“At Mr. Wackford Squeers’s Academy, Dotheboys Hall, at the delightful village of Dotheboys, near Greta Bridge, in Yorkshire, Youth are boarded, clothed, booked, furnished with pocket-money, provided with all necessaries, instructed in all languages, living and dead, mathematics, orthography, geometry, astronomy, trigonometry, the use of the globes, algebra, singlestick (if required), writing, arithmetic, fortification, and every other branch of classical literature.  Terms, twenty guineas per annum.  No extras, no vacations, and diet unparalleled.”

Now, mark what follows.  Wackford Squeers the younger was, as we all know, destined by his parents to follow the schoolmaster’s profession, to assist his father as long as assistance was required, and then to take the management of the Hall and its pupils into his own hands.  “Am I to take care of the school when I grow up a man, father?” said Wackford junior.  “You are, my son,” replied Mr. Squeers in a sentimental voice.  “Oh, my eye, won’t I give it to the boys!” exclaimed the interesting child, grasping his father’s cane—­“won’t I make ’em squeak again!” But we know also that, owing to the pressure of pecuniary and legal difficulties, and the ill-timed interference of Mr. John Browdie, the school at Dotheboys Hall was at any rate temporarily broken up.  So far we have authentic records to rely on; the remainder is pure conjecture.  But I am persuaded that Wackford Squeers the younger, with all the dogged perseverance of a true Yorkshireman, struggled manfully against misfortune; resolved to make a home for his parents and sister; and, as soon as he could raise the needful capital, opened a private school in the South of England, as far as possible from the scene of earlier misfortune.  Making due allowance for change of time and circumstances, I trace a close similarity of substance and style between the advertisement which I quoted above and that which I give below, and I feel persuaded that young Wackford inherited from his more famous father this peculiar power of attracting parental confidence by means of picturesque statement.  We have read the earlier manifesto; let us now compare the later:—­

“Vacancies now occur in the establishment of a gentleman who undertakes the care and education of a few backward boys, who are beguiled and trained to study by kind discipline, without the least severity (which too often frustrates the end desired).  Situation extremely healthy.  Sea and country air; deep gravelly soil.  Christian gentility assiduously cultivated on sound Church principles.  Diet unsurpassed.  Wardrobes carefully preserved.  The course of instruction comprises English, classics, mathematics, and science.  Inclusive terms, 30 guineas per annum, quarterly in advance.  Music, drawing, and modern languages are extras, but moderate.  Address--------, Chichester.”  Was it Vivian Grey or Pelham who was educated at a private school where “the only extras were pure milk and the guitar”?