The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-18 00:00:00

TIIE ARMY ESTIMATES.

Mr. CARDWELL intimated to the House that on the 11
March he hoped to be able to introduce the Army Esti-
mates.

THE EDUCATION BILL.

It was 20 minutes to 6 when Mr. FORSTER rose to
move for leave to bring in a bill to provide for public ele-
mentary education in England and Wales. He was received
with cheers. First he craved the indulgence of the House,
saying that he was!conscious of his deficiencies for the per-
formance of such a task, but he should try to forget those
deficiencies, and he hoped the House would forget them in
considering the important work upon which they were
that night entering. This matter of primary edu-
cation was a very serious business, not because
it was hoped to do great good by the removal of ignorance
from the land, but by striking at the root of crime and misery,
which were fraught with mischief to the individual and
danger to the State. (Cheers.) Affecting as it did the
training of a vast proportion of the population, this matter
of popular education concerned merely both their intellectual
and moral training ; and he was sure no member of that
House would forget that, while trying to do great
good, it was possible to do harm. (Hear, hear.)
That feeling of responsibility he thought rested on both
aides of the House. He felt, and he thought the House
generally felt, that, while the necessity of dealing with the
question was urgent, it was also necessary to proceed with
great care. (Hear, heal.) He would not detain the House by
showing why, in his opinion, an education bill was necessary,
neither would he enter into the political history
of the question. It would be sufficient if he alludea to the
fact that last year ono of the principal objections to her
Majesty's most gracious speech from the throne was the
absence of any promise of legislation on the subject.
He did not ask hon. members to divest themselves of party
feeling in considering this question, because ho knew they
would, and thus approach the subject in the most compre_
hensive and liberal spirit. The Government hal
not brought forward the present bill with any
view towards a compromise. The matter was
too important for that—(hear, hear)—they must look around
and consider the present as well as the future, and doing
that they must not be bound by any particular or limited
view. No bill, he was sure, would do any real good
that did not meet the necessities of the day—
(hear, ;hear) - and that was not all, because to
be thoroughly efficient, it must also meet the needs of the
morrow. It would not do for them, therefore, to merely con-
sider the future by recent profit, by the lessons of the past,
but look forward hopefully for the future. They had two great
facts to deal with—first, that primary education was
a necessity ; and the next was, that none but reliable
schools should have a vote of public money. Last year the
sum voted by Parliament for elementary education was
£415,000 for schools in England and Wales, in
which there were 11,000 day and 2,000 night
schools, and the number of children reported as
receiving education in those schools amounted to one
million and a half, perhaps, not receiving the best educa-
tion, but receiving education of some sort; but
then he was bound to say that the attendance
was shown to be most imperfect. They, however,
were under a deep debt to the managers of these schools,
and no one more than himself knew the extent to which
they were indebted for much of the good that had been ac-
complished by voluntary labours. He had seen a statement
of the number of children in the various counties that required
education, and he was struck wtth the immensity of the
want. In Liverpool it appeared the number of children be-
tween five and thirteen was 80,000, 20,000 attended school of
some sort or other, and 20,000 get no sort of education at
all. In Manchester the number was 65,000, and the number
receiving education was about as much more, and the in-
struction much better than that of Liverpool. He saw his
lion. friend the member for Leeds in his place, and
he regretted that he had to say that the con-
dition of Leeds and Birmingham was as bad as
that of Liverpool. The bill of the Government, he
thought, would meet a great deal of the want; and the great
point of it was that its operations would be in accordance
with proved need. They had much imperfect education
and much good, but unfortunately the good soon
became bad by the parents keeping their children
from regular attendance. (Hear, hear.) The State help
was necessary, but unfortunately, upon that point, it had
happened that State help had been given to those that
wanted it the least, and therefore he hoped that
the time had now come when help would be
extended to those who might need it. (Cheers.) There was
a strong desire for education of a national and complete
form. (Cheers.) The country demands, and the first duty they
had to do was to cover the country with good schools;
and, secondly, get the parents to see that their children
visited them He thought it possible to achieve such a sub-
ject, ; with that view the present bill was brought forward.
In solving the problem of how to provide an efficient system
of national education, there must be consistently with the
attainment of our object the least possible expenditure of
nubile money. (Hear, hear.) Existing efficient schools
must not be injured, and the most caretut en-
deavour must be made not to encourage parents to
neglect their duty. The object of the House should be
v complete the present voluntary system, to fill up gaps, as
it were, sparing public money where it was not needed, and
spending it whore it was needed. (Hear, hear.) With those
conditions he now came to the principle and plan of the bill.
First, there was a legal onactmett that there should be
efficient schools everywhere throughout the kingdom.
Secondly, there was a compulsory provision for the estab-
lishment of such schools', if they were proved to be wanting,
but not unless. (Hear, hoar.) Upon the passing of the bill
there would be no portion of England or Wales that would
not bo in ono school district or another, for the
country would bo parcelled out into so many
districts. The boundaries of those districts would be
boroughs as regarded towns, and parishes as
regarded the country—not the ecclesiastical, but the civil
perish. In the divisions of the metropolis ho should be
guided by the experience of the metropolitan mein-
'• r . If in any one of the districts it was
toiled that the elementary education was sufficient,
efficient, and suitable, it would not be touched.
Public elementary schools would be subject to three regu-
lations—one old and two new. They would be kept
up to a standard of secular efficiency. Inspection
would be no longer denominational. And in
future there would be what was called a
conscionco clause as a condition of the public grants. Such
was absolutely necessary, but it would be very different
tE the _present cmc,feige clause,-„ It yeould, apply, to

