[We propose to reserve a page monthly for the original compositions of our young friends. The present writer would do well to make his sentences shorter, and to conquer his strange aversion to full stops and capital letters. ED. "Young Scholar."] Editor's Examinations. Answers should reach the Editor by the 10th instant. They should be written on only one side of the paper, and should not contain a larger number of words than would fill one-half or three-quarters of a page of this Magazine. Each answer should be signed by the writer, and should state his age from his last birthday. Boys and girls who have completed their eleventh year are eligible to answer the first question; boys and girls under eleven must confine themselves to the second question. The papers written by scholars of the same age will be examined together, and the names of twenty of the best essayists, with the addresses of their schools, published in each division. The prizes will be awarded to the papers that excel most within the limit of the prescribed ages, varying from seven to fourteen years inclusive. Papers sent from schools should contain a certificate from the teacher that they have been honestly worked; in the cases of writers who are receiving their education at home, a certificate from the parent will suffice. Questions for this Month. FOR SENIORS--Parse-" Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, FOR JUNIORS.-Write a life of Samuel. The Publisher has much pleasure in giving PRIZES to the writers of the two best answers to each question in every number. The first prize will be a book of the value of FIVE SHILLINGS; the second, a book of the value of THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE. Two books of each kind will be given-four in all; but a Scholar, after taking one prize, cannot obtain another until an interval of six months has elapsed. Should his paper during that time obtain the distinction which would otherwise entitle him to a prize, it will be printed in its proper position, but the prize will be awarded to the scholar who has written the answer next in merit. EDITOR'S EXAMINATIONS. 157 Prizes FOR ESSAYS PRINTED IN THIS NUMBER. A five shilling book each to EMILY CROSs, G.W.R. Co.'s Schools, Swindon, Wilts; and WILLIAM C. HATCH, St. Thomas's Schools, Lancaster. A three shilling_and sixpenny book each to CHARLES HAMLIN, St. John's Schools, Exeter; and WILLIAM HUGHES, British School, Holyhead. The above-named Prize Essayists are desired to send to the publisher, Mr. JOHN HEYWOOD, 141 and 143, Deansgate, Manchester, the name of any book or books, of the value referred to, which they would like to receive, and such will be forwarded, post free, within one week afterwards. The Publisher, of course, reserves to himself the right of refusing to forward any work the character of which he may think injurious, but with that single exception Prize Essayists may select any work they please. They will doubtless avail themselves of the advice of their parents or teachers in their selection. A catalogue of three thousand works will be sent by the publisher on receipt of a penny postage stamp for postage. Answers to Questions in the May Number. THE pressure on our space caused by the large number of names of essayists compels us to be very brief in our remarks. We trust the future conditions, as stated above, are clear to every one of our readers. No scholar above eleven can compete for the second question; no scholar under eleven can compete for the first. Thus every scholar will have a chance of obtaining a prize; and, if a boy or girl of seven or eight years writes an excellent paper (better, for his age, than any of the scholars who are nine or ten), he or she will obtain the first prize. The twenty names published in each division will be the twenty best scholars in each division. Papers sent from a school should be tied together at the ends, and the certificate of the teacher appended. These rules have been adopted in deference to the suggestions of many esteemed correspondents, and will have the effect of giving each scholar a chance of obtaining a prize; of making the publication of names in itself a distinction; and also of preventing too large a portion of our space being taken up with these lists. man. A LIFE OF LORD BACON. LORD FRANCIS BACON was an illustrious philosopher and eminent statesHe was the son of Sir Nicholas Bacon by his second wife; and, whilst yet a boy, gave such indications of future eminence, that Queen Elizabeth used to call him her "young lord keeper." He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. At the age of sixteen he went to France in the suite of Sir Amias Paulett, ambassador to that court. He returned to England when he was twenty-one years of age, entered Gray's Innd and at the age of twenty-eight was appointed one of the queen's counsellors. He was chosen member of parliament for Middlesex in 1593. In 1611 he was appointed judge of the Marshalsea Court, and obtained the place of registrar of the Star Chamber, the reversion of which had been granted him twenty years before. In 1613 he was made attorneygeneral, and in 1616 sworn a privy councillor. At this time he contracted a close intimacy with the king's favourite, George Villiers, to whom he wrote an admirable letter of advice. In 1617 he was made lord keeper of the great seal, and in January, 1618, was invested with the high chancellorship of Great Britain, and created a peer by the title of Lord Verulam. He was next made Viscount of St. Albans. In 1620 he gave the world the greatest