The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-05 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TheFreenittat's Journal, reviewing the past week's
trade, says:—
" Barley is scarce, and an exception to the general
decline. Produce has been sparingly dealt in, and
price's only ju-t sustained. Stocks and shares not largely
dealt in, and quiet. Money is rather easier, and credit
well supported.
"The stock market bas again been in a state of in-
activity, and no fluctuation exeeeding an eighth per
cent, has occurred. Toe closing price to-day is exactly
the same as on Monday, viz , Js¢ ; New Three per
Cents. are dear: r. These prices appear to be up.
held with difficulty on the present uncertain state o:
the Continent and disquieting state of the exchange-.
The impression appears to be that prices are extremely
high under existing circumstances, of which there cau
hardly be a doubt."
The Customs duties are 17.8251., against 22,0001. tt:e
corresponding week last year—decreme, 4,175/. The
large payments last year previou to the change con-
tinue to etreet the comprisnei. Paid this week on tea,
6,2311. ; r.ll 1,3521. ; muscovado sugar,
2,843/. ; c.ffee, 121/. ; wine, 2,3081. ; spirits, 4471. ;
tobacco, 1 0631 ; timber, 751. ; awl miscellaneous, 3742.
The total sum paid since July 1 is £94,688
. Same perif,d last year 128,727

Decrease..

£34,039

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RAGGED OR REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.—The Commit-
tee of Ceunctl on Education have cancelled all former
minute,' and agreed to grant substantial and permanent
aid to reformatory and ragged schools. The minute by
which this reso'ution is made known to the managers of
thee. institutions provides that no school shall be admis-
sible to aid "unless it be industrial in its character, and
unless the scholars be taken exclusively from the crimi-
nal and abandoned classes." These conditions being
complied with, the Council are-1. To pay half of the
rent. 2. To pay one-third of the annual cost of tools
and of raw material for labour. 3. To make grants
towards the cost of books, maps, and apparatus upon
the same terms as to other schools. 4. To pay 351. to
the treasurers of any reformatory in respect of every per-
son qualified to teach who shall have been hoarded, lodged,
and trained as a master for a year in the institution,
and holding certificates of merit from her Majesty's in-
spectors of schools. t. To grant half of the salary paid
to the teacher, and half of his assistant's salary ; no
teacher to have more than 25 scholars for the master, and
between 25 end 50 for each assistant. 6. "To grant as
capitation on every child (according to the number in
average,attendance during the year preceding the annual
inspection) who is net paid for by tee se.e....es-
sioners of the Treasury under the act 17th and 18th Vice
c. 86, the sum of 50a per annum, provided that such
child' be fed at the school." Reformatories and ragged
filillU,llS
,F tine apt are to be
under the special inspection of her Majesee's inspectors
of schools. The instruc ions to the inspectors are very
minute. Oa the subject of appointing teachers, the
minute of instructions says, " You will observe that the
Government leaves the choice of teachers absolutely to
the managers, interposing no test whatever except the in-
spectors' annual reports upon certain points." The
principal officsr in each school must
enough instructed to be able to control and to be revels.
Bible for the work of the school-room. As regards the
standard of education, it is provided that the literary
ability of a teacher may be regarded as sufficient if the
inepeetor is satisfied that the beys wider hie charge learn
to read, writ,' ai d cipher ire 'each a meaner as to acquire
the practical' command of those arts in earning their
breed and 'milking their way in the World. "A boy who
reads with difficeltvand without intelligence, who writes
mperfectly and spells ill, who cannot readily apply the
rules of arithmetic to a common transaction of the shop
or of wages," might, it is assumed, "as well, for moss
practical purposes, be unable to read, write, or cipher
at all," and this test the inspectors are instructed
rously to apply. "In the same way," says the minute,
"as to religious knoWe4,-'e, sou should endea-
vour to ascertain that the doctrines and the
maxims of Christianity are taught in such a
manner as to he likely to become motives and
rules of conduct ;" and, in respect of practical duties in
the workshop, the inspectors are instructed to seo that
the work of industrial schools is really properly done.
Irou are to bear in mind," says the Council, " that no
oral delivery of moral lessons can be :to effective as that
which results from daily practice. You will not, there-
fore, allow any general professions to weigh against the
evidence which a school or workshop may present in it-
self of a wane of order, obedience, and cleanliness. A
disobedient, dirty, ill-conditioned lad • Is not to he talked
out of those habits,' but can only be cured by being
obliged to live in daily and hourly contact with the prac-
sal oppcseo of them."