The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-28 00:00:00

THE SCHOOLS INQUIRY comn-ssrojv.

In a day or two a most elaborate report is to be pre•
seated to Parliament. Three years ago a Royal Commis-
sion was issued, to inquire into the provisions for the
education of the English middle class ; the labours of that
commission are now at an end, and the result is about tO
appear. The report consists of twenty volumes, and
contains a vast mass of information. The changes
which the commissioners propose are so many, and
in same cases so complex, that we can indicate
only in the most general fashion even those that
stand out most boldly. The commissioners suggest [that
the schools should be divided into three grades—the
first for boys who remain until the age of 18, the second
for those who leave at 16, the third for those whose educa-
tion is to end at 14. A first-grade school would teach
Greek as well as Latin ; a second would omit Greek ;
a third would leave out both Greek and Latin. For
the sake of convenience, the country would be divided
into districts, which might be the same as the eleven divi-
sions of the Registrar-General. Each of these divisions
would have a certain number of schools, proportioned to
the population and to other local circumstances. A town
or parish might be allowed, although not forced, to
rate itself for the building and maintenance of schools,
and for the education of meritorious boys chosen
from the elementary classes of the parish or the
town ; but the rates would be burdened for no
other purpose, and the general expenses of teaching
would have to come either from endowments or from
fees. In order that those funds might do as much good
as possible, they would all undergo the scrutiny of the
Charity Commissioners, and be diverted to such pur-
poses as Parliament might deem expedient. Parlia-
ment is also recommended to declare that charities of
certain kinds shall be convertible to purposes of educa-
tion, and that the black list shall include endowments
bequeathed for doles in money or kind, for apprentice-
ship and advancement in life, for marriage portions,
for the redemption of prisoners and captives, and for
objects which have altogether failed. The authors of the
report also suggest that the Charity Commissioners should
be empowered to examine all those funds and to say
whether each bequest was useful or not ; that a provincial
authority should prepare a scheme for the appropriation
of any particular charity to educational purposes ; that
the scheme should go before the Charity Commissioners
for approval ; and that it should then be submitted to
Parliament. Thus a large sum would be made available.
In no case, however, would the commissioners institute
frCe schools for the middle classes ; such schools they hold
to be most mischievous. A long series of suggestions are
next made for improving the educational machinery ; and,
among other changes, the masterships of such endowed
schools as are not denominational would no longer be con-
fined to clergymen, but would be thrown open to the most
competent teachers. We have given only a few of the
leading facts and proposals, but the whole report merits
attentive study ; and never has Parliament received more
ample materials on which to base its judgment respecting
one of the greatest questions that is about to engage its
atte^tion.

THE AILIII/ ESTIMATES

The army estimates were issued yesterday. They pre-
_

sent a total of £15,455,400, and this is an increase of

£203,200 over the sum voted last year. The following are
the charges under their respective heads, with the increase
or decrease on the sum voted last year in each case :
General Staff and Regimental Pay, allowances and
charges, £5,749,200 ; decrease, £90,250.
Commissariat Establishment, services, and movement
of troops, £1,292,500; increase, £2,500.
Clothing Establishments, services, and supplies.
£496,900 ; decrease, £73,100.
Barrack Establishments, services, and supplies, £706,300;
increase, £60,300.
Divine Service, £12,800 ; increase, £BOO.
Administration of Martial Law, £23,000 ; increase,
22,000.

Hospital Establishment, services, and supplies, £380,003;
increase, £103,200.
Militia and Inspection of Reserve Forces, £985,000;
increase, £81,950.

Yeomanry Cavalry, £BB,OOO ; same as last year.
Volunteer Corps, £385,100 ; increase, £24,100.
Enrolled Pensioners and Army Reserved Fund, £6lOO ;
decrease, £3,400.

Military Store Departments, £1,401,400 ; decrease,
£64,100.

Works, Buildings, and Repairs, £968,400 ; increase,
2125,000.

Establishments for Military Education, £169,300 ; in-
crease, £4,300.

Surveys of the United Kingdom, £118,300 ; increase,
230,300.
Miscellaneous Services, £142,700 ; decrease, £6,500.
Administration of the Army, £224,600 ; increase, £6OO.

NON-EFFECTIVE SERVICES.

Rewards for Distinguished Services, £2G,700 ; increase,
£OOO.

Pay of General Officers, £72,000 ; same as last year.
Full Pay of Reduced and Retired Officers, and Half-
pay, £470,000 ; increase, £B,OOO.
Widows' Pensions, £157,000 ; decrease, £1,600.

Pensions for Wounds, £23,800 ; decrease, £1,400.
Chelsea and Kilmainharn Hospitals (in pensions),
£33,600; decrease £2,200.
Out pensions, £1,184,600 ; decrease, 22,200.
Superannuation Allowances, £135,200 ; decrease, .f.`,800.
Militia, Yeomanry Cavalry, and Volunteer Corps,
£20,700 ; decrease, £2,300.

Total of the effective services, £13,331,000 ; non-effective,
£2,124,400. Total of both services, £15,455,400, as against
215,252,200 last year. The number of men in the army is
this year 136,650, a decrease of 595 from the number last
year. There are now 880 native Indian troops on service
in China, and these were not in the estimate for 1867.
Our cavalry consists of 13,000 horses (exclusive of officers'
horses.) Our army in India numbers 64,466 of all ranks,
as against 65,292 last year. The estimates, which are
dated War Office, February 13, are signed by Sir John,
Pakington.

