Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Feoffees meeting at the School at 2 p.m. The first under the new Feoffment.  Present Rev Canon Payne, Rev T. Smith, Dr Routh, Mr G. Hitchcox Junior, Mr  T. Hitchcox, Mr F. Manning, Mr Josiah Woolgrove and myself.

They resolved to place the School under Government Inspection. To distrain on Mr Hands at once for his rent to Michaelmas last, due 21st December, last. That the half crowns came out of the School funds. That a scale of school fees adapted to means of parents should be adopted at Lady day next.

… I hinted also that I thought it a not very nice question to discuss. Still, as a lesser evil than a refusal, we signed the petition.

Mrs. West called and asked me whether I could give her eldest son a young man of 20 who lives and works at Temple Mill, a pair of boots. She said he never had a pair from the Charity. I told her that giving a man like him a pair of boots was different from giving a pair to a boy just leaving school. She then said her husband had very little work since Michaelmas and that her little boy wanted a pair very badly and she would be glad if I would give him some. I knew the child, who attends Sunday School, was very badly off in this respect and therefore gave her an order for a pair for him.