The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-19 00:00:00

',quit

.asseale be offered to .free exleeeine
en=
wonwthe part ef elg sellen
ilumtioniglmpaltaisserld.=l":,==2
this evil. 11tH, to Sae Is Younns so OM the
decocts:a approve el the priiipisi wk lb* assefe.
in to been pactually brought Into a. it tag iwid
wiser to leapt initit9tlOn4 the of the
times than to introduce new ones, and as tt is Inexpiellsat to throw
new burdens upon the general taxation of the country' it la therefore
the opinion of this bouso that an opportunity should be afforded to
parliament to consider whether by measure* founded upon the caul,
WhW usages of loco taxation, upon the further admission of the ele-
ments of popular control, and upon the acknowledgment of the equal
rights of persons of almaligious persuaalon, the ancient whool estab-
liihmt of Wetland y not be made available to the wants of the
Cekencient school establishment of Scotland, he observed,
wee at one time adequate to the wants of the population. In
proof of this, he quoted some retina, the particu'are of
which were not heard in the gallery, and woe underetood to
contend that the ancient system might again be made avail-
able. He expressed his belief that there was a general desire
for education on the part of the people, without reference to
religious distinctions. In conclusion, ho stated that he
should not bring forward any resolution on the subject, but
he hoped the government would take the matter into oousi
deratioa, with a view to something being done.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND thought it absolutely necessary
that all religious tests whatever should he taken away Irons
our educational institutions. He referred to the univenitios
as well as the parochial school.. (Hear.) They tad been
established to give education to all ; and if they no longer
did so, their constitution ought to bo altered by the
strong arm of the la.. was to bring them Into harmony with
the circumstances of the times. (Hear.) For many years
he had been a supporter of schools of all kinds ; and his ex-
perience led him to the couclusihn that there was a great
differeoce between education and instruction. The ',ter now
taking by the government were leading towards the trench
system, which was a perfect tyranny.
Sir G. GREY assured the noble lord behind him (Viscount
lelgund) teat the subject he had brought before the house
would receive due attention from the government. It was a
mistake to suppose that the government system encouraged
sectarian schools; all it did was to distribute its aseisuutee
with an impartial hand. (Hear.) 11l the next mein:, when
the estimates would be brought leeward earlier, the subject
could bo more fully entered into.
Mr. F. SCOTT spoke in favour of th:' parochial eeta',li-h-
-ment in Scotland, but observed th it the remuneration to the
teachers was in many eases inadequate.
Mr. DUNCAN tool that Scotland was indebted for its
present positicn to the education which was imparted to too
people in the parochial schools.
This LORD ADVOCATE th ught the motion of the noble
lord (Melgund) would have been of great service to Scotland
had the occasion been oco when the subject could have been
hilly gone into.
Mr. EWAItT hoped that, in the next cession, everything
of an educational character, including museums, schools of
design, and so forth, would be brought under review of the
government.
Sir E. COLEBROOK thought it perfectly competent to
the house to object to a constantly in. mooing grant for edu-
cational purposes, without eeeieg that the parochial system
was properly carried out, by remedying the exclusive char-
teeter of the exi•tiog schools.
Sir It. INGLIS deprecated the abolition of tests for
schuo:masters, se tending to the removal of tests from the
uuivereitire.
Mr. HENLEY wkhed to know in what state was the
qu.stion between the committee iA educattiou and the
National Society Schools, in relation to the management of
those schools?
Sir G. GREY suid the ro was a correspondence in program
on this subject between the committee of education and the
Archbishop of Csnterhury as president of the National,
Society, and he had reason to hope toot this correspondence
wound result iu a modffication of the strict rules upon wnich
the society had hitherto acted in relation to the admission of I
lay memhers of the church to a share in the administration
of the funds of the society. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. OL.aDSTONE i spressed his great satisfaction at the
expectation thus authoritatively hell out of a modification
of the management clauses. The great complaint bad
hitherto been on the part of the great body of the clergy,
that they could nut get the laity to take part in the extension
of the schools.
Lord .1. ItUSSELL Pahl that the difficulties in this matte.
had not originated with the present government, and indeed
were difficulties arising rather out of the complications of the
question. He had every expectation, however, that the cor-
respondence to which his right hon. friend had adserted
would remove these difficulties.
Mr. URQUHART considered that it was no part of the
duty of the atate to provide state funds for the education of
the people. Each community in the state should see to the
education of its members by its own funds.
Mr. W. BROWN, on the contrary, was anxious to see
national education placed ou the broadest possible basis. care
being taken that the spiritual instruction imparted shoull lie
kept distinct from the secular instruction, which shout l !.e
given to all the children of each school generally.
Mr. WALLACE considered that the commissioners who
had been appointed to inquire into the state of education in
Wale', had, in the report which, with such mischievous
effects, they bad pub fished, greatly exceeded their instruc-
tions. Ile vindicated the Welsh people from the charge of
extreme immorality which the commissioners had brought
against them.
Sir JOHN WALSH concurred in the opinion that the
commissioners had not exercised a very sound discretion in
the sweeping censure they had passed upon the Welsh peo-
ple. Of his own khowleuge he was prepared to affirm that
the statements of the commiaeioners, as to the profligacy of
the Welsh, were altogether exaggerated.
file. WILLIAMS said there was but one feeling through.
out the principality, that the report of the commissioners
was a mere libel. The fault. h ,waver, was with the govern-
ment who had rent, to inquire into the state of education
among a people, gentlemen who were wholly unacquainted
with the laneuene of that people. (Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said that the low condition of education in
Wales was very generally admitted. Ile was convinced that
the commissioners had been actuated in their inquiries by
the strictest impartia'ity. (Hear, hear.)
K EItSIIA.W complained of the undue preference
given in the administration of the e grants to the member,
of the Church of S, gland, who, ho believed, enjoyed the
benefit of full 39 ihths of the whole amount. Ia tact, the
dissenters were almost excluded practically from the benefit
of the grant.
Mr. I'. WOOD raid that the voluntary principle was a
very excellent principle, tut, left to itself, it would not do
for the effectual promotion of education any more than it
sufficed for the maintenance of the poor. Ile did not think
that the dissenters had just reason to complain of the share
they had in these grants. The grants accorded to them
were infinitely more in proportion to the sums contributed
by them than the grants made to the church schools.
Mr. M. GIBSON raid that the cause of the complaint
made by the hon. member for Stockport—namely, that dis-
senters' children were excluded from the benefits of the
educational grant—before the committee wu perfectly true ;
and it arose out of the circumstance that the system was
based upon what was Maned the denominational system.
This ought to be done away with.
The vote was then agreed to.
The sum of 25,0001. was next voted to defray the charge
of enrolled pensioners.
The house tarn resumed, and adjourned until 5 o'clock.
The SI'EA.KEtt resumed the chair at a quarter attar five
o'clock.
MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
A Messenger from the other house acquainted the Speaker
that their lordships had agreed to the Commons' amend-
ments in certain bills. _