The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-23 00:00:00

fISHMENT IN SCOTLAND AND
TSB COLCNIES._

Mr. =WART mend a retToititionifllrming the expe-
diently ef eatmigsg to Ileelleod and to the colonies the
missgegms whit boo been made in England in the laws
WWI." parldimest. lie observed that, although
ammaity the eel law of Scotland was much lee ma-
=tth= that dEngland, the latter had now become
on mitigated Am the former. The laws prevailing
be ear 'skein WINO various and anomalous ; but there was
se romenee ha suilietlosk why their criminal jurisprudence
should met be embebeesd to our own, and he believed that,
if the Colorist Somorary were to intimate his wish to that
effect, no oppaddeet would be offered on the part of the
colonies.
Mr. F. MAULE entertained no objection to the abstract
propoition, which was almost self-evident, but ho did object
to the House of Commons pledging itself to a vague resolu-
tion of this kind. With respect to the colonies, we did not
legislate in this matter for them; at the same time, he
trusted they would look to the good example of the mother
country, which could not, however, expect to force them by
• resolution of that house. . . . . .

- .—.---- —.---
Mr. HUME observed, that the benefits which had been
derived from the diminution of the number of capital
punishments in England, made it desirable that the system
should be catended wherever the influence of this country
prevailed.
Mr. HAWES said, in the West Indian and some of the
North American colonies, which lagged behind the legisla-
tion of the mother country, the practice had, nevertheless,
been assimilated to ours ; and even is the conquered colo-
nies, such as the Cape where the Baas-Dutch law pre-''
railed, the theory had been peeelleeD7 adopted to the stand-
ard of England. Under these circumstances, he thought it
more desirable that discussion, not force, should mirk a
change in tho colonies.
After a few words from Fir G. GREY, who said he
agreed in the spirit of the resolution, as regarded Scotland,
Mr. Ewaiw withdrew his motion.
SECULAR EDUCATION.
- - - - -

