The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-20 00:00:00

NATIONAL EDUCATION:

A (reputation from the London Church Schoolmasters'
Association waited on Friday upon Earl De Grey and
Ripon, and the Right Hon. W. E. Forster, M.P., at the
Privy Council Office, to present a memorial, praying for
an amendment of the existing code. The deputation was
accompanied by Mr. Powell, late M.P. for Cambridge
Mr. Chadwick, C.D. ; and Mr. Tufnel, Inspector
of Workhouse Schools. The memorial, which repre-
sented the opinions of upwards of a thousand
masters, having been presented, Earl De Grey and
Ripon expressed his deep regret that the Government
was unable to deal with the great question of education
durfitg the present session. There was one question which
it was felt would overshadow all others, but though
delayed, this interesting and very important subject
would not be neglected by the Government. Mr. Chad-
wick had instanced the example of France, and spoken
of the administrative advantages afforded by the system
of that country, but were a Minister of Education to be
appointed tc-morrow, the measure could not have the
same results here as in France, because the educational
system of France was simply a State system. On the
other hand, we had to consider4rot only the question of
mabagement, but the interest and -feelings of the different
religious sections of the community. He could say no more
at present beyond promising that when the time came for
dealing with the question in the form of a bill what the
deputation had urged shculd receive the fullest considera-
tion. Mr. Forster, adverting to a remark made by one of
the deputation, that certificated schoolmasters were shut
out from endowed schools, announced that a clause in the
bill which he had justintroduced into Parliament provided
that no one should be competent to fill the office who did
not hold a certificate granted under its provisions, or by
the Privy Council. He entertained great sympathy for
schoolmasters, and was fully alive to the importance of
the great work which they had in hand. He should,
therefore, at all times be pleased to accept suggestions
from them ; but the deputation appeared to view the ques-
tion of popular education in a somewhat different way to
himself. They were opposed to rating; but the difficulty
to be solved was not the mere management of the existing
schools ; there was the larger problem of how to provide
schools for those parts of the country which possessed
none ; and here the rating question would have to
come up.

THE LICENSING SYSTEN.-DEPUTATION
TO THE HOME SECRETARY.

Yesterday the deputation organised by the Beer-
nouse Licensing Amendment Association waited upon the
Home Secretary. Amongst those present were Colonel
Akroyd, M.P., Rev. W. Stanyer, M.A., hon. secretary
of the Association, Mr. Selwin - Ibbetson, M.P., Mr.
Darnton Lupton, Mr. George Candelet, Rev. Canon
Jenkins, M.A., Mr. Taylor, secretary Church of England
Temperance Society, Mr. Dale, vice-president of the
Church of England Temperance Society, Mr. J. T.
Hibbert, M.P., Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P., Mr. T. Baxley,
M . P., Mr. E. Baines, M. P., Mr. Gourley,
M.P., Mr. Whitwell, ALP., Mr. Candlish, M.P.,
Mr. Norwood, M.P., Sir Robert Clifton, M.P., Colonel
Brise, M.P., Mr. Johnstone, M.P., and Mr. Swan.
The deputation was introduced by Colonel Akroyd,
who said that the present was one of several
deputations which hoped to have the honour of
waiting upon the Home Secretary for the purpose of
urging an amendment of the existing licensing system,
especially by removing the power of granting beer
licenses from the hands of the Inland Revenue into
those of the magistracy. Colonel Akroyd read a letterfrom
the Archbishop of York, deeply approving the objects of
the movement urged by the deputation, and referred to
statistics to skew that the number of cases proceeded
against in beerhouses were much more numerous than
in public-houses. In answer to Mr. Bruce, Colonel
Akroyd said that. the members of the deputation were by
no means ready to say that the proposed reform was the
most perfect that could be adopted ; but it was the readiest
remedy that suggested itself for a great evil.
The Rev. W. Stanyer, honorary secretary of the
association, Mr. Ibbetson, M.P., Mr. Lufton (who pre-
sented memorials from Leeds and the neighbourhood, and
asserted that the gigantic strides which evil
made in that borough was to be traced directly
to the many low b( ershops which existed), Mr.
Baines, Mr. Candelet, the secretary of the Pro-
vincial Licensed Victuallers' Defence Assoc:ation, Canon
Jenkins, vice-president of the United Kingdom Alliance,
and Mr. Taylor, secretary of the Church of England Tem-
perance Society, supported the prayer of the deputation.
Mr. BaucE's reply was exceedingly brief. The Home
Secretary said the deputation were aware that Mr. Glad-
stone had told the House of Commons that there were
many subjects of national importance, amongst others
that of education, with which the Government were at
present unable to deal. The question of the licensing
system would, no donbt, have been taken into
consideration bad her Majesty's Ministers seen
any chance of beige able to legislate on the matter in an
effectual and satisfactory manner. Tl:c proposal brought
forward by the deputation was one which asked that
the power of granting beer-house li,:enres
be vested in the lianas of magistrates. It
would be remembered that Mr. Villiers's committee
when it sat recommended that the jurisdiction over
licenses iliould be removed from the magistrates ; and
the bill introduced from Liverpool (a bill warmly
supported) fell in with this view. The opinions urged
by the deputation should have the best consideration
of her Majesty's Ministers ; but without consultation
with his colleagues, it was impossible to say how the
proposal for this modified legislation would be received.

