The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

advocates of universal knowledge are willing to
allow. An attendance of two million scholars
gives an average of four years' schooling for
every child born in England or Wales ; an
amount not indeed sufficient, but still enough,
if the wish be there, to lay a foundation for
future self-instruction. So far the question is
one of numbers, and the result attained is
certain; but when we push the inquiry a step
farther, and ask as to the quality as well as
quantity of the teaching given, we are met by
conjectures, inferences, suppositions—every-
thing except demonstration and fact. In
truth, the investigation is one which can only
be pursued by indirect and doubtful means.
There is no gauge of a schoolmaster's intellec-
tual ability ; still less of his teaching power,
of which intellect forms only a part, and that
not even the most important. All we can do
is to ascertain what is professedly taught in
the school, and what is the value, as measured
by his salary, of the master's services. On
the first of these heads we have the following
statement, based on returns which include six
sevenths of the whole number of students :
Out of every hundred children 88 are taught to read.
59 learn to write.
61
It 50 learn arithmetic.

41 28 learn geography.
14 25 learn English grammar.
Other subjects of instruction, such as lan-
guages, mathematics, drawing, music, and in-
dustrial occupations, are studied only by a few,
and can scarcely be said to form part of the
general system of tuition. The calculation
includes girls as well as boys, and is only ap
proximately accurate, fractions being omitted
for the sake of simplicity. It is, however,
sufficient for our purpose, since it shows that
a large proportion of English schools hardly
deserve the name. We lay no stress on the
absence of mathematical, lingual, or artistic
studies, holding it better that a few things
should be thoroughly taught than that many
should be taught superficially ; but surely
every parent who pays a school fee has a right
to expect that his child shall be able to read,
write, and cipher correctly. And what is the
fact ? Of the two million pupils only seven-
eighths learn to read ; only three-fifths, or
rather less, to write ; only one-half are brought
to understand the use of figures ! One asks
in wonder, what are the children doing ?
What are the master's about? How is it pos-
sible to devise a mode of teaching so clumsy
that in three or four years' attendance not
even the first elements of instruction are ac-
quired ? Questions more easily put than
answered, for the report, stating only a fact,
leaves the cause to conjecture. Yet something
may be discovered when we come to consider
the emoluments and education of the teachers.
They are, as a general rule, miserably under-
paid ; indeed, not less than 26,000 are returned
as " unpaid "—possibly because they unite
other duties with that of instruction. A new
generation, however, is rising up; training
colleges have begun to do their work ; Govern-
ment does what it can in bearing a part of the
expense, and encouraging merit by rewards ;
and the rest will soon follow. Superior intel
lect will command higher pay; with these will
come an improved social position ; and the
quality, as well as quantity, of popular educa
tion will gain proportionately.
The following general conclusions may
safely be drawn from Mr. HORACE MANN'S
work :

I. It is not school accommodation that is
mainly or very urgently wanted. Were it much
increased, in all likelihood no advantage would
be taken of the opportunities thus given.
2. Indifference of parents—irregular at-
tendance—ill-paid masters—and too early
cessation of teaching—are the most operative
causes of popular ignorance at the present
day.
3. The instruction given in schools being
at best only elementary, and usually very
imperfect even of its kind, some means are re-
quired of carrying it on in later life. Here all
governmental interposition fails, and we are left
to the agency of mechanics' institutes, literary
societies, free libraries, and the like. The
consideration of these—their number, working,
and results—we postpone for the present.

483

Intelligence brought from the Sebastopol station
by the Descartes informs us that on the 11th the com-
bined fleets were still cruising off that port. There
was then so intense a fog that the tlag-s hips were
continually firing guns to inform the rest of the fleet
of their position from time to time.

The Duke of Cambridge had taken up his quarters
at the palace of Seria Feri Jails in Constantinople.
He waited on the Sultan on the 10th, and had an
audience which lasted for half an hour. The Sultan
was to return the call as soon as he had recovered
from indisposition. The state of the Sultan's health
has been delicate for some time past.
Generals d'Hautpoul, Baraguay d'Hillicrs, and
Ornano are to be elevated to the rank of marshals of
France.

