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NEW INFANTS SCHOOL AT ALNWICK LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE BY EARL PERCY, M.P. Tuesday last was a memorable day in connection with the educational arrangements of Alnwick, the foundation-stone of an Infants' School in connection with the National Schools being laid by Earl Percy. A slight resume of the history of these schools will not be inappropriate or uninteresting. In November 1847, steps aero taken for the establishment national school in Alnwick; and after considerable delay the foundation stone was laid on April 19th, 1849, by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, and the schools were opened in the following autumn. Two class rooms were added in 1855. In 1861 an infant school was opened in the house now occupied by Douglas in Dispensary Street; and iv the report issued December, 1864, it was stated that since the opening of the schools, 3,000 children have been educated in them, and very many of those educated are now filling responsible situations, and showing themselves to be respectable and useful members of society." It seems, however, tbat, to finance, the history of the school has been one continued struggle to obtain funds sufficient to meet the expenses; and in 1865, the infant school was closed, and reduction in the staff made, the existing liabilities being £120. At the close of that year, the average attendance of boys was 93, girls, 77; infants, 59: and the grant was £45 13s 2d, £32 17s 4d, and £28 14s, making a total of £107 4s 6d. The following year, when the reductions determined on had come into force, the average attendance was 88 boys, of whom 50 were presented for examination, and 61 girls, of whom 24 were presented, and the grant amounted to £60 15s 2d. In 1869, Mr G. Harbottle was obliged, from ill health, to resign, and Mr T. Thompson, the present master, was appointed. Misj Wilson, the present mistress, was appointed in 1867. The schools under their efficient teaching, aided by that of the assistants and pupil teachers, have steadily progressed the average attendance being now over 400 scholars, and the Government grant earned by the school last year was £280 6', these presented for examination numbering 167 boys and 124 girls. The attendance during the present year has still been increasing, and when the School Attend%nce Committee recently formed gets fairly into working order, it may be reasonably expected that there will yet further accession to the numbers- The important part which tho National Schools play in the education of Alnwick is therefore self-evident, and it is manifestly also the duty of the town generally to increase, in every way, the efficiency of the schools. For this purpose the Vicar of Alnwick has for some time past been urging the import mcc of the infant school department being again revived, and already during the past year it has been held in a temporary building lent by the vicar, which has been filled to overflowing. Meanwhile, a circular was issued by the committee, appealing to the inhabitants of the town to respond to the effort being made to build a school in connection with the existing bit ck of buildings. This has involved entire rearrangement of the whole place, and, including the building of a detached master's house, will cost £1,100, and the same time Price's (of ndon) system of heating and ventilating being adopted throughout the whole of (he school buildings, which will bring np the total outlay to not far short of £1,500. owards this, his Grace the Duke of Northumberland promised one-half the amount, Earl Percy, £50; and the rest is being raised in sums varying from jfjlO to 61. may add to the above sketch, matter of interest the local history of the town, that in 1838, Infant's School (the first that was in .Alnwick) was erected in Lisburn Street by public subscription, in commemoration of the coronation of Queen Victoria, and was called the Alnwick Victoria Infant School. The site was given by the late John Lambert, Esq. It proved a very useful educational institution during many years; and was only discontinued from want of funds, in 1853. The building is still applied to educational purposes, it being now the Alnwick Ragged School. The scholars, over four hundred in number, mustered soon after 10*30 m., at the schco , whence they marched the Town Hall, headed by the band of 9 Percy Artillery Volunteers, kindly lent by their Adjutant, Colonel Palmer. At 11*30 a.m., the procession left the Town Hall in tbe following order:—Sand of the Percy Artillery Volunteers ; National School, boys; National Schoolgirls; National School, infants ; Duchess of Northumberland's School; Churchwardens of the Parish Church ; tbe Verger of the Parish Churoh; the Vicar (in his robes) and tbe Clergy; the workmen; the contractors; Mr Reavell, with mallet and trowel; the Right Hon. Earl Percy, M.P. (who joined at the Castle); and treasurer and committee; the "School Attendance Committee" for Alnwick Union; (Rev. M. Creighton, M.A., Vioar of Embleton, chairman); friends. Prom the Town Hall, this procession passei through Fenkle Street and Narrowgate to the Castle, to escort Lord Percy to the site, and then by Bai iffgate and Northnmberland Street to the ground, which was entered off Dispensary Street. Amongst those present were the Right Hon. the Earl Percy, P.; Joseph Suowball, Esq , Seaton Burn Honse; the Rev E. B. Trotter, M,A.; tha Venerable the Arohdeacon of Liudisfarne; tho