A NEW Form OF ASSURANCE. —A novel form
of mutual life assurance has been proposed among the
persons employed in the banking establishments of New
York. All may join, irrespective of health or age, and
the subscription is to be a dollar. When a member dies
the whole of the money in hand is to go to his family, and
a new subscription of a dollar is to be made, to go in like
manner to the heirs of the next deceased. The inequality
of the benefit, from the fact that the best lives would be
taxed to insure the feeble and infirm, would give the plan
a charitable rather than an economical character, but in
that shape it would, of course, relieve many cases of tem-
porary distress.

I COURTS OF ARBITRATION.—A movement is on
foot in Leeds to form a Board of Conciliation and Arbitra-
I tion between masters and workmen, similar to that which
has been for Med at Nottingham. Conferences have been
lieldunder the auspices of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce,
which were attended by members of that body and by
members of the Leeds Chambers of Industry and Leeds
Trade Council; and at a meeting of the parties on Wed-
nesday evening last an interesting discussion resulted
in reference to the most practicable plan to foim a board
in Leeds. There was no difference of opinioti as to the
beneficial character of such an institution, the only point
at issue being the composition of a board most likely
to secure the best results. The unanimous feeling
of those present seemed to be that it would not be
wise to attempt too much at once ; that a general
hoard should be first formed, in order that a means
should be in existence to arbitrate on any question
or dispute that might be referred to it ; while the
establishment of boards in each individual trade
should be encouraged, as a natural outgrowth of the
adoption of the principle in the general board. But as
neither side had authority either to propose or decide as
to the character or extent of the proposed board, the
meeting was adjourned for one month, in order that the
representatives of the Chamber of Commerce should lay
1 the matter before the council at its next meeting, and
that
ctihl s h
ou Cherladmb ascertain off ltnhdeuos
pt r
oanndof tthhee d
iLffeeerdesat Tradesrade
s
in the town.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE Parsorr.----The governor
lOr the State Prison of Massachusetts (at Charleston,
near Boston) has forwarded to Mr. William Tallack,
secretary of the Howard Association, London, some very
interesting reports of the institution (up 4.- vc, February
1369), which are well worth the attention of the public
on this side the Atlantic, as proving the reformatory
effects of remunerative prison labour. The Massachu-
setts
Prison contains 558 convicts, under the care of Mr.
Gideon Haynes. These are confined at night in separate
cells, but are employed during the day in silent congre-
The prison foundry occupies 92 of the
gate labour.
amp factory 58 the iron-
h"p-m3kino. 68, tl.e
inmates, w •
' maki 32, and
bedstead shop 49, Urns& 0no• so on. The
reports, financially, as follows :—Total prison
governor
798 • total receipts from prison
11ab0ur,.£27,128 ; receip s
expcnscs in
1868, ‘e-
' from other sources, 200 ;
£5,529 (27,646 dollars) ;
clear profit during 1863,
profit during 15%;7.
-1,469. d
en ce a clear profit of
£IO,OJO in cash has accrue to Massachusetts, in two
years,
• •o all costs and •
how the prison, after payingf
been
sala-
ries. Mr. Baynes stags : " This result has not
obtained by a change in the quantity or q uality of food
and
or clothing, or reduction of officers (their number
pay having
.both been increased), or a relaxation of the
discipline, for an examination will shew a
marked
im-
provement in each department." Yet pecuniary profit
is not the primary object, but rather reformation and
the prevention of crime after leaving the prison ; for, as
Mr. Haynes remarks, "It is certainly desirable that the
institution should pay its expenses ; but that should be a
secondary consideration, and ought not to interfere with
the safety of the cffieers er the reformation of the convicts
—matters of more importance than dollars and cents."
English prisoner costs on the average £35 each per annum.
and only earn £2 each, or about lid, per day.

