CHAPTER IX.

NOTABLE INCIDENTS, ETC.

THE two following communications came to hand

too late to arrange the information in its proper lace in the work. The Rev. J. M. Pilter, who was at the Grove in Mr. Morley's time, says: "My first night at the Grove was one of the most miserable of my existence. I ell asleep crying. However, I got to like the place, and became rather famous for telling tales in the bedroom. Once there was a pillowing match between the boys of two of the bedrooms as to which room should have me. I ewarded the victorious party by telling a 'moral' tale, vhich, I regret to say, was received with groans.

"I did not complete my term at the Grove, but left sooner han I should have done, because my father found that I vas starving, inasmuch as I could not eat the underdone neat set before us. I remember Daddy Morley once ecturing me on the subject: 'Look at that meat, sir; I tell ou there is not a nobleman's family in the neighbourhood hat has better meat!' 'Yes, sir, please, sir, but it might be >etter done, sir.' The dear old governor laughed, and gave ne a piece from the outside."

Mr. Pilter relates a smart thing said by a boy who is now hairman of an important district. He was a good boy and

th

never did wrong, and was a great favourite with governor. Daddy Morley was lecturing some boys dinner once for insulting a monitor, and said, "Don you know, my boys, that he who insults a monitor insul the teachers, and he who insults the teachers insults me?” – (here daddy paused, and patted his frontal protuberance t emphasize the me)-"and he who insults me insults th committee" (a solemn pause)-"and he who insults th committee insults the Conference! the Conference!! yes the Conference!!!" An awful silence-the force o language seemed as if it could go no further. referred to, who sat half way down one of the long dining tables, rose to his feet, and, patting his stomach in imitation of the governor, said, "And, boys, he who insults th Conference insults the whole Connexion at large!!" Down he sat amidst the cheers of everybody. Daddy did no know what to say, and said-nothing. Mr. Pilter reminded him of this years afterwards, when he said, "Yes, I expected a hiding, but I could not help saying it, for I felt that could cap the governor's climax."

But the bo

A SMART REPLY.-The Rev. Joseph Chapman, now in London, who was at the Grove about the same time, afte saying how well he remembers me setting him some sums reminds me of a smart reply of my brother's. He was once up in a class at Mr. Brownell's desk, and managed to get to the bottom, when Mr. B. said to him, "You have sunk to the bottom like lead." "No!" instantly rejoined my brother, "Straws swim on the surface, but pearls lie at the bottom, sir." Mr. Chapman adds, "How I envied his

ility in arithmetic. Whatever might be his position in e class at the beginning on review days, when we were ken out of the usual routine, in a few minutes he was or near the top."

Rescue from Drowning.

Reference is made elsewhere to the fact that fifty years o the river Aire was a stream of clear, pure, limpid ter, in which the boys were sometimes taken to bathe, nerally in the evening of a summer's day.

One evening, whilst thus enjoying themselves, the floodtes of the reservoir of some works higher up the stream re opened, when the river suddenly rose, and some of e boys were in danger of being carried out of their pth. Amongst those in danger were Thomas Pearson, w of Manchester, and Thomas Laycock, who died at linburgh in 1876, and was Professor of Medicine in the niversity and Physician to the Queen in Scotland. These o managed to save themselves by clinging to other boys. nother boy in danger was James, a younger brother of omas Vasey, who was a small delicate boy, and who was ried off his feet. Tom saw his danger and rushed after n, but both were soon out of their depth. Mr. Farrar s at the time on the bank in charge, and seeing their nger threw aside his outer garments, and with the rest of : clothes on gave a leap over the heads of some of the ys and rescued the Vaseys from drowning, bringing them ely to the bank. Mr. Vasey once made a graceful usion to the circumstance in his own humorous way, when conding a vote of thanks in Conference to Mr. Farrar.

Visits to Conference.

Woodhouse Grove being only about eight miles fro Leeds, where the Conference used to be held once ever six years, at the beginning of the century, when th school was first opened, the boys were taken there, and o two occasions delivered speeches in Greek, Latin, an English to the assembled preachers, including, in man cases, their own fathers. The first occasion was in 181 and the next in 1824; and as this was the last Conferen when speeches were delivered, and I was one of th boys who were present, it is proposed to give here som account of it. There was at that time no railway Leeds with comfortable third-class carriages screening yo from heat, wind, and rain. There was, however, the Lee Canal flowing through the valley of the Aire, not far fro the Grove premises, on which barges drawn by hors glided slowly but safely. One of these barges was ten porarily fitted up so as to hold eighty boys with their master True the travelling by its means was not at the expre speed at which men of business now rush in a morning their offices and warehouses, neither was there any need it on this occasion. The boys enjoyed it all the more t longer the journey took, though most of them were wea enough before the end of the day when they arrived safe back at the Grove.

I was only a little boy, ten years of age, at the time, a can well remember the journey, and sitting in the gallery the chapel. The President was Robert Newton.

Seven

he oldest boys were selected to address the Conference, ne in Greek, three in Latin, and three in English. These oys sat in the centre of the front pew of the gallery, and the ther boys beside and behind them. The speeches were ommitted to memory long beforehand. Fortunately there was no breakdown, and that such a thing should not occur rovision was made by a second boy committing to memory he same speech, and sitting behind the chosen orator, so hat he could either prompt the speaker, if needful, or, in case of illness or extreme nervousness, supply his place.

The Greek speech was delivered by J. B. Melson, who s still living, and of whom a sketch is given elsewhere. Though seventy-four years of age, he can now repeat the peech as accurately as when first given. The three Latin peeches were delivered by Josiah W. Walker, Edward Dakes, and Francis Derry; and the three English ones by Villiam Towler, John H. Farrar (a son of the Rev. Abraham E. Farrar, and nephew of the Rev. John Farrar), nd John W. Draper, who afterwards became so disinguished in the United States, and of whom some ccount is given in the list of scholars. Two of the peeches are given below. It appears from an expression n Towler's speech that a similar visit of the boys had been paid in 1818, when speeches were delivered. The visit was repeated in 1830, when there was another Conference at Leeds. Encouraged by the success of the ɔrevious visit, preparations were made for a third journey, and for another exhibition of the oratorical powers of the ads. Mr. J. W. Roadhouse, now of Leeds, being then the senior boy in the school, was to deliver the Greek speech.