The Express.
London, England, 1864-07-15 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE

This morning man
report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the peso'
Yee of the Committee of Ceased on Eduction with respect
of 'i
tes the reports !an inspectors of schools.
The meet is as follows :
"The original instructions which the Committee of Cone. '
ciE issued to the impeders in August, 1840, so far as re-
gards the reports, were in the following terms :—' The
reports .of the inspector' are intended to convey such
bother information respecting the state of elementary ado j
eaten is Great British as to amble parliament to dam. !
mime is what mode the sum voted for the education of the
poorer chase, can be most vaaally applied. With this view
reports no the sto to of particular districts may be required
to ascertain the slate of education in such district., and ,
low far the interferers* of government or of parlia. '
meat can be beneficislly exerted by promdieg
additional means of education. Your reports will be made
to Me oommittee, but it is intended that they shall be laid
before both Houses of Parliament.' The reports are of two !
kinds, annual or roma reports and separate reports ea
the schools inspected. Both these kinds of reports were at
ant printed, sad laid before parliament at full length. Bat
as the number of inspected schools increased, sod the system
of annual grants was developed, the latter kind of reports,
commonly called tabulated repro ta, became so bulky,
that on the ground of expense, and their limited
ens, the Treasury objected to their being pristed ; the
privitin was diecoatiened is 1858, resumed in 1859
for sale only; and many stopped in 1861. In 1858 she
practice was introduced of seeding to the managers of each
school a manuscript copy of the report relating to the school
at full length, with such observations as the department
thought right to add. This practice with edemas, to the
tabulated reports, was alarmed, altered ; the inspectors
were required to make a summary of their reports, and the
sem:nary only was sent to the managers. It occasionally
happened that the summery did swot in the jedgmeot of
the department, record with the report itself, considered
with reference to the regulations under which the grants
of money were made. In these cases, the summary
was either altered by the inspector at the suggestion
of the department, or the requisite alteration was
submitted to the inspector, and on his assent
substituted foe the original These alterations appear to
Mee been generally accepted by the impeders ; bat in the
an of Mr. J. B. Moreil, who objected to the proposed
alteration, one report was ultimately seat to the managers
as originally propere iby the inspector, and soother was
altogether suppressed. The practice, however, does not
seem to have been perfectly uniform. In matters supposed
to be unimportant or perfectly clear from doubt, alterations
have been made in the summary without consulting the in-
spectors. (See Mr. Lineal 's Evidence). Your committee
mention here a case which occurred in 1863, of a report
made under met. 19 of the Act 24 arid 25 Viet, e. 107
commonly called the ' Staab Schoolmasters' Act.' la this

