CO885(3-4) — Page 115

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woollen petticoats; "but," as I was told, “they get right again in the winter.*

Among the male population, the blue pilot's-jacket is fast disappearing; and I was told that there is only one man who continues to wear the national garment, or coat without a collar.

Every child is bound, by law, to attend the public school from the age of 6 to 14; after that age attendance is no longer permitted.

The schools are supported partly from the church fund, which is administered by the churchwardens, and partly from the produce of two taxes: the first called home money, or 8d., paid quarterly by every householder; and the second, called school-money, Is. 4d, paid quarterly by every parent having a

child of a certain age.

The school is divided into two classes, with an additional class, called the infant class.

The first class is conducted by Mr. Siemens, the second clergyman; the second by Mr. Schlesinger; and the third by Mr. Dänicke; the whole under the superintendence of Mr. Petersen, the first clergy.

man.*

His superintendence is not enjoined or authorised by law, but rests upon usage, and is exercised much according to his pleasure.

Having heard, while in the island, that "orders" had arrived from England to stop the second clergy- man's salary, and to induct a new teacher in his stead, and that there had been something like a riot on the occasion of the attempt to instal the teacher, I studiously abstained from asking a single question or making any observation on those topics, but thought myself not precluded from ascertaining the original cause of the present dissensions, which I had never been able to comprehend; and after much patient investigation, I feel bound to say that I am satisfied, in my own mind, that the present hubbub is merely the result of a paltry misunderstanding, which I will now endeavour to explain, without the

• Mr. Patersen has lately been styled from home the

"General Superintendent," a title which is given in Germany to

the functionary who conducts the ecclesiastical affairs of a whole kingdom or province, and is armed with legal powers for that purpose. I thought Mr. Petersen did not quite relish or under- stand his new title.

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help of certain sinister insinuations, which I declined to notice.

It seems, then, that some few Representatives, the fathers of families, having, about four years ago, had conscientious reasons for believing that not only the attendance of their children at school in the morning and afternoon might be increased, if it were only to keep them from running about the streets to the annoyance of visitors, but also that the general plan of instruction might be more cleverly adapted to the practical wants of the children of tradesmen; the whole body of Repre sentatives did, at the instance of the persons above mentioned, write a very proper letter to Mr. Siemens, inviting his concurrence in those objects.

To that letter Mr. Siemens returned an equally proper answer, stating that he would immediately prepare an amended plan of school instruction, and lay it before the Representatives.

ל

These gentlemen expressed their gratification at receiving the reverend gentleman's communication, and requested to be favoured with his plan at his early convenience. I read that correspondence in the Protocol Book of the Council.

Now begins the misunderstanding.

Mr. Siemens conceiving himself to be bound by his solemn oath to conduct his school mainly accord- ing to a law which has never been repealed, wrote to the Representatives, asking for access to the public archives, in order that he might see, and take a copy of, the law in question; the same not having been furnished to him, according to usage, on his installation.

To that application, which was made some time

in July 1854, no answer was ever returned.

Four of the Representatives, speaking to me familiarly on the subject, did not attempt to justify their contemptuous refusal to entertain Mr. Siemens' application; nor did Mr. Siemens seem very much

I cannot suppose that a grave person like Mr. Siemens meant to quis the Representatives, But the public archives consist of some bundles of papers tied up, not docketted, and having much the appearance of old papers which have rarely,

ever, been looked at.

if

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO