The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-24 00:00:00

STREET.

Lord REDESDALE would ask what arrangements bad
been 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 ludis
Offices. He considered . th.t 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 be pur-
sued. He should like to know as speedily as possible what
new buildings were to be erected ou the vacant sites. It
was rather hard upon the persons occupying the houses
which were to be pulled down.

The Earl of AITALIIESBUHY said that the spot be-
tween the Flleign and Colonial Office was to be built
upon. Parliameut-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
line. With regard to the frontage of the Privy Council
Office, nothing had beon 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, the subject
dropped.

EDUCATION.
The LORD PRESIDENT said that ho rose to bring
before their lordships the important subject 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 NV Is that of
general education. If in this matter they were to make a
false step it would be doing au irrefragable 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 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 to :.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 they should review in all its bear-
ings. He must dwell at some time upon whet was
the present state of education in this country.
Ile would call their attention to the report of
the Royal Commission of 1861. (Hear.) He was
urprised that no more attention had been called to this
report than there bad been, for it was a mist elaborate
report. The report of the commission found that under a
voluntary system the child out of every seven or eight
went to shoot, while in Prussia under the compulsory
system one in six wont 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 tlfts 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
England schools. He would take four particular
counties. He would take that of Berkshire first,
an agricultural country the increase there was
very large. In Chester, partially manufacturing
and partially agricultural, an increase also. In
Lancashire it was similar, &c. 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.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at four o'clock.
STANDING ORDERS.

Air. DODSON called the attention of the house to their
standing orders, and moved that order 131, allowing com-
petition to b 3 a ground of locus stancli, 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. LEIIAN strongly opposad 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.