special case the report appears to have bees abridged by a
mistake of the officer before whom the cam rune in the
usual mune, which mistake was afterwards corrected by
the secretary, who ordered the report to he met to the
heritage in its original shape. Your committee pest from
the tabulated reports to the more important subject of
the annual reports. The length of these reports also was
a frequent subject of complaint ; and instnicticeis for the
purpose of keeping them within due limits, were issued
from time to time by the Committee of Comm:al. These
instnietioes were dismissed in parliament in 1868. In
1860, in cuesequence of a report having been printed, coo-
taining remarks on the comparative morality of Roman
catholic and protestant countries, the attention of Mr.
Lowe, who had bees appointed vioepreediet in the pre-
vious year, was called to the subject. The instructions by
which the inspectors' reports were regulated were then
thoroughly reverie I. The result was the following mired*
of the Committee of Council, dated the 31st of January,
1861 Their lordship. basic' considered the instructions
issued from time to time to her Majesty's inspectors of
schools, for the preparation of their anneal reports, find
the ram of those instructions to be, that the inspectors
mint confine themselves to the state of the schools under
their inspection, and so practical eiSez for their im-
provement ; if any report, in the j t of their lord-
ships, does not cooform to this st rd, it is to be vs.
tarred to the inspector for revilers ; and if on its being
'gala received from him it appears to be epee to the same
objection, it is to be pot aside ass document not proper to
be printed at the public expense.' This minute wee heifer
formally laid before parliament, being considered to be only
explanatory of the purport of the instructions previously
issued. It was, however, iucideetally mistimed and discussed
in the house on more than one occasion. The revision, which
before 1838 was principally for the purpose of °Paden-
natioo, was from that time carried into effect in the follow-
ing manner :—The secretary, considering that the Committee
of Council were responsible for the exclusion of irrelevant
and objectionable matter from the reports, directed the
officer whose duty it was to reed for the press, to semi'se
the reports with increseed care. This officer used to call the
secretary's attention to passages which he considered objeo-
Comb's, either by marking them or mentioning them orally.
If the eeeretary thought the objection invalid or unimpor-
tant, be overruled it, but if be thought it important be mot
the report to the vice-president. with the reader's marks,
and with observations of his own if he thought
any. . seeessery. Mr. Addsrley, while he was nee-
president, teed to read the manuscript reports
himself, and to strike out with his Deo hand those poo-
rer which he thought ioadminible. The Pupation, on
✓eceiving back their manuscripts with the proof, had an
opportunity of seeing what had been objected to and of
correcting the proof accordingly. Mr. Lowe, on his ap-
pointment in 1839, discontinued the practice of striking
out Wages, sod afterward; under the minute of 1861,
ordered the reports containing objectionable matter to be
sent back to the inspectors, that the inspectors might
themselves revise their own report and make them con-
formable to the instructions. But the practice of marking
the passages (motioned without Mr. Lowe's keowledge,
whose cowshed habit wee to have the 'epode read to btu
by his private seereatary, mad sot to see them himself. In
1862, however, Mr. Lowe accidentally became aware of the
continuance of that practice, and immediately, by a note of
his private secretary, dated Feb. 14, 1862, *rowed that the
reports should be no longer marked. Since that time the
practice of marking passages has been discontinued ; and
the manuscript report. objected to have ben soot to the
inspectors, with a letter calling the writer's saboteur to the
minute of 1861, but without specifying any puma* or
matter to which objection was takes. In August, 1863, the
venal circular letter of histruction to the lospectors to make
their annual reports coetained as additional paragraph in
the following words: -By the term 'state of schools under
your inspection' you will understand facts observed within
the circle of your offkial experience ; and by the term practi-
cal suggestion, for their improvement,' you will nederstand
• reggestioni ocusisteet with the principle. of minutes isms
booed by parliament.' This explanation of the minute of
1861 has Dot been laid before parliament. You, committee
believe that no instance of marking the merle has occurred
since the 14th of February, 1862, except that of Mr. League-
viSe Joolllll'll report for the year 1862-3. That report was
bronght specially ender the notice of the Lord Fresidest, on
account of its infringing the minute of 1861 la • peculiar
manner. The soceetery seems to have marked certain pas-
sages in pencil for the Lord President's attention ; and the
report thus marked, with remarks endorsed upon it by
Lord °resell!e himself, was sent back to Mr. L. Jones.
The evidence laid before your committee is to the effect,
that the Committee of Council considered Mr. Jones's re-
port to have been writtee with a feeling of hostility to the
department under which he served. and that in consequence
it ea. dealt with, sot in accordance with the ordinary
practice of the office, but a an exceptional case. Mr. Jones
wa. partially examined, but before his examination could i
be resmed, be was attacked by so serious an Moms that it
was impossible for him to appear again to make any reply
to the evidence adduced against him. Your com-
mittee were thus precluded from proceeding with the
investigation of this cam. Your committee must pow
advert to the resolution passed by your honour-
able house on the 12th of April last, affirm's; that, 'ln the
opinion of this bonne the mutilation of the reports of her I
Majesty's impactors of schools, and the exclutioe from them
of statements and °pinkies adverse to the educational views
entertained by the Committee of Council, while matter fa-
vourable to them is admitted, are violations of the under-
standing nutter which the appointmeet of the inspectors
was originally se netioesd by parliament, and teed entirely
to destroy the value of their reports.' By whatever Unman,'
alteration of the reports is described, it is clear that
the alterations when made, since January, 1861, were made
by the inspectors themselves on receiving back their report.,
with the information that they were not in conformity
with the minute of that date; if any inspector &diced to
make his report conformable to the minute, the report was
not printed. It is also clear that passages considered to ten
objectionable were through inadvertence or mistake marked
in some reports after the date of the agent* of 1861,
and contrary to it. intention, until the practice
of marking plunges was !Malty stooped by the
vice-president's order of the 14th Febeney, 1862.
During the debate on the motion proposing the above re.
solution, the bolus was not informed of the fact
that some passages had been marked between January,
1861. and February. 184° and that all wiring was
stopped from the latter date; this want of infix.
=dims was the muse of a double misunderstanding,
ander which, on the one side, the motion was premed by
its memorises upon the house, and was carried, notwith-
standing the statement then made by the vies-president;
while, on the other side, the resolution so parsed wet con-
sidered by the vice-president to be a refiectioe on his par.
sooal honour. The principle involved in the subject of
the inquiry and in the reeoleitiou is Important. Your
committee have carefully considered the *dke of the
department, and hove come to the comelogoe that the

