He trusted

would use it for many years to come. the I would be handed down to his children's children, so that they might remember the time of their father doing his duty to his town and country, and try to emulate him-if they did so, they would come to great eminence.

Mr. responded. He felt very proud of the testimonial with which they had just presented him, and he was the better pleased to find that he had given satisfaction to the Committee, with whom he had had many pleasant meetings. This was the first testimonial, in connection with the Regatta, that had been presented; ten years ago he had a testimonial presented to him on leaving the

and that he believed was the first testimonial ever presented to any servant of the Company, on his quitting their service. Referring to the Regatta finances, he expressed his pleasure that the subscriptions had, this year, somewhat increased. In conclusion, he desired to propose to them "The Health of the Chairman." He had seen him in various capacities during many years, and had ever found him to be one ready to assist in anything for the prosperity of the town and trade of

He had found him to be one of the best follows he had ever met, either in private or public life. He had never asked him to do this or that, but if it was in his power he had done it. As regarded the Regatta, he (the speaker) had had the credit of doing a great deal, but Mr. had materially assisted him, and, appreciating his. services as he felt they must, he called upon them to drink his health in a bumper.

The Chairman responded. His humble services he was always ready to give for the assistance of any one that required them, either publicly or pri

vately. He felt as great pleasure in giving those services as they could possibly have in receiving them.

Mr.

proposed "The Regatta Committee," and spoke of the superior pleasure afforded by the Regatta over that of any other Regatta on the coast. The success of these Regattas showed that the people were men of great power when they chose to put their shoulders to the wheel. There were still some chains around and the sooner they were broken the better; he once had the pleasure of breaking one of these chains,he alluded to their victory on the question. Their Committee was small, but they had done great things; he proposed their healths, and coupled with the toast the name of Dr.

Mr.

Dr.

of "

to whose exertions much of their success was due. responded, and further complimented for his exertions, which had mainly conduced to the great success of this Regatta. At they did not seem to put their backs to the Regattas, though they were a large town,-not like

so much smaller in size. He proceeded to notice the late unsuccessful attempt made in to establish a Regatta. He believed, however, that, when they had another meeting, many who had opposed them before would be found ready to aid and assist them. He hoped to see the time come when would be what it ought to be. It was placed in a most healthy position, as also a position of great beauty, every facility was offered for an Annual Regatta; they had a commodious harbour; and, with all these advantages, they might make the town something more than a small seaport they might make it a fashionable resort for visitors.

the

proposed "The

Dr. -Railway Company," a toast which, he observed, was not on the programme before them, but one which he was sure they ought to drink, considering how thoroughly Regatta was dependant for success on the liberality of the Railway Company, who both gave them a handsome donation, and generously conveyed boats and crews intending to compete at the Regatta free of expense over their line.

The Chairman called on Mr.

the Station Master, to respond to the toast, observing also that he had rendered great service to the Regatta.

one, except Mr.

Regatta than had Mr.

No

had done more for the

Response.

Mr.

responded. The Railway Company did all in their power to support Regattas, Races, Flower Shows, and every amusement on the coast. As a Committee-man he had endeavoured to do the best he could, and he never let any one pass that he thought he could get half-a-crown out of without asking him for it. If all the Committee would do the same it would be a great help. With regard to public improvements; for himself, he confessed his gratitude to as from thence he had gained much information concerning the question, and the movement that had there taken place led to steps being taken in which resulted in their.

obtaining some measure of justice, though slight at

present, from the

Companies.

EDUCATION.

ON MIDDLE CLASS EDUCATION.

The Chairman said, it must be admitted from statistics, that the movement was still in its infancy. If the great middle class of this country was to take advantage of the movement for the improvement of the education of their children, we must look for larger numbers at these examinations; but although the movement might be yet in its infancy, it certainly had already borne fruit, not only in the considerable number of candidates which, taking the whole country, had appeared at the examinations, but also in the attention which it had drawn to a very important subject. We had now had for many years a very considerable movement with regard to education in this country, and one thing at least we might regard as entirely established, indeed, as so completely established, that it seems unnecessary to allude to it -he meant the advantage of education. Many persons might remember the time when a great many people thought there was such a thing as over education, and that the best way to avoid such a dangerous result was to do without any education at all. These people, in order to avoid the Scylla of over education, drifted towards the Charybdis of no education at all. Well, we had got over this stage, and we were now all agreed that education was a good thing. Thanks to the exertions of many very distinguished

K

men, we had seen a very extensive system of education established for the lower classes-an education which we now saw embracing almost the whole people. By this remark he did not mean to say that more was not to be done, and that there might not be spots which the system had not reached, or that we ought to be content with the number of children who attended school; but the system was firmly established, and we might look for its continued progress until it embraced all the children who ought to attend school. While we had been introducing a good system of education for the children of the lower classes, we had not neglected the education of the upper classes. But hitherto we had done very little for one of the most extensive classes, and perhaps the most important class in the countrythe middle class. He used the term "middle-class" for want of a better; in point of fact, the phrase embraced the great working population of this country, through whom the great wealth of the country had been accumulated, who constituted the backbone of English society, and upon whom the industry and prosperity of the country very greatly depended. There was hardly a political meeting at which the speakers did not dilate upon the great strength and importance of the middle-class, and upon the political power which it possessed. Well, if this class was the mainstay of our commerce, and at the same time a great power in the political system of this country, every one must feel that it was his duty to secure, as far as possible, the highest education to it. If we looked not only to the interests of the whole country, but to the interests of the middle class itself, he supposed no one would dispute that it was of the utmost importance that it should not fall behind in the educational race. When the