were twofold. The number of boys had steadily decreased from
ninety-six in Dr. Butterton's time, to fifty-six in 1860, and thereafter
to an even greater extent. The consequence was that the competition
became considerably less acute, and the proportion of boys from the
neighbourhood considerably greater. Such boys would clearly in the main
be less likely to profit by the efficiency of the teaching than boys
from a greater distance. But there was a second and a contributory
cause. The anomalous position of the Master and Usher, each of whom had
a freehold in his office, had led to awkward incidents under the late
Headmaster. But they were now accentuated by the fact that both Master
and Usher were young men and were appointed at the same time. The
subordination of the Usher to the Master was regulated by the Statutes
of 1592, but in so vague a manner that they allowed room for all manner
of evasion. It would be an unprofitable task to discuss these
differences in detail; let it be sufficient to say that matters reached
such a pitch that the Master was summoned before the Settle Bench of
Magistrates on a charge of excessive vigour in applying punishment, and
that the Usher was expected (though he did not do so) to appear as a
witness for the Prosecution. The summons was dismissed, and the Master
exonerated from all blame, but such a procedure was not calculated to
enhance the prestige of the School, or modify the mutual difficulties of
the Headmaster and Usher.

One of the chief of the minor causes of complaint was the position of
the boarders. The advertisement issued for the purpose of encouraging
applicants for the posts of Master and Usher had signified that both men
could take boarders and so increase their salary. But Craven Bank, which
was the Master's residence, was quite unsuited for the housing of boys.
Butterton had only the attics to put them in, and Blakiston found it
impossible to take any boys, except by allowing them to live entirely
with his own family, and inhabit the same rooms, and for this he asked a
higher fee of L75 a year. The Usher on the other hand was given a
smaller house, but in April, 1859, the Governing Body spent L700 in
enlarging it, and building what is now the Sanatorium. By this means he
was able to take ten or twelve boys, keep them quite separate from his
own family, and board them on lower terms than the Master at L56. As the
numbers declined, the necessity for both men to have boarde