The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-13 00:00:00

acquired a great attachment to self-government; at
the same time, there were certain things which
could be done through the action of the Govern-
ment alone. The Government was the Government
of the whole country, and could act quite impar-
tially, which no body like the Universities, even
although they might be actuated by the best inten-
tions, could do, connected as they had been so long
with one religious body. He had no further
information on the subject than he gathered
from the newspapers, but a Commission had been
appointed to inquire into the whole subject of
middle-class education. Until the report of this
Commission was issued, it would be unwise to ex-
press any decided opinion upon the subject; at the
same time he would ttirow out a few hints for the
consideration of those who might deal with the
matter hereafter. No one would contemplate inter-
ference with schools established by private enter-
prise. With regard to endowed schools, he believed
they were founded by men in advance of their time,
and that if they could speak now they would be the
last persons to declare that the improvements were
to be introduced into their schools. They had i❑
view the same objects which we had in view now;
they wished to stimulate good education ; they took
things as they found them, and established what
was then thought the best system of education ;
but, probably if they could speak, they would be
the first to declare that they never intended that
their schools should not be susceptible of improve-
ments. Changes in the letter of what founders of
schools had prescribed should not, then, be regarded
too jealously, so long as the spirit of what they had
prescribed was adhered to, and so long as the genes
ral principles which they had laid down were re-
spected. While we were right in not allowing the
Government to become possessed of the management
of our affairs, we derived great benefit from inde-
pendent inspection of what we did. Thus we had
appointed inspectors of prisons, mines, and facto-
ries, and in every case in which we had applied
the system we had done so with marked success ;
and even those who had at first offered opposition
in consequence of the interference which they an-
ticipated would be brought to bear up on their
affairs had they themselves acknowledged the great
benefit which they derived from the new policy.
It seemed, then, to be exactly the province of
the Government of a free country to establish
that which, after all, no part of a country could
supply for itself—a general independent inspection
brought to bear upon every part of it. Then, un-
doubtedly, there must be a system of examination ;
whether it could be best conducted through the
Universities, as at present, or through some other
means must be left to experience to determine. It
would be a great advantage if the connection with
the Universities could be kept up, as certain vener-
able associations were connected with them, and the
stamp of University approval carried with it con-
siderable weight. It was a question for considera-
tion whether, in connection with the Civil Service,
the Society of Apothecaries, the Law Society, and
other bodies, certificates from these local examina-
tions might not be accepted as a sufficient prelimi-
nary teat. In conclusion, the noble lord touched
upon the great openings for distinction now afforded
in connect on with the public service, and expressed
a hope that members of the middle class would take
the matter up, and see that their children were not
deprived of advantages which were absolutely ne-
cessary to them if they were to remain the most
important and governing class in this great country.
(Cheers.)
Votes of thanks to the noble lord and the Rev.
Canon Howell closed the proceedings.