78 DECLINE OF ENDOWED SCHOOLS. 



than half a century ago, had at one time more 

 than 100 boys within its walls, many of them 

 in preparation for our universities, has not, I 

 believe, now one fifth of that number, and 

 most of this small number are instructed, it is 

 said, only in the merest rudiments of reading, 

 writing, and arithmetic. The causes of the 

 decline I will not enter upon; it is nowise a 

 pleasant subject, and I regret to think it is not 

 a solitary example : too many of the endowed 

 schools of the district, which in their time have 

 done good service, have fallen off in like 

 manner. Would that the government would 

 look to them ; and in originating new not 

 forget the old ; nor let their endowments make 

 them independent and exempt from all super- 

 vision and correcting control. How we have 

 strayed from what we began conversing about ! 

 Pray, if you can, put the broken thread into 

 my hand. 



AMICUS. I was telling you of the pleasure I 

 had in the late evening : it was I that digressed, 

 nor do I regret it, from fishing into a higher 

 though not pleasaiiter subject of talk. 



PISCATOE. I remember ; and pray remember 

 that I forewarned you of this tendency, when 



