THE HIGH SCHOOL COMMISSION.

Evening Star, Issue 3256, 28 July 1873, Page 2

THE HIGH SCHOOL COMMISSION.

To the Editor. Sir,—l think your correspondent Dr Bakewell, in one of his letters about the High School, disclaims all knowledge of Professor Sale, yet in that published by you this evening he takes it upon himself (admittedly without knowledge, if my recollection is right) to accuse Mr Sale of having gone “ with the intention of finding fault.” Mr Sale has, I believe, been always on friendly terms with Mr Hawthorne, and, therefore, so far as my knowledge goes, could have had no object, as regards either that gentleman or the boys, to form a foregone determination to find fault, and it seems an unwarrantable assumption on the part of Dr Bakewell to accuse Professor bale of having done so. An unsought, unremunerated, and assiduous task was imposed on Air Sale, and his very position in the matter should have shielded him from wauton attack. It was quite fair for Mr Hawthorne to justify himself, and it might have been open to the public to temperately particular systems of but it is altogether another matter for a stranger to charge (as Dr Bakewell practically has done) preconceived injustice against one who had no apparent motive or course of action whatever than to fulfil his enforced office faithfully in the public interest according to his best judgment As to Dr Bake well’s absurd charge of uptakes in spelling, I will only say that unless he quotes directly from Professor Sale’s manuscript he is not in a position tp copn^,

Hwl 'I '' lf """ ' ' f " " Even if the Professor did make a lapsu pennce, it would be farcical to suppose that a University man of his standing could not spell the common Latin words. In keeping with whatl must call Dr Bakewell’s self- ufficient bad taste, he speaks of “absurd” advice, and insultingly asks, “ Where, under the sun, was Professor Sale educated ? Perhaps it will be sufficient, even for Dr Bakewell, to know that (a* I believe is the case) Mr Sale was educated at Kugby, and is a Fellow of Cambridge. Mr Sale was doubtless selected for his present office on account of bis scholastic attainments, and presumably he should be competent to give advice other than “absurd.” It is not my purpose to touch on the merits of the High School affair on ©ne side or the other, but to protest against Dr Bakewell’s remarks and the position ho has taken up, and X write altogether without Mr Sale’s knowledge. Dr Bakewell must have known that Professor Sale could not condescend to reply to his letter, and therefore it was all the more reprehensible on Dr Bakewell’s part to writ* as he did. I know not why a medical man should put M.D. after his signature, especially when treating of non-professional subjects, unless for the purpose of advertising, which, to judge from the style of his letters, it is fair to assume, must be Dr Bakewell’s motive. I certainly do not call to mind that members of the other learned professions parade their callings or qualifications. If Dr Bakewell wishes to air his knowledge, let him do so temperately and as a gentleman, if he desires to write himself into notoriety or practice, he should find other means of doing bo than by wantonly attacking another of whom he professedly knows nothing, and whom he has no right to assail. I hope, for his own sake, that Dr Bakewell has surely forgotten himself ; but if, by permission of the Press, he continues in his peculiar inflated style to publish his self-asserted experience or acquirements, well and good ; while in the meantime I, more modestly, will be content with a common-place subscription.— I am, &c. f One for his Nob. Dunedin, July 23.