The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-28 00:00:00

YETROF'OLMAN RAILWAYS._

Lord STRATiii.DINsi;;;d an hum—lie address to her
Majesty praying bar Majesty to appoint • commission to
isquire into and report upon the principles which ought to
etude further legisktion on the subject of metropolitan
railways.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said the question
of appointing • royal commission had bees very
anxiously considered by the committee, which had
at lee Oh unanimously reported against such • step.
The appointment of • commission would obviously
postpone the commeacensent of any work for a con-
siderable period, because until it terminated its *air:es,
which would probably not be before next session, none of
the preliminary ns io connexion with railway
schemes oould bung. The committee had, however,
made a series of recommendations. One of 'them was, Masi
there should be no great central terminus; and another,
that the railways of the metropolis should all be
under one management. Tbe committee had also rug-
rt.dthat standing orders should be agreed to
both houses of parliament, to the affect that
no scheme should be deemed admissible that did not con-
nect itself with some portion of a general achwas No
spportuaity had offered for communicating with the other
house, but he hoped that nett session the suggestions of
the committee would not be without effect.

After a few words from the Marquis of CLANIIICARDZ.
Lord RIIMSDALE observed that the inquiry before the
eceamittee seemed to show that there were grounds for
hoping th►t next Illsaiou a very efficient plan of metropo-
litan railway oommunieation would be introduced, end he
thought they might trust to the wisdom and good settee of
promoters not to disregard the suggesticas of their lord-

Earl FORTESCITE said that at first sight the subject
was one which ought to be left to the Metropolitan Board
of Works; but that board had shown itself incompetent to
do that for which it had ample powers. To this day there
were dooms of Kingaittvista, Duke-streets, and Chapel.
streets within very limited areas. He had ventured to
predict that more of ito time would be spent in discussion
than in work, and that prophecy had been amply borne
eat by the molt. He felt sure that the public did not
desire to give them any more to do.
The Earl of DERBY said that though in the first instance
be had been in favour of • commiesioti, he thought that after
the report of the committee it would be unnecessary to
have ma. Bead= it might happen that a oommindon
would come to • different dean= from the committee, and
their lesdehips would then be placed in • position of am=
embarrassment.
Lord STRATHF.DEN then withrew his motion.
NEW MINUTE OF THE OOUNCIL OF EDUCATION.
Lord RIIDESDALE called attention to the minute of the
Committee el Conseil lon Education of the 19th of May last
and the memovasdani of the committee of the National
Society to the Committee of Council thereon. He explained
QM the effect of the minute wee to reduce the grants to
=dosed schools by the amount of the annual eodownient
which suck schools rewired. The minute was calculated
to produce a most prejudicial effect, and be hoped before
parliament reassembled something would be dace by the go-
wernmentto place endowed schools on • better footing in re-
ference to the public grants.
The Karl of DERBY believed that if the minute were
aimed oat it would be impossible for many of the schools
to receive the slightest benefit from these parliamentary
pants.
After some okeervatices from Earl Powis,
The Doke of SOMERSET defended the minute, and
denied that it would have the prejudicial effect attributed
to it.

ibrief conversation ensued, in which Lord Rodeo&le,
the Earl of Dououglunar% and Earl Fortescue, took part,
and the subject then dropped.