Part 11 (2/2)

On the death of Dr. Smith, in 1854, a new scheme of education, more suited to the requirements of the time, was drawn up by a committee appointed for that purpose, which received the sanction of the Charity Commissioners, and was approved by the Master of the Rolls in the same year.

The attendance at the school, however, gradually fell off, until, in the year 1886, there were only 16 scholars; and further reforms were needed.

Since then changes in the system have, from time to time, been introduced, to render the school more generally useful: the more recent being the admission of female pupils in 1903, for whom was appointed a resident lady teacher, Miss E. Gibson, who had matriculated, 1st cla.s.s, at London University.

Small Scholars.h.i.+ps also, not exceeding six in number, were established for needy pupils; and application was made to the Lindsey County Council, for a grant of 80, in aid of scientific lectures, {94} under the Technical Instruction Act of Parliament; so that a general middle-cla.s.s English education was provided, along with Latin, French, book-keeping, and other technical subjects; an examination being held annually by some one unconnected with the school, who should be approved of by the Charity Commissioners. The school has thus, under the tenure of the Head Masters.h.i.+p by Dr. Madge, of late years, been considerably improved, and the area of the subjects taught, widened; a.s.sisted as he has been by the able Second Master, Mr. C. W. Gott, B.A., London, and Miss Gibson. But it has also been increasingly recognised that there was room for still further development, if the inst.i.tution was to take its proper position among the endowed educational establishments of the county. This, however, is a subject to which we shall recur hereafter.

In 1855 a school Library was commenced, the Governors granting 10 for the purchase of books; 20 being given in the following year, and this has been further enlarged in later years, until the books now number nearly 500.

In March, 1893, a Magazine ent.i.tled _Banovallum_ was established, to be mainly carried on by the scholars, the Editor being J. G. Meanwell, Sub-Editor J. R. Cowburn. It was a monthly record of school work and sports, with various other matters of interest. It was intended also to be a link of connection between ”old boys” and new; and with this view former pupils of the school were invited to contribute. {95a} The outside support, however, of such a publication was not sufficient to render it a paying venture, and after an existence of rather more than two years, it expired with the July No. of 1895.

Here we may fittingly introduce some personal reminiscences of the school, and those connected with it, in its palmiest days, under the regime of Dr. Smith, and first we may mention members of his own family.

Although, as before stated, himself of humble origin, {95b} he married the daughter of a General Sandwith, a lady who was highly esteemed by all who knew her. She bore him three sons and three daughters, and predeceased him. His eldest son, Bainbridge, graduated at Cambridge University, took Holy Orders, was at one time English Chaplain at Smyrna, and succeeded his father in the Rectory of Sotby. He married a daughter of Judge Haliburton of Nova Scotia, the author of _Sam Slick_, _The Watchmaker_ (1839) and other works, which were popular in their day. The eldest daughter, Frances, married a member of a then well-known Horncastle family, the Rev. John Fawssett, a graduate of Cambridge, who afterwards became in turn Rector of Minting and Vicar of Baumber with Stourton. A second son, Joseph Coltman, became a Solicitor in Hull, but died early in life. A second daughter, Isabella, married the Rev. W.

Affleck Peac.o.c.k (named after his relative Sir Robert Affleck, of Dalham Hall, Newmarket), Rector of Ulceby near Alford. The youngest daughter, as already stated, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, Rector of Cromwell, near Newark, a near relative of the Duke of Newcastle, to whom he was appointed domestic Chaplain. The third and youngest son, Clement Madely, so named after his G.o.dfather, the esteemed former Vicar of Horncastle, adopted the medical profession and went out to India, where he became known as a keen sportsman among big game; a group of two tigers shot by him, and stuffed by Ward the great taxidermist, being exhibited in the Crystal Palace several years ago.

Of the scholars at the school, under Dr. Smith, we recall a few names, as samples of the cla.s.s of pupils whom he received. There were three Sandwiths, Humphrey, G.o.dfrey, and Henry, who were his nephews on his wife's side. Humphrey became a surgeon, and having a taste for foreign travel, went out to Constantinople to practice there. Having good introductions he was kindly received by Sir Stratford Canning, the English Amba.s.sador, and making the acquaintance of Layard, he was invited to travel with him to Mecca, Mosul, and Nineveh, at two of which places excavations were conducted; as Hakim, or Doctor, he was visited by crowds of Arabs, suffering from various ailments; and his quinine wrought wonderful cures among them. When at home he sometimes surprised his friends by suddenly appearing among them dressed in Arab costume. In 1855 he was at the famous siege of Kars, under General Fenwick Williams; when a force of 15,000 English were shut in by an army of 50,000 Russians. The English had three months' provisions and three days'

ammunition; they suffered greatly from cholera, and after five months surrendered, only when overcome by famine. Humphrey wrote a history of the siege.