Mr. FOX, who was but very imperfectly heard, rose to
bring the tamtion of secular education under the considera-
tion of the hernes. He said that at the recent meeting of
the British ates= School Society the First Lord oldie
Treasszy was to have adverted to an anticipated
approximation Admen who held different opinions oaths
subject of education, adding, that the present was the time
for some exertion on the subject. lie (Mr. Fox) took the
noble lord's observation as his text, and hoped, that if the
noble lord did not give him his active support, he should at
least meet with no vexatious obstruction from the govern-
ment. He hoped that the noble lord would introduce some
measure himself, or, at least, that he would look favour-
ably on a proposition coming from any other quarter. There
were few points upon which Englishmen were not jus-
tified in feeling proud, when thinking of their country.
Every thing in fact was subject for gratulation until they
came to the one point of education, the mention of which
was sufficient to call uo a blush in their cheeks. In that
one matter they were behind not only the old world, but
the new, and the question was nut whether they stood first
among the nations, but whether they stood ninth or tenth,
or even in a still more inferior paition. This was not ade-
eirable state of things for the country when considered
even in an monomial point of view. It was hardly possi-
ble to calculate what the crime consequent upon ignorance
annually cost us. Liverpool was mulct 700,0001. annually by
its thieve ; and at Manchester and Salford it was estimated
that, the cost would suffice to educate the whole of their
jusesffiaipulation. In Bristol gaol, it was reported that
ems party of thieves had cost the county 27,0001. He
people had a right to claim that they should
ant left helpless. Our constitution required that they
Amid bo educated. They seers called upon, some of
them, to exercise the elective franchise, some to serve on
juries, while all were frequently appealed to, on questions
of the greatest public importance. lie did not ask it for
them as a measure of compassion, but as one of justice and
necessity. The present machinery was acknowledged to be
inenMetent, but even that, the inspectors stated, could not
he maintained, except by a national rate. Mr. Kennedy
✓ail his conviction was that the present scheme must be
sieen up unless a rate on the tenants houses
• possessors of land throughout the country
were imposed for this purpose. This was the state-
' ment of Mr. Kennedy as to the north-western district.
There was no way of bringing about au improve-
ment except by a national system supported by a na-
tional rate. In the present year the inspectors had
used still stronger language. The Rev. Mr. Mosley's
septet was one continued illustration of the necessity for
slam era measure than that now in operation. The
BM. J. Diaadkati said: " The exigencies of the ease
odd not he ma by the voluntary system." He (Mr.
rue) dame ht late ease was clearly made out by the state-
ment, of these agents of the government, and be also
head that they indicated the particular remedy to be ap-
plied—a compulsory adoption of a general system of edu-
cation. The inspectors had visited tho highest class of
schools as well as the others, and their impression of them
was contained in the following remark :—" Nor need wo
look further than to the fact, that the schools in existence
are twice as luge generally as is required by the average
number of scholars." In many cases the schools were not
half occupied. The total number of schools receiving
assistance from the government grant was 3,223, providing
accommodation for 339,000 children ; but the average daily
attendance was only 248,979. This great mistake of
making the schools needlessly large was eating into the
heart of all efficiency in the present system.
Nor was this the only evil. The grant was ad-
ministered in • way that gave the appearance of partiality.
He did not mean to charge the committee with intentional
partiality, but apparent and inevitable partiality was in-
herent in the system. Take the two great societies to whom
the grants were made, viz., the British and Foreign School
Society, and the National School Society, which might be
said to be twins, for they had come into existence within a
few minutes of each other some half century ago. Now no
one could deny that the British and Foreign Society had
done much reed in the promotion of education ; but how
did it stand in regard to the distribution of the government
grant t In 1840 the amount granted to each was about
equal, viz., 3,2401. to the Chdsch Society Schools, and
4,2201. to the British and Foreign (the Dissenters) Schools.
In the following year the grant was increased, and then the
disparity began to show itself, the amounts granted being
respectively 13,1971. to the church schools, and 10,9451. to
the dissenters' schools. That disparity continued to in-
crease, and in 1849 it became excessive, the amount granted
to the National Society's schools being 39,5741., and to the
British and Foreign 3,3501. ; and to August last year the
grant to the Church Schools had been 21,7201., and to
the British and Foreign, 3861. (Hear, bear.) He believed
this disparity to be in the system, and that reli-
gious and other difficulties had contributed to reduce the
amount of the grants made to the dissenters, and not any
partiality on the part of the distributors of the fund, who,
he had every ground for belisviug, acted with the utmost
&Naas. But, whatever the cause' such was the result.
There was another point which gave the appearance of par-
daft to the administration of these grants. Of all the
seised iaspostan appointed there were only three who did
net beleng to one profession, sad that was the church. No
doubt clergymen were necessary es *streams, but there
was on educational literature in the country which had
t forward =nee of am conspicuous in the science
ir luteation, and the public, who regarded them things
with • jealous eye, expected to Bad these names amongst
the list of the government agents. They thought that
a university education, in Nemesia with the established
church, was not the best means of preparing men to judge
of the state of schools, and the comparative
_ excellence of
the Alerts to train poor children. There was also ano-
dor show of partiality induced by the instructions
which the committee of council laid down in regard
to the bestowment of grants. Money was given, not in
lroportion to the educational wants of • district or
ocality, but the amount of voluntary subscriptions
which were collected for the purposes of eduration.
He found thatr alcuirrlication for a grant was refused,
because no ' religious education was given
in the ohm , yet in many schools of this de-
scription, a more sound and really moral and
religious education, was afforded than in many
establishments professing to be of • higher character.
There was an appearance who of unfairness in the way in
which rate payers in rural districts found themselves
charged for giving to pauper children an education which
they cannot give to their own children. This dis-
crepancy was forcibly pointed out in the report of
the Poor Law Commission for 1850. (Bear, hear.) But
amongst the worst of the partial results modem.' by*,
present system was the inequality with which the huede
for the support of the parish schools fell upon allerest
I dames. Of all classes the parochial clergy were by far the
most heavily taxed, for, though in many cams they failed
in inducing their parishioners to join in contributing volun-
I eerily, 800 philanthrophic feelings would not permit the
parish schools to want the means of keeping
them up. (Hear, hear.) In one case, where the annual
sum to be raised for maintaining the school was 281.144.4 d.,
the subscription list contained the names of six farmers and
landowners for 34. each, one for 10a., the lord of the manor
and the principal landowners foe three guineas, the rector's
lady a guinea, • friend of the meter's 51., and the rector
himself 171. 10e. (Hear, bear.) Another clergyman stated
I that having incurred frost seed less, both of time and
, to raise the school, neither the landowners nor the
eses would now assist him In supporting it, and that a
seal *gent and a land agent who contributed 11. each, were
the only persons who aided him at all in meeting the ne-
cessary expenditure, the whole of which, with this small
sionwtion, tell upon his sell Ea meld if recess ry refer
to may instances showing tbs sevess pressure whic' h sup-
pat of labs* ocoasieset to the elem. There
he *mkt, strong roma& tar the adoption of a
I rate. Be was aware that the talking dialculty whisk
stood in the way of so many saw welloievased plias
also against this. There was a astatbass tmfl very instant