The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-10 00:00:00

IMPRESS FROM PARIS

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Abrdiese 1

PARIS, SOSDAT EVZIII3O.
Only 17 members voted for gratuitous and ob-
ligatory iustruction—a project to which, allow me
to say, parenthetically, I am by no means a convert.
In France primary education is already practically
gratuitous, wherever there are primary schools.
The complaint of the radical educational reformers
is that only the children of those parents who
cannot afford to pay get their A B C for nothing,
and that it is humiliating to be obliged to declare
impecuniosity. This argument seems to me to carry
the favourite French principle of " equality" to an
extent which will not bear examination. Admitting
that reading and writing is the "bread of the
soul," I cannot see why access to schools should
be gratuitous to all comers, any more than to
bakers' shops. As "no man Hyatt) t.• himself," it
is policy as well as charity for the richer classes of
society to do everything reasonably possible to im-
prove the moral as well 11111 the physical condition of
their poorer neighbours. It is good to distribute
both bread and teaching, without cost, to those who
could not otherwise get it. But the one and the
other are alike alms ; and as all almsgiving by the
state can only be supported by taxation, it follows
that it is • gross injustice to force the thrifty, the
delicate, and the self-denying to pay for those
whose only principle is to take all they can get.
There is no department of the State in France so
well managed as that of public instruction under K
Duruy ; and although lamentable ignorance pre-
vails in a large proportion of the population, the
progress as regards mere primary instruction is
enormous within the last few years. The enthu-
siasm of generous theorists ought to be controlled
by the consideration that no law or decree could
suddenly extend education in France beyond those
practical limits imposed by financial neoesai-
ties. If the amendment proposed had been voted
the reform would have existed only upon paper.
The extension of schools can only be gradual, and
gradual extension is now going on with remarkable
rapidity. As to " obligatory " instruction, what-
ever may be said for the abstract principle, I do
not think it yet up in the order of the day in
France. It seems to me that it should at any rate
be postponed till the desirable time when gratuitous
instruction shall be brought home to every man's
door. Then, indeed, a state of society is conceivable
when a father who should refuse to allow his child
to learn to read would be so manifestly doing him
• wilful injury that, on the ground of eooen-
trioity or perverseness, the courts of law would
be warranted in interfering. The justifica-
tion of the interference with the natural
jurisdiction of the parent would be foutil in the
rareness of the occasions for its exercise. But as
things stand, obligatory instruction would in the
first place be a dead letter even if it were twenty
times enacted ; and in the next would be only
another instance of tyrannical interference by the
central power with private affairs ; because so long
as primary instruction shall not be so rooted in the
manners of the people that to neglect it is a mon-
strosity and a breach of public decency, the state
can only enforce it by virtue of the principle that
the government for the time being always knows
what is best for the people ; and this principle
would justify not only enforced education,
but enforced Popery, Mahometanism, or Buddhism.
These considerations seem to me sufficient to
justify the rejection of M. Jules Simon's notion
without depreciating the value of primary instruc-
tion per se, and adopting the courtier-like argu-
ment of M. de Parieu, the government commissary,
that a labourer, " guided by an enlightened
confidence in his sovereign," was very well able to
exercise universal lamp, although he might not
know bow to read.
K Gueroult, of whom it has been hitherto said
that be was a better writer than a speaker, made
the best speech yesterday that he bas hitherto
pronounced in the Chamber, the subject being
the Encyclical, and the alarming extension
of altramontans doctrines in France. He as-
serted, and the assertion was not contradicted,
that the Jesuits, monks, and nuns, who
acknowledge no other law than that
dictated from Rome, have within the last fifteen
years got into their hands the education of half the

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TIMMS. 05 WOMMIIIWII WITOMIDAY.
N.W. to W. and M.W., CO. W. to & aad 8.&11..
Moderato to hook saadsgato to strong.
soma dowers. sidimory.
N.W. 608. W. and back, WADI. W.L.I. W LB. W.,
moodiest., flog 'moderato to trash.
&W. to LW. and to Gomm:. Notarty tooW. and
Oboes osatorty. vs- N.W. moderato to
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&W. to N.W. light to UMW. 8. &E. to &W. and
moderate, One. NW., light to boob,
One.
Notittern=footland. Weetorimlngand. Wales, sad led*
dontbernedloglish Channel and Bay d
laniennoladward Ingland sad North Bea.