oftrifir.\l
s ether
may be
. no objection to
made to statements of facts observed by the inspectors
within the circle of Ant aloha experience, whatever *ay
be their bearing on the policy of the Committee of Coua
The knowledge, or even a reasonable suspicion, that the
inspectors' reports are .abject to alteration, either directly
or indirectly, at the batman of the depart/peat, has,
without doubt, a tendency to lower their value, if they
ore to be regarded as independeat sources of testimony
is matters of opinion or coetroversy touching the
edtuntioorl views or policy of the Committee of Council.
It appears, however, to your committee that, whatever may
' have bees the noderstendieg under which the appointment
of impactors was as ;filially sanctioned, parliament nowt
be presumed to be ignorant (dine the year 18M at latest),
that the heads of the °See have exercised a censorship over
the limpectins' reports as to the insertion of argumentative
or irrelevant matter ; and our committee are of opinion
that some such power n essential to the effectual
working of the department so long aa it retains
its present constitution Rod functions. It has oceersed to
your committee that it might be possible to obtain all the
information which the tospectors can be dnired to give to
the department or to parliament, by requiring them to
famish answers to specific questiooe, instead of making
poen! reports ; and them to avoid risk of misunderstand-
leg, either between the department and the inspectors, or
lw;ween the department nod parlisineet as to the kind of
information which the inep.rotore are required to give. It
appease, however that none of the reporta for the last
year have been objected to on the ground of nontonformity
with the minute of 1861, as explained by the paragraph of
August, 1863. For the information of parliament your
Committee recommend, that all iestructioos which may
hereafter from time to time be issued to the inspectors,
either as to their general or tabulated reports, should be
laid before parliament with the annual report of the com-
mittee of council."

The foUolring note is appended to the report :—"Tbe
reports withheld. under the minute of 1861, are eaves in
' number. Tee reporte io all have been bent back to the
inspectors cedar the minute, and have beenietureed to the
office with alterations, and so printed. Such of the with.
held and altered reports as could be obtained in their °A-
; ginal shape are printed in the appendices ; the others have
been destroyed ; some pawagee which have been objected to
as adverse to the policy of the department are rives in the
seldom ; references are given in the appendix (K) to other
passages which may be considered adverse to the policy of
the department, and have not been objectad to."
The draft report was prepared by Mr. Howes, the chair-
man of theoommittes. and agreed to, after several awaked-
, meats, by the other members of the committee, viz., Lord
Hotham, Mr. Howard, Mr. I), Iwo. and Sir Philip Egertoo.
The witnesses examined were :—Mr. Lingeo, the Her. F.
Watkins, the Rev. H. Longueville Jones. Mr. Tillyard, Mr.
J. K Mora, Mr. M. Arnold, Mr. Tolling, Earl Granville,
and Mr. Lowe. In pursuance of the instructions of the
House of Commons the Lord-Advocate sad Lord Robert
Cecil served= the committee to examine witnesses, but
without the power of voting, and on the sth instant, at the
close of the er:siesee, both gentlemen were heard.

SCHOOLS OF ART.

REPORT OF VIE SELECT COMMITTEE.
(THIS DAY.)

This morning was issued the report from the
select committee appointed to inquire into the oonditation
and working of schools of art.

