The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-09 00:00:00

SHERBURN HOSPITAL.

Mr. MOWRRAY asked the Secretary of State fur
the Home Dapartinent whether it was the intention of
the Charity Commissioners to propose a new scheme for
Sher burn Hospital, in the county of Durham ; and, if
so, whether any, and what, progress had been ma le to-
wards the approval of such scheme ; the mastership of
the hospital having been vacant more than a year, nearly
a year having elapsed since an inquiry by the commis-
sioners' inspectors, and vacancies having, in the mean-
time, occurred among the recipients of the charity,
which it had been itnposslMe to fill up ?
Sir G. GREY said a new scheme had been prepared,
and would be shortly promulgated in due form.

THE NEWSPAPER STAMP.
Mr. COWAN.—I wish to put a question to my right
hon friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Great in-
convenience is felt throughout the country among
printers, publishers, and newspaper proprietors from the
uncertainty which prevails as to the bill before the house
relative to the newspaper stamp. I wish to ask my
right hon. friend when it is the intention of the Govern-
ment to proceed with that bill—(hear)—and if be will
arrange that it shall be taken the first of the orders of
the day, as it is a matter which will probably lead to a
great deal of discussion
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.—The
recent period at which I have commenced the duties of
the office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer will render
it impossible for me to proceed with that bill to-morrow.
I have not had time to make myself matter of the diffi-
cult subject which is involved in it. With the permission
of the house, I will move the postponement of the order
till Friday next week, and then I shall be prepared to
state the course which I intend to pursue.

Mr. GIBSON.—I understood that the Government
had given Friday week to the right hon. member for
Droitwich to forward his notice on the subject of educa-
tion. I would suggest that Monday next be appointed
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Lord PALMERSTON.—Of course the engagement
holds good with the right hon. baronet the member for
Droitwich, and my right hon. friend the Ohancellor of
the Exchequer gives his notice contingent on the discus-
sion on education being over early enough for him to
make his statement with regard to the newspaper
stamp. . . _ _

