The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842)(about) |
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Saturday 18 March 1826
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THE FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
On Wednesday last a Committee of 5 Gentlemen, comprising Mr. Oxley (Chairman), Captain Rossi, Colonel Mills, Mr. Chisholm, Mr. Terry, and Mr. Allen, met at the residence of the Head Master, in Phillip-street, for the purpose of investigating cer- tain rumours that had widely circulated to the prejudice of the Second Master. Several of the Trustees also attended, and among the rest Mr. Gregory Blaxland and Mr. John M'Arthur. Mr. Blaxland informed the Committee that he had with- drawn one of his sons from the Institution, in con- sequence of the information which he had obtained, from various respectable sources, of great impro- priety on the part of the Second Master. Master Blaxland was introduced to the Meeting, a fine youth of about 12 or 14 years of age, who narrated a most artless tale of actual fighting and drunken- ness on a particular Sabbath, about a month prior to Christmas last ; he said further, that Mr. Laurence Halloran was intoxicated almost every Sabbath, and also that he was addicted to swearing. Master Thomas Lord contradicted this in toto. Master Terry said the Second Master, prior to his elevation to that post, had been once tipsey in the afternoon, but was able to attend to his duties in the school, and that he had brought spirits to the school on one oc- casion, which coining to the ears of his father (Mr. Terry) he was severely reproved for ; he however declared that no bribes had been received, to his knowledge, by the Under Master, for the purpose of excusing the boys' lessons. Master John Tawell said he had seen the Under Master tipsey about six weeks ago, on a week evening; he had been a scholar, but left six months back ; and while in the academy, the boys were in the habit of swearing in Dr. Halloran's absence, and the present Under Master used to swear also. He had several times been called, by the younger branches of the Head Master's family, a convict's son, and when he complained to his preceptor, it went unredressed. Master William Tawell said he saw the Under Mas- ter intoxicated at the time spoken of by his bro- ther. He had been withdrawn from the school about three months; and his statement in other respects, except in regard to swearing, went in flat contradiction to that of his brother. Master Per- kins and another also spoke in favour of the Under Master, saying they had never seen him drunk, nor had heard him swear. Master Underwood, son of Mr. James Underwood, was seen by the Committee at his father's house, on account of confinement from a bad leg. His statement went to speak of intoxication in one instance. Many rumours were also given in to the Committee, but which, on ac- count of not emanating from the parties immedi- ately interested, were very properly disregarded. On Thursday the Committee assembled again, and, after some deliberation, adjourned. A General Meeting of the Trustees is to be convened forth- with, for the purpose of receiving the Report of the Committee, and transacting other important busi- ness connected with the internal arrangement of
this Institution.
We are aware we shall be censured by some for thus entering into the merits of the above case ; but when our Readers remember how earnestly and as- siduously we promoted, in every possible way, the interests of the Free Grammar School prior to its organization, perhaps it will be acknowledged that we
have now only performed an act of common justice in , giving the naked facts of the case, as they were pre- sented to the Committee. Against the Head Master no charge was even hinted at, and nothing transpired
which could affect his character as one of the most able Classical Preceptors of which Australia can boast ; and what came out against the Second Mus- ter, we are fully aware, in a Court of Law, would altogether acquit him. We are ignorant whether the Committee have come to any decision on the case, and it strikes us that the statements which they have heard, are of so conflicting a kind that it will be only possible to come to one conclusion. As a young man, we wish the Under Master well ; but at the same time we must say, that our object is the morality and happiness of the rising generation, which can only be secured by the inculcation of those precepts, and the force of those examples, which common sense-apart from superior autho- rity-invariably enjoins. Should these grievances be considered of too trifling a nature for the further interference of the Trustees, still we cordially hope that the unpleasant investigation will be attended with lasting benefits to our rising youth.
We beg to observe, that one Gentleman, on Wednesday last, at the Meeting, very unceremoni- ously and loudly asserted that the Public Prints were the vehicles of lies and slander. At the moment we were engaged in listening to the Chairman, otherwise we should have instantly thrown the aspersions back whence they unnecessarily issued, if the same had been intended for this Journal, because we hare no hesitation in unequivocally de- claring that such reflections have no existence in truth ; but, admitting that the Gentleman did not intend the Sydney Gazette, our animadversions fall to the ground. We would however caution per- sons, in future, at any Public Meeting, against comporting themsulves in so uncalled-for a manner towards the public prints, unless they can particu- larize,-else they will assuredly meet with that re- proof which, if ever felt, will not again be readily sought after. No individual shall interfere with the Sydney Gazette in a Public Meeting with impunity ; but, probably, the lash was not intended for our
shoulders. Was it ?
" In the whole business of education, there is nothing like to be less hearkened to, or harder to be well observed, than what I am now going to say ; and that is, that children should, from the first be- ginning to talk, have some discreet, sober, nay wise person about them, whose care it should be to fashion them aright, and keep them from all ill, especially the infection of bad company. I think this province requires great sobriety, temperance, diligence, and discretion; qualities hardly to be found united in persons that are to be had for ordi- nary salaries, nor easily to be found any where. As to the charge of it, I think it will be the money best laid out, that can be, about our children ; and therefore, though it may be expensive more than is ordinary, yet it cannot be thought dear. He that at any rate procures his child a good mind, well principled, tempered to virtue and usefulness, and adorned with civility and good breeding, makes a better purchase for him, than if he had laid out the money for an addition of more earth to his former
acres !"-Locke on Education.
A very handsome room in Mr. Chisholm's build- ings, in George-street, has been taken for the Syd- ney Reading Library, for the time-being.