The Brand testimonial dinner at Willis's Rooms,
at which over 200 members of the Houses of Lords and
Commons are likely to be present, will have for its chair-
man Mr. Gladstone. The day at present named is the ith
March.

Deplorable accounts continue to reach •Paris of
the sufferings of the native inhabitants of Algeria, who
are dying by thousands from famine. Owing to two years
of unexampled drought, and an invasion of locusts un-
paralleled since the settlement of the French colony, the
harvest has aim, s'. everywhere totally failed, and sufficient
forage can by no means be procured for the maintenance of
the cattle.

The Liverpool coroner has held an inquest on

the body of a lad named Elkin, between 14 and 15 years of
age, who, in consequence of being sharply reproved by his
father, had committed suicide by hanging. The youth's
habits were fearfully immoral for one of his years, and he
had several times suffered seriously in health in conse-
quence of his abandoned propensities. He had twice en-
listed for a soldier, and had been on both c .:asions bought
off by his parents,

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Solo Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVENING, will be performed THE SCHOOL FOR
SCANDAL. Mr. Phelps; Mr. Barry Sullivan; Messrs. H.
Sinclair, J. Johnstone, C. Webb, C. Harcourt, Barrett
a,
Temple ; Mrs. Hermann Vezin, Miss It. G. Le Thiere, nd Miss
E. Stuart.
After which, the Drury Lane annual grand Christmas
Pantomime, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq., entitled
FAW FEE FO FIII1; or, Harlequin Jack the Giant
Killer.

THEATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET.
Sole Lessee, Mr. Buckstono.
THIS EVENING. THE BROKEN-HEARTED CLUB. Mr.
Rordon, Mr. Braid, Mrs. Chippendale, &e.
To be followed by DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sotherns
,
Buckstone, 'Chippendale, Rogers, Clafk, Coe, etc.; Mesdame
Chippendale, Robertson, Fitzwilliam,
After which, BOX AND COX. Mr. Buckstono and Mr.
Compton.
And FAMILY JARS. Mr. Compton.

ti ROYAL, ADELPHI.
CHEATRE
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER.
Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon.
THIS EVENING, UP FOR THE CATTLE SHOW.
After which, at S. NO THOROUGHFARE. Mr. Feet:te M
r
aplarance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, r.
Mr. P,elmore, Mr. C. J. Smith, and Mr. Benjamin
We'vter; Miss Carlotta Leclercq (her 15th appearance), Mrs.
Meiloa, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, t..c.
Commence at 7.

TO LICENCED VICTUALLERS.
ESTABLISHED 1842.
vILLIAM lIOLDICH and CO.,
LICENCED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS,
103, Fleet-street, corner of Farringdon-streetNo.
$,
The Pavement, Clapham-common (Southern BraTtch).

- -
COUNTER
VICT CLOTHS F ORS. LICENCED
UALLER

THE only article really suitable for that purpose,
ss. Gd. per dozen, hemmed, ready for use. Address
105, Fleet-stroot, and 5, The Pavement, Ulaphara.
-----

GLASS CLOTHS SUITABLE FOR LICENCED
VICTUALLERS, 7s. 9d. PER DOZEN.
VVILLIAM HOLDICH and CO., N d
o. 105
5,
Fleet-street, foot of Ludgate hill ; an No.
rho pavement, Clapham-common.

FABLE CLOTHS, in every Widt'a and Length,
expressly for Licenced Victuallers. Damask Napkins
for Tray Cloths, Drills for Bar Aprons and Towellings of
every description. Patterns gratis awl post free.

kA.RDIGAN JACKETS made expressly for Bar
use, Warm and Elastic, from ss. 6d. each, for
Ladies' and Gentlemen's use. WILLIAM lIOLDICII
and CO., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, 105, Fleet-
street, City, and No. 5, The Pavement, Clapham-common.

AVILLIAM HOLDICH and Co., LICENSED
VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, Established 1812, at 105,
fleet-street, City ; Southern Branch—No. 5, The Pave-
ment, Clapham-common. Patterns gratis and post free,
ith Price List.

67TH PRIZE MEDAL
AWARDED TO
WHEELER AND WILSON,
FOR PERFECTION OF THEIR
LOCK STITCH
SEWING MACHINES
and
BUTTON-HOLE MACHINES,

AT THE
EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE,
PARIS, 1867.
THE ONLY GOLD MEDAL,

GIVEN TO SEWING MACHINES.
Over 82 Competitors from all parts of the World.

THE WHEELER AND WILSON
LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE :
NONE SO SIMPLE;
NONE SO POPULAR;
NONE SO EASILY KEPT IN ORDER;
NONE CAN DO SO GREAT A VARIETY OF WORK.

THE WHEELER AND WILSON
LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE :
Superior to all Others;
And Recommended for
The following Qualities :
Beauty and excellence of Stitch.
It does not Rip or Ravel.
Strength and durability of Seam
Made with economy of Thread.
Its adaptation to purpose and materials.
Elegance of model and finish.
Its simple and thorough construction.
Speed, ease of operation, and management.
Not liable to get out of order.
Its durability and quick movement.
Its adaptation for every descriDqoa
Of Sewing, from the fluesi.
Gossamer, to several thickrtmes
Of Cloth.

THE WHEELER AND WILSON
LOCK STITCH SEWING ➢IACHINE :
The savage may doom his squaw to grind corn,
and weave by hand ; but what MAN will admit
that his wife does the family sewing by hand,
in the land of the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing
Machine ?