Going to Markets and Grammar Schools

HAVING been on a visit, a rather long one, to my sister Ann's who lived in Red Lion Street, Holborn, and not knowing what to do with myself on my return, I took to reading, in the which I was very kindly aided by a neighbour who had a pretty good variety of books; he lived close to my father's, in Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, and encouraged me to read all the books he had, instead of idling about.

The greatest favour in this respect, was getting the loan every week of "Aris's Gazette, as newspapers at that period were dear and consequently scarce; in this I revelled—I read

every word of it, but always turned eagerly to the theatrical performances, or rather to the criticisms thereon, and to the parliamentary debates.

The cause of this was, when I was in London I had seen Edmund Kean perform (with other actors of fame),-he was my principal star in the theatrical firmament; and I had heard Lord Stanley speak in the House of Commons, and he was my principal star in the political sphere.

The first time that I had a desire to get admittance to the gallery of the House of Commons, my sister's husband gave me a letter of introduction to Sir Francis Burdett, requesting the favor of an order. I went off to his house in Spring Gardens with great elasticity of spirits, as my highest ambition was to see the members and to hear them debate.

On arriving at Spring Gardens I was puzzled as to finding the house, there being no number on the letter, so I asked a tall thin gentlemen if he could tell me in which house Sir Francis lived. He pointed to the house and passed on; I knocked rather nervously at the door, and the person that opened it asked me (on presenting the letter) if I had not met a tall gentleman going from the door, to which I replied that I had. "Then" said he, "that was Sir Francis himself, why did you not give him the letter ?" I replied that I had no knowledge of him. I was quite chapfallen, which the butler perceiving, asked me if I could tell him what the letter was about, this I did very eagerly, and he told me if I was anxious to go to the House that evening he would advise me to call after four o'clock, and in the meantime he would ask Sir Francis to leave the order with him, should he go out again before that hour.

With many thanks to him I turned homewards again, betwixt hope and fear. I blamed myself very much for having stopped on the way for some time admiring Punch and Judy in the street, which had I not done I should have found Sir Francis at home, and not now have been left in the uncertainty of getting to the House in the evening.

However, on my second arrival at Spring Gardens at the appointed hour, I found that my kind adviser (the butler) had got the order, and I went on my way with a much lighter heart from Sir Francis's house than when I approached it.

That night I heard a warm debate, in which Lord Stanley was very prominent, but yet I was not satisfied, as many of the members were dull speakers, a thing I little expected, as I thought they were all men of learning and eloquence.

I forget whether Drury Lane or Covent Garden was the first theatre I entered in London, but be it one or the other, I do not forget, nor never shall, that Edmund Kean performed Richard III. in his best style. I was entranced and horrified to such an extent that I could sleep but little that night, and he kept possession of my mind for many days after, even amidst the bustle and new scenes (to me) of London.

After a stay of twelve months in London I returned to Birmingham, and having pretty well exhausted my friend's library I became very restless; I wanted to be employed at something or other, and resolved to study the advertising columns of the Gazette, in search of some occupation that would put an end to my idleness. Day after day, or rather week after week, as each Monday came round did I eagerly hasten to my friend's house to read the advertisements, but no help came—all was blank, and had it not been for a very hot turmoil in the town between some of the inhabitants and the governors of the grammar school as to its management, which took my attention even at that early age, I should have gone off with a strolling party of players then in the town, who were bound for Wolverhampton as their next stage.

The most prominent names in the question of reforming the grammar school were those of Parkes and Pare, the one a lawyer, the other a tobacconist in New Street. The foundation income then was about £3,000 per annum. The school stood next to the Hen and Chickens Hotel, in New Street. The small number of boys in, and the exclusion of working men's sons from the school formed the chief matters of complaint; the number

was very few, especially under the head master, and they were all admitted by the sole favor of the Trustees. The head master received £400, the second £300, and the third and fourth £200 each; the head master, Mr. Cooke, limited his number of boys to 15, and 100 more were taught by the other masters. During the previous 30 years, only 10 boys had gained exhibitions.

A Board of Commissioners visited the school for the purpose of investigation; they found that a sum of money, £190, was due to the school by the Street Commissioners, and a much larger sum was owing by the Trustees of the new burial ground, viz: £1,900; these were ordered to be paid in at once, and the Commissioners said with regard to the Secretary to the Trust (who had been in office seven years,) that "they found it difficult to reconcile, with the knowledge his office must confer upon him, his ignorance that so large a debt still remained due from the burial ground trustees."

This state of things altogether produced a great deal of ill will-the cries in the streets were various-"Down with the Tory Church Trustees." "Turn old Cooke out that flogs the boys so badly." "The two P's, Parkes and Pare for ever." "Who were the robbers of the poor boys for 120 years ?" (The old school that was taken down in 1832, was built in 1707.) "Where is Millward's Red Lion Inn,-who swallowed that ?" "Who gave it to a cousin? why one of the trustees.” pockets the Henn's farm fines ?" "Why the masters."

"Who

To make these cries intelligible to the present generation, it is necessary to state the circumstances which gave birth to them. The Trustees were all Churchmen and Tories, every other religious denomination, and every other class of politicians were rigidly excluded by the existing Trustees, or Governors, as they were called, they having in their own power the right of filling up any vacancy that occurred. The head master, Mr. Cooke, was so notorious for flogging the boys severely that he was called "Cooke, the butcher." Mr. Parkes and Mr. Pare were the leaders of those who sought by legal means to get the whole

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Going to Markets and Grammar Schools: Being a Series of ..., Volume 1