Of G.o.dfrey we remember little; Henry graduated at Cambridge, took Holy Orders and became Vicar of Thorpe Salvin, near Worksop. There were three Inveraritys, Duncan, Henry, and William; the first of these went out to India, and became a Judge in the Supreme Sudder Court. Henry devoted himself to yachting, and died early. William held a commission in a Highland Regiment of foot. Roseville Brackenbury, whose father, a former Peninsular officer, and member of an old Lincolns.h.i.+re family, resided temporarily at Horncastle, in order to place his son under Dr. Smith, entered the East India Company's service, in the Bengal Presidency.

There were three Buchanans, sons of an old Indian officer, Major Buchanan, a Scotchman, but residing in Maida Vale, London. These were James, Alexander, and Robert. James was a das.h.i.+ng, chivalrous, high-spirited fellow, who took service in a Madras regiment of cavalry; his brother ”Alick” was of a different fibre, being chiefly remarkable for the amount of treacle tarts which he could consume, at the shop of the once well-known ”Sally d.i.c.kinson;” the third brother, Robert, entered the navy.

We may here mention, as evidence of the hard work which was done under Dr. Smith's system, a feat of memory performed by two brothers among the senior boys, Thomas and Alfred Cammack, which the present writer well remembers, as he was present as a small boy when it occurred.

”Repet.i.tion,” of one kind or another, was required of all boys; but these two repeated to the Master from memory, the whole of the first book of Milton's _Paradise Lost_ (798 lines), Thomas with only three promptings, and Alfred with five. Another boy, Sidney Bousfield, did the same with nine or ten promptings. Thomas Cammack walked his hospital in London, and eventually became a consulting physician of some eminence, residing at Boston; Alfred died early. Sydney Bousfield went out to India, and died some years ago.

Two pupils, Holland and Forge, who came to study with the Doctor, of more mature years than the ordinary scholars, were ”crack shots,” and welcomed at many of the shooting parties in the neighbourhood. A third, Frank Richardson, who was an ardent fox hunter, had his horse brought to the door weekly, on the day when the meet was nearest, and was always among the foremost in the field. He was, further, a great athlete, and would follow the hounds on foot, and not seldom be in at two deaths in the day, several miles apart; of him, it is related, that he leapt the school-yard wall, nearly 7-ft. high. There were many more who were trained by the Doctor to serve their generation worthily in various capacities, but let these suffice as a sample of his influence.

The Under Masters whose services he enlisted were, further, not unworthy of him. We will name one or two.

The first Under Master of whom the present writer has any knowledge was Thomas Myddelton. He was by birth a gentleman, being connected with the very old family of the Myddelton Biddulphs of Chirk Castle, North Wales, who have now dropped the latter name, retaining only the Myddelton.

Thomas Myddelton's father, John M. (then dead), had been Rector of Bucknall, in this neighbourhood, 180434; his grandfather, also named Thomas, having been Vicar of Melton Mowbray; he (John M.) having been an Exhibitioner of St. Paul's School, London, graduated B.A. at Sidney Suss.e.x College, Cambridge, 1782, and gained a Fellows.h.i.+p.

[Picture: Lord Clinton and Saye, Founder of the Grammar School]

Thomas also graduated at Sidney Suss.e.x College, Cambridge. While serving as Under Master at the Grammar School he was ordained to the Curacy of Bucknall, under his father's successor, the Rev. John Fendall. On the occasion of his ordination he begged a whole holiday of Dr. Smith, and treated the whole school to a day at Tattershall Castle; hiring carriages to take them all, there being yet no railway; and he gave them a substantial meal at the ”Fortescue Arms” Hotel. He was naturally very popular with the boys of the school, although he was rather a strict disciplinarian, and made them work hard. He was commemorated in the ”Breaking up Song” of the school in the following lines:-

Mr. Myddelton now comes in, With his nose above his chin; (two prominent features) With pleasant smile he waves his cane, As though to say, ”I would fain refrain; It grieves me sore to give a thwack Upon the shrinking truant's back.”

(CHORUS)

We're breaking up, and going away, All for the sake of a holiday.

Jack's a dull boy without his play; So, Hurrah, again, for a holiday!

He remained at the Grammar School about two years, afterwards taking the Curacy of Langton with Wildsworth, near Gainsborough. He presently moved to West Stockwith, holding the Curacy of Wildsworth with East Ferry. He never held a benefice; but, having some private means, he continued to reside, in retirement, at West Stockwith, until his decease, about 1880.

He was buried at Misterton, the adjoining parish, where he had also taken occasional duty.

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