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BIRMINGHAM FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 



Amongst the numerous establishments of this country dedicated 

 to the instruction of youth, " The Birmingham Free Grammar 

 School/' founded the fifth of King Edward VI., is rapidly rising 

 in importance. The following brief summary of its conduct, its 

 laws, and its arrangements, is abridged from the Act of Parliament 

 which regulates its management, and from other authentic sources. 



Letters patent were granted on the second of January, 1552, for 

 transferring the possession of a religious establishment entitled 

 " The Guild of the Holy Cross," of the clear annual value of £21., 

 to twenty inhabitants of Birmingham, who were created a body 

 corporate and elective of themselves in perpetuity. The governors 

 thus appointed possess a common seal, and, with the advice of 

 the Bishop of the Diocese, have the government of the school — the 

 appointment of masters, whose stipends they regulate — and the 

 preservation and disposition of the revenues. In conformity with 

 the charter, the governors were formerly chosen from the inhabi- 

 tants of Birmingham alone ; but by a recent enactment, persons 

 duly qualified, whose residence does not exceed four miles from the 

 town, are considered eligible to act in that capacity. 



The Grammar School is conducted by a head master and second 

 master, with an assistant to each, and likewise a writing master. 

 The two first mentioned are required to be Masters of Arts of the 

 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and in Holy Orders. The 

 head master is permitted to take eighteen boarders, and the second 

 master twelve. 



The youths who are candidates for admission into the school are 

 ineligible unless they can read and write English, and are above 

 eight years of age ; nor are they allowed to continue after they 

 have completed their nineteenth year. Boys who are not sons of 

 inhabitants of Birmingham are required to pay for their education 

 such sum as the governors shall determine. 



There are ten exhibitions of £60 a year each, paid half-yearly, 

 to be held four years, with a certain residence, founded for boys 

 who shall go to the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge ; two ex- 

 hibitions one year, and three another, alternately. The candidates 

 are examined, and their names arranged according to their respec- 

 tive excellence in classical learning. In case no candidates appear 

 for exhibitions who are sons of the inhabitants of Birmingham, the 

 governors may assign them to any other candidates, provided they 