The recommendations to which the committee have agreed
are cootaieed in the folles:og resolutions :—" Resolved,—
That a central training school for teachers be maintained as
at present, and sufficiently qualified scholars from local
schools be admitted to the trainiog school at the expense cf
the state, the study of decorative art need for manufsc-
tures being the prirosty object; other scholars
should also be admitted to the training school upon pay-
meat of remunerative fees. That the collection of works of
decorative art at South Kensington be made more generally
useful than at present throughout the couotry. especially in
connexion with local museums. That a natiooal competi-
tion of works from et the local schools of art in conoexion
with the department continue to be held annually at South
Kensington, and a limited number of prizes awarded. That
local schools of art be left to establish themselves wherever
they can take root, and to extend their operations to all
clawed society, and to chine such fees r • their managers
may think suitable. That the conditions of granting any
state aid to local schools of art be : —(a) thst night clause for
artisans be open at least three times a week, at fees within
the reach of artisans ; (6) that the teachers be oertificst
I pal ready* the whole of the ft.++ at the artisan chain
sod (c) that the localities provide suitable pre-
mises, and pay all charges for rent, taxes, arid repairs.
That no further grants be made in aid either of building,
renting, or repairing schools of art. That no further 'pants
be made in aid of purchasing examples, models, oasts, or
apparatus. That it be a condition of government aid that
a public examination of every aided school of art be held
annually, through the agency of its load committee, and
that the results of such examination should kis reported to
the deportment in such form as the department may pre-
scribe. That payments to certificated art teachers should
be so fax assimilated to those mode to teachers of science,
that • capitatioo payment should be made for every artisan
student who has received 40 lemons within the
year. That the works of the students in their
exeminsticin, certified by two members of the local
committee as being the Madeet's owe work, should he
sent up to the austral department. That fewer prime and
no medals should be gives by the central department on
local examinatioos of aided schools of art. That if ever an
inspector reports that an aided schools of art is held in us-
suitable weeniest, or arse beg modals, examples, or sops-
rotas, or that the Sochi°g is deficient, aid may be wholly or
partially withheld, until the load committee consent to
make such changes as are deemed essential to the proper
ocedect of the school. That the votes for the Museum at
South Kensington and for the schools of art should be kept
distinct."

' The report. which orcapiee 17 yelps, warn written by the
chairman, Sir Stafford liortheoba The above mahatma
wen drawn up chiefly by Mr. Brace end Mr. Adderley.

Zbt Court.

OSBORNE, JCLT 14.

The Queen, Princess Louise, and Prince Leopold,
attended by the 000/4111811 ol Wake sod Colonel the Hon.
A. Hardin., drove out in a carriage and four.

The Prises of Wales, attended by Lord Alfred Hervey
and Captain Grey. west to 'Windsor yesterday afternoon,
where his Royal Highness presided at the annual meeting of
the Prince Consort's Association, and distributed the prises
given by the sieceriation.

- The &sone of Wails took a erring drive.'
Their Royal Higharease went to Her Majesty's Theatre is
the eveuies.

In attendance were the Han. Mrs. Stows and Captain
Grey.

The Hoe. Mrs. Kinnalrd'e name was inedvertently omitted
from the list of ladies who attended at Marthorough.house
ow Tuesday last, to premien a &hie to the Princess of Wales.
Despatches were received at the Oelswial.offioe yesterday
from the Governors at the West ladle Islands, the Bahamas,
New Zealand, South Australia, Heligoland, and Malta.
Despatches were sent to the Governor of Canada.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Weise leave Marlborough Howse to-morrow forth. White
Lodge, Richmond-park, for a few days. On Monday their
royal highness, will attend her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge's fete eAanipttre. et Cambridge Cot-
tage, Kew. On Wednesday their royal highnesses will visit
their Royal Highnesses the Das and Decibels d'Aamale, at
Orleans Howie.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales will honour the Duke and Duchess of Wooleach
with their company at dinner, at Richmond, to-morrow, at
6 o'clock. A select party bac been invited to meet their
royal hishnemes is the erasing, at 8 o'clock, to a mall
dance.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
bewared Lord and Lady Proby by his company st dieser
yesterday sysnips at their house is Halkia-street There
were present to meet the royal duke the Doke and Duchess
of Manchester, the Marchioness (Maria) of Aileabury, the
Earl of Covsetry, the Camden of Westmoreland, Lord
Beery Gaviria Lemma, sod Lord Alfred Paget.
The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland's parties
at Chiswick have commenced for the seams. The dualisms
will shortly remove to Clivedea Park, sear Maidenhead,
Bucks.

