ould not accept the offer. A deadlock arose. Sir James Shuttleworth saw
the danger of jeopardizing the whole Scheme by their inability to agree
upon one point and he boldly proposed to omit the clause altogether and
allow it to stand over, while the rest of the Scheme was carried
through. The Commissioners were asked to give their consent to this
omission, and they were only very reluctantly persuaded to do so, for
they had considered it to be a very important clause.

Even so a further difficulty arose. The freehold of the Usher was in
abeyance, and Mr. Blakiston for the sake of the promised prosperity of
the School had been willing to waive his rights but, when the question
of capitation fees was wholly dropped, he changed his mind and proposed
to retain his former position. The whole Scheme was in danger, until
the Governors decided to point out to Mr. Blakiston that his refusal
would in no way impede some of the essentials of the change but that, as
they could not intrude upon his privileges, he would, while he retained
the Mastership, continue to labour under all the disadvantages, which
had for seven years made his position so irksome. He would still be
unable to appoint or dismiss his Assistants and his power over the
Scholars would not be changed for the better. The Master's decision was
unaltered, but in March, 1866, he determined to accept an appointment as
a Government Inspector of Schools and so the difficulty was at an end.

The following May the Commissioners promulgated the new Scheme and it
will be as well to discuss it at this point. All boys were to be
admitted who could read and write and were not afflicted with any
contagious disorder. The Headmaster was to receive a salary of not less
than L250 a year and was to be appointed by the Governors subject to the
approval of the Bishop of Ripon, the Visitor of the School. He could be
dismissed by a two-thirds majority of the Governors, without any cause
being assigned. A house was provided for him and he could both appoint
and dismiss all the Assistant Masters and have complete and sole control
over the supervision and discipline of the boys. These regulations were
a great step forward and the power of the Headmaster became a real
power. Scholarships were also to be given to deserving boys, and they
were to be tenable at the School. This was a new departure and had been
suggested by the desire to impose capitation fees, which would in
particular cases be e