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THE MORDAUNT CASE.

The hearing of this case vas ronolvdd thiA daq, More
Lord Penzance and a special jury.

Serjeant Ballantine said tlat a witness named Haynes,
who served the citations, anC was, therefore, a most mate-
rial witness, was very ill, in London, and he had therefore
to ask that his evidence migit be taken at the hotelwhere
he is stopping.
Lord Penzance said that c•uld be done after the rising
of the court.

Dr. Harris, a surgeon at Worthing, said that on the
25th of May last he was cated in to attend the respon-
dent. He believed her to be 7erfectly insane.

By Serjeant Ballantine : He thought her disease to be
puerpural insanity. No one could mistake that kind of
insanity at its first [appearance. He should attach very
little importance to statements made by a patient suffer-
ing from such a disease. Supposing it to manifest itself
juA after the confinement, there would be certain indica-
tions of it.

By Dr. Deane : The symptoms, of course, might vary.
Never met with a case of hysterical catalepsy.
Mr. Hughes, a surgeon, residing at Bromley, was callea
in to attend the respondent on the 25th of August. Had
paid her over fifty visits, some of which lasted hours. lie
had also eeen her in consultation with Dr. Gull and Dr.
Reynolds ; was of opinion that Lady Mordaunt was a com-
plete wreck—she had no mind. He had endeavoured to
test her memory, and found that she had none whatever.
Had seen her ladyship throw herself on a couch. He had
dined with her, and her habits were most capricious.
Sometimes she would eat very little, and at others pack
her mouth as full as possible. He heard the evidence of
the witnesses on the previous day, and remembered the
acts deposed to by them. He had the impression that the
doings of her ladyship were just what might have been
expected from her condition. Her state had not improved
of late, and when he last saw her she was decidedly worse.
Her physical condition, however, was better. Supposing
her to be " shamming," she could not be in the physical
condition in which she now was. He had watched the
respondent most carefully, and he did not believe that she
was " shamming."
By Serjeant Ballantine t Took her disease to be puer-
pural insanity. He had tried to get her into conversation,
and had asked her if there Was anything on her mind ; it
was impossible to convey to the court an idea of her
answers. She had wonderful powers of digestion and
would eat three or four mince pies at a stretch.
Dr. Wood, who had been appointed referee in a case of
dispute between Drs. Gull and Reynolds, said he first saw
Lady Mordaunt on the 18th of September, when she was
alone. She said " I am very well." He then put questions
to her but failed to get any intelligent answer. He found
her pulse weak and her hand cold and clammy. The
respondent was unable to tell witness how long she had
lived in the house. He put various questions to her ; but
failed to get definite answers. The subject of music was
introduced and witness asked the respondent to play, and
selected a song, ' Strangers Yet," for her to sing,
she tried to sing it, but she utterly broke down, and burst
into tears when she got to the end of the verse. Witness
asked her what was the matter, but she simply replied,
"Oh, nothing." Witness was quite surprised at her
docility. She would do the most trivial things. She was
in a pitiable condition, and he never spoke harshly to her.
A few days afterwards—on the 23rd of September—he
called again, and found her standing in the room like a
statue. In dealing cards she would suddenly stop and
poise the card in her hannd, just as if circulation were
suspended. When asked as to the value of coins, she
could tell the value of them separately, but not when they
were piled up together. On one occasion she drew a
cheque for £.500, but it was so irregularly done that he
asked for a special order on it to her bankers. Her lady-
ship thereon sat down and wrote a most incoherent letter
on the back of the cheque. Witness went on to give evi-
dence to the effect that the respondent could not draw out
a cheque properly, or even understand the meaning of
"pay to order." When asked to draw out a cheque, she