The Duke of Newcastle continues to improve in
health. His graos is sow akle to take oceasioaal walks.
The Earl of Derby is fast recovering from bin
recast severe attack of cost.

Tut ux-Queurt Mania AltlLlL—Tbie venerable
lady sad suite will leave amernoot today foe Tunbridge
Wells, when they will pain t►e mason. The usual reei-
deuce occupied by her ex-Majesty, Chancellor House.
Mount Ephraim, has been prepared for her reception. The
Duke and Dealers of Montpeseise aleo take their dew.
tare for Tunbridge Welk today.

PROIABLI.
MAYCIDAT. 011 NORTHMAN SCNDAY.
N.E. to N.W., ligtit to Cori!!. N. W. to N.L. and
moderate, Ana. Wet, moderate to
froth, gely .
Variable. llghttotrosh, WIRIMA. N.lt. to W.n,e m ralodergoo to
generally One to troth.
?LE to &P. and &, 80171111:114 Z. K. S. and 8.W., mt.
ratable, to decant to bean
moderate, fine.
N. to K. and &K, mo- ZLITCRI. N.E. to B.IL, moderate
derate, One. to freak i.enarally
Ana.

Northero=9cottand. Wrotartm Ireland. Walsh, sad ott-
wreck& goothorn = DANA Chagos& Lod dv of Maw. Bviars
agar/ford lititand and North 800.

Rossini bas written a piece of music called
" Hommage Fonebre A Memento/4."

The new law concerning the theatres being now
In practice is Frame, and a manager of any house having
consequently the right to give deeded work, either in
perms or music, the Porte S:. Martin is playing Norma,
Vie Barter, and the comedies of Moli4e.

The Emperor Napoleon sill not this year attend
soy public concerto or theatrical representations at Vichy„
Hie Majesty has decided on availing himself of a complete
repose. He attends only to the most urgent demands of
State, which are got over as as early hoar in the morning.
with the assistance of M. Mocquard.

BREECH-LOADERS TOR THE ARMY.—We believe
it is no secret ►hat an important change 4, about to be
made M the armament of our troops. It is understood that
the committee appointed to ottuaider the subject have
strongly recommended that the whole of our infaotry should
be furnished with breech•losdir.g rides, sad there appear
to exist little doubt but that the recommendation will be
acted upoa—Pat.

HONOURS TO Esousa SURGERY. —The King of
the Belgium, having now pained 13 mouths In ease sod
c,mfort, has hese pleased to confer upon Mr. Henry
Thompson, of London, to whom be owes his can, and
whom he has rewarded by the munificent fee of 4.0001., the
further distinction of nominating him °Meier or the Order
of Leopold, sod Surgeoo•Extraordinary to hie Majesty.
This is a just and wellsarned honour. The King is in ex.
oelleot health, cats take all sorts of exercise freely, all
symptoms of his malad harlot disappeared. The ewe, as is
well knows, was one oftgreat difficulty and responsibility,
and it was also known throughout Europe that M. Civiale,
or Paris, and the distinguished German surgeon Lambs*
had each been specially summoned previonalv, and, after
patient endeavour, had been baffled in thei; labours. and
bad failed to effect a cure. Thus. when the skill of Mr.
Henry Thompson succeeded is relieving the Lag (rola his
suffering, and removing its immediate cease, the boaeurs
which he woe were redacted in some degree upon the
English school of surgery which he reinvented, and Mr.
Thompson will assuredly receive cordial and record eon.
gratulation upon the marks of esteem which King Leopold
sow publicly bestows upon blie.—Lonag.

ip,owA6
S.

CAMP FIRE AT WIMBLEDON, LAB r
NIGHT.
tiliKpi
.oos aroma. ooincrommir.)
WIMBLEDON, FRIDAY.

