The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-29 00:00:00

LORD PORTSMOUTH OH EDUCATION.

Lord Portsmouth has addressed the following
letter to the Western Tines:

" Eggesford House, Feb 26, 1868.
'' Dear sir,—Having seen in the North Demo Anneal
a report of the lecture given before the Barnstaple
F►rmers' Club, in which the system of religious
instruction pursued at my schools at Huretbourne
Priors, and at the middle-class school at North Tudor',
is commented upon, I feel it my duty to state
openly what ate my views on education, and I shall
feel much obliged to you if you would give them a space
in your columns. I oonsider that education is a great
blessing, which should be extended to all classes, freely
and ungrudgingly. While Christian ministers are
unabblim, ignorance and irreligion are growing and
bearing fruit in crime and the need for repressive
measures ; therefore a system of religious teaching which
inculcates the great truths of Christianity, without
touching on controversial subjects, would be advantageous.
My system of religions instruction in village schools
has the experience of fourtelin years to prove that such
a compromise is aceeptable to reasonable persons on
both sides. It is patent to all that the state of eds.
cation in small rural parishes in England and Wales
is moat unsatisfactory, and I coasider that it is as
much the duty of landowners to promote education
on their estates as it is to educate their own children.
It is no matter of favour—l rejoice in the prospect of
the legislature insisting on that duty being performed.
The object of Messrs. Foster and Bruce's bill is not to
' interfere where good and efficient echools now exist, but
to extend the blessing of education to districts where
there are no schools, or where they are insufficient. It
appears to me by joining small parishes that the cost of
education need not press heavily on the ratepayers, and
that both landlord and tenant should share the burthen
between them. Education and culture convert the savage
into a civilised member of society. It is the duty of all
holding Metal opinions to advance education, regardless
of the bigotry of those who look upon it as a net:awry
nil, and only to be met as such. "Xagna est veritu, et
prevalebit."—l remain, dear sir, yours faithfully,
" PORTSMOUTH."

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.

The following business stands in the order book
of the House of COMMIES for Thursday and Friday text:
Thursday, Horeb

°ROM OY THE DAY.

Capital Punishment within Prisons Bill—second read-
ing ; Public Schools Bill—eommittee; Supply—com-
mittee ; Ways and means—committee ; Election Petitions
and Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill—second read-
ing ; Finns and Fees (Ireland) Bill -second read-
ing ; Railways (Extension of Time) Bill—committee
Representation of the People (Scotland) Bill—second
reeding; Sea Fisheries Bill—second reading; London Coal
and Wine Duties Continuance Bill—second reading ;
Artisan's and Labourers' Dwellings Bill—second reading ;
Judgments Extension Bill—second reading; Sunday
Trading Bill—second reading ; Sale of Liquors on Sunday
(Ireland) Bill—second reading ; Mines Armament Bill—
second reading ; Railway and Gas Shares Bill—second
reading.
Nevem or Morrow.

Mr. C. Foster—Divorce and Matrimonial CAUPCS Court
—Bill to amend the law relating to appeals from the Court
of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes tdAieml.md.

Mr. Morrison—Metropolig Gas— Bill to amend "The
Metropolis Gag Aet, 1800." and to make further provision
for regulating the supply of tpui to the metropolis ; and for
other purposes.
Mr. Lehouehero—On second reading of London Coal
end Wins Duties Continnsnes Bill, to move that it be
reed a mooed time upon this day gig months.
Friday, March C.
NOTICEN OF MOTIONS.

-
Sir W. Gall—County Financial Boarils -Bill to es-
tablish county financial boards.
. .

Major Ansiin—Anny (India and the colonies)—Select
committee to inquire into the duties performed by the
British army in India and the colonies, and also how far
it might be desirable to employ certain portions of her
Majesty's Native Indian Army in our colonial and mili-
tary dependencies, or to orgsuiae a force of Asiatic troop
for general service in suitable climates.
On going into committee of supply,
Mr. Shaw Lefevre—To call attention to the failure of
the negotiations with the United States government for
arbitration of the Alabama claims ; mil to move an address
forlar. PF,driWard Hamilton—To call the attention of the
house to the hardship initiated on small occupiers in mug
parliamentary boroughs through the abolition of compo-
sition of eaten under the Reform Act of Ifkr.
Mr. Monk—To call the attention of the house to the
correspondence respecting the disturbances In Crete. pre-
sented to parliament by command of her Majesty, in
November, 1867, and to move for papers.

Mr. Gaze, the oriental excursionist, has been
heard of in Egypt. He and hie party left Sonthamptca on
the 6th inst., and Paris on the 7th. They stopped at
Macon, Sum, Bologna, Ancona, and Brindisi, reaching the
latter place on the 13th. They hada magnificent moonlight
ride over the Alps. For 25 miles they travelled on sledges
drawn by mules, and were drawn at great speed by this
mode down the Mont Canis Pass. They telegraph to rail-
way companies and hotel companies as they go along,
and every preparation is made for them. Not a hitch had
occurred, and the exonrsianis' ta were in high spirits.
It is expected that the Peninsular and Oriental
Company will run a weekly line of steamers between
Marseilles and Malts, and this will, it is believed, enable
the mail communication between England and,Maltivia Mar-
seilles, which is abolished by the aew India mail ocetraot,
to be carried on. The communication between London and
Malta vlt Southampton occupies tea days, and vid Mat-
wallies live days.

It is stated in a Southampton paper that there is
no ohm& living in the city of Winchester worth 2001. a
year, and this precludes curates there from getting
ashistenoe from the recently eetablislied ('orates' Augmen-
tation Fund, bemuse Do aaviatanes is given to a corat•
solar be receives 100/. a year from hit incumbent ; and so
inowabent can afford to give his curate 100'. a year oat of

FOR cox-orrice, FEB. 26.—Tho Queen has been
pleased to approve of Mr. Ferdinand Seketa ea annul at
Gibraltar far hie Royal Hielaneee eke Grand Duke of

t.

REIGN NEWS.
MILS /MY.)
SUDDEN ILLNESS OF THE EMPEROR
NAPOLEON.
Our Paris correspondent, writing last evening,
says:
" On Wednesday evening, at about 5 o'clock, the
Emperor was suddenly seized with a violent
asthmatic attack. His difficulty of breathing was
so great that it was thought desirable to take him
to an open window looking on the Tuileries. The
crisis passed off, and his Majesty is now in his
usual health."