The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-23 00:00:00

EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN.

A voluminous blue-book, containing the annual
report of the Committee of Council on Education for the
year 1867-8, was published for the information of parlia-
ment this morning.
From this document it ap pears that during the year to
which the report refers there had been an increase on the
return of the year previously in the number of schools, or
departments of schools, actually inspected, amount-
ing to 1,006, and in the number of children amount-
ing to 103,496. There was also an increase
of 742 certificated teachers, 163 assistant teachers, and
664 pupil teachers. A great divergence is pointed out
between the provision made for normal training and the
employment of it, and this is said to be a question of the
utmost gravity. It does not arise from want of
funds, but from want of suitable candidates ; and
the commissioners do not seem to be inclined to relax the
stringent regulations which are felt to be necessary.
The inspectors report almost uniformly ill of
the scholars visited for simple inspection. The
average attendance of day scholars at schools in
England and Wales actually inspected, and
aided with grants for their maintenance during the past
year, was 911,681, which is only 4.2 per cent of the popu-
lation, roughly estimated ; and it thus appears, that of
every 11 children of the labouring classes at school, the
average number of those attending in the past
yeas was about four. A further examination
shows that oat of every 100 children present daily,
221 are disqualified, either by age or the number of
attendances, lor individual examination ; that of the
remaining 77.7, the number actually presented for exami-
nation was 661, and of those who passed without failure
in any one of the subjects, 421. If, moreover,
attention be confined to the scholars over ten years of age,
and therefore approaching the end of their school time, it
appears that out of every 100 of those scholars examined,
only 62.4pamedwithout failure,although 46 were examined
in the three lower standards, and those who passed without
failure in the three higher standards were only 311 out
of the 100. The commissioners remark that these nn-

satisfactory results lie occasionally with the schools them-
selves, especially in the suburbs and other quarters of
large towns where the poor are congregated under
a clergyman struggling single-handed; but in an over-
whelmingly greater proportion it lies in the irregularity
of attendance. The oommissioners report what, we pre.

some, cannot be regarded as a very common fault—viz.,
the unnecessary multiplication of schools in some districts.
When, however, this is the case, the means of efficient
education are ciseipated, and proper control of the scholars
is sacrificed in the competition for them.
Appended to the report are tabulated statements giving
a variety of statistics, and the reports of her Majesty's in-
spectors of schools in England. Wake, and Scotland.

DEATH OF MR. RICHARD 8111T11.—Mr. Richard
Smith, of Berry-hill, Lichfield, lately chief agent to the
Earl of Dudley, expired at his residence Yesterday
(Tuesday), after a painful illness. The deceased gentle-
man was well-known throughout the whale of the coal and
iron district, and generally respected for his honesty and
sleight character.—Worcestershirs Ohroniole.

(rum °us oww oogassromnr.tsr. 1

PARIS, WILDNIOMAY KI,;•••IN •
The Figaro mentions as rumours curn.ial 1., 1,
in the parliamentary lobbies that the
will certainly take place in October
and that previously the Sila, !,.
ordered to make a change in the ,
stitution by abolishing the see, no I, d. ,t
now necessary when no candid:it,. 01/: C,.
the absolute majority of the votes polled th.• tiro
time. This change would amount to A
eitat. The government has obv•rv...l
at the second ballot parties of Ala -
abodes—say republican and Orleanist, or • 1.
Oill and elerical—ooaleace against the goveroto.:...
candidate. This coalition is but a very insoili-i•
compensation for the want of political free
which would enable the constituencies- to
together beforehand. If such a Sottitoi , .
is really to be passed, it will be universally .1
nounced as an audacious robbery
the people's rights.

The Empress is coming to Paris on Satin,' iy
preside at a ministerial council.
The Marquis de la Valetto has not yet. a e
reported, left Paris for his country-hole, vid
the reason for his prolonged stay is said to ti,:.
he hopes to oust the Marquis du Muu:stier ir ,:a
the:Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is reported that General Print h at Li,i, n
and that the Portuguese government, whit %%.•
learn by telegraph has consented to give vii
asylum to the Duke and Duchess de Mont-
pensier, favours the idea of a revolution is
Spain. The Spanish government
alarmed, and thinks of proclaiming a vt.ite
siege.

The vintage, which in average years d.w.;
take place till the middle or end of Octobcr, is
expected to begin on September I.
flourishing anticipations are formed of the win.. ”f
1868 ; the price of casks is daily rising.
A rise of in Consols, and a rumour :0111Ch
questioned, however) that the loan will aft.i ilt
not come out till October, encouraged the upwm.l
movement manifested at the end of the Bourse y
terday, and Bente again rose 10c. both for v:1,11
and account, closing in each case at 70fr.
Italian rose 45c., the tobacco news from Florem.!
being still considered good. Credit Fancier fell
I lfr. 75e., but all other securities were firmer.

•
FORIAGN NE NV 8
(THIS DAY.>
(mamma nest's sensor.)
MANCH.
GREAT FIER AT SOI7EN.
ROUEN, Jert.r
A range of warehouses, in whpicAhn:. quantityjuu2:f dl
spirits was stored, caught fire here last night.
The flames spread to the Post-office. The amount fa
of damage is estimated at upwards of one million
franc's.
The osee of M. de Boubeyran against the MA".
national (a French newspaper published in lon.
don) was heard yesterday. M. do fieuheyran tool
to
the international on amount of two articleswhiph it
had appeared in that journal.
In the Sett case, M. David, the prepriotor, *A,
found guilty of having published a libel. and
. w,,
sentenced to three months' imprisonment an
fine of 2,000 francs. In the second caw, jts,l4n,
was passed upon him for ono month's
meat and a fine of 1,000 francs.
OUR PARIS LETTER.
(non oua OWN oogassromar.tsr.
PARIS, WILDNIINDAY