The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-11 00:00:00

ZPDOWID ZDUCLTIONAL

Mr. JAM'S Hawaii), F.R.S., made some observation on
the subject of Endowed Educational Institutions. After
referring to the Manchester Free Grammar School and to
Blacketee Chatity, the former of which has a revenue
of 3,0001., and the latter of 2,00 W. a year, be said Mr.
Coming, the impactor, mentioned an instance is which the
master professed his willingness to teach Latin and Greek,
bat there was no demand for Latin and Greek in that dis-
trict, and the achoolmaater had nothing to do ; but as there
was no endowment he continued to receive his fairy.
Public opinion at the present moment aided a thorough in-
quiry into endowed educational institutions. The three
universities of Oxford, Onbridge, and Dublin, with their
endowed colleges, had within the last twelve years been int-
I proved by the advice and authority of conesaisaioners. An
investigation by royal commissioners into the state of Etats,
Harrow, Westminster, Winchester, Rugby, Manchester,aad
other public schools was now in peeress. Unfortunately &
grammar school act paused in 1840 enabled a schooffizaster
to set at defiance any scheme of improvement in the en-
dowed grammar school over which be presided, unless pro-
ceedings with a view to an extension of the plan of instruc-
tion were commenced within six mouths after his appoint-
meat. The same act comprised Latin and Greek as the
exclusive subjects of instruction in an endowed grammar
school, and the repeal of this legislative measure would
Probably be one of the first objects to be attained by an
inspection of endowed educational institutions, and an
enlargement of their plans of education. Annual accounts
of all charities in England and Wales were Pent into the
Charity Commissioners in London, and from these accounts
the present value of the charities might have been collected,
but as there was no statieticaldepartinent in the office of the
Charity Commissioners the valuable materials thus afforded
have neither been collected nor classified, so as to be
accessible for public purposes Applications were constantly
made to the Charity Commissioners by clergymen who
found that small endowment. (lid little good. while, if they
were combined, they might produce some tangible results.
In these cameo the Charity Commissioners could only mom.
mead an application to the Court of Chancery or to the
County Court, after approving of a scheme. end it seems
that rather than incur the trouble of going to either of these
tribunals the applications forewent the advantage of the en.
downiest.

ILs Bev. Df. MOLEMVORTII supported Mr. Heywood's
views. There could be no doubt at all that the public had •
right to see that these institutions were put on a satisfactory
Doting, and that they should be put on such • footing assay
succeeding generation might me requisite. There could be no
gi eat,r departure from the founder's intention than that the
school shoul,l be shut up altogether, but that had been the
case in many instances. He had known an instance of a
handsome good school being tursedinto • sawpit. As there
was a good eodowitteut the schoolmaster did sot care.
On the motion of Mr. Heywood n resolution wan agreed
to, ;requesting the Charity Commissioners to furnish statis-
tical information es to the charities.

Mr. Aszworrm nod a paper co Capital Punishments aid
Calms.

Mr. KIM ER said they had just got rid of the punishment I,
of death in every Cale except for murder and treason. There
was a class of cases where persons were convicted of in•
tending to cause death, but where death did not ensue, and
another clam of cases of persons conspiring to murder, but
they never found they could enforce the sentence. The
public conscience did not go with the punishment. He
thought it was a good rule that where the public con-
science did not go with the punishment it was better to
give it up. Doting the last session there bad been enacted
a 'ode of criminal law for England and Ireland together,
and is that code they had reduced the punishmeut of death
to ewe where murder had been actually committed and
came of treason.