MISCE

~~TG'S'.

TILE LOUSE OF LORDS.

The Marquis of Salisbury has evidently no inten-
tion of being a member of the Upper House and
doing nothing. Already he has begun to chafe under
the idleness and dulness which have so long marked
the Lords. "If the Lords have nothing to do, give
them something," he cries to the Government. "If
we can't deal with the Irish Church or with party
questions at the beginning of the sessions, we can
with bankruptcy bills and other matters which do not
come under the denomination of Liberal or Conser-
vative. If we are not so constituted as to be able to
legislate, then let us reform ourselves." Lord Salis-
bury's complaint reminds one strongly of the wail of
the frozen-out gardeners, " We've got no work to
do." And they don't do it when they have got it,
Professor Thorold Rogers says in the Star. Very
violently indeed he assails "the ancient and honour-
able house." The bench of bishops seems to be his
special aversion. They have done more, he says, to
identify the Church in the minds of the people with
ostentatious selfishness and shameless nepotism than
any public functionaries in the kingdom, and they
have made the clergy to be treated by the people
with social courtesy but secret contempt. As to the
whole house, the best thing that anybody ever said
of it is that it " hinders hasty legislation." This
phrase Mr. Rogers unmercifully picks to pieces, and
puts down the Lords as a political barrier, for the
maintenance of which we have to pay very high
indeed. We suffer on its account the monstrous
immorality of primogeniture, and all the evils of the
land laws. We permit the process of parliamentary
representation to be poisoned at its birth,
and commit the conduct of public affairs to '
"men who have" nothing to recommend them but a
name. When these men do act rightly and wisely,
according to Mr. Rogers, they do so either by chance
or by compulsion. " Irresponsible legislators" cannot
initiate legislation, and they stop the way of all social
improvements whatever. And yet Mr. Rogers adds,
for the sake of this house "we have
pauperised the peasant, have destroyed the
yeoman, are beggaring the farmer, are driving
the best of our people in bitter anger to foreign
institutions, are crowding the residue into large
towns, are substituting an indigent Irishry and a
sewage of Continental outcasts for those of our own
countrymen who will not live with us." Mr. Rogers
exceeds for bitterness Mr. Bright in the stormiest
and angriest period of his prfe-official career.
THE EDUCATION BILL. •

The Government Education Bill was published
yesterday. It is backed, with the names of Mr.
Forster and Mr. Secretary Bruce. It contains some
sixty-four dallies, and deals only with endowed
schools. It is divided into two parts, the one refer-
ring to the reorganisation of these schools, to the
position to be taken by the governing bodies, &c. ;
and the other to the examinations to be conducted
in them, to their privileges, &c., and the qualifica-
tions of the master. The bill occupies some twenty
pages of foolscap.

