The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-09 00:00:00

LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the London School Board was
held at the Guildhall on Wednesday, Lord Lawrence in
the chair. The first question for discussion on the agenda
paper of importance, was a notice of motion, given by Mr.
Lucraft—" That the parents of children, under the ages
of 5 and 13, be compelled to cause such children to
attend school, unless a reasonable excuse be given
for not doing so as provided by the Act."—
The Rev. J. Rogers said that there were many instances
where the sending a child compulsorily to school would be
to rob perhaps a widowed parent of her child's pecuniary
services ; therefore he would not ask for a sweeping mea-
sure, because he felt that great judgment and great
discretion were necessary from the board. He hoped
that the matter would be discussed in a judicious manner,
so that no injustice might be done ; and it was therefore
he moved for a committee to consider the question.—Mr.
Buxton hoped that the matter would be referred to a
special, and not to one of the standing committees.—
Miss Davies concurred iu the motion, and suggested
whether it would not be advisable to leave alone th
children that were bona fide at work, and touch only
the idle children.—After some further discussion, the
motion was agreed to.

RELIEF FOR THE DISTRESSED FRENCH.
(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)
An influential meeting was held in Exeter last night,
for the purpose of co-operating with the London Mansion
House Committee in providing means to relieve the dis-
tress in France. The Bishop of Exeter, in an eloquent
speech, pointed out the urgent need there was for imme-
diate action. The whole North of France, he said, was
utterly helpless and destitute, having had to maintain its
own armies and those of the invaders. Capitulated Paris
could not be fed from the surrounding districts, and unless
foreigners assisted she must endure all the horrors of a
most terrible famine. Whatever side Englishmen had
taken, no one could watch the steady and pitiless course
the conquerors pursued, and see the very life gradually
crushed out of the French people,without desiring to have
a stop put to the fearful sufferings which the war en-
tailed. A resolution, expressing sympathy with the dis-
tressed French, and pledging the meeting to contribute
to the Mansion House Relief Fund was carried unani-
mously.

The mayor of Warrington convened a meeting yester-
day (Wednesday), to raise subscriptions in aid of the
Parisians. Upwards of £6O was subscribed in the room.
The clergy and ministers were invited to make collections
in their places of worship for this object next Sunday. A
discussion followed as to dividing the fund between Paris
and the provinces ; but ultimately it was decided to leave
the matter in the hands of the Mansion House Com-
mittee.

Two steamers, the Knapton Hall and Sweden, chartered
by Mr. Thomas H. Frean, of Liverpool, on behalf of
Peek, Frean, and Co., of London, sail this (Thursday)
evening from Liverpool for Havre, with 1,200 tons of
biscuit on board. They only commenced loading at mid-
day yesterday ; but special facilities were afforded by the
dock officials to expedite their dispatch.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day, Wednes-
day, February Bth, 1871.—Admission by season tickets,
2,058; ditto on payment, 772 ; total visitors, 2,830.
PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales and suite honoured the performances at
the above theatre with their presence last evening to witness
Mr. Phelp's celebrated impersonations of King James
and Old Trapbois, the miser, in " King o' Scots."
MR. LOCKE, M.P., AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.—
Mr. Locke, M. P. for Southwark, addressed his consti-
tuents last evening. After reviewing the proceedings of
last session, he advocated the adoption of the Ballot and a
thorough reorganisation of the army. He was in favour
of maintaining strict neutrality in foreign affairs, and of
making the attendance of children at school compulsory.
In answer to questions, he expressed himself in favour of
the equalisation of the poor-rates, and he would vote for
the disestablishment of they Church of England whenever
it was found that the Dissenters predominated. He should
also vote for the dowry to the Princess Louise—an
announcement which was received with marks of dissent,
several persons going so far as to hoot at the mention of
the Queen. Considerable disorder followed, but ulti-
mately a vole of confidence in the hon. member was
carried by a large majority.