The English airs, "God save the Queen" and
" Rule Britannia," and the march of the " Grand
Sultan Abdul Medjid Khan," are ordered in future to
form part of the repertory of all the bands of the
French army.
The screw-steamer Australian has been wrecked in
Table Bay, on her way home to England. The
passengers, mails, and gold (300,00010 or board are
saved. The ship is entirely lost.
The new gold discoveries in the Ben Lomond dis-
trict of Van Diemen's Landwers attracting considera-
ble attention. The value of land was greatly increas-
ing, and in some large sales lately made unprecedented
prices had been realised.

The King of Portugal, accompanied by his brother,
Dom Luis de Braganza, will, according to present ar-
rangements, arrive in this country on Friday or
Saturday next, on a visit to the Queen. His Mkjesty
will land at Southampton, and is expectaul to remain
in this country until after Ascot races.
The ex-Queen of the French left Seville, with the
Duke and Duchess of Moutpensier, on the 15th, for
Puerto Real, where she was to embark for England.

DEPARTURE OF CHEVALIER BUNSEN.—We ara
sorry to see that the departure of this diplomatist,
who has been so much respected during his stay in
England, and who has fallen a victim to the machi-
nations of the Russian party at Berlin, must now be
be considered final. His excellency only awaits the
arrival of Count Bernstorff from Naples to leave
England for Germany, and on Monday and Tuesday
next the valuable collection of objects of art col-
lected by Chevalier Bunsen at Rome and other cities
in which his diplomatic life has been spent will be
disposed of by private sale at the Prussian Legation.
No foreign Minister has more endeared himself to a
large circle of English friends than Chevalier Bunsen ;
and this fact, coupled with the peculiar circumstances
attendant on his recal, has caused his departure to
be regarded with general regret.—Times.
VICE-ADMIRAL THE HON. WILLIAM GORDON, brother
of the Premier, M.P. for Aberdeenshire, has been ap-
pointed commander-in-chief at Sheerness, vice the
Hon.Josceline Percy, C. 8., whose term of service has
expired. Vice-Admiral Gordon has served afloat
eighteen years, and has seen some gallant cutting-out
service.

A DRAWING-ROOM was held in Holyrood Palace by
Lady Belhaven on Wednesday to celebrate the
Queen's birthday. About thirteen hundred Wise
and gentlemen were presented.
THE late chief commissioner of the Insolvent
Court, Henry Revell Reynolds, Esq., died yesterday
week, at his residence in Wimpole-street. He re-
tired last August, on a pension, atter a service of
more than thirty years in the court.

THE grant for public education in Great Britain
and Ireland, which was 80,000/. in 1835, has steadily
risen to 442,0731. in 1853. The vote for the depart-
ment of practical art under the superintendence of
the Board of Trade, which first appeared in the esti-
mates in 1836, and was then only 1,3001., had last
year increased to 44,4761.

A RUPTIAN NAMED PAItRY assaulted and newly
murdered his wife in the open street on Thursday.
Many persons were passing the spot, near Farring-
don-street, at the time, but the man's brutality was
so well known that none ventured to interfere. The
police happily arrivzd in time to capture him. The
poor woman was carried to the hospital in a dying
state.

PERSONS PAYING INCOME TAX may deduct from
their income two-thirds of the rates and taxes of
business premises, the expense of boarding unpre
miumed trade assistants, the expense of material„ for
wrapping and tying goods, and the amount paid for
life assurance.

SIR GEOROE CAMPBELL, elder brother of the Lord
Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench, died at
his seat, Edenwood, Fifeshire, on the 20th instant.
Sir George, who was created a Knight Bachelor in
1833, was eldest son of the Rev. George Campbell,
D.D., miniAer of Cupar, Fifeshire, by the only daugh-
ter of Mr. John Hallyburton. He was born in 1778,
and married in 1823 the daughter of Mr. A. Christie
of Forrybank.

15111

rott6ings zn V artianunt.

MINISTERIAL FINANCE.

