a relapse, but
in the end the victory was his. Before he retired, one new scheme had
been adopted, another and a better one was awaiting confirmation, the
suggestion of a new Boarding-house was being pressed forward, and the
field was clear for the great and revolutionary change--the adoption of
a system of capitation fees. The subsequent prosperity of the School
owed much of its swift development to the Headmastership of Mr.
Blakiston, and it is a grateful task to record it.

CHAPTER X.

A New Era.

On the resignation of Mr. Blakiston, in March, 1866, the Rev. Thomas
Bramley, an Assistant Master, was appointed temporary Headmaster. The
Charity Commissioners had been asked for their advice, and had expressly
stipulated that the temporary office should not carry with it any
freehold. After holding this position for eighteen months, Mr. Bramley
sent in his resignation in October, 1867. The Governors held a meeting
to consider the position, and a letter was read voicing the opinion of
the inhabitants of the neighbourhood that a permanent Headmaster should
be appointed. They shewed that the numbers of the School proved that the
education received had value in the eyes of the locality, and they
suggested that a permanent Headmaster would be more likely to take a
close interest in the boys. The Governors replied that they could not
see their way to making a permanent appointment, until the
Boarding-house had been completed and the regulations drawn up for boys
who wished to reside with strangers in the neighbourhood.

[Illustration: THE HOSTEL, 1869.]

The Plans for a Boarding-house had been going forward rapidly, and in
May, 1867, the Charity Commissioners had sanctioned the expenditure by
the Governors of L6,400. The income of the Trust had for some years
shewn a surplus of revenue over expenditure, and this surplus then
amounted to over L1,200; the further L5,000 was obtained from the
proceeds of the sale of the Rise Estate, in 1863. The Boarding-house was
to be built by Mr. Paley, a grandson of the Archdeacon, and was to
contain Dormitories for forty-nine boys and studies for eighteen.

In December, 1867, Mr. Michael Forster was appointed provisional
Headmaster for a single year. It was particularly pointed out to him
that the position would not carry with it any claim to be appointed to
the permanent post, when it was determined that such should be filled
up. Mr. Forster had taken a First Class in Classica