of all his works, entitled the "Novum Organum." Soon after this he was accused in parliament of bribery and corruption in his high office. This heavy charge was admitted by himself: "I do plainly and ingenuously confess that I am guilty of corruption, and do renounce all defence." The confession which was made by himself could hardly be believed to have been done. A committee, therefore, was sent by the lords to inquire if such was the case, and if it had been signed by him. "My lords, it is my act, my hand, my heart. I beseech your lordships to be merciful to a broken reed." He was sentenced to pay a fine of £40,000, to be imprisoned during the king's pleasure, and for ever rendered incapable of holding any public office. In a short time, however, he was restored to liberty, had his fine remitted, and was summoned to the first parliament of King Charles. Born in London, 1561; died 1626. His remains were interred in St. Michael's Church, at St. Albans, where his secretary erected a monument to his memory. EMILY CROSS, 14 years. FRANCIS BACON, a most noted author and philosopher, was the son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper of the great seal of England. He was born in London on the 22nd of January, 1561. When he was a boy he was noted for a quick wit and great sedateness, which led Queen Elizabeth, who was a frequent visitor at his father's house, to call him her "little lord keeper." At the age of thirteen he was sent to Cambridge, where he studied for three years. He was then placed under the charge of Sir Amias Paulett, who was going on an embassy to France. In 1579, on the sudden death of his father, he was recalled to England, and shortly after began to study law. In 1582 he was called to the bar, and in 1585 he obtained a seat in the House of Commons. He then became an adherent of the Earl of Essex, who tried hard to get him the office of solicitorgeneral, but he did not succeed. Bacon quickly found that Essex was a dangerous friend, and very soon the connection was broken between them. In the year 1597 ten of his celebrated essays were published, but others were added in 1612. In 1606 he married the daughter of a Cheapside merchant, Alice Barnham, who thus changed her name to Lady Bacon, her newly-married husband having been lately knighted by King James I. In 1618 he was made lord high chancellor, with the title of Baron Verulam, and soon after Viscount St. Albans. In 1620 he gave to the world the celebrated work named "Novum Organum," which he copied and corrected twelve times before publication. Bacon, although in such an exalted position, was accused of receiving bribes, confessed his guilt, and sentenced to pay a fine of £40,000, which James I. remitted. ESSAYISTS IN ORDER OF MERIT. 159 The manner of his death was curious. Driving in his carriage one day the thought struck him that flesh might be preserved by snow as well as by salt. He went to a cottage and bought a fowl, which he stuffed with his own hands. He then felt very unwell, fever ensued, and in a short time he died, in the year 1626. Lord Bacon's character was not faultless, although in the opinion of many he has been unjustly dealt with. He has been described by Pope, the great poet, as the wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind." CHARLES HAMLIN, aged 13 years. Classified List of Papers containing Life of Lord Bacon. 1. Millicent Doxey John Everitt Clarke "A Scholar" Robt. Bentley R. H. Courtenay C. W. Atkinson F. R. Yates J. H. Burchby Willoughby Bleasby Ellen Simpson Cecilia Hawksey S. A. Isherwood Wm. Henry Groves Robt. Wm. Buck Henry Cowe M. Millar J. W. Hodgson William Harling "Puer Timidus" Kate Brown J. J. Leslie J. T. Longstaff Frank Story J. M. Hogg Alfred Willis Robert Catterall Sarah Gain well Samuel Doxey Selina Dix Emily Bailey W. A. Harper W. J. Dynan T. H. Morris Johnson Cave C. H. Anderson Emily Gush C. R. Fage W. C. Bell Annie New Amy Bradley W. J. Freeland Clara Brown Eliza Bailey W. G. Rogers Thomas Allen H. G. White Albert Searly Isaac Tidbury J. P. Pye Walter Bentley Flora Major Marian Miller E. B. Martin 2. L. R. Puchett Lilly Whitty Charlotte Swete Danl. Ballom F. W. Arnold Henrietta Foot Jessie Chaffey W. W. Symons George Simpson J. F. Crowdor J. G. Bowman G. H. Symons Herbert Derbyshire Thos. Brazier M. A. Perry Jane Williams Fred. Perry Ernest Green J. C. Bell Edwd. Rawlinson G. Hodder A. W. Perry Edwd. Wells P. C. Hebblethwaite Annie Jane Walker Herbert Robert Norman "A Well-Wisher" Jessie Christie Pirrie Willm. West George Screen Amos Duerden Henry Prole Joe Hinchcliffe Fred E. Thomas Benjamin H. S. Walker Ellen Rogerson M. J. Bailey James Wardle George Reed Henry Richardson Ralph Forster Thomas Rollett W. Smith Wm. Goodison J. W. Middleton T. Dunderdale John Constable C. E. Fowlston William Lister Richard Mortimer John Whaley S. M. Peace William H. Lewis T. W. Ridley F. A. Appleton Lydia Smith Jos. Smith E. J. Lees F. Wright Alfred Ide "Florence, aged 10" Mary Bradford Alfred Glover S. J. Crompton W. H. Jackson H. H. Ashley Selina Newland E. M. Jaques George Sanders Marian Windsor R. Gordon Lewis J. R. Cash William Barton S. Shakeshaft Thos. Shakeshaft E. M. Woolley Harper Shakeshaft Martha Burrows M. A. Woolley Ann Hewitt J. W. Franklin F. L. Spencer J. S. Brooks Richard Stowell J. L. Perkins Jane Craigie Bessie White Florence S. White G. H. Wardman 3. Charles Bowes W. H. Rostron John Pollard Agnes Pringle Robt. Jordan Fredk. Drew W. H. Pilling R. W. Smith Eliz. Batho Jos. Latham H. Manley W. T. Herbert Levi J. Hall Thomas H. Jones J. A. Eddleston |