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

INTERIM, PAR LI A 'JAEN

HOUSE .OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his scat on the Woolsack
at five o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Bodmin and Wadbridge Railway Bill and tho Vale
of Towy Railway Bill were real a third time. Fairs (Ire-
land) Bill was read a second time.

COMPLETING THE OFFICES IN DOWNING

STREET.

Lord REDESDALE asked what arrangements bad
boon made with regard to the spaces which were now•un-
occupied in Downing-street and the neighbourhood of
King-street, Westminster, and the Foreign and India
Offices. He considered that it would be impossible to
bring these buildings in connection without blocking up
Downing-street, and making a passage under an archway
between them. He would now ask whether any plans
had been drawn up, and what course was likely to bo pur-
sued. He should like to know as speedily as possible what
new buildings were to be erected on the vacant sites. It
was rather hard upon the persons occupying the houses
which were to be pulled down.
The Earl of .61.A.LNIESBURY said that the spot be-
tween the Foreign and Colonial Offi.:e was to be built
upon. Parliament-street would be widened at the point
of Dean-street. The ground between Charles-street and
St. Margaret's Church would be carried on in a uniform
liue. With regard to the frontage of the Privy Council
Office, nothing had been decided as to what should be
done with the ground between that and the Horse Guards.

After a few remarks from Lord REDESD ILE as to
the folly of expending money by driblets, th 3 subject
dropped.

EDIJCATION.

The LORD PRESIDENT said that he rose to bring
before their lordships the important subject which ho
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 was that of
generaleducation. If in this matter they were to make a
false step it would be doing an irreparable injury to a
large portion of her Majesty's subjects. It was a question
on which the hatchet of political discord might well be
buried, and one that both sides of the house might be unite I
on. It was the education of this country, on which they
might take a wide and general view. Thera 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 had been called to this
report than there had been, 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 education had in-
creased in a very large ratio in this country. From these
facts he would contend that the educational requirements
of this country were not so great as had been represented
The noble duke then entered into a statistical account of
the large returns of those who attended the Church of
Magian(' schools. He would take four p articular
counties. He would take that of Berkshire first,
an agricultural county; the increase there was
very large. In Chaster, partially maaufacturiu;
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 ho
thought tho 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 Sectotary 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 wore now used by the various religious
Ladies. The number of schools brought under inspection
by that alteration would b 3 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
s Nue 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 had 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 them3alvos.
Liter a few words from Lord Cork and Lord llarrowby,
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 SPEAK= took the Chair at four o'clock.
STANDING ORDERS.

Mr. DODSON called the attention of the house to their
standing orders, and moved that order 131, allowing 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 tho 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 be 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.