xl PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



be done by the usual plan of employing initial letters. He does 

 not seem, however, to have published anything upon the game, 

 . with the exception of occasionally contributing to the various 

 periodicals' chess-problems, in the construction and solution of 

 which he displayed great ingenuity. 



In any movement for tlie extension of education among the 

 middle and lower classes Mr. Woods ever took a deep interest. 

 In 1841 he published ' Notes on Schools for the Labouring Classes 

 in Ireland,' the result of a journey undertaken for the special 

 purpose of investigating the condition of that country in regard to 

 its educational progress vinder the system of the Government 

 Board established in 1831. For many years, while residing in 

 Furnival's Inn, he took a very active part in the management of 

 the British School for Boys in Harp Alley, Farringdon Street, of 

 which he was the Honorary Secretary, and where he had for coad- 

 jutors the late Messrs. Bicheno, Joseph Janson, Daniel Sharpe, 

 Eichard Taylor, and others. Tor a very considerable period he 

 used to visit this school two or three times a week, and examine 

 into the state of the different classes, detaining the monitors after 

 the other children were dismissed, in order to give them a lesson 

 himself He was likewise a frequent visitor to the Central British 

 School in the Borough Eoad, and to one founded at Stoke New- 

 ington by the late William Allen, Mr. Janson, and other members 

 of the Society of Friends. About this time he published a set of 

 excellent blank maps, with keys for the use of the teachers, which 

 contained a great deal of valuable information respecting the 

 various places mentioned in them. With the view of better 

 qualifying for their duties the lads employed as monitors, and also 

 of making up to them the time occupied in teachuag their juniors, 

 a class was formed by the selection of one or two of the more ad- 

 vanced of the monitors from the above-mentioned schools, Avho 

 were invited to meet on alternate weeks, either at his own cham- 

 bers or at the house of his friend Mr. Janson, v/here, with the 

 assistance of the masters of the respective schools and any other 

 friends who might be willing to cooperate in the work, the lads 

 were examined on some subject upon which they had received 

 notice to prepare themselves during the week. Wor did Mr. 

 Woods's interest in his young friends cease with their school-days. 

 With that partiality for youth which was one of the most pleasing 

 traits in his character, he attached himself readily to any young 

 man who was earnestly engaged in his studies ; he would assist 

 him by his advice, not dogmatically, but simply, kindly given ; he 



