The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-25 00:00:00

EDUCATION.

The LORD PRESIDENT sail that he rose to bring
before their lordships the important subj get which he
trusted would occupy their utmost consideration. It was a
subject mentioned in her Majesty's Speech, and was one
which ought to be most tenderly handled. It wls that of
general education. If in this matter they were to make a
false step it would be doing an irreparable injury to a
largo portion of her Majesty's subjects. It was a question
on which the hatchet of political discord might well be
buried, and one that bothsides of the house might be united
on. It was the education of this country, on which they
might take a wide and general view. There was another
point which he would call their attention tc : they were
beginning for the first time to legislate upon this great
question ; they were not dealing with a desert
field, but upon a question which had already been
dealt with, and which hey should review in all its bear-
ings. He must dwell at some length upon what was
the present state of education in this country.
He would call their attention to the report of
the Royal Commission of 1861. (Hear.) He was
surprised that no more attention hid boon called to this
report than there had bean, for it was a most elaborate
report. The report of the commission found that under a
voluntary system the child out of every seven or eight
went to school, while in Prussia under the compulsory
system one in six went to school. From the
year 1803 it appeared that the desire of educa'ion had in-
creased in a very large ratio in this country. From these
facts ho would contend that the educational requirements
of this country wore not so great as had b tea rep:es -”at
The noble duke then entered into a statistical account of
the large returns of those who attended the Church of
Ea ;land schools. Ho would take four patient %%4
counties. He would take that of Berkshire first,
an agricultural county; the increase there was
very large. In Chester, partially manufacturing
and partially agricultural, an increase also. In
Lancashire it was also similar. From these facts,
although education might be to some . extent in this
country deficient, still it was not so deficient as to
justify the ominous statements which had been made. He
was not in favour of a system of public rating for the
maintenance of schools—first, because it would naturally
relax the voluntary efforts that were being made, and
next, because under a system of rating a purely secular
education would become almost necessary, for which he
thought the country was not prepared, any more than it
was for a scheme of compulsory rating. After referring
to similar topics, and showing the immense extent and
importance of the subject, the Duke of Marlborough went
on to say that it was the intention of the Government to
propose that Parliament should empower her Majesty to
appoint a Secretary of State to have the whole range of
educational matters under his consideration and control.
Other clauses would also be incorporated in the act of
Parliament which would enable many Nonconformist
schools to avail themselves of the Government aid. They
proposed also to embody in the bill the management
clauses which relate to inspection of schools of all denomi-
nations as they were now used by the various religious
bodies. The number of schools brought under inspection
by that alteration would be very great. An improvement
would also be effected with regard to schools in the poorer
districts. They did not propose to abandon the system of
certificates, but to modify it in such a way as they thought
would greatly improve it, and they also intended to make
some addition to the building grant. After referring to the
Conscience Clause, which they proposed to introduce, and
which would lay down the great principle of liberty of
teaching, the noble Duke said they did not pretend that
this was a complete measure, but the Government believed
that they would by it lay a firm foundation for a great
national system of education.

Lord GRANVILLE thought it would be more con-
venient to discuss the details of the bill on its second
reading, but at the same time he thanked the Duke of
Marlborough for having introduced it in that house. He
certainly was not disposed to treat the bill in a party spirit,
but unless great alterations were made in it he thought
the country would believe that the Government bad so
treated it. He congratulated the Duke on the easy life he
would lead when this department was taken from him,
but did not think the louse of Commons would be inclined
to create a sixth Secretary of State, with additional officers
and additional salaries, whose only duties at present would
be to turn Minutes into Acts.

Lord RUSSELL, while expressing a general approval
of the bill, regretted that such important towns as Leeds,
Manchester, &c., had not the power to rate themselves.
Alter a few words from Lord Cork and Lord Harrowby,
mostly in favour of some clauses in the bill, and a warm
expression of approval from the Bishop of London of the
way the Duke of Marlborough had dealt with the Con-
science Clause, the bill was read a first time.
On the motion of Lord DEVON, the Poor Relief bill
was read a second time, and their lordships adjourned at
20 minutes past 8 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING,

The SPEAKER took the Chair at four o'clock.

STANDING ORDERS.

Hr. DODSON called the attention of the house to their
standing orders, and moved that order 131, allowhag com-
petition to be a ground of locus standi, be struck out, and
that the following new order be substituted for it :
"It shall be competent to the referees on Private Bills, if
they think fit, to admit the proprietors of existing works
to be heard upon their petition against a Private Bill re-
lating to similar works within a town or district served by
them, on the ground of absence of public advantage."
Mr. LEMAN strongly opposed the motion, contending
that the order proposed to be struck out had worked well,
whilst the one proposed would bo but an act of hosti-
lity against all the established railways.
Mr. CAVE supported the proposed new order.
After a few words from Mr. WATKINS, the motion
was withdrawn.
IRISH REFORM BILL.

Colonel FRENCH gave notice that in committee on this
hill he should move the reduction of the qualification from
£l2 to £3.

UNIVERSITY TEST BILL.

Mr. BOUVERLE gave notice that he intended to post-
pone tho proceeding with this bill until the 13th of May.

THE BOUNDARY COMMSSION.

Mr. Sergeant GASELEE asked the First Lord of the
Treasury what instructions wore given to the Assistant
Boundary Commissioners for the borough of Portsmouth,
and whether he had any objection to lay them upon the
table of the house, and also their report to the Boundary
Commissioners, recommending for Parliamentary elec-
tions the annexation of the town of GOsport to the borough
of Portsmouth, contrary to the wishes of both.
Mr. DISRAELI said with respect to the report of the