arisen between the Master and the
Usher and the consequent depression of the School, and desired that they
should open an investigation themselves in the interests of the Public.

Meanwhile the Governors had at last bestirred themselves and in
September, 1862, had caused a letter to be written to the Commissioners,
asking for an amendment to the Scheme. They suggested that, in
accordance with Mr. Blakiston's suggestion, the area, from which members
of their body could be chosen, should be slightly extended and their
numbers raised from the statutory eight to fifteen. They put forward the
names of seven additional members, but on two declining the honour, they
reduced the number to five. The great danger of the previous number of
eight drawn from the small area of the Parish of Giggleswick had lain in
the tendency to choose men, who were closely allied one to another by
ties of relationship and so possibly of prejudice. In 1864 the Scheme
was so amended and the new Governors were chosen. They included three
men, who soon shewed a very real, active and enlightened interest in the
prosperity of the School--Sir James Kay Shuttleworth, Mr. C. S.
Roundell, and Mr. Walter Morrison. One object had now been attained and
the way lay open for a more thorough amendment of the position of the
Master.

But first it will not be amiss to mention other features of the School
life. Potation Day was celebrated to the usual accompaniment of Figs
until the year 1860, when the Charity Commissioners objected to it and
to the Governors' dinners as a waste of trust funds. The Governors
declined to entertain the objection, but limited the expenditure on the
dinner given by the Governors to themselves and the Masters to L12, and
any further expense was to be borne by the whole body of Governors
present. The following year the dinner was again held and paid for as
formerly, but in 1862 the differences between the Master and Usher and
the death of one of the Governors gave them an opportunity of omitting
the dinner in a dignified manner. Since that date the dinner has never
been held. Fig-day, as far as the boys were concerned, was also
celebrated this year but for the last time. In 1863 it was resolved that
the customary payment of three guineas by the Scholars for School fires
and cleaning should be discontinued and the money which had been
collected in the winter of 1859-60 was to be applied to the purchase by
Mr. Blakiston of books for the Sch