Monday was appointed for Mr. Gladstone's re-
entrance to Parliament after his temporary seclusion,
and that day was accordingly fixed upon for the dis-
cussion of those borrowing schemes for which, after
various contrivances and abortive efforts to obtain
confidence among the capitalist classes on his own
responsibility, the Chancellor of the Exchequer now
sought to obtain a legislative authentication, under
the title of Exchequer Bonds. Mr. T. Baring had
proposed, by way of preliminary amendment on the
whole project, a resolution declaring that "it was
not expedient to authorise at present any further
issues of Exchequer Bonds, with the engagement of
repayment within the next six years." Some diff.-
culty had, however, supervened, and the hon. mover
was placed in an unfavourable position, of which he
not unjustly complained, by the proceedings that
had taken place during Mr. Gladstone's absence.
Certain votes had then been taken, as matters of
convenience, which so hampered the house that he
was unable to move his amendment in a substantive
form, in opposition to the motion for the Speaker
leaving the chair, but was forced to bring it on in a
subordinate character, as an amendment on the reso-
lution in committee.

The house having thereupon resolved itself into
committee of ways and means, some ,expostulations
and explanations were interchanged on this sub-
ject :
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained the situ-
ation in which previous votes of the house had left the
financial arrangements of the Government. Those ar
rangements were twofold—first, as relating to the perma-
nent provision of revenue for the public service; secondly,
with regard to the supply of cash for immediate purposes.
Decisive votes had been passed authorising the expendi-
ture of money, and formal votes indicating the ways and
means by which it was to be raised. He had now to take
the opinion of the house on the single question how the
ready money that was wanted should be obtained ; and
this question, he intimated, turned simply upon the nar-
rower alternative whether it was most expedient to resort
to an issue of Exchequer Bills, or authenticate the Minis-
terial project of Exchequer Bonds.
Mr. DISRAELI charged the Ministry with sharp practice.
They had asked for certain votes on the plea of adminis-
trative convenience, and under the pledge that the decision
of the house was in no way committed upon the principle
of the measure; and now those votes were accounted deci-
sive, and the house barred from the possibility of rescind-
ing or even of discussing them.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained. The
resolutions in question were wanted—as to the provision
of ways and means in order to authorise the revenue offi-
cers to take steps for levying the enhanced imposts; and,
with regard to the floating debt, in order to validate the
contracts already opened with subscribers to the new bonds.
Ample opportunity, he added, would be afforded for dis-
cussing the principles involved in these resolutions when
the bills into which they must be embodied came before
the house.

Some further complaints were urged and explana-
tions offered on this point. At length the resolution
empowering the Government to issue 2,000,0001. of
Exchequer Bonds was put from the chair.
Mr. T. BARING then rose to move his amendment.
He began by min,itely reviewing the dealings of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer since he firsttook office
with th., funded and unfunded debt of the country, and
charged him with making many blunders which entan-
gled the public revenue in repeated losses and embar-
rassments. Among other mischances was the impru-
dent reduction of the interest on Exchequer Bills,
undertaken in the face of a tightened market, bols-
tered up by extensive purchases with the savings-
banks balances, and resulting, when these purchases
were again funded, in a sacrifice of more than
1,200,0001. added to the permanent capital of the
national debt. Another blunder was the celebrated
conversion scheme of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer:—

"It was preposterous to assert that no lose had accrued
from that project. How was it possible to pay off at par
stocks worth only 83 per cent. without incurring a serious
loss ? Some of the money might have been paid out of
the Treasury balances, but the result was identical, seeing
that now we had to borrow it over again in a depreciated
market. With regard to the future system of policy he
would not argue the question on the exclusive interests of
the Bank of England, remarking only that the interests of
that establishment and the Finance Minister were prac-
tically identical." Mr. Baring then alluded to the ' balance'
question, contending for the expediency of maintaining a
considerable balan e of public money in the hands of the
Bank, and declaring that the system of deficiency bills was
unsound and impolitic, and that, while the Bank was fet-
tered by the act of 11444, the Government ought to be mo-
derate in their calls upon its resources.
Adverting to the resolution immediately before them,
Mr. Baring remarked upon the danger of borrowing
money at short dates, under a pledge of repayment
at given periods, which it might be most inconve-
nient and expensive to redeem when the time came.
The transaction now suggested was actually a loan,
and should have been boldly announced as such, and