Tel Ntgogge AND SACRAMSNTO V. TIC STONE-
WALL, AT LISBON. —Mr. J. L. 018allivan, lake Apiaries's
minister to Portopl, but who joined the Caesurae muss
at the beginning of the war, writes a long letter to the
Times I. show that the Portuguese government were baud
to make an apology to the United S*.itee minister for the
shot. fired as the Niagara and Etscrammsto. The latter
vessels bad no intention of coming cab—indeed, Kr. O'Sul-
livan says they were afraid to some out, and the Stonewall
waited outside, in Camases Bey, for several hours beyond
the legal period of 24, in the vain hope of being followed.
abo was ovidestlY retarded,' says Mr. O'Sullivan, " as
an ugly customer at Lisbon, as she had bees at Ferrol. It
would have beak an interesting naval experiment be-

twee the little raw ironclad with twin screws,
but only three guns sad • ow a handful in
number, and the two Federal wooden weals, with
tremendous betroiss, overpowering crews, two knots
superiority in speed, and • height out of the water which
would have enabled them to pour down an avalanche it
boarders if once alongside or foul. The heavy forward
300-pounder of the Stonewall is useless exempt in smooth
water, being drenched from the bows in weather at all
rough. It would certainly seem that two seek aassiLinte
ought to be able to capture her, eves though it might be at
the cost of oes of them. Personally (though now • political
adversary) I wish my old school-fellow, Captain Craves, of
the Niagara, well out of the still worse encounter which
probably sow awaits him with the press ot the North for
having sow twice deemed it his duty to decline the proffered
challenge of the little ironclad whose steps he woe to be
dogging at • vigilant but respectful distance. He had baker
find her and fight her, and have done with it the one way
or the other."
The Times mentions that it has been rumoured
that equal impartiality is not shown in the selection of the
crews at the university boat contests ; and Minerva that
"this suspicion is entirely confirmed by the fact of five out
of the Cambridge eight belonging to one college—Trinity.
de. John's watribake two, and the rest of the aniveaty
are represented by one only. It is true that Trinity is
almost en university in itself, and contains • large propor-
tion of public school men, from whom the beet oars are
usually drawn. Still, this circumstance, couried with the
continued predoesieswe of Oxford on the river, &MIFFS
the weeideration of those who are jealous for the honour
of Cambridge."
THE QUZIN AND THE CHILDREN OF THE SERVANTS
OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD.—Daring the past week her
Majesty, who has always diplayed • most kindly interest
in the families of the domestics of the royal Itruseh t
sent for a number of the children of the royal pages
footmen of the oak, in order to talk to them and make
them some little pxwest. Of course the children were duly
instructed by their parents to put on their beet behaviour,
and say " Your Majesty," &a when welkin W the Queen.
All went on very welt till just before the departure of
some of the children, when ow little thing, en taking leave
of the Queen, forgot the parental instructions, and, while
quitting the royal presence, exclaimed, in its childish art-
lessness, " Ta-to," much to amusement of those present.
ROYAL JUTS-SILK PARTY AT WINDSOR CANTLA—
Ou Friday swim; her Majesty gave • juvenile party at
Windsor Osigh in honour of the birthday of his Royal
Highness Priam Leopold, when en entertainment for the
amusement of the youthful company, among wham were
Prince Leopold, the royal prim :wee and the children of
General Grey and other offions of her Majesty's household,
was given by Mews. Carpenter and Weedily in the Pre-
sence Chanabo of the Stele apartments, which bad been
fitted up for the purpose. The entertainewt warted of
