Fri. April 4th.) Rev. T. W. Weare, the Under Master, who has since Liddell left Westminster, made it his business to interfere in every possible way with everybody else’s, chose to give in imposition to a Sixth T.B., Maples, a thing which no master can do up school or down, but the Headmaster. The imposition was given for a trifle, which has nothing to do with the case. Going down school, Mr Weare in his benevolence kindly told Maples that he would excuse the imposition. Maples, not being particularly affected by such magnanimity, made no reply; at which Weare got angry; Maples told him the imposition was given in the beginning for nothing (too truly), at which Weare doubled the former imposition. I went with him (M.) to Scott’s house (who had not been at prayers) & explained the matter; but Scott quietly listened to me & then refuted (!!) me by saying that there was no proof that such was the rule of the school, & when I referred to Mr Weare’s own mouth (See the bottom of the third Page no. 399) Scott said there was nothing to prove that Murray had not misunderstood Weare. Against such argument there is no use reasoning. Scott finished by saying that he should give me a written rule to put in the Ledger, to the effect that every master in the school has authority over everyone in whatever form, or house. In that case we should have six Masters, excluding French &c., allocating probably without knowing what the other were about. The way in which Weare is “loved and respected” (to use his term) is not at all different from before. The Q.S. fear him on account of their elections, & hate him. The following is the new rule
In absence of the Head Master no boy in the VIth form whether Q.S. or T.B. is entitled to claim any exemption from the authority of the other Masters of the school in respect of impositions &c.
(Signed by C.B. Scott)
It is not in our power to do anything against this rule; though it is against all precedent. But I hope that whoever is Head Town Boy when we next have a new Headmaster will represent the matter to him, in order that this rule may be annulled.
A.F. Pope
Pr. Opp.