Went with Elizabeth to the school. The children have always a dinner on New Year's Day. It was in the school upon forms arranged as tables. The children behaved themselves very well, and after dinner we begged the schoolmistress to relax her discipline and allow a little talking. We made the children sing, and the most perfect happiness beamed upon forty-five young and innocent faces.

 (Editor’s footnote: ‘The desire to promote both the education and the recreation of the children of the poor has happily now become almost wholly universal in this country; but not the less honour is due to those who early in the century formed a small minority, but who set the example and took the lead in that good work.’)