or two general remarks, suggested by the recent Examination.

"In the first place, they are happy to find that increased attention seems to be paid to Arithmetic and Mathematics, especially the former. Of those who have been examined for the first time, have made a highly creditable appearance in both these departments, particularly Mr.

and Mr. deficient in * knowledge of

; and while Mr.

is found

he possesses a competent

"The same remark may be made with regard to English Literature,-a subject of the utmost importance, an awakened attention to which is beginning to be very perceptible.

"In the second place, the benefits resulting from re-examination are becoming more and more apparent. In the department just alluded to, as well as in some others, where deficiency was generally most manifest, the papers of this year present a very favourable contrast with those of some former Examinations. Thus, not only have individuals been stimulated to the acquisition of an amount of knowledge which, in all probability, would otherwise never have been attempted, thereby better qualifying themselves for the immediate discharge of their professional duties,-but the mental labour to which they have been necessarily subjected must have operated most beneficially on their intellectual habits, and may have created literary and scientific tastes that will remain with them. through life."

CHAPTER III.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION DEPENDENT ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL.

Settlement contemplates Improvement of Schools-Presbyterial Reports-Clerk's Visitation and Reports-Trustees' visits-Reception of Suggestions.

ALL the preliminaries being satisfactory,—of Election, Presbyterial trial, and sufficiency of Endowments, and the Presentee having, by his appearance at the Trustees' Examination, been found, in respect of attainments, worthy of full or partial admission, the next inquiry regards the Condition of the School. This is prescribed as an element in the distribution of the Bequest, not more by considerations of general expediency, than by the express terms of Mr. Dick's settlement, which not only directs such an apportionment as the Trustees shall think "most likely to encourage active Schoolmasters, and gradually to elevate the literary character of the Parochial Schoolmasters and Schools aforesaid," but contains a particular

recommendation "to pay great attention to the qualifications and diligence of the several Parochial Schoolmasters, for and in superintending the education of students in the said Colleges, during the intervals between the sessions thereof, and for and in preparing youths for the said Colleges, taking care, at the same time, that the common branches of education are properly attended to at the said Parochial Schools."

A principal source from which information is derived with respect to the condition of the Schools, consists of annual Reports of the visitation of the several Schools, by Committees of the respective Presbyteries. Upon the suggestion of several Clergymen, the Trustees prepared a Formula for Presbyterial Reports, copies of which are yearly transmitted to the clerks of the different Presbyteries; and after the visitation they are returned with the requisite information, and the Committee's remarks. Being every year regularly supplied with these authentic documents, the Trustees are enabled, by the information they contain, in addition to the intelligence otherwise procured, to distribute the funds with a degree of confidence and satisfaction, which could not be felt if they did not enjoy the co-operation of the Presbyteries.

The Presbyterial Reports are, in many instances, general in their terms. In some of them details are given, and the Trustees would respectfully direct attention to the specimens of the latter description, afterwards inserted, as conveying the

REPORT OF VISITS BY TRUSTEES' CLERK. 73

kind of information which it is of the greatest importance that those charged with the administration of the Bequest should receive.

It was some time after the commencement of operations ere a Presbyterial Report in each case could be confidently expected; but now the order of proceeding is so well understood, and the Presbytery Clerks are generally so regular and pointed, that the receipt of the Presbytery's Report of visitation is treated as an indispensable preliminary to the payment of the allowance. The whole of the Reports so received are carefully perused in framing the annual Scheme of Division.

The other main source of information regarding the condition of the Schools, consists of the Reports of visits by the Trustees' Clerk. These visits are generally made at two periods in the year, in spring and summer, about one-third part of the whole Schools being visited each year. In this way the Clerk has, since the commencement, made four entire circuits of the three Counties, and part of a fifth, besides making extra visits to parishes where new appointments have been made, or where the condition of the School rendered a more frequent inspection than usual expedient.

The Clerk's visit is necessarily short, and its design hitherto has been rather to observe generally the methods practised, and gather a knowledge of the results of those methods in the knowledge and intelligence of the pupils, than minutely to investigate, in detail, the whole system and procedure in each School. Large excerpts from

his Reports will be given in discussing the system of teaching.

A new character, involving additional interest and usefulness, has latterly been given to these visits, one of the Trustees, Mr. Mackenzie, the Deputy-Keeper, having himself visited the Schools in 1842, along with the Clerk,-and Mr. Elder, another Trustee, having done so in 1843. It is obvious how greatly the Clerk's hands must thus be strengthened. The active participation of the Trustees in these, to them, gratuitous but highly important duties, cannot fail to make a salutary impression upon the Teachers; while it is directly calculated to form and cement a good understanding and friendly feeling between the Clergy and the Trustees, and to promote an interchange of sentiment respecting the Schools which form their common object of interest.

The purport of the observations recorded in the Clerk's Reports is generally stated with all freedom to the teachers at the time. There is no subject which affords wider scope for variety of views and opinions than this, and, upon the occasions referred to, difference of ideas occasionally prevails. But the discussion of such points as occur is not without benefit. The most discouraging of all modes of receiving such observations is the ready and courteous acquiescence, which is founded more upon politeness than upon an intelligent recognition of the truth or principle of what is said. It is also discouraging, when the propriety of a stricture is not controverted, but