Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/113

94 and even Jersey and France. His end was unfortunately as remarkable as his career. Returning by train from Lincoln he fell asleep, and being roused at Kirkstead by the porter giving the name of the station, and the night being dark, he did not perceive that the train was again in motion, and springing out of the carriage, he fell a few yards beyond the platform and broke his neck. The porter found him lying helpless, but alive, on the line. He was carefully conveyed to his residence at Horncastle, and lingered alive several weeks, retaining his mental faculties, but having no sense of feeling below his neck. At length he recovered slight feeling in his legs and feet, and probably tempted by this to make an effort to move, he was found one morning dead in his bed.

The Duke of Newcastle, who owned property in Baumber (where, as we have said. Dr. Smith was Incumbent), appointed him his private chaplain; and the Doctor's youngest daughter, Sarah Katherine, married the Rev. Henry Fiennes Clinton, a near relative of the Duke, and a descendant of the founder of the school. Lord Clinton and Saye.

The school building has not always occupied the site on which it now stands. As shewn in Stukeley's plan of the town, printed in 1722, it stood in the north-east corner of the school yard. In 1772 that structure was found to be in a ruinous condition, and the present building was erected, being opened for use at Midsummer 1778. A classroom was added at the south end in 1855, and more recently another small room put up at the north end. The residence of the Head Master was formerly a small low cottage, but it was considerably enlarged in the early part of the 19th century, and in 1858 a new wing was added at the north end.

In 1847 two "Clinton" Exhibitions were founded by the Governors, of £50 a year, to be held for four years, by scholars going to the University. For lack of such scholars this was granted to Clement Madely Smith, youngest son of Dr. Smith, the Head Master, who studied for the medical profession, in London. No further appointment however was made, as in 1848 the Governors decided that they had no authority so to employ the funds at their disposal.

On the death of Dr. Smith, in 1854, a new scheme of education, more suited to the requirements of the time, was drawn up by a committee appointed for that purpose, which received the sanction of the Charity Commissioners, and was approved by the Master of the Rolls in the same year.

The attendance at the school, however, gradually fell off, until, in the year 1886, there were only 16 scholars; and further reforms were needed. Since then changes in the system have, from time to time, been introduced, to render the school more generally useful; the more recent being the admission of female pupils in 1903, for whom was appointed a resident lady teacher, Miss E. Gibson, who had matriculated, 1st class, at London University.

Small Scholarships also, not exceeding six in number, were established for needy pupils; and application was made to the Lindsey County Council, for a grant of £80, in aid of scientific lectures, under the Technical Instruction Act of Parliament; so that a general middle-class English education was provided, along with Latin, French, book-keeping, and other technical subjects; an examination being held annually by some one unconnected with the school, who should be approved of by the Charity Commissioners. The school has thus, under the tenure of the Head Mastership by Dr. Madge, of late years,