; and others, again, have been accepted for varying periods of training, to meet the wishes of managers of particular schools. The period of full training now ranges from one to three years; and all who enter should be prepared, if possible, to remain at least two years; because if tempted to leave at the end of the first year, they enter the work in an inferior grade, and lose many advantages which would have an important influence on their future success, independently of the detriment to the interests of the institution."

Her Majesty's Inspector has visited the institution, and "expressed himself as highly satisfied" with its condition, and repeated his "testimony of last year with regard to its efficient working." The exertions of the superintendent, the Rev. Bath Power, are spoken of in very high terms.

The Report further states that

"An important meeting of Diocesan Inspectors, and others interested in the inspection of schools, was held in the Clerical rooms on the 20th April last. The meeting was held with the full sanction and concurrence of the Bishop, who would have presided, but, to the regret of all, was prevented by illness; the Ven. Archdeacon Collyer therefore took the chair. The inspectors from all parts of the diocese, with very few exceptions, were present; and many matters connected with the inspection of schools were discussed in a most friendly manner; and it is hoped that such meetings may be annual, when inspectors may confer with one another, and give and receive information connected with their work. The Forms of Inspection returns were closely considered; and while it was agreed that these forms should be retained in use in their general classification and arrangement, it was considered advisable that some latitude should be given to the inspector in making his return, the grand object being to get a full and true account of the school inspected, rather than an undeviating adherence to the very letter of the form provided: it may be here mentioned that the National Society most liberally now provides these forms gratuitously. A new form, devised and arranged by the Rev. T. Greene, was agreed to; this form to be sent to managers of schools previously to inspection, with a view of ascertaining the books and subjects in which the children had been instructed during the past year. The want of an organising master for this diocese was also adverted to, a want truly which many managers of schools have long felt, and one which your Committee would gladly see supplied. The inspectors all bear testimony to the kind manner in which they have been received by the managers of the schools inspected; and your Committee would venture to suggest that a small portion of your Society's funds might well be expended in providing rewards or prizes for the distribution of the inspector, to mark his visit, and to stimulate the exertions of the children in the respective schools."

The following grants have been awarded during the past year :

"At the first meeting, February 9th, towards the erection of schools at St. Matthew's, Thorpe Hamlet, 157.; ditto at St. John's, Lynn, 10.; ditto at Halvergate, 107.; ditto at West Bradenham (additional), 107.; teacher's residence at Worstead, 67.; class-room, boys' school,St. Mark's, Lakenham, 57.; purchase of books and apparatus, school at Catfield, 37.; books, &c., St. Peter's, Southgate, 1.; repairs of Girls' Model School, 201.; an allowance to school at Morley, 31.; West Bilney and Pentney, 51.; Great Plumpstead, 57.; new flooring, Fakenham Schools, 57.; ditto, Briston, 31.; books and apparatus, school at St. Martin at Palace, 51.; books and apparatus, school at Postwick, 27.; books at Wicklewood, 27.; an allowance to schools at Swanton Abbots, 31.

It may be here noticed that mention is now made of allowances in support of schools equally with grants made for building, enlarging, or improving schools, such allowances requiring each year the consideration of the Committee, according to the resolution passed last year."

The Board acknowledge remittances from district Boards, and invite them to make the Diocesan Society's operations more widely known, and specially to assist in procuring candidates for admission to the training institution and obtaining funds for its support.

Some account is given of the operations of each District Board, and a new Board for the Deanery of Ingworth is announced as having been established.

The Report concludes with an expression of "a hope that the work of education may go forward with unceasing ardour and success; that where it may have languished, it may be revived; that where it prospers, it may, under God's blessing, be continued, and still more advanced."

The Education Vote.

