284 BIRMINGHAM FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 



shall have been three years in the school prior to the annual visita- 

 tion. Should a death take place during the four years, the gover- 

 nors may re-appoint ; but the exhibitions remain vacant if there 

 are not a sufficient number of boys qualified. 



An annual visitation is held in Easter week, at which three 

 examiners attend, who are required to be resident members of one 

 of the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, of not less than seven 

 years standing ; and who have taken the degree of Master of Arts, 

 or Bachelor of Civil Law. A general examination of the boys takes 

 place at that time, to ascertain their proficiency in the classics, 

 and their knowledge of the fundamental principles and doctrines of 

 the Christian religion. 



As some important changes in the system of instruction, calcu- 

 lated to extend the usefulness of the school, are now under the con- 

 sideration of the governors, we defer entering upon that subject till 

 the improved plans shall be matured. 



A wise regulation has been enacted relative to publishing the 

 accounts of this Institution. It is decreed — " That an abstract of 

 the accounts of the income and expenditure of the revenues of the 

 school estates shall be hereafter published by the governors once in 

 the month of June, in every year, in some one newspaper printed 

 within the said town of Birmingham." The gross annual revenue 

 of this Institution at present amounts to about £4000 per annum ; 

 an income which is continually augmented by the termination of 

 existing leases. 



We present our readers with a north and south view, and like- 

 wise a ground plan, of the magnificent building now erecting for 

 the Grammar School, engraved by T. Kearnan, under the direction 

 of Mr. Barry; who has recently enhanced the fame his distin- 

 guished talents as an architect had previously acquired, by his 

 much-admired designs for the New Houses of Parliament. 



The accompanying illustrations so clearly define the character and 

 plan of the building as to render any lengthened technical descrip- 

 tion of the designs unnecessary. We have, therefore, abridged an 

 account of this beautiful edifice from The Companion to the Alma- 

 nack. 



'' The design embodies an adaptation of the collegiate, and civil, 

 and ecclesiastical pointed architecture of the third period of what is 

 commonly called Gothic architecture, or more particularly of the 

 time of the Tudor line of English sovereigns ; and is a distinguished 

 proof that novel and beautiful combinations may be made of classi- 

 cal materials, without either servile copying, or tame imitation. 



