PETERSFIELD.
THE BRITISH SCHOOLS. —On Thursday, the 8th inst., the thirteenth anniversary of the Petersfield British Schools was held at the School-rooms, in College-street, at half-past two p.m., the children of both sexes, amounting to nearly 200 in number, were examined publicly in the following branches of education, viz.:—The Holy Scriptures, geography, scripture, geography, botany, English history, domestic economy, reading, English grammar, parsing, analysis, singing, arithmetic, mensuration, mechanics, algebra, mental arithmetic, drawing, writing, printing, &c, &c. During the examination, which lasted nearly three hours, the children generally acquitted themselves in a most worthy manner, which reflects the greatest credit on their very excellent master, Mr. Fairbairn, and his assistants. At half-past five o’clock about 200 persons partook of tea in the School, on which occasion there was a liberal supply of every description of necessary viands, provided by the liberality of the philanthropic individuals of all classes residing in the neighbourhood, under the guidance of the committee of the school, and two ladies, who undertook to cater for the benefit of this excellent Institution, and which they did with much success. After tea, a public meeting was held, at which H. Appleton, Esq., of Haslemere, presided. The report of the school for the past year was of a very satisfactory and encouraging kind, and which stated that, since its commencement in 1845, nearly 1,000 children had received unsectarian instruction. And the capitation grant for the past twelve months was nearly £20; notwithstanding this the committee would feel much pleasure in receiving donations from the supporters of popular education, as the number of pupils continues to increase almost daily, so much so that larger and more commodious rooms are at the present time desirable. Specimens of the pupils’ drawings, and which are of no mean order, will be open for public inspection during the present week, in the School-room. At the close of the examination a very handsomely bound book was presented by the committee to each of eight of the best pupils.