The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-11 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1866.

tion as this on the part of Sir Joni Cam's trusteesil
to subscribe to the schools, there seems little doubt
that the public might set up a very strong claim!
to the present and all future surplus funds, in
order to use them for educational purposes. In
Hackney there are some eight or nine schools,
each of which has been partially built and is par-
tially maintained by the money voted by Parlia-
ment. One of these schools has cost the Govern-
ment at least 1,0001. to build, and the
sums received from the annual grant amount
to 7,000/. Thus it appears that, whilst the
Exchequer is contributing thousands of
pounds to support schools in Hackney be-
cause it is presumed that Hackney cannot support
its own schools, the Hackney rents are carried off
to the parish of St. Botolph, and allowed to accu-
mulate in the hands of trustees appointed by Sir
Joint Cuss. Is it possible to conceive a more
mischievous inconsistency ? The very rents which, if
they were in private hands, would contribute to the
support of schools in the parish of Hackney,
are carried off into the City of London, and
the Hackney proprietors are thus relieved
from the burden of supporting schools. The
last private owner of these rents obviously in-
tended to devote them to education, and made his
will with such intention. But, notwit►standing
all his pious intentions, he has not suoceeded. He
has succeeded only in withdrawing the rents from
the place where they probably would have been
spent in schools, and in causing them to be care-
fully deposited, in the names of certain trustees, to
accumulate idly at compound interest.

It this case of Sir Jonx Cass's School were an
isolated case, it would not be worth while to dwell
upon it. Bat it stands as the representa-
tive of many others, and furnishes con-
clusive proof of the necessity for some great
reform in the administration of charities. No doubt
the trustees will be ready with some scheme of their
own for employing the surplus money. Perhaps they
may propose to build a school at Hackney, and
there educate, clothe, and board every child in
St. Botolpb, or in any other parish with which
they may be connected. If they were allowed to
do this, it would not only be most mischievous, but
a violation of the will of the founder an great, if
not greater, than if the surplus funds in the hands
of the trustees were confiscated. But these chari-
ties must not be dealt with piecemeal. Some
general principle must be laid down, and some body
more vigorous than the present Charity Commis-
sioners must be charged with the duty of carrying
it into effect. In the meantime every caution is
needed against permitting trustees to deal with
surplus funds according to those narrow notions cf
public utility which trustees too often entertain.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THLS DAY.)

Mahal= of 200 persons. Sines then the trustees have
aspired land In Chelsea, Begenondsey, Langton, and
Shadwell, selecting the localities so as to distribute the
benefits of the fund as widely as possible over London.
A large block of buildings at Islington, consisting of 155
tenements, with accommodation for 650 persons, was opened
in September last year; and those at Shadwell are con-
siderably advanced. On the whole a sum of 25,8821. has
been invested in land, and 58,8751. has been already ex-
pended in building. These dwellings, to judge by their
description, must be positive luxuries to the poor persons
who are fortunate enough to gain admission into
them. Agreeably to Mr. reabody's wishes, no in.
I •
quines are made before admission, except such as
are sufficieut to prove that the applicants are really of
the poorer clan, and that they have a good character with
their employers and with the world ; and when once ad.
mittted they are free from all intrusion as long as they
conduct themselves properly. The rent demanded for these
houses, instead of being, as the trustees consider, the ave-
rage in London, 2s. 6d. or 3s. for one room, se. or ss. 6d.
for two, and 6s. or 7s. for three, is but 21. 6d. for one, 4s.
for two, and 55. foe three rooms. The buildings at Spitalfields
are constructed with shops on the ground floor, and these
alone bring in en annual return of 5001. The whole return
for rent up to the present moment, after deducting all
expenses, amounts to 7641. from Spitallelds, and 1791.
from laliegton. There is thus, it will be seen, 84,737/, of
the fund already expended, and there remain 72,0001. put
eat at intermit and 4,0301. in hand. The charge for the
management of the fund since the establishment, including
books, stationery, salaries, and everything else, has been
but 5171. For such a result, if for nothing else, remarks
the Times, the trustees deserve the greatest credit.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. .

SPAIN.

A Madrid letter in the Zieek says :

Admitting the insurrection to be suppressed, Prim taken
prisoner and shot, as well as his accomplices Brigadier
Milani de Basch and Caporals Contreras and Novilas,
would the royal family be saved any the more? I think
not—the discontent is too genteel foe the present move-
meat to remain an isolated foot. The revolution if de-
feated in one part of the Peninsula will appear in another
until the day of its complete triumph. Within the last
month especially the conduct of the government has
excited extreme dissatisfaction. The speech from the throne

from which so much was hoped, deeply disappointed the
Spanish nation. Instead of the reforms impatiently or.
petted, it only found vague phrases and illusory promises;
when it felt entitled to demand the liberty so often pro-
mind, it saw its hopes indefinitely postponed. The Spanish
government therefore has no reason to be surprised at this
insurrection, and if it has the good fortune to get safe
out of the present crisis, it must sot slumber over its first
triumphs ; for without a radical change in the home policy,
not only the O'Donnell cabinet will be overthrown, but the
monarchy of the Bourbons will have made a rapid advance
towards its ruin.

DISCOVERY OF ARMS IN DUBLIN.