The sum of 100,000l. was agreed to on the 17th April, to be taken on account of the sum of 381,921., the estimated sum required to be voted for the year 1855, ending 31st March, 1856, for public education in Great Britain. The particulars of the estimate are as follows:

1. For grants towards the building, enlarging, and furnishing of schoolhouses, Elementary and Normal, under Minutes now in force

2. For grants to aid the managers of Elementary Schools in the purchase of books, maps, &c.

£70,000

4,000

3. For grants to pay the annual stipends of pupil-teachers, and gratuities to the schoolmasters and schoolmistresses instructing them

4. For Capitation grants

145,000 12,000

5. For grants in augmentation of the salaries of schoolmasters and schoolmistresses who have obtained, upon examination, Certificates of Merit, and whose schools have been favourably reported upon by her Majesty's Inspector

47,000

6. For grants to assistant teachers

4,500

7. For grants to 30 separate training schools:

On account of Queen's scholarships

£22,000

On account of students who have resided not less than one year, and
who have passed a sufficient examination at the annual inspection. 25,000
In aid of salaries for lecturers

1,000

British and Foreign School Society

Education Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

500

Repairs and sundries

10. For grants on account of retiring pensions for incapacitated teachers 11. Establishment. In London:

*Two officers acting in this class continue (by direction of the Lords of the Treasury) to be borne and charged upon the establishment of the Council Office.

Examination Papers,

EXAMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR QUEEN'S SCHOLARSHIPS.-CHRISTMAS 1854.† SCRIPTURE AND CATECHISM.

1. Give the meaning and show the appropriateness of the following hands: Eve, Seth, Noah, Israel, Bethel, Joshua, Samuel, Hebrew.

2. On what different occasions do we hear of Miriam, the sister of Moses?

3. Name, in chronological order, the most celebrated of the Judges of Israel; and write a short account of one of them.

4. Name the principal feasts of the Jews, and mention the festivals which correspond to them in the Christian Church. Why should there be any such correspondence?

5. Write out, in their order, the prophecies of a Saviour which you find in the Pentateuch, mentioning by or to whom they were given.

6. Explain the following passages, and write out as much as you remember of the context of one of them:

a. Ye are the salt of the earth. b. Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. c. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? d. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

7. Write out a short summary of our Lord's conversation with the woman of Samaria.

8. Show the prophetic character of some of our Lord's parables.

9. Write out what we know from Scripture of the history of St. John the Evangelist.

10. Give a brief outline of one of the following discourses: a. St. Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. b. St. Stephen's apology. c. St. Paul's preaching at Athens.

11. What circumstances are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles in connection with Lystra, Philippi, Thessalonica, Antioch, Ephesus?

12. "A member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven." Explain these expressions, and illustrate them by reference to Holy Scripture.

13. Show from the Catechism the appropriateness of the names-Godfathers, Sponsors, Sureties. 14. What is a Creed? How many Creeds are received by our Church; and in what parts of its service are they used? Write out anything you know about one of them.

GRAMMAR.

1. Write out a paraphrase of the following passages, before attempting any other answers, and parse the words printed in italics:

"For meanness of employment, that which is most traduced in learned men is, that the government of youth is allotted to them; which age, because it is the age of least authority, is transferred to the disesteeming of those employments which are conversant about youth. But how unjust this traducement is (if you will reduce things from popularity of opinion to measure of reason), may appear in that we see men are more curious what they put into a new vessel than into a vessel seasoned; and what would they lay about a young plant, than a plant corroborate; so as the weakest terms and times of all things use to have the best applications and helps. And let it be noted that, howsoever the modern looseness or negligence hath taken no due regard to the choice of schoolmasters and tutors, yet the ancient wisdom of the best times did always make a first complaint that states were too busy with their laws, and too negligent in point of education."

Write out in three columns the words in this passage derived from Saxon, from French, and from Latin. 2. Arrange in their proper classes, according to the divisions of articulate sounds, the following letters: b, d, f, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, t, v, x.

3. Give a list of words illustrating the vowel sounds in the English language.

4. Enumerate the cases, moods, and tenses used in the English language.

Name the past (indefinite) tense indicative, and the past (or passive) participle of the following verbs: Awake, arise, bear, begin, climb, draw, drink, flee, fly, hang, lay, lie, read, ring, ride, set, seat, sit, speak, spring, swim, tear, work.

Where two forms exist, give them both, and mark any that you consider obsolete. How have double forms originated in these verbs?

5. Give a list of auxiliary verbs. What are the rules for the use of the infinitive mood? Parse the following: "Do tell me if you can." "I would if I could." "Do not do what he asks you."

+ Candidates are not expected to answer all the questions. Far higher marks will be gained by a few accurate and sensible answers than by a great number of indifferent attempts.