Rev. J. J. M. Perry; tbe Rev. C. J. Hinkson; Rev. T. Taylor; Rev. E. L. Marrett; Rev. P. Fitch; Messrs G. Thompson, J. J. Horsley, M. Smith, T. Yeaman, trustees of the schools ; Messrs T. Selby, Dixon, Grey, and H. Vernon, junr., churchwardens of the parish; Rev. M. Creighton (chairman), and Messrs J. Heatley (vice-chairman), L. Ainsley, E. Allen, and R. Archbold, the school attendance committee of the Alnwick Union; Mr Thos. Tat?, formerly professor of mathematics in the Training College, at Battersea Mr Reavell, the architect for the buildings; and the contractors, namely, Mr Jonathan Cockburn, joiner work; Mr John Short, joiner work; Mr Fortune, North Sunderland, slater and plasterer work; Mr J. Armstrong, mason ; and Mr A. Rober'son, punter, &c. arriving the schools a hymn was song, after which the Rev. E. B. Trotter offered a suitable prayer. In a cavity of the stone was then deposited bottle, containing a parchment, on whioh was written the following: —To the glory of God.—" This infant school, with master's house adjoining, has been added to the Boys' and Girls' Schools in connection with the National Society, by subscription from the inhabitants of Alnwick, his Grace the Duke of Northumberland having very liberally contributed one half of tbe cost. Architect, G. Reavell of Alnwick G. This foundation corner stone was laid by Right Hon. the Karl Percy, M.P., on Tuesday. July 10, 1877.—Edward B. Trotter, M.A., Vicar of Alnwick." After having been presented with mallet and silver trowel, Earl Peroy duly hvd the stone " In the Faith of Jesus Christ, and in the name the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." The trowel, which was handsomely chased, bore the following inscription:—'Presented to Right Hon. the Earl Percy, M.P., on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Infants' School, with master's house, in connection with the Alnwick National School. Rev. E. B. Trotter, A vic.r.—July 10, 1877"' was supplied from the establishment of Mr H. Vernon, jun., cf this town. The service then concluded by the sinking of another hymn, three special collects, and the blessing. Mr M. Smith then stepped forward, and said: My Lord, the duty has been assigned me. as the senior member of tbe committee, to heartily thank your Lordship for the cordial manner in which you bave responded to our wisb, in laying the foundation-stone of this enlarged building for the education and training of the youth this town. It is only one more evidence of the warm interest taken by the members of your Lordship's family in all that has for its object the best interests of the inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood. ( oud applause.) Lord Percy, in reply, said; My friends, in thanking Mr Smith for the very kind language he has used towards me, and thanking yon for having joined in those expressions, want to say few words about the work which we have been engaged iv to-day. Ido not take any credit to myself for any part that I may have taken in it, because I am quite sure that we are all equally interested in doing everything which can lead to the welfare and prosperity of our town ; and what can lead to the welfare and prosperity of our town more than taking care the training of our children ? (Hear, hear.) Now the work which we have been engaged in today is not new work; it is an addition to a work which was began about thirty years ago, of which Mr Smith was one of the promoters in those days, I believe; and he can tell you of the good work which was done then, and which many, I dare say, who are here around me now are living proofs and witnesses to. (Applause.) Bat, of course, time goes on additions will be necessary; and there is one thing which we have long wanted here, and tbat was infant school. (Applause.) Now, I trust that one will be provided which will in all respects meet the requirements of the town; but yon will have to go on as you have already to a great extent done promoting this good work. very glad that yen have not been asked for any contribution to-day, because I think it might have looked rather as if we were trying to take yon by storm. (Laughter.) Bnt, at the same time, I hope that all those who have the means at their disposal will remember that something is still wanting before what have began to-day is finally completed. I think may say we bave begun it well; and can only wish that it may go on prosperously, and may finally be completed, as to be lasting benefit to all those ohildren for whom it has been founded, (Applause.) I wish the work God speed; and thank you very heartily for having joined me and supported in it. (Applause.) Three cheers wet c then given, at the call of the Rev. Mr Trotter, for Lord Percy, the Countess Percy, and their family; and Mr Trotter next said that, as his Grace the Dnke of Northumberland had contributed one-half of the expense on condition that the remaining half was provided by themselves, he must ask tkem to give thtee cheers for his Grace and the Duchess. (Loud cheers.) Earl Percy said that after the very hearty cheers they had just giveUj they must allow him onoe more to thank them on his own behalf and on behalf of Lady Percy for the very kind way in which their names had been received; and he would take care to convey to the Duke of Northumberland the manner in whioh they had received the remarks with regard to what he had done whioh fell from the Vicar. The proceedings then terminated. We are requested to state that about £400 are still wanted meet the entire outlay,