COWLEY DIOCESAN SCHOOL.

DECEMBER 5TH, 1868.

The annual examination of the boys educated in this School being concluded, the Bishop of Oxford distributed the prizes to the successful competitors. There were also present the Rev. J. H. Ashhurst, Rural Dean, the Revs. S. L. Warren, J. H. Blunt, R. M. Benson, J. W. Priest, and Mrs. Leighton, Mrs. Priest and many others.

The RURAL DEAN being called upon by his lordship, observed that he was happy to say that the examination was over and the hard work completed. With regard to the examination there was one result he was very much pleased with, because last year he had occasion to pull them up somewhat for their deficiency in general excellency. There were then only some few boys in the first division who did well, and the rest middling. This year in the first division the work was much more even, a result which was to be desired in every school, because although persons sending their children there could not expect them all to get to the top, still all were taught with considerable care and attention. And if there was any deficiency in either class he hoped as they advanced in their education, they would take an interest in the work and be able to answer the questions put to them in the same way as the first division. (Applause.) He was very pleased with the work in the two most im

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portant portions of the examination-the "Scripture" and "Prayer Book," which had given him especial gratification, the more so as he was Rural Dean of the neighbourhood. In Arithmetic also some of them had done extremely well: Baines had full marks; for his answers to every question had been correct. His paper was a remarkable one for a boy, and gave evidence of especial care, and therefore he had given him a special prize. (Applause.) There was one circumstance he could not avoid noticing, viz., that none of them seemed to understand the clock question. Not one of them did it right, and yet it was simply a question in the Rule of Three. It was not a catch question, and he should not have alluded to it, except that they all seemed puzzled by it. He thought that now they were aware it was simply to be done by the Rule of Three they would be able to do it without difficulty. He was glad to observe that there was more neatness in their Papers. It was very important that they should do their work well. Many of them he knew were looking forward to another examination, success in which would be of great advantage to them-he alluded to the Cambridge Local Examinations and it was satisfactory to know that many Cowley boys had succeeded well in the Local Examinations, which was shown not only by their having gained prizes, but when they were compared with others, they not only held their own, but were superior to many. (Applause.) There was good reason why they should strive to get a good place in the Local Examinations, because they were not

only good in themselves, but they were of benefit in preparing them for situations which would be of great advantage to them in after life. Certainly from what he had seen of their examination now he had reason to think they had greatly improved, and their knowledge altogether was of a higher standard. He trusted they would continue to advance, and that they would always consider that as this was a Diocesan School and the Bishop was their Visitor, and was kind enough to come here to distribute the prizes, they should think much of their advantages. And as they entered upon their different spheres in life, it should be the marks of a Cowley boy that he was well disposed, well behaved, and possessed of high religious principles and moral character. He would say no more but call upon Mr. Warren, Secretary to the Examining Committee, to read his report. He had to thank Mr. Warren for his extreme kindness in respect of these examinations, because a great deal of work devolved upon him. One great advantage of this School, which they could not have if the School was not in the neighbourhood of Oxford, was that they had to examine them some of the first examiners in England. A great deal depended upon the services of those gentlemen being obtained, and Mr. Warren deserved their hearty thanks for his exertions in that matter. (Applause.)

The Rev. S. L. WARREN, of Wadham College, next read the report of the examiners, who appeared to be more than usually satisfied with the progress which had been made by the scholars during the past year.

The BISHOP then asked the Rev. J. H. Blunt, one of the Examiners, if he had anything to add to the report.

The Rev. J. H. BLUNT said he could only add that he had known the school when he was curate of Cowley, and he took great interest in the Institution. It was therefore a great pleasure to him to be present. The result of his part of the examination had proved to him that the school was advancing (applause), and that the knowledge of the boys had much increased. This was particularly observable in the case of some of the older boys. One boy, Whitlock, stood forth very conspicuously for a most excellent paper, and he had obtained the whole number of marks. The paper was written with a great deal of literary ability, and showed knowledge, tact, and appreciation of the subject.

The BISHOP of OXFORD then rose and said-My only business to-day really is to congratulate Mr. Hurman, the excellent master of the school, and you, the pupils, on the report which has just been read. I think that, on the whole, it is a very satisfactory report indeed. I gather from what has just fallen from Mr. Warren that one of the points which deserves special notice is that you are not content with seeing a few of your number distinguishing themselves at the top of each class, but that the rank and file of the class emulate their more successful comrades, and so the whole mass of the school is going on in an equable progression. That is the great thing which I gather from the statement we have heard with respect to the