6. Explain the following terms: In apposition, used absolutely, active, passive, transitive, intransitive, orthöepy, orthography, euphony, derivative, compound, inflection, declension, conjugation. 7. Explain the metre of the following verses:

"How sleep the brave who sink to rest

By all their country's wishes blest!"

"As near Porto-Bello lying,

On the gently-swelling flood."

"Warriors and chiefs! should the shaft or the sword

Pierce me in leading the host of the Lord."

"What beauties does Flora disclose,

How sweet are her smiles on the Tweed!"

"High and embosomed in congregated laurels."
"Befell it in that season, on a day,

In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay."

"The song began from Jove,

Who left his shining seats above." "Deserted at his utmost need

By those his former bounty fed."

What is necessary to make a perfect rhyme? Apply your rule to the two last lines.

8. Write out the following names in a column, according to chronological order; add two other columns, and in them, on a line with each name in the first column, write (a) the reign under which the author lived, (b) his principal work or works: Addison, Bacon, Burke, Chaucer,!Cowley, Cowper, Defoe, Dryden, Goldsmith, Gray, Hume, Johnson, Pope, Robertson, Spenser, Swift.

ARITHMETIC.

1. Explain the process of multiplying 1234 by 506.

2. Find the ratio between the ounce troy and the ounce avoirdupois.

3. Multiply 5371, 17s. 104d. by 365, and divide the product by 73.

4. Find a fourth proportional to 10, 15, and 40. In what other order will the four numbers form a proportion ?

5. Extract the square root of 6789265609.

6. How many times will a wheel 16 feet in circumference turn round in a distance of 24 miles 3 furlongs 25 poles ?

7. How many yards may be bought for 127. 12s. if 7 yards cost 19s. 44d.?

8. Find the time in which the interest on 7501. 10s. will amount to 7127. 19s. 6d. at 4 per cent.

9. Find the cost of 2864 articles at 41. 13s. 10d. each.

10. Add together 22, 59, and 8; divide the sum by the product of 18 and 25.

11. Multiply 0082 by 7·05, and divide the product by 0000705. Reduce each of these decimals to fractions in their lowest terms, and perform the same operations upon them.

12. In which stock is it more advantageous to invest, in the 34 per cents at 91, or in the 3 per cents at 93%? How much stock may be purchased by investing 10007. in each?

13. What must be the selling price of an article which cost 201. 17s. 6d. to gain 124 per cent!

GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY.

1. Draw a map of the southern coast of England from Dover to the Land's End, laying down the principal headlands and seaports. Place in your map the lines of longitude.

2. Draw an outline map of the county in which your school is situated, placing in it the names of six of the principal towns, the rivers, and the places of historical interest.

3. Enumerate the principal British colonies and dependencies. What are the chief productions of Ceylon ?

4. Mention in order the different countries lying to the right and left of the route of the overland mail to India.

5. Draw a map of the Crimea. Give a brief account of its successive occupiers or conquerors.

6. In what countries are the camel, lion, elephant, alligator, and reindeer, respectively found! Describe the natural history of one of them.

7. Give the date of the accession of Edward I. Mention the principal events of his reign.

8. State the circumstances attending the capture of Jamaica by the English.

9. At what periods did the following persons flourish, and for what are they respectively celebrated: Francis Bacon, Bede, Newton, Milton, James Watt, Coke, Nelson, Shakspeare?

10. On what grounds did James I. succeed to the English throne? What were the principal events of his reign?

11. Give a brief summary of the main causes which led to the dethronement of James II.

12. What portions of England were chiefly settled by the Danes? How do you distinguish these parts, by means of the names of places, from those settled by the Angles or Saxons?

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT.

Write the first line of your first answer as a specimen of copy-setting in large hand, and the first line of your second answer as a specimen of copy-setting in small hand.

1. What do you understand by the organization of a school? Describe that of your own school; and state what part you have taken in the instruction of the children during the last two years of your apprenticeship.

2. At what times, and in what manner, has your teacher given you special instruction out of school hours during your engagement as an apprentice?

3. Describe the apparatus in your school. How do you suppose teachers long ago managed to do without such apparatus? From your answer show the benefits derived from its introduction, 1st, by the teacher, and 2d, by the scholars.

4. What is the best arrangement of the desks in a school? .Give your reasons.