put down the right day of the month, but the wrong year.
He saw the respondent on the 25th of October, having
just left instructions that she should not be informed that
he was coming. Witness asked to see the child, and when
it was brought she took no notice of it. She at times
manifested something like curiosity, but nothing more.
Witness played whist with her, and every now and -then
she suddenly stopped and played false cards. When it
was pointed out that she had made mistakes she
corrected them. From first to last was struck
with her remarkable consistency, or her incon-
sistency. There was no variation whatever in her
conduct. Her mind seemed almost to be a blank, and she
was quite capable of being checked by another mind, and
was completely at the mercy of other persons. Believed
that with proper guidance she could write a cheque. She
seemed quite incapable of reflection. Her bodily health
was somewhat improved ; but she gave him the impression
of a person natuially robust.
By Sergeant Ballantine : Did not think that if a cheque
book were put before her, she could write a cheque by her-
self ; but she might do so if roused to it by another person.
He would not be prepared to hear that she drew the
cheques herself. The mistake at whist would be
:evoking. The song she was asked to sing was very
applicable to her own position with Sir Charles. Certain
natural acts were performed by insane persons. The fact
of her crying would bo consistent with the presumption
that she was shamming.
By Lord Penzance : A case just like that of Lady
Mordaunt was under his care when he was attending on
her ladyship. It would be difficult to define the exact
condition of the respondent's mind. Had seen other cases
of the same sort arising from puerpural insanity. Believed
it impossible for the most practised artist to carry out such
a deception as that said to have been dune by Lady
Mordaunt. Her physical condition was better, and
believed that the fact of her making flesh- showed a
tranquil mind. Had she been simulating her health would
have failed. Puerpural insanity might occur in any
period during pregnancy and within the period of lac-
tation. In the majority of cases where puerpural insanity
ensued it came suddenly.
Sir Thomas Moncreiff, father of the respondent, said in
May last year he saw his daughter at Walton Hall. This
was on the 10th of May, and he was with her the greater
part of the time. It was difficult to say that he had any
conversation with her. He had asked questions, and
sometimes she answered appropriately, and at others in
such a manner as to convince him that she knew not what
she was talking about. He had asked her if sho
would like to see him. At times she said she did not care,
at others that she should, and at others made no
answer. Sometimes he mentioned Lady Louisa Moncrieff,
and asked the respondent if she would like to see her.
Lady Mordaunt seemed to deliberate, and would then
answer in the affirmative. He saw her on the 15th of
May, and told the respondent that he was going to take
her away. When she was being taken away she did not
seem to understand it. Witness travelled to London in
the same carriage • she got hysterical at one time.
She stayed in Belgrave-square some days, and
then went to Worthing. He frequently saw
her, and he considered that at times she
shewed some kind of sense, and at others was out of her
mind altogether. Saw her last on the 9th of the present
month, and she seemed better as regarded her bodily
health ; but her mind was much the same as when he first
saw her.
Cross-examined by Serjeant Ballantine : Had converse,-
tions with Lady Louisa Moncrieff as to what the respon-
dent had told her. Understood that the respondent said
that the child was not Sir Charles Mordaunt's or her's (the
respondent's) either. The letter produced he had read.
This epistle was dated October 8, 1869, and said, " My
dear mother, I am at last able to write a line to tell
you lam well. . • • The bird' has taken a journey
home to-day. He' has become ' very cockey' of late.
. . Bunchey' (i.e., her sister Blanche) would not
divulge much of home news.l
This was the case for the respondent.
Serjeant Ballantine, on behalf of the petitioner, re-
marked, in introducing his case, on the most painful
