inset in the wall was a fire-proof safe, for the better
preservation of the Charter and other documents. It alone has continued
to serve its original purpose. It is not possible to judge accurately
the difference in size between this building and its predecessor, but it
was distinctly bigger. The poplars which are to be seen in the
photograph of the Drawing of the 1790 School were felled for the new one
and the School filled the space. In addition there was a cloister-like
building at the back, where in hours of play refuge might be sought from
the weather.

The total cost was over L2,000, or more than seven times as much as its
predecessor. Much of the money came from subscriptions, some from the
surplus income of the School, but the rest was obtained by selling out
L645 7_s._ 2_d._ New 31/4 per cent. Stock belonging to the Exhibition
Fund. The Governors pledged themselves to pay 31/2 per cent. to the
Exhibition Fund, thus depleted, and to repay the principal out of
surplus income at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, or more, if
convenient. It was represented that this would at once be an advantage
to the Exhibition Fund and also an economical method of borrowing the
necessary money. The money was repaid by 1855.

[Illustration: PORCH OF THE OLD SCHOOL.]

The cost of the Ornamented Doorway, paid for by the Usher's two sons,
was estimated at L48 13_s._, but this was exclusive of the Niche and the
Statue of Edward VI which it contained. This Statue was an object of the
frequent missile and was so often cast down that it was at last removed.
On the outside of the Library Wall is a Coat of Arms belonging to the
Nowell family and underneath is the extract from the Charter "_Mediante
Johanne Nowell_." One relic of James Carr's School remained, the stone
slab with its Hexameter inscription, and as it had found a place inset
in the wall of the second building, so it did in 1850, but after a time
it was removed owing to its decay.

The first Speech Day in the new School was celebrated in a fitting
manner on March 12th, 1851. Three prize Odes were composed on the
subject of re-building and were read by their respective authors. F.
Howson recited some rapt verses, extolling Queen Victoria and telling
her that the New School should stand as her memorial.

O Fairest star, with radiance divine
Gilding the honours of thy royal line!
Too pure thy beauty realms of earth to cheer
A brighter orbit gained in a far