The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-04 00:00:00

A MIDDLE CLASS SCHOOL.
-•-

The Earl of Portsmouth mewls to the Times the
report of as unofficial limpet:We of a middle-clue school at
North Tantoo, North Devon, by Mr. Horace Waddington,
out of her Majesty's iosprolots of schGols.

There is comfortable accommodation for 14 hoarders. •
schoolroom sufficient for more than 100 boys, and • clew
room,'used also u a dieing hall for the boarders, besides the
master's residence. 'the entire cost of the building was de-
frayed by subscriptions from almost everyone connected by
property with the neighbourhood, churchmen and dissenters
cordially uniting to further education on a comprehensive
basis. The charges of 4/. per annum for day scholars
and 201. per annum fur boarders (small as they are)
have rendered the school self•supportiog from the com-
mencement. Mr. Waddington writes :—" Heading, writ-
ieg, and arithmetic are taught throughout the school with
that accuracy and care which the real importance of throe
elementary subject,' demands. The highest class evinced •
decidedly eieduable acqumntance with grammar, geo-
graphy, and history, and last, not least, with religious
knowledge. On this latter point I would specially re-
cord my malefaction with the efferte of the teacher
sod the results on his scholars, who show that they
have been effectively instructed in the Bible, not
merely in its historical narrative, but also in
the practical bearing of those great lesions of truth and
piety which are more amply and more p•:caliarly inculcated
in the New Testament ; and I lay the more Erma on this
point., because in the North Tawton School has been tried
the experiment—oos deserving of all imitation in or
middle-class schools—the esperin.ent of receiving alike
the sons of churchmen and ciaienters on a perfec'ly equal
footing, and giving • saiind noo•eectarian education to
all ; yet not surely, as some would call it, a merely mender
land irreligious education bemuse non-sectarian. During
the week the Bible is taught and explained to all alike, and
in addition, the Lord's riayer, the Creed, the Ten Com-
mandments, and the duty to God and to your neighbour-
On the Sunday those kurders whose parents are church•
men an instructed in the whole Church Catechism by the
master, Mr. Marsh, himself a churchman, while the system
of weekly boarders enables Ciao thin:eters who live in the
neighbourhood to have their own boys at home on that day.
The liberality of this scheme is, in my own judgment, •
legitimate, not a tpIItiOUJI liberality—moderate, not ex.
ceseive, and I could heartily wish to see other middle-class
schools springing up on the same enlightened and generous
basis."

PARLIAMENTARY RIFt,: M.—IEETINCI AT Non-
WICII.-0a Tuesday evening tLe Nary icb Political Union
held a cauference to consider the present position of the
parliamentary reform question. Mr. C. J. Booting presided.
Mr. J. H. Tdlett, the leader of the local liberals, addressed
the meeting at some lengtn, arguing that the aggregate
wealth of the working claims w.O greater than that of the
peerage. He also alluded to the law of settlement, as
showing that the working cluster could not obtain fair and
equal legislation. He further referred to the gams laws
and the unfair distribution of Belts amore the constituencies.
He then argued that the qua:dream' n for the fraoehise should
be lowered, at as to bring it within the reach of every helm-
trious working man. Coon the subject of the unequal
distribution of seats Mr. Taints Bbngted that Lancashire
and Yorkshire, with • population of several millioon, re-
turned et members: while lelJ00,1") In the rural districts
returned as many. Other speakers followed. and resolutions
were adopted to the effect that the anticipated introduction
of • reform bill in the ensoing session by her Majesty's
ministers renders it desirable that all sections of reformers
should unite for the purpose of et curie: such a measure as
will ensure to the working classes • fair share io the repre-
sentation of the country ; and th"t the meeting desired to
expreka its earnest hope and eonvictine that the govern-
ment, is dealing with the great question of suffrage
extension, would aim at the adoption of such • reform
bill as would plies the elective franchise within
the reach of every intelbgent and industrious
working man. It was coositered invidious to name Earl
Rouen and Mr. Gladstone especially, as bad been at first
proposed, as it wen believed that other trienibers of the go-
vernment were also friendly to reserni. 34r. Tillett said he
bad reason so know that Mr. Gladstone, ie dealing with the
question, would go as far es he could, and that reformers
were perfectly safe in his hand., as he would make the
working classes • respected power in the state. It was ne-
cessary, however, that be should be properly supported. It
was decided to bold a large ',Aire niceting on the subject as
soon es possible at Norwich. and the chairman was in-
structed to write to Manchetter and to London to secure
the presence, if possible, of some distinguished advocates.'
reform. A committee was nominated to carry ont the in-
tended demonstration, sad the proceedings closed with a
vote of thanks to the chairman. •

IRON SHIP-BUILDING AT LlVERPOOL—Yesterday
Measly. T. Vernon and Sots, of &anemias, lauoched a
Iles kw ship, which Las been built for Mr. W. H.
/clizsam of Liverpool. The ship is 1,33 h tons register, sod
A A 1 at Lloyd's. Ou the Ist Mears. Vireos
Lunched a large ship called the Cape Clear, and they have
mow three other reseals io mune of oesetruetioe.