• series of dissolving views and pheatasmageris, wimps,
nied by pianoforte music, and was evidently greatly enjoyed
by the juvenile visitor& The evening's entertainment con-
cluded with • series of comic sketches,"ncludin the " "
Rat.
estate" (a very among subject), A Mushroom, " A
Greedy Pig," which bitter excited • great deal of mirth •
finally terminating with artificial fireworks and ebterno:
tame, very beautifully destned.
THE ART TREASURES EXHIBITION AT WINDSOR.—
On Saturday sewing the exhibition of fine arts. which
since Tuesday has been held in the Town-hall, Windsor,
sad to which her Majeaty the Queen. their Royal High-
news the Prior and Princess of Wake, the Dew of
Windsor, the Provost of Eton, the Council of the Beak
Kensingtoe Museum, and a hot of the nobility and Enka,
were contributoes, was formally closed by Mr. W R. _
Harris, the mayor in the pressen" of • distinguished
usemblsee of vitas. The proosedisp ou fl4ar , the
last eyelike of the saltibitioa, were very y
Heated by a comemorione, at which MOM. Busby,
Adams, saran" gentlemen of the Chapel Royal of
George, Mr. Durant, and Ma Neighbour, of the Royal
Academy of Mao, waisted, • number of choice musical
morceaur tang very admirably executed. During` the five
days exbitition about 2,000 pewees have -Halted the Tom-
ball, and the committee have found themselves about 1001.
in pontet, which will go towards the funds of the Windsor
and Mos Literary Inseitutioa.
THE Bremer. SERVICES AT 13T. PATT:S. —Yoder-
day wane the fifteeetk of the special seiviess was per-
towed ado the dews of fit. Paul's Cathedral. the large
space appropriated to the services being satially filled. The
sown was preached by the Rev. Andrew Bern Rater
3f-A, of Trinity °allege, Cambridge, ineumbeet of All
Saints' Church, Spicer-Week Bpitalfielde. The services
will close next Sunday even w& whoa the sermon will be
by the Rev. Dr. William Selwyn, caws of Ely
=liedath , sad Lady Margaret Professor at Divinity is the
Usivereity of Cambridge.
CHAPEL ROYAI.,IIITINAIL.—YestobTIisi after-
woo the lath of the Listen sennees le the Chapel Royal,
Whitehall, wee poachedby the Rev. Dr. C. J. Yenstiae.
vicar of Doseaster, forsearty bad maw of Harem School.
The rev. gentlernos selected as his text the weeds of the
previa haat, " A ma of sorrows," won which he
exeslient semen dageriptive of the life of the
CevrbourlN.l se
The last et this series of serene' will be preached
next Sunday ',Waage. by the Rev. J. R. imps, LA.,
wow of fit. James's, Plessally.
WoRRIID BY DOG& —A few mornings since a
shock* ash., which terminated almost fatally, owarred to
• man gamed lifferingtom who keeps the post-offies at St.
Catheries'a, • village situated • shore dames frees Cad-
fold. It appare that shortly after 7 clank ea the morn-
lag I. question Rehattagtos started te &diver leases at the
yams houses in the village, and ea eater* • yard ad-
sr** widows of kirs. Pope he wee Wawa by a
imastiff, sided by a retriever, whisk kasha Widow
leowated his bads, arm, and awn portions of his
body in • MON maser. In Wass to ether Wanes
the peer Mew received a eseipetred Wean et the right
leg, whisk wee attended with very serious amebae. Sewn.
reel of the Mille 1112V514 went to the weillanes at the ea.
fostareas emil
, jigsaw sad with great dalty seweshil is
be the asp bat bad they been left to threnelves
a few wawa Wow the animas weld west ortaiely
have Ma Moir WOW. The services of Now. Dalin:
sad fishellar, wpm, were obtained, het is sale et
The alisetien es
pier fellow is set Tee be
a danger.
The explwaihre gime is thee it was usual te snow these
loge der le weeder abealhe maw &deg the Wad,
sad WA the hey whew duty It we to heleg VIM tip Ind
sot arrived whew the penman The ship were
Notorious in the aeighboorhood, and were never allowed out
of the meads without • keeper.