The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-26 00:00:00

delay were COI. the first day, increasing 601. per day for
every day's delay after.
Sir. J. PA KINGTON—What is the duration of the
contract?

Mr. WILSON—Five years.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLMASTERS (SCOTLAND,

TESTS.

The house went into committee on this subject, when
a resolution was agreed to on which to found a bill,

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND) BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill.
Clauses 1 to 8 were agreed to, after some verbal
amendments.

On clause 9,
Sir G. MONTGOMERY moved the omission of the
latter part, relative to the Confession of Faith on the ap-
pointment of schoolmasters, and the insertion of the
following :—"Who shall declare when elected that he is
not of the Established Church of Scotland, shall not be
required, as a condition of his admission to or enjoy-
ment of the said office, to sign before the Presby-
tery of the bounds the formula of the Church of
Scotland required by the 16th section of the 431
George the Third, chapter 54, but shall in lieu thereof
make the following declaration :—' I, A. 8., do hereby
declare, that I do sincerely own and believe the whole
doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith approven
by the General Assemblies of the National Church, and
ratified by law in the year one thousand six hundred and
ninety, and frequently confirmed by divers acts of Par-
liament, since that time, to be the truths of God, and I
do solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God, pro-
fess, testify, and declare, that as schoolmaster of

in the discharge of the said office, I will not exercise the
functions thereof to the prejudice or subversion of the
Church of Scotland as by law established, or the doc-
trines and privileges thereof.' "
A discussion ensued, in the course of which it was
strongly urged that the passing of the amendment would
be to secularise the education of the poor in Scotland.
The LORD ADVOCATE opposed the amendment.
The committee divided, when the numbers were—
Fier the amendment
Against it
Majority against the amendment--56
Sir J. FERGIJSSON then moved as an amendment to
the same clause that a schoolmaster on his appointment
shall " make or subscribe the confession of faith and
formula of the Church of Scotland mentioned in an act
passed in the 43d year of his Majesty George the
Third, chapter three, section ffity-four." Every person
hereafter to be elected to any such office shall make and sub-
scribe, in the presence of the minister and heritors, the
declaration following :—" I, A. 8., do solemnly and
sincerely, in the presence of God, profess, testify, and
declare, that while I am parochial (or
schoolmaster of , I will endeavonr faithfully,
and to the best of my abiiity, that my teaching shall
be in accordance and consistent with the Holy Scrip-
tures, and with the Shorter Catechism ; and that I will
not exercise the functions of the said office to the
prejudice or subversion of the Church of Scotland as by
taw established, or the doctrines and privileges
thereof ;" and such declaration shall be recorded in the
minutes of the minister and heritors of the parish in
which the office is held, before any such person shall
enter on the functions of such office."

The LORD ADVOCATE said he had no objection
to the amendment, and if the opponents of the bill would
consent to abandon all future opposition to the bill he
would ask the house to agree to it. (Cries of "No, no.")
Alter some remarks from Mr. BLACKBURN,
The CHAIRMAN, on the motion of the Lord Advo-
cate, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.
The house suspended its sittings at four o'clock.

The house resumed at six o'clock.
CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION REFORM'

BILL.

In answer to a question from Mr. HANKEY,
Sir G. GREY said that in consequence of the press
•f business at this late period of the session he should
withdraw this bill azd introduce it early next session,
without any alteration in its material features.