following:--

"Three Sunday Schools--one Church School with 55 scholars, and two
Dissenters' Schools with 204 scholars. A lending library attached to
both Dissenting Schools. In the two Dissenting Sunday Schools the
children are taught by gratuitous teachers. Church Sunday School
supported by voluntary contributions; master's salary seven guineas per
annum."

The above return enables us to compare the growth of Sunday Schools in
the town, and the most striking fact is that while at first the Chapel
Schools were by far the larger, the later figures show a great increase
in the Church Sunday School in particular, and of Sunday scholars in
general. In 1831 we see that the Church had only 55 scholars; in 1890
it had 405; in 1831, the two Independent Schools had 204 between them,
now they have about 420. In 1831, the total scholars in Sunday Schools
in Royston was 259, now, including Wesleyan School, the number is about
900. To get an exact comparison about two-thirds of the present
figures should be taken, as the population of the town in 1831 was very
nearly (not quite) two-thirds of what it is at present. This basis
would give us 600 scholars now against 259 sixty years ago. Those who
think we may be losing our hold upon the children must remember that we
have all this advantage plus the elementary education of the day
schools, as compared with sixty years ago, and a comparison with eighty
years ago would of course be even more in favour of the present.

By the year 1840 the relative position of the Sunday Schools as to
scholars was, Church School 92, the three Dissenting Schools {120}
264--viz., New Meeting 154, Old Meeting 85, and Unitarian 25. By 1831,
out of a population of 2,258, there were 1,313 who could read and write.

Coming to Day Schools we find from the same Parliamentary return for a
date somewhat beyond that assigned me, viz., 1831, the following
particulars, as questions and answers, are given--

What number of Infant Schools, if any? One public Lancastrian School,
53 in attendance, 70 on the list; children may enter at a
year-and-a-half and remain till 6 or 7--mistress L30 a year.

What number of Daily Schools? One Lancastrian, 53 in attendance, 90 on
the list; enter at 6 years of age and remain as long as their parents
please to let them--mistress 12s. a week.

Total number of schools of all kinds, 16. Three Boarding Schools and
for day pupils; one for males 30 scholars, one 25 schola