" TIME, THE AVENGER."

Twenty-two years ago Mr. John Arthur Roebuck
was turned out of his seat by the Low Church
party at Bath because he was popularly reported to
be an infidel. Instead of him was chosen Lord
Ashley, the present Earl of Shaftesbury. Times are
changed since then. When the Irish Church Suspen-
sory Bill came on for discussion in the Lords last year,
Lord Shaftesbury had little or nothing to say against
it; but in the Commons Mr. Roebuck delivered a
violent tirade against it. A correspondent of the
Rock now proposes that Mr. Roebuck's speech shall
b?, reprinted from ." Hansard," as one of the best
defences for the Irish Church from a political point
of view which could be made. Unfortunately Mr.
Roebuck weakened the force of his arguments by
voting, for the very bill he denounced.

TETE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 169

worst or crimes now that we speak or tnem in muentne
same way as we would of the most ordinary event.
To-day's papers for instance tell of " a singular
murder," as though it were some phenomenon
natural history, a toad in a stone, or a singing-mouso
that they were speaking of. T his " singular "
murder seems to us only too ordinary in its details.
A man was found with his head beaten in, the
supposed object of the murderer being the possession
of a large sum of money which the murdered man
was known to have received just before his death.
At this rate we shall soon come to speak of
" curious," and then of " clever," and then of
" interesting " murders. At last we shall come to
forget the heinousness of the crime in the skill of the

tireelr. tiovernment adneres completely to the decision of
the Conference in a juridical point of view. The note,
however, adds that the Zaimis Ministry has assumed a
heavy responsibility in accepting the same ; that the dis-
content is very general in Greece. Lastly, it expresses a
hope that Europe will give the new Cabinet credit for the
efforts made to maintain peace. The same journal adds
that the reply is not accompanied by reserves, for the
terms of the Conference did not admit of any.
The re-establishment of diplomatic relations between
Turkey and Greece will now take place without difficulty,
but, as is usual in such cases, the representatives of the
two countries will be changed.

Letters from Athens throw much light upon the violent
agitation which preceded the acceptance of the declaration
by the Greek Government. For a long time the
young King seems to have been in real danger
of losing his throne. He was willing to yield
to the Powers ; but he could find no Ministry to
help him. According to a letter in the Debats, no sooner
was any statesman summoned to the palace than twenty
anonymous letters threatened him with immediate assassi-
nation if he accepted office. This lasted for three days—
the entrances to the palace and the legations being care-
fully watched. Even the King himself and his young
Queen were threatened with assassination. The bulk of
the people, however, were not answerable for these out-
rages. There can be no doubt that they were got up by
the friends of Bulgaris, the late Prime Minister, and his
Cabinet, to prevent the formation of another Ministry,
and to favour the policy of aggression upon which they
had staked so much. The people fully acknowledged the
wisdom of the King's decision, which was, indeed, sup-
ported by the most tangible of arguments ; the Greeks
were in no condition to repel the large Turkish army
which was preparing to cross their frontier. But though
the Greeks gave way to necessity, they still maintain their
right to interfere on behalf of the Christian subjects of
the Porte, and will resume that policy as soon as an
opportunity may present itself. Bulgaria found no
support, not because he was the supporter of a policy
adverse to the sentiment of the nation, but because he
wished to stake the national existence upon it.
The efforts of Bulgaris to compromise his country
abroad brought it to the last extremity of misery at helms.
He packed the Chamber of Deputies, bought the votes of
tk. roue or sue most influential
politicians in the country. The new Ministry will have a
series of Herculean labours to perform. Faction
governments must come to an end, credit be restored,
swarms of robbers exterminated, and agriculture revived.
Otherwise, says a correspondent of the Times, " a revolu-
tion may come like a thief in the night."