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IN issuing the first number of the "Newton College Magazine'
to meet a want much felt among our large and rapidly increasing
body, we do not lay claim to any originality of plan or conception.
We start it indeed on a new basis, and under a new régime, with
the hope that it may run a longer course, and pass through a more
flourishing period of existence than its ill-fated predecessor. At the
same time we hope to avoid the rock upon which so many similar
ventures have split-want of unity in arrangement and purpose. We
shall endeavour to steer a middle course between the Scylla of mis-
placed ambition, and the Charybdis of inordinate modesty. Our
ground being narrow and contracted, our tread may be the firmer and
surer. Aiming low we may be the less likely to overshoot the mark.

A few words as to the scope and limitations of our undertaking. It is to be strictly a Boys' Magazine, a monthly account of their Sports and Pastimes, a record of the past and present successes of our alumni, a medium for the ventilation and free discussion of allplans connected with our College life and discipline, a faithful picture as far as possible of the many-featured world in miniature of school-boy existence. To this it is proposed to make the purely literary element subordinate. Although all encouragement will be given to the fostering of such native talent, as, yet in the ore, may be brought to light, our attempt will be rather to chronicle the inner life of our school, to give expressions to our doings, rather than to our sayings, and to write the "story of our lives," if not "from year to year," at least from month to month.

The desirability and usefulness of the style of Magazine the Editors propose, speak for themselves, and are really called for by the present status of our College. Within the last year it has passed under new management, and has entered upon what we may fairly presume will be a more successful phase of its existence. Its rapid growth and increase in numbers would seem to show that its central position, the numerous advantages offered, and popular scheme of management, meet a pressing want in this part of the country, that has long been widely felt and has hitherto been but insufficiently supplied. Nor judging from the past is there any reason to suppose that this marked progress is at all likely to retrograde, but rather are we encouraged to look forward to a still more rapid advancement.

We seem to have reached a period in our School history when it is necessary to assert and define our stand-point, to establish an organ which may appeal at once to the esprit de corps of those now with us, and to the sympathy of those who have left, to extend if possible our influence still more widely, by forging an additional connecting link between the boys of the Past, and the boys of the Present.

Most Scholastic Foundations require some outward and visible expression of their position, some method of giving emphasis to that unity of life and conduct at which such institutions aim. This, true

generally, is true with a special force and significance of an institution such as ours, which has so lately passed through an era of great importance for the development of a spirit of energy and improvement. In furtherance of this aim and for this purpose, we publish the first number of the "NEWTONIAN," appealing to all "old Newtonians" for their sympathy and co-operation, and hoping that our scheme will be heartily and substantially supported.

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We gladly seize the opportunity of tendering our thanks to those visitors-both fair and otherwise-who favoured us with their presence on our last Prize Day. For, to say the truth, gazing on a gorgeous array of volumes which we have no chance of securing ourselves, and which we see others triumphantly carry off, is a tantalizing ceremony which severely taxes our small stock of patience and stoicism. One misery, however, was spared our guests, viz. the long and rambling speeches which usually attend meetings of this kind: for the oratory, which was indulged in, was chiefly of a brief and unsentimental description. In the regretted absence of Lord Devon, our popular President, who was suffering from an accident, the Revd. H. H. Courtenay, the Earl's brother, occupied the chair; and most ably and sensibly did he sustain his part. At the higher table we noticed Sir Samuel Baker and other gentlemen: while the various Examiners, who had come to divulge their mysterious and momentous documents, occupied the lion's share of attention. After an apology for the absence of his brother, the Chairman offered a few preliminary remarks, and concluded by calling upon the Examiners to read their reports.

Accordingly, the Revd. B. H. DRURY, M.A., late President Caius Coll., Cam., Examiner in Divinity, rose and commenced with the cheery statement that the two Divinity Papers on the Books of Joshua and Judges, and the Gospel of S. Matthew, had been done on the whole satisfactory. "The boys have shewn," he continued, "great familiarity with the history, and accuracy in some minute "circumstances, which reflect credit on their industry in preparing "for the Examination. This last remark applies especially to the "papers sent in by Williams, Wheat, Couch, Braginton, and Collyns, Senior. In the Gospel the paper was fairly answered, and "for the most part the answers obtained are such as would come "from boys of their age in Public Schools." After a few other remarks, he concluded: "On the whole there is reason to be pleased with the evidence of considerable diligence and fair attainments in knowledge of Scripture, on the part of nearly all the boys."

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Next, the HEAD MASTER in the unavoidable absence of T. E. P. ALDOUS, Trin. Coll., Cam., the French Examiner, read the result of the Examination held in that language. It gave us to understand that both the papers in Translation and Grammar "had been very well done, and several of the boys had performed exceedingly well for their age." Fowle, Collyns, and Bythell obtained considerable kudos, and the prize for the best boy of his age was ascribed to the juvenile Bythell.

Thereupon uprose a genial form, and one familiar to the boys, that of the Revd. F. W. ELLIS, M.A., Trin. Coll., Camb., the Mathematical Examiner. In Junior Arithemetic: Jessup, Bartlett Junior, Couch, and Cobb, were singled out for honourable mention; in Junior Algebra: Bartlett, Senior, and Williams, came in for their meed of praise; while Junior Euclid, saw Williams and Bartlett, Senior, again bracketed as inseparably as the Siamese twins, for 'having done excellent work' such as would do credit to any College, with Jessup and Poland well to the front." The report concluded as follows: "In Euclid, Williams and Bartlett wrote out "10 propositions in 24 hours, besides working three questions in

"Algebra; in Euclid, they were equal, Williams a trifle the best; “but for rapidity and excellence of work both these boys are highly "commended."

A buzz of eager excitement ran round the room as the Classical Examiner, T. M. BATTEN, B.A. Scholar St. John's Coll., Camb., proceeded to criticise the Term's labours. His summing up was as encouraging as it was brief: "I feel myself fully justified in saying "that on the whole, the part of the Examination with which I have "been concerned, has been very fairly done; the Grammar papers "especially reflect great credit on Mr. Warner and his coadjutors." In Latin Prose, bête noir of school-day life, the 6th were pronounced to have done well, while Collyns and Bythell in the 5th were goodall being very fair. Lower down, Couch springs to the front with a high mark, Teague ranking next. Old Virgil, too, was by no means found to be so crude and indigestible a morsel as he usually is, as he was declared to be very fairly done; whereas Xenophon was in much the same predicament, though he was said to be, on the whole, perhaps a little unsatisfactory. Passing over the comments on such baubles as Delectus and Principia, in both of which Warner and Couch rendered good account of themselves; we come to Latin and Greek Grammar, upon which great stress is laid by the Head Master. Of the 6th, Fowle and Wheat are the heroes, being very equal and very fair; in the 6th, Collyns and Bythell again run a neck-and-neck race, and in the 3rd, Warner is facile princeps. After a few remarks containing timely advice as to the style of answering papers, the report wound up thus: "For the Prize to be given to "the boy who passes the best Examination for his age. I select the "three following, Bythell, Warner, and Couch. Bythell, who is "twelve, obtained 594 out of 8 papers; Couch who is nearly twelve, "obtained 493 from 7 papers; Warner who is ten, gets 545 in 7 "papers. Accordingly I recommend Bythell for the 1st prize, and "Warner for the 2nd."

The Reports being now digested, it remained for the Head Master, Revd. TOWNSEND WARNER, to say a few words on the past terms.

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