The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-07 00:00:00

PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMXL9SION.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. G. DUFF celled attention to the Report of the
Pali& Schools Commission. He aoslysed the report, with
refereoce to the descriptions it gave of the prevent state of
things, which were very uosatisfactory, sod to the rococo-
mendatious of the commissioner', which be discussed. sup-
plementing them with recommendations and suggestions
if his own, and estimates of the relative value and
portaece of &ferret brooches of study. He noticed the
subjects of discipline, of which the commissioners reported
more favourably than of the intellectual attainments of the
scholars ; of the buildings ; of recreations in relation to
health. sod remarked the 01211/&100 in the report of soy
mention of the importance of some system of training
master". He concluded a long speech, which repeated
indications of impatience showed was considered too loom
by nicitim; a resolution—" That the state of the higher
school education in England is not satisfActory, sod calLs
fur the early attention of her Majesty's government."

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after re-
marking toot the discussion of this subjects° soon after the
publicatiou of the report might be thought premature, paid
a warm tribute to the laborious and valuable service of the
cominissimiem to whom, be said. the government were
deeply indebted. With regard to the motion, be observed
that it was premature at least to ask the concurrence of the
house in a resolutiou which really amounted to • coo.
demtstiou of the commissioners. He defended the
teachers of our public schools. and took a comprehensive
view of the inatructioo received is the universities
and public schools of England and Scollaue. °om-
itting training power and teaching power,
for those institutions a debt of gratitude from the country.
In noticing the improvements suggested in the branches of
learning to La taught there, he dwelt upon the danger or
over•loadiug tie mind so as to prevent its faculties from
growing and thriving. It was the intention of the govern-
ment, be said, to take the report into consideration, with a
view to legislate upon the subject, and he pointed out the
oii4ects to which parliamentary legislation should be directed.
'ill.. WALPOLE recommended that the resolution should
be withdrawn after what had been said by the Chancellor
of the Escliesuer.
Sir S. NORTIICOTE, One of the commissioners, de-
scribed their course of proceeding in the inquiry, especially
io the matter of discipline.

The reseiution was withdrawn.
The attention of the house was next directed to this
subject of charging the poor rate in Ireland with the ex-
penses connected with the registry of voters and births and
deaths, and to the justice of distributing the amount
awarded by the order in council of 1851 for retired officers
in the Royal Marines.
Mr. D. SEYMOUR vied whether the Home Secretary
was aware that the pretties still prevailed of transporting
cot.victs and vagrants from the Channel Islands to South-
aronton and other southern seaports.
Sir G. GREY replied that he had inquired into the
matter, and received information from Guernsey to the
effect that co convict bad been transported thence since
:Co answer had yet been received from Jersey.
' Mr. IPEYOY moved that in the opinion of the bowls
the government should now adopt the recommendation of
le,3s. which recommended them to take into consideration
the claims of Indeed to a grant of the half-cot of medical
officers in unions with the view of providing for the same
in future as was the practice in England and Scotland.
The motion was opposed by Sr K PEEL, and after din-
' eunsion was negatived upon a division by to 58.

AFFAIRS OF DENMARK.
Sir H. VERNEY rose to ask the Under Secretary of
Slate for Foreign Affairs to state to the house whether be
had rtat.ol) to believe that the States of Holstein formally
thanked the King of Denmark for what he had dose is
altering the succession • and if so, on what authority he
entertained that belief. Whether the intimation, is
Despatches 700 and 76i, that the movement in the Duchies
. . .

of Sleswid and tiolsteit; in favour of separation 60MDen-
mark was not spontaneotu, rested oo the authority of coy
watts of the Bntiabigovenunant ; and if Is• would lay upon