This, the most truly popular of the many popn-
lir institutions which owe their origin to the volun-
teers, was fairly inaugurated last night. A
genial glow was seen in the sky over to-
wards the banking colony of Roehampton, and
proceeding in its direction, we found ourselves in
the midst of a jocund, musical, and merrymaking
crowd, who were grouped in every variety of free-and-
easy attitude, around a fire which was being deftly
fed by picked members of the Victoria corps. There
was no definite intelligence to be gained, and it was
by the merest chance that such casual strollers as
were inspecting the camp for its own sake, had the
pleasure of witnessing and sharing in the festivities
of the night. The scene was a remarkable one,and
worthy of the pencil of Rembrandt or &Oyster Rosa.
In the centre of • huge hollow is the fire. The fire-
place is not unlike one of those "devil's
punchbowls" which are as plentifully scattered
over Great Britain, as if, when the Prince of
Darkness walked the earth, it was like the public-
house raffles and goose clubs, " for the promo-
tion of conviviality. In the front rank round it
are several gallant members of the shoeblack
brigade, whose red jackets give them a martial or
at all events • drummer-boy look. By their side,
and stretching up the punch bowl to
its rim, are some thousands of sitters,
with whose faces the flickering blaze takes
strange liberties, now elongating a nose or fore-
shortening an entire countenance, now shedding
a ruddy glow as if in joyous welcome. These are
fringed again by standing figures, who appear to
balance themselves on the rim itself, and who act as
self-constituted masters of the ceremonies, decree-
ing who shall stand and who be seated, applauding
the vocalists with discrimination, saying, " a
little higher," " try back," or "just a shade
lower and you'll do it better,', with much
critical acumen and affable candour. There
is some good-tempered chaff, but no personal
raillery, and the remarks we quote are accepted as
they are given, in perfect good faith, and are of
infinite benefit to both audience and performers.
Although there had been a small experimental
fire on the preceding evening, it did not appear
to have brought out many popular favountes.
" Captain Drake" was honoured with a special
call, but there was not that unanimous crj
for a particular singer which made the
name of " Harris " • household word last year.
Some ingenious and sapient gentlemen had been at
the trouble of spreading a rumour that both Lord
Elcho and Lord Bury meant this season to bold
aloof from the night gathering, that the excessive
popularity of " the camp fire" had been its bane,
and that there would be none of that pleasant and
jovial intermixture between different classes of
the community which was such a remarkable
feature twelve months ago. This view was strength-
ened from the fact of the volunteers not having suc-
ceeded in bringing out Lord Elcho on the night
before ; and it was when those present were grate-
fully listening—that is, with great thankfulness
for small mercies—to the intermittent efforts of
a band of amateur minstrels, who did not
sing badly, but who made the fatal mistake
of turning their backs to their audience,
that a cry of " Here's Lord and Lady Bury," was
heard. Everybody was in high good humour, and
three ringing cheers were heartily given. The
" Ethiopians," who had not changed either their
skins or their coats, had warbled their best. The
amusing efforts of an energetic "bones," and of a
sentimental banjo player in a white bat, bad been
followed by • call for "Hermon," and the plea-
sures of a matiimoinal alliance " at the bottom of
the sea," ably descanted upon by • young gentle-
man whose deep knowledge of the idiosyncracies of
mermaid nature was vociferously applauded, when
Lord Bury's advent, his welcome, and his being
called upon for a song, followed in rapid succes-
sion. His lordship, nothing lotb, trolled out cer-
tain particulars connected with • gay cavalier, a
ladder of ropes, cud the consignment of faithless
maidens to HontlCong. After which the ever
hospitable Victonaa came forward with punch.
Monster vessels made their appearance, as well as
a string of bright white metal mugs, looking like
one of those conjuring tricks where " no prepara-
tion " is required, and in which mem-
bers of the corps dispensed the steaming
compound with a liberal hand. More sineig,
more cheering, and increased good humour, as
arrival after arrival proved the stories about the
" camp fire not being encouraged this year" were
the merest rubbish ; until Lord Bury focussed the
enthusiasm by proposing three cheers for Lord
Elcho, as " the heart and soul of the
camp," and who was only absent at that moment
because be was "arranging the owl's eyes" for the
night shooting. His lordship's name having been
heartily greeted, to the surprise of everybody, Lord
Elcho stood up from a distant corner to express
his thanks, saying he had been infinitely gratified
to hear from behind his ivy-bush" the kind
things said of " his owl-iah duties ;" and
congratulating the volunteers and their friends
on their having so successfully inaugurated their
camp fire. Lord Dufferin was loudly called for,
but on his making a few humorous remarks as to
his inability to sing, Lord Aberdeen found him-
self in request. • Airbadeen noo for Airba-
dean " came loudly from a gentleman
on our left, whose Scotch bonnet was not the
only evidence of his nationality, and though
the youthful earl vowed "he could not sing any
more than Lord Dufferin," he good-naturedly re-
sponded to the cries of "Try," with " Ob, I'll try,
if you like," and he warbled the Mermaid ditty
we had heard before his arrival. The crowd round
the tire had quietly and rapidly increased, and
when Lord Elcho made • semi-official announce-
ment that as everybody seemed so jolly, he
had made interest with some one or
other to extend the hour for putting out
lights in camp from half-pant 10 to 11,
the applause was long and loud.
Every variety of picturesque costume was re-
presented. There were lady visitors in gaily
coloured opera-cloaks, in mantillas worn Spa-
nish fashion, in pork-pie hate, and in in-
genious head contrivances, bewitching in ap-
pearance and recondite in character • there were
volunteer uniforms of every hue, from the most
sober gray to the most vivid scarlet ; beyond the
shoeblacks already mentioned, the eye rested
on the bonnets of the London Scottish, contrast-
ing bravely with the Guardsmen's uniform by
their side • • few white-eravatted and open
waistcoated figures spoke of a dinner table tempo-
rarily deserted ; while the long dark cloaks of the
Victories, who kept flitting to and fro the open
space in the centre, now bearing gigantic bundles
of fuel, now stirring the fire into a blaze, now hand-
ing round jorums of steaming punch, gave a stern
reality to the picture, much as if all around were
guests at a really military bivouac. Mrs. Mary
Howitt wrote :
A fin's • good companionable friend,
A comfortable friend who meets your face
With 'Nkomo glad !
long before this Wimbledon institution was thought
of, but if it be not contrary to the principles of a
quaker poetess to visit a camp, we fancy she would
realise her own words more thoroughly than is
possible elsewhere. The fire is friendly, the people
are more than friendly ; and there is such a de-
termined Mark Tapley spirit dominant in every
man, woman, and child, who oomes within the
magic circle, hat the words " jollity " and "good
tempered" seem pale and feeble definitions. The
camp fire is an institution perse. There is nothing
like it in England or in the world, for under its
influence all men are equal for the nonce. Last
year a comic peer and a sentimental policeman sang
in rapid encomia), and the name spirit of 'cheery
co-operation was visible last night. Lord Mello
spoke of Lady Elcho's volunteer enthusiasm, and
called for " three cheers in remembrance of Mrs.
Harris " (the sobriquet of the young officer whose
singing was so constantly welcomed twelve months
ago), almost in the same breath. Lady Bury, Lady
Elcho, and their friends apparently enjoyed the
scene as keenly as Policeman X, or Corporal
Jones, and ' belted earls " and barons sang
their songs or pleaded their inability just,

