The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-03 00:00:00

FACTORY BILL.

Lord STANLEY presented several petitions in fa.
your of the Ten Hours Bill.

In answer to a question from a NOBLE LORD,
The Duke of RICHMOND declared that he was deter-
mined to propose the clause which Lord John Manners
bad proposed in the House of Commons.
In answer to a question from the Earl of FEVER-
SHAM,
The Earl of GR ANVILLE said that he should
move the second reading of the Bill on Monday, and
take the discussion on the motion for going into Com-
mittee on the Monday following.
The Bishop of MANCHESTER presented four pe-
titions in favour of the principle of a Ten Hours Factory
Bill.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented and laid
on the table a report from the Commissioners of Public
Works.

EDUCATION.

The Earl of HARROVi7BY presented a very large
number of petitions from various places in the United
Kingdom, praying for an inquiry into the transactions
of the Committee of the Privy Council on Education.
The Noble Earl (who was very indistinctly heard all
through his speech) then proceeded to bring forward
the motion of which he had given notice, for a Select
Committee to inquire into the operation and effect of
the system under which the annual grant of public
money, for the purpose of education, is administered.
In dojog so he said ho had to entreat their Lordships'
particular attention to the case he hail to introduce,
which was rather a complicated one, and one in
whica much depended upon an examination of docu-
ments to make it all acceptable to their Lordships.
He trusted, however, to be able to go into the
subject in such a manner as would induce
their Lordships to grant the Committee for which be
asked. That great question of education had received
the attention of both Houses of Parliament for some
years pest in a particular degree. The condition of the
country with respect to education had been found to be,
that every contribution frem publie, and private sources
for the purposes of education had been exhausted. When
that discovery had beets made various suggestions had
been thrown out as to the best mode of meeting the case.
There were parties in the first instance, who, aware of
the difficulties of combining any religious instruction
with a system of education, considering the various de-
nominations of religions bodies which existed in this
country, were disposed to throw aside the question of re-
ligion altogether. or leave it to the clergymen of the dif-
ferent religious persuasions; or endeavour to found some
great plan of education which would be useful to all and
offensive to none. But when both of these plans had
been tried they had both met with general disapproba-
tion. There was no other plan but that of endeavour-
ing to educate the several Christian bodies of the people
on a religious system. and of contributing liberally
for that purpose. That was the only principle
which could be properly and justly carried
out. The educational training of men was a course
inseparable from religious influences. The response
which a proposition on that subject met a short time
since in another place had decided that point. The
experiment to devise a plan of education which should
be useful to all, and yet distasteful to none, would fail.
If they put the education of the people into the hands cf
those who would every moment be afraid of going be-
yond certain prescribed limits, they might have much
discretion, but they would have no seal. Now, if they
undertook the principles of religious education, they
should carry out their ideas fully. They should let the
state carry out that principle from a full conviction of its
necessity, and interest its functions without scruple to
give full efficiency to that proposition. He thought he
could show their Lordships, however, two or three points
in which the state was not carrying out that principle.
lie did not move for that Committee as a matter of re-
proach to the Government, but for the purpose of full
investigation into the subject. The Noble Earl here
went into a brief detail of some transactions which had
taken place a few years ago between the National Board
and the Committee of Privy Council with respect to
schools in connexion with the Church of England. He
would not enter into the details of that correspondence.
There was one great difficulty, however, which made it
clear that the system could not go on. The recommen-
dations made by the Privy Council were such that the
schools could not adopt them. He did not state that
as a ground for inculpating the Government; but
the departure from the previous system, and the
discouragement of religions bodies, was one of the
first causes of discontent and complaint. What was the
number cf clergy sad laity who had a right to receive
assistance in respect of education from the public re-
sources? But the Government said, there should be
always a committee elected in a particular way to re-
gulate the schools. They were inclined to subscribe
many hundreds for the purposes of education, and only

wanted 25 per cent. from the Government. All they
asked was that they might be at liberty to solicit the
state for assistance in building schools of which clergy-
men should have the management. He would ask, was
the system which thy had adopted necessary far the
public welfare? He believed its result had been to in-
duce parties to put limits to their zeal. He should like
to have an opportunity of hearing those who had com-
plaints to make give an account of what had been doing,
and that would be afforded; by the Committee for which
he sought. There were other points upon which he
conceived they should have an opportunity of investiga-
tion. They were professedly entering upon an experi-
ment. That such was the case was evident from every
report which they received. But if they were not to
have the advantage of legislation on That point, at least
let them have that of an investigation into the experi-
ment. The management of those who had the control
of the Lap fends devoted to that object was objec-
tionable, for the system was altered from day to day
on the most important matters without any sufficient
reason shown. The system of inspectors, too, was
one which had excited some attention. That was a sub-
ject in which the Courch of England was not alone con-
cerned, for the Wesleyans and the Roman Catholics
were equally interested in it, and all were equally dis-
satisfied with it. That was a matter which required to
be watched from time to time, and an investigation
into the whole system from time to time by such a
Committee as he proposed was a matter of useful inves-
tigation. They had also to conside whether the system
of inspection was really working out the objects for
which it was intended. He would ask them what was
the cost of the instruction they were providing?—
(Hear.) They should look to the machinery they had,
with the view to ascertain its working. In one of the
inspector's reports it appeared that, in the course of a
recent tour he had made, seven young schoolmasters
were entering or had gone into holy orders, and the
schools would accordingly be deprived of the services of
these persons. With respect to the female schools, they
were required to give an account of the introduction of
the Anglo-Saxon language, to know the principal books c
in that language, and the modifications it had undergone
from the time of the battle of Hastings to the tune of
Elizabeth. What buoks was it passible for a young
woman or a girl to read which would enable her to
give an answer to such questions?—Tear.) He thought
it would bo far better if the instruction were confined
to two or three leading subjects, instead of being
extended to a number, many of which were unimportant.
charbelieved that they were giving a very superficial
acter to the instruction of the training schools. Their
Own inspeCtors were shrinking from their duty because
it 41.1=4E1 to too many prVa4rlJ)
and prcpolltd t 4