living, while the chaplains got nothing but
what had been first refused by the whole
chapter. The statutes were either unsatisfactory,
or not forthcoming. But among all
the black index of perjury, misappropriation,
and inconsistency, to which this melancholy
study of a noble subject gave rise, one little,
but distinct fact, was destined to make more
impression on the mind of the Mayor, and,
subsequently, of all England, than even a
sanguine imagination would have ventured to
prognosticate.

In the ancient statutes of the School, which
had fortunately been so mixed up with other
interests, that it would have been impolitic to
have lost them, it was ordered that the sum of
"THREE POUNDS SIXTEEN SHILLINGS" should
be paid to each of the twelve poor boys aforesaid,
upon their leaving the school, always
providing that due report were made of their
good conduct.

Now it did so happen, that, of late years,
the Three Pounds Sixteen Shillings, instead
of, like the other monies similarly bequeathed,
augmenting and fructifying three-hundred-fold
or more, had unaccountably dwindled away to
the magnificently insignificant sum of "THREE
AND SIXPENCE."

O most worthy Dean and Canons! Well
might our Mayor pronounce these emphatic
words as you passed in all your pride of black
silk and respectability!

Was there some curse upon the funds left
to these poor boys, that made them grow less,
instead of growing greater? Was there some
destroying angel that smote the fields that
gave forth the corn whence these funds were
raised?

Or did they think that it was a good thing
that boys should go forth into the wide world
with a little learning, and with three and
sixpence to assist them to get more? Had they
made a minute calculation of their own
college expenses from personal experience, and
arrived at the belief that " THREE AND SIXPENCE"
was the magical sum which should set
a youth on his career, whether in the scholastic
or the commercial world? Even supposing so,
what had become of the remainder of the money?

The Mayor was a quiet, but a determined,
man. Not being in holy orders, he had not
the slightest fear of being called an "atheist"
for declaiming against imposition; and being
perfectly idependant of the Church, he could
not be robbed of any emoluments. He accordingly
held an assembly of the corporation and
other chief citizens; and sent in a quiet, but
firm and strictly legal, remonstrance touching
the present state of the School of St. Laura,
Noughtenborough.

The Dean and Chapter, who had been very
uncomfortable about certain similar disclosures
which appeared to be going the round
of all the similar institutions in the country,
felt that their turn was come. If there had
been the smallest opportunity for escape, they
would have fought lustily. But they,
like some of their predecessors in innovation, had
the wrong sort of man to deal with.

The character of the Mayor, and his influence
upon the citizens generally, were so well
known, that the Dean and Chapter wisely gave
up all hopes of bringing intimidation, flattery,
or sophistry to bear on the present occasion.
Accordingly, they sent a polite, but distant
reply, avowing their intention of "considering"
the subject; and at the very next examination
three of the boys were dismissed with the sum
of Three Pounds Sixteen Shillings.

They had, however, relied too much on one
act of honesty, and had calculated too fondly
on its value in wiping out a multitude of old
grievances. The memorial sent by the Mayor
and Corporation was more general in its
demands. Not only was the dilapidated state
of the school-house pointed out in strong
terms, but the inefficiency of the master, the
growing educational wants of the population
of Noughtenborough, the want of a
corresponding increase of educational resources,
and other similar evils, were dwelt upon in a
tone and manner that showed a determination
to go on with the work already begun.  In
fact, the tacit admission that they had done
wrong, implied in the immediate restoration
of the Three Pounds Sixteen Shillings in lieu of
the " THREE AND SIXPENCE," which had dwelt
so painfully on the Mayor's mind, was a fine
start for the opposing party, and the public
press and the public thought so, and acted
accordingly.

The Mayor proposes to establish twelve
scholarships of thirty pounds a year each, to
be of three or four years' duration, and to be
furnished out of the misappropriated funds
of the last two or three hundred years, eked out
by voluntary subscriptions, in which he will
bear no inconsiderable share; albeit he
believes, that, were anything like the original
will of the foundress fully carried out, still
larger provisions might be made, even without
extraordinary funds. He also proposes that
a proper staff of masters, at proper salaries,
be engaged; and that the foundation scholarships,
instead of being looked upon as
"charity-school" affairs, and the boys snubbed by
the master, be made matters of competition to
the rest, and that parents be led to send their
children in the hopes of gaining one of the
substantial prizes so established, instead of
being taught to pride themselves on the
nobility of their parents, which enables them
to pay two guineas a quarter to enable their
children to laugh at those for whose use
the school was originally and properly established.

Whether these bright prospeots and excellent
ideas will be fully realised, we cannot
tell; but perhaps the fact that the most clever
boy of St. Laura is just going up to college at
the expense of the Mayor, and a few other
friends of like disposition with himself, will
probably shame the "authorities" into studying
arithmetic a little, and reforming the corrupt
and lazy system which clings as firmly