as did young Smith, from the City, or Volunt.. r
Sergeant Brown, fresh from the pasture laud ui
Luamshire. Judge Taßoard's dying wishes are Um,
fulfilled at the camp fire. It is the one place
artificial social barriers are withdrawn and class th—
tinctions suspended. Bere,peer and commoner,artht
and peasant, aristocrat and ahopman, may be fwp,,l
looking merrily into each other's face, shaking es, 1,
other heartily by the hand, discovering how many
good points they hare in common, and as a twee,.
cry consequence liking each other better, and
respecting each other more.

4 : U ' X.PRft FRIDAY E 'iv
4
!HE COMMITTEE OF COU ND 74 .. ' ohm */ Os the ieseatioe
REPORTS OF HER IN ••
"lest "Mar, "IT'S th".""1". "4 4 i
TORS OF SCHOOLS. .. Controversial aprwsent, emesiatet with the Pewit:.
-1111 k; ‘
the Ow oineree of Ow and hew, Wok,
_AA- • fly, end exoendure ' If pia. ' ....
I.EPORT OF THE fItECT • %.1 . . a:re in the reports, as printed, rre of Infer-
(THlS DAY.) ' epee or argumenta which may tend to eloport the edam-
Hanel views of the department, other wawa may be The
This morning was Mooed the much-talked of awed which have • cocteary teodency. No objection Is