nature of his task. He would endeavour as far as possible
to hurt nobody's feelings. He could not agree with the
analogy drawn by his learned friend between this and a
criminal case. The question was whether the petitioner,
who alleged that he suffered from a deadly injury, should
be shut out from any remedy. The issue they were
directed to try fixed a particular time the 30th
of April, and after that period when they were to say
whether the respondent was sane or insane. If she was
sane at the time the citation was served, she was bound to
answer. He would draw the attention of the jury to the
30th of April. He would put them in possession of the
facts generally that he would have to refer
to and reserve to himself the right to speak hereafter. He
divided the testimony into two parts—facts and opinions.
With regard to the evidence as to the facts it was sus-
picious bcause it did not tally wtih the medical evidence,
and also that persons who could have been, had not been
called. Some three or four things had been imputed to the re-
spondent repulsive and shocking in their nature if they were
not simulated ; and not one medical man observed any-
thing of the kind spoken to byher menials. Supposing Lady
Mordaunt to be insane, she would be rt. s-especter
of , but, it sne Would he Ash somad
to do those acts before persons of her own station. He
did not think they would place much reliance on the testi-
mony of the witnesses ; but if they did they should
bear in mind what he had just said. The
first witness examined was a dependant of the
Moncreiff family, and of course their views, would be well
understood by her. The other three who gave evidence of
the same sort were inferentially, if not directly, contra-
dicted by the medical men who had been called. He would
pow refer to the second blanch of his case. Why was not
Lady Moncreiff called? Sie was present at the confinement,
and heard a variety of confessions and statements, and her
observations would have ;neatly assisted the jury. Was
it not likely that she thought her daughter sane, and could
not get up into the witness-box and say to the contrary?
They were also told tha Blanche Moncreiff and Lady
Louisa were with the respondent at different times, and
why were they not callel ? He could understand the
grief and agony it would Ic to them to be called ; but the
solemnity of the case denanded it. The rights of Sir
Charles were impeded ly this issue and he asked
the jury to think that the reason the family
did not get into th, witness box was that
they knew that the isue was not a true one.
The medical evidence was certainly very strong, but the
witnesses were, as it were, experts." They spoke to few
facts, but said that appearoices indicated certain things.
He looked at the certificals of Dr. Tuke, Dr. Alderson,
and Dr. Priestley, and **proposition was puerpiral
mania only a few days after the confinement, and con-
tinuing to progress towarts dementia from time to time.
They made their stand on that puerpural ttania
With a fever peculiar to a state of pregnancy.
it the medical men were wrone as to puerpural madness
their evidence was worth nctliing. Then they had the
evidence of Sir Charles Sinpson, an old friend of the
family. He also thought it MIA puerpural mania from the
cammencement, and the whohof his evidence was founded
on that supposition. As to fie evidence of Dr. Gull, it
was doubtless of great imporance. He doubtless took
in sans which he thought woult be a sure test of sanity, or
in malty. Dr. Burrows, than vhom a more eminent man
did not live, certainly seemed o say that at the time he
saw Lady Mordaunt he could tot make up his mind that
she was insane ; it was only when other facts came to his
knowledge that he thought so.As to her singing the song,
the words of which resembled her own position, he thought
it a strong argument for hiscase. Her feeling in the
ntataer showed that she had tot forgotten all that was
past ; and the docile way in which she finished
the piece showed that sla meant to save her
name and fame of those beloning to her—he was afraid
by duplicity. There were aerie things that so spoke to
the human heart that words •ere unnecessary, and that
was one of them. He could rot concur with the entle-
plan 101,111idathat..a.Wiking.r.,Ahia