The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-15 00:00:00

SCHOOLS OF DESIGN.

Mr. EWART then moved—" That it is expedient that the
Government School of Design be formed into a Central Nor-
mal School, for the instruction of teachers of design, in com-
munication with other schools of design throughout the coun-
try ; and that the general recommendations of the Committee,
which reported on this subject in the year IS3S, be adopted."
This was a subject of a kindred spirit to the one that had been
just disposed of, and he trusted it would meet with the sanction
of the House. He thought the Government should give as much
encouragement as possible to the establishment of provincial
schools for the study of the arts. He did not say that they
should establish them, because he should object to placing such
power in their hands, but they should be favourable to their
establishment.

Dr. BO WRING said he had very great pleasure in second-
ing the motion. He was happy to believe that a decided im-
provement had taken place in reference to this subject. The
Institution of a school of design reflected great honour upon
the late Government, although it must be admitted that it was
decidedly inferior to many similar schools in other countries.
France afforded the most remarkable examples of the beneficial
effects of the application of art to manufacture. In Lyons
there were between five and six hundred persons who were
receiving artistical instruction for the improvement of
manufactures.
Mr. GLADSTONE said he believed every recommendation
which could be adopted by the Council of the School of Design
in reference to this subject had, in fact, been adopted. There
were five places, he believed, which the Council had already
fixed upon as proper places for the establishment of schools of
design. Those towns were Manchester, Norwich, Birming-
ham, York, and Coventry, and the Council were considering
where it would be proper to make up the number of six.—
(Hear, hear.) The Council had had great difficulty in finding
suitable teachers for the schools, from the circumstance that the
application of art to manufactures was in a great degree novel in
this country. He thought it would not be expedient at pre-
sent to adopt the motion.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said the subject was one which de-
served the most serious attention of the Government, but he
regretted that his Hon. Friend had brought forward the motion
before the Report of the Council had been laid upon the table-
He fully concurred with his Hon. Friend as to the importance
of having efficient normal schools. He believed that in addition
to the male department, the females were now receiving efficient
instruction.
Mr. WYSE, as one of the Council, begged to make one
or two observations. The progress made in the first
year of the School of Design was by no means rapid. The
Council had endeavoured to ascertain whether there was any
want of interest on the part of the country generally in re-
ference to improvements of this description, and it was found
that there was every desire to take advantage of opportunities
of improvement. The art of design, he was sorry to say, was not
sufficiently cultivated in this country as a branch of education.
He hoped, however, that in time.the subject would be taken
up. Ultimately he had no doubt that we would be able to
compete with foreign countries.
Mr. WILLIAMS approved of the motion. From the
establishment of schools of design throughout the country,
beneficial effects would result to every branch of our manufac-
tures. He regretted the want of confidence that existed among
the upper classes in the taste for our designs. He maintained
that the English designs were superior to the French, which
were unhappily preferred to them. He trusted the Vice-Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade would see the necessity of doubling
the number of towns in which schools of design were to be
established.
Mr. GALLY KNIGHT could acatire the Hon. Gentleman
opposite (Mr. Williams) that the Council of the Central School
of Design was as anxious to give the subject its support and
countenance as the Hon. Gentleman.

Mr. HUTT, as a member of the Committee of 1336, heard
with great pleasure the expressions that fell from the Right
Hon. Gentleman the Vice-President of the Board of Trade on
the subject. It was with much satisfaction he learned the in-
tention of the Right Hon. Gentleman to follow up the recom-
mendations of the Committee on the subject.
Mr. EWART'S object had been to see that the recommen-
dations of the Committee on the subject were carried
out. He was satisfied at the declarations that had been made
on the question, and it was gratifying to him to perceive that
there was a progress being made, and that in the right direc-
tion. He would, therefore, beg leave to withdraw his motion.
Motion by leave withdrawn.
CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.

Sir R. PEEL said he would not preface the motion with
which he would conclude with more than three sentences. On
the 2d of June, 1841, an Act had been passed to amend the
law respecing controverted elections. Its duration was to
be limited to the two sessions that elapsed after
the then approaching general election. One of those sessions
had scarcely lasted more than six weeks. That was so short a
period that there was no opportunity during it of appointing a
single Election Committee. All the petitions were, in conse-
quence, postponed to the present session, so that, in point of
fact, there was only one session since the passing of the Act.
He proposed then to bring in a Bill which should continue the
existing law, but not to a period longer than was originally in-
tended. The law would ekpire, as originally intended, at the
end of the next session. He did not mean to propose a single
amendment, although those gentlemen who acted on the Gene-
ral Committee of Elections had some amendments to propose.
He would not say a single word further, than to propose a Bill
to continue the operation of the Act for the trial of contro-
verted elections to the end of the next session, the period ori-
ginally contemplated.
Lord MAHON said that he certainly had intended moving
amendment;au but the Right Hon. Baronet's proposal was so
modified by his limiting the duration of the Bill to one year,
that he would withdraw his amendment. He hoped the subject
would be brought on at an early period next session, so as to
afford time for a full discussion of it.
Mr. SHIEL said that, being a Member of an Election Com-
mittee, he felt the loss of a legal person very much—(Hear,
hear)—when questions of law arose ; and he thought if the
Masters of Chancery were appointed to preside as assessors, it
would be a most useful addition to the present tribunal.
Mr. BANNERMAN said that he was a Member of the
Committee to which the Right Hon. Gentleman alluded, and
he did not think anything moro than common sense was re-
quired to decide the points which were raised.
Lord G. SOMERSET said that as the Hon. Member for
Kidderminster, who was a lawyer, and the Right Hon. Gentle-
man himself were Members of the Committee, he did not see
what need there was of any legal assistance in that instance.
Sir 11. PEEL said that he had no doubt that the jurisdiction
ought to be kept in the hands of the House ; but as he did not
intend to discuss the question, be would not enter upon it then.
After a few words from Mr. SHIEL, in explanation, leave
was given to bring in the Bill.
CLERGY RESERVES (CANADA).
Mr. SHIEL moved for an account of the proceeds of all sales
of the clergy reserves in Canada, and of the amount thereof
invested in the public funds in the province of Canada, or in
the public funds of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the
annual interest and dividends thereof. Account of all rents
arising from the clergy reserves that have been demised for any
term of years, and of the amount of the annual fund directed
to be formed under the Act 3 and 4 Vic. c. 78. Account of
the annual stipends and dividends which are payable out of
said annual fund, and were assigned and given to the clergy
of the Churches of England and Scotland, and to any other
religious bodies or denominations of Christians in Canada, and
to which the faith of the Crown is pledged ; distinguishing
such religious bodies or denominations of Christians, and spe-
cifying the amount payable to each respectively out of said fund.
Account of the application and appropriation of the said annual
fund, to the Churches of England and of Scotland, and of the
application of such part thereof as the Act 3 and 4 Vic. di-
rects the Governor of Canada to apply to the purposes of public
worship and religious instruction in Canada ; distinguishing the
religious bodies and denominations of Christians, to whose
public worship and religious instruction such annual fund shall
have been applied.
Lord STANLEY said he had no objection to the motion of
the Right Hon. Gentlemen.—Return ordered.
CHURCH-RATES.

Sir 11. PEEL begged of the Hon. Baronet (Sir J. East-
hope) to postpone his motion respecting the return of Church-
rates, in consequence of the indispssition of the Secretary of
State. He would do everything in his power to afford the
Hon. Member another day.
Sir J. EASTHOPE said he had no objection. It was im-
possible he could press his motion for the reason stated.
The motion was then postponed.
LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY, AND NAVAL PRO-

MOTIONS.
Mr. HUME said that he had made two efforts