The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-19 00:00:00

EDUCATIONAL GRANTS.

Mr. A. PELLATT asked the noble lord the member for
the City of London, what sum was included in the ag-
gregate vote of 281,7651. (for public education in Great
Britain), for establishing new schools in towns where no
town councils exist, in conformity with the Minute of
Council, whether the sum so voted for this special object
would be expended during the suspension of the proposed
Education Bill; also, in the event of that bill being ul-
timately wholly withdrawn, whether the minute of
council in question would be rescinded, and the money
deducted from the current year's educational grant,
thereby reducing the large excess of 100,0001. as com-
pared with the expenditure of 1852 ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said, so far as regarded that part
of the bill which applied to places having town councils,
the sum voted would not be 'expended ; and as to the
question of the hon. gentleman as to establishing new
schools in towns where me town councils existed he begged
to state, that it was the decision of the Government that
where cases of that kind occurred, and were brought
before the committee of the Privy Council, grants ought
to be made in conformity with the minute of the board.
With respect to the other question, when in the event
of the bill being ultimately withdrawn, the minute
would be rescinded, that was a subject for considera-
tion hereafter, and he could not now therefore give
any positive answer to the hon. gentle Man on that point.

PENAL CODE OF PORTUGAL.
Mr. KINNAIRD wished to ask Lord John Russell
tf any information had reached the Government with re-
ference to a late decree said to have been passed by the
Queen of Portugal, and sanctioned by the Cortes, by

which any subject of that kingdom is condemned to
fine and imprisonment, varying from one to three
years, if he should do anything, by word or in
writing, which, in the opinion of the Govern-
ment, may be considered as an insult to any of the dog-
mas of the Roman Catholic religion, or attempt to pro-
pagate doctrines contrary to that religion, or celebrate
public acts of worship differing therefrom, and by which
any foreigner convicted of similar offences is to be ban-
ished from that kingdom. And if so, whether he bad any
objection to lay a copy of such decree, or extract there-
from, on the table of the house. Also, if any provision
has been made for the protection of the rights and liber-
ties of the subjects of her Majesty resident in or visiting
that kingdom, in conformity with the treaty of July 3,
1842, by which treaty the right was guaranteed to them
of building and maintaining, without hinderance, places
of public worship, and the free exercise of their religion
was promised to them. And if so, whether he would lay
a copy of such provision on the table of the house, to-
gether with copies of any correspondence between her
Majesty's Government and that of the Queen of Portu-
gal on this subject ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said her Majesty's Minister at
Lisbon had only sent over portions of the decree, but it
was evident the decree did not infringe the treaty, be-
cause there had been no complaint to that effect on the
part of any British subject. There was consequently
no intention or necessity, as yet, to remonstrate against
the decree.