Mr. GIBSON.—Is it not desirable to fix a day when
this Newspaper Stamp Bill will proceed with certainty I
(Hear.) Everybody is kept in suspense when it is placed
after a motion likely to occupy the whole night. -
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.—I
will state on Friday •next the day I shall propose to fix
for the discussion. If it is convenient to the right
hon. gentleman, I will try to make that statement before
Friday next.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS 'AND UNIVERSITIES.
Mr. HEYWOOD moved for a select committee to in-
spire into the best means of affording to the nation a
full and equal participation in all the advantages, which
are not necessarily of an ecclesiastical or spiritual cha-
racter, in the public schools and universities of Eng-
land and Ireland, and of improving the educational
system in those great seats of learning, with a view
to enlarge their course of instruction in confor-
mity with the requirements of the public service.
The hon. member reminded the house of what was done
in this question last session, when a vote was „passed
which allowed dissenters to study in private halls ; but
in his opinion Protestant dissenters were entitled to
erjoy the same privilege as the members of the
Church of England. For that purpose be thought the
form of religious worship used by the house might be
very properly introduced into the Universities, and then
their gates would be open to students of almost every de-
nomination., It might be said that this question would be
taken up by the Oxford Commissioners under the new
act ; hut he did not think it would while there were
many oaths enforced in the universities which ought to be
repealed, but which the Ministers themselves would nut
repeal, and therefore they might be well made a subject for
inquiry before this committee. The fact was, the edu-
cation given at the universities had an eye too much to'
religion, whereas, if it were made more practical and
scientific, it would be more advantageous for the country.
Indeed he believed many of the disasters which had
overtaken our army at Alma, Inkerman, and Ba-
laklava would have been avoided, if the young men who
officered it had received a more practical university
education. Modern languages and modern science
had become quite of as much importance as an-
cient languages and ancient science, and it was
essential for the interests of the country that " the
young men of the higher elapses should be made
more acquainted with those two branches of education.
Now, this motion would facilitate the attainment of
that object ; it was couched in precisely the same terms
which the late Sir R. Peel had used when speaking upon
the subject of opening the universities, and whilst it
proposed to do an act of tardy justice to a large portion
of the community, there could be no, doubt that it would
greatly promote education amongstan important class of
the community.
Mr. EWART seconded the motion, as one who had
been educated at Eton and Cambridge, and knowing
from experience the great room there was for
improvement in those great institutions. The Col-
lege of Eton might be safely thrown open to Dis-
senters, while the system of education which prevailed
in our public schools might be vastly extended and im-
proved. The best authorities of the day were of
that opinion, and the time had arrived when it was the
duty of the Ligislature, as it would be the interest of
the country, to make the change shadowed forth in the
present motion.
Lord PALMERSTON said this was a most interest-
ing question, and ought deeply to entertain the attention
of every member of the house. No one could dispute
the justice of abolishing as much as possible religious
distinctions in the universities, but he was afraid this
motion was not calculated to accomplish the object,
nor was it likely to lead to those modern improve-
mentsin education which the mover and seconder of the
motion supposed. The commission acting under the Ox-
ford University Act had full power to make many of the
alterations suggested; while, with regard to Cambridge,
a bill would be brought in this session extending
to that university, mukitis mutandi, the same provisions
to be found in the expired act, and therefore it appeared
to him that a select committee would be a waste of
time. There was no necessity for a committee to dis-
cover the evils which prevailed at the universities ; they
were already known to the hon. member who had made
this motion, and if the commissioners acting under
the new measures did not attempt to apply a remedy,
then it would be 'open to the ladnourable mem-
ber to deal with the subject in a fixture bill. With regard
to schools, there was no denying that there was great
room for improvement in the system of education
taught in them, but he should be sorry to see
the dead or classical languages sacrificed to a study
of a more practical character—while he doubted
whether boys could be made good Latin and Greek
scholars, besides becoming well versed in French,
Italian, German, and mathematics, within the brief
space of six years. iHear, hear.) That would be
attempting too much ; but, nevertheless, he knew
of his own knowledge, that at Harrow the modern
languages had been introduced into the studies, and
he should hope that example would be followed by other
schoole to advantage.
Mr. PACKE was surprised to find this motion
seconded by a' gentleman of Eton. Our public schools
had produced some of the most distinguished men who
had been in Parliament, and that fact, he thought, was
a sufficient answer to this motion.
Mr. MIALL reminded the house that when the present
Government was formed, the noble lord at the head of
it told Parliament that its various members were re-
markable for " sufficient liberality." (Hear, hear.)
But they noble lord bad not displayed that sufficient
liberality which Ought to satisfy the house or the
country. Now, this question lay in a nut shell.
Either the Universities were national institutions,
or they were not ; if they were, they ought' to
be opened to all parties in the State, and made
of national advantage. It was upon that ground that
he should give his vote in favour of the motion.
The motion was then withdrawn.
STOPPAGES FROM WAGES.
Sir H. HALFORD moved for leave to bring in a bill
to restrain stoppages from wages in the hosiery manu-
facture.

Sir G. GREY opposed the motion.
After a few words from several hon. members,
The house divided. The numbers were—
For the bill 5B
Against it 96
Majority against the bill —3B
SIR C. NAPIER AND THE BALTIC FLEET.

Mr. MALINS then rose to call the attention of the
house to the naval operations in the Baltic, under Vice-
Admiral Sir Charles Napier ; and to move for a copy of any
correspondence which had passed between the Board of
Admiralty, or any member of her Majesty's Government,
and Sir Charles Napier, since the 20th day of December
last. The notice he had given was one involving consi-
derations of very great importance, and he had, on that
account, hesitated to become the organ of bringing it be-
fore the house. But the question involved considerations
so important to the public service, involving as it, did the
honour of public servants and the discretion of the Go-
vernment upon a matter of the highest importance, that,
baying been requested to undertake to bring the matter
before the house ho did not feel himself at liberty to decline
the task. The house must be aware of the circumstances un-
der which Sir C Napier was appointed to command the
tlnlr year ngo. In Febrnar7,
.ieLerali:lct! tU it(itup
scud out the finest fleet which, it was admitted, had ever
left the shores of Great Britain, proceeded to select for