The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

'2lu3 LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE REVISED CODE.

Lord BELPER presented petitions against the revised
code from places in Shropshire.

The Earl cf SHAFTESBURY presented petitions to the
same, effect from the infant school teachers and others in
Lce,k and Alliston.

The Bari of CARNARVON presented similar petitions.
The archbishop of CANTERBURY also presented peti-
tions to the like effect.

I.ord ST. LEONARDS having presented a number of
retitions against the revised code, proceeded to call the
attention of the house to so much of the revised code as re-
lated to the grouping of children for examination. The
-noble lord said he did not rise for the purpose of raising a
discussion on the several principles of the code, or did he
propose to entry into a general condemnation of the measure
because it ezntained much of which he approved. In the
first place, he considered that the time had arrived to put a
stop ht the great expenditure that was going on, because if
that was not done the result would be that a greater
ir.:rease would take place in that which was already looked
Upon as excessive. He did not object to pay for results,
alai he felt sure that if proper modifications were intro-
@aced into the Revised Code the result would be
:highly satisfactory. With respect to the religious
'part of the education of the young he attached the
greatest importance to it. In the national schools the re-
ligious instruction given to the children had an influence
much greater than many anticipated, for the children car-
ried its influence to their homes; and while they received
the benefit of it, they shed its blessing amongst their but
imperfectly educated parents. With respect to the mode
of examining the children under the Revised Code, he was
of opinion that it would be impracticable, because the pro-
per time could not be devoted to each child, and he arrived
at this opinion after trying the experiment in an establishment
in which he took the greatest interest. He wished to draw
the attention of the house especially to the examination of
the children in groups, and in doing so he would
observe that he could see no objection to the
subjects in which the boys were to be examined, but
he could not say the same with respect to the girls. They
in milk instances, had to assist in family affairs, which
the 'boys had not, and therefore that which might be
advantageous in one case would be nearly impracticable in
tie other. Therefore he could not consider the test proposed
a safe one. It might almost be as reasonable to classify the
children according to their weight as their age, and he
did not think there was a single school in England where
age was taken as the standard of intellect.

Lord KINGSDOWN called attention to the hardships
which would arise, whea this scheme should be carried
into effect, in the cases of the recently established schools at
Chatham and Brompton.
The Bishop of LONDON said that, although he agreed
with the main principles of the Revised Code, he thought
the suggestion of the Commission of Inquiry, that there
should be two grants instead of one, a very good one—the
one grant for the result of the examination, the second for
attendance. If Government made this concession, it would
go far to effect a favourable change in regard to the Re-
vised Code in the public mind.
Lord GRANVILLE having deprecated objections being
taken to the Revised Code without suggestions for a better
system being made at the same time, admitting the evils of
voluntary contributions, but did not see how they could be
avoided without the whole expenses of the schools being
assumed by the Government. He briefly adverted to the
remat ks of Lord Kingsdown on the Chatham and Brompton
schools, and proceeded to show why the suggestions advo-
cated by the Bishop of London were inadmissible, for it
would be better to go back to the existing minute than to
make grants for attendance at schools. He then considered
the objections raised by Lord St. Leonards, vindicated the
examination of children by age, and showed the various ad-
vantages which would follow its adoption, answered the
various details suggested by Lord St. Leonards, and, in
conclusion, thanked the house for the very candid manner
in which they had discussed this question.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Alford Valley Railway Bill was read a third time
and passed.

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented in favour of an altera-
tion in the poor law in Ireland, and for the adoption in
that country of the system of out-door relief ; from Fins-
bury against the present licensing system, against the
Revised Code, for an alteration in regard to the law relat-
ing to fire insurances, &c.
HOLYHEAD AND KINGSTOWN MAILS.
Mr. STANLEY moved for a return of the names of the
steam vessels actually employed in carrying the mails be-
tween Holyhead and Kingstown since the commencement
of the present contract, with the number of trips made by
each vessel, and the average length of passage from
pier to pier made by each going and returning; also the
time employed in establishing communication by gang-
way between the ship and the shore, and landing the
mails : and, statement of the time occupied by each vessel
in making the longest and shortest passage each month
during the same period.—Ordered.

GRAVING DOCKS.
On-the motion of Mr. LAIRD certain returns in a tabular
form relating to the graving docks were ordered.

MALT.

On the motion of Sir F. KELLY, different returns in
connection with the subject of malt, domestic and foreign,
ere ordered.

MAYNOOTH.
Mr. WHALLEY gave notice that be would postpone his
motion for an inquiry into the constitution of Maynooth
until an investigation that was pending had taken place.