The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-16 00:00:00

THE EDUCATIONAL MINUTE.-(THIS DAY.)

A very important meeting of the clergy from all
parts of the country took place this day at noon at the
Caledonian Hotel, Adolph', to consider what steps it was
necessary to take in order to procure the suspension
of the operation of the recently hailed educational minute.
The Rev. Mr. CHARLTON LANZ MLA called to the chair,
and having stated the object of the meeting,
Letters were read from the Bishop of Bath and Wells,
Lord Cholmondeley, Mr. Layard, M.P., the Bishop of
Winchester, the Dean of Carlisle, the Archbishop of York,
and other prelates and church dignitaries, expressing their
willingness to cooperate in the movement against the edu-
cational minute.

Mr. RvrNoLDB then moved the first resolution, to the
effect that the meeting viewed with surprise (after what
bad been said on the subject in the Howe of Com-
mons) the issuing on the last day of the ses-
sion of a minute, not merely of an administrative
character, but • revised code of education, making funds.
mental alterations in the Privy Council system, and which
would compel thousands of schools to accept its provisions
as the only condition on which they could avoid heavy pe-
cuniary responsibilities before the matter could be discussed
in parliament.
Archdeacon Hoe. seconded the resolution, which was
carried.

The Rev. Yr. If Aims then moved another resolution, to
the effect —" That this meeting regards the revised cods
as a very objectionable and pernicious measure, and Wen.
Lied so be directly or indirectly injurious to the pro.
peas of popular education in Great Britain: brit.

. .
upon elementary schools—religiously, intellectually and
financially: second, upon the pupil teacher system, al
tending to impair its efficiency and ultimately to destroy it;
third, upon training schools as crippling their resources,
and practically diszouragiug students from availing them'
selves of their advantages. In addition to this the meeting
regrets the repudiation of engagements e.th teachers in
training schools and certificated teachers, as an act of in-
justice without precedent in this country."
Carried unanimously.
It was determined to appoint • deputation to Lord
Granville, as president of the committee of council.
asking for the suspension of the order until the meeting
of parliament.
The meeting was very largely attended.

In consequence of several of the volunteer corps
who have been in the habit of brigading with the West Essex
Yeomanry Artillery and Cavalry fur the last two or three
years past being at present broken up fur their short volunteer
holidays, the volunteer encampment and field-day proposed
to be held upon Naziog Common, on Monday, the 'Lard in•
dant, has been postponed ; therefore, there will be no re•
view on that day. But it is possible that the military
authorities of the country may see fit to collect a largo
volunteer force in the eastern district for one day in the
course of the autumn.

The special correspondent of the Times at Wash-
ington writes :—" The real force of the republican party is
now to be tested, for the proclamation of General Fremont
is really bringing the issue to that which I, for oue, be-
lieved it must come if the war went on—a war of aboli-
tion—a fight between the northern abolitionists and the
southern slavehulders. How many in the north will stand
by and see the fight out None will do so an the south,
be assured of that. Hitherto the south has been clad in
impenetrable armour. There has been scoot of steel thrown
around the peculiar institution which it was impossible to
pierce. The attempts to reach the slaves as a mass have all
failed—the wedge inserted by the Federalists at Manassas
was heat and broken. But General Fremont is working at
the soft places; ho is getting his knife in between the chinks
of the plate mail, and the very vitals tremble."
- .

It is now said that the Empress of Austria will
pass the winter in Corfu. The Emperor is very anxious to
have her back in some part of the Austrian dominions, but
her chief physician will not sanction such an arrsugenient

A letter from Rome nays :—"Preparations arc
still continuing actively for the reception of the ex-royal
family of I.'aples, at least the junior members of it, in the
Farness Palace, for report states that matters have got to
such a pitch at the Quirinal between the Queen and the
Queen Dowager, not to mention all the other bipeds and
quadrupeds of the apostolic palace, that a separ►tion as
soon as possible is abeolutely necessary. The Pope's
prdeaer, Signor Formigh, is peculiarly anxious for this
devout consummation, and has been so ever since his wife
narrowly escaped death by a revolver bullet from the sacred
hand of her Bourbonic 314jesty, who, not being very pre-
cise in her aim at some cat or crow in the ancient alleys and
shrubberies, sent her missile into the gardener's window
instead."

The Duchess of Parma is staying at Vienna.
One curious feature in the state of New Zealand
(says a letter from Melbourne) is, that is spite of the war
the colony seems to be flourishing. For some years gold in
moderate quantities has been obtained in the province of
I Nelson, and last year it was found in the interior of tho
provisos of Otago, but it was io the high land, and the
winter there is so severe, and the snow so deep, that, like
the Billowy River. it could not be worked during the winter
months. Lately, however, gold has been found much more
abundantly eta place called Takaka, on the coast of the
province of Otago, and some experienced miners from Vic-
toria had obtained a large remuneration for their tabours.
Is spite of the war the balance of migrators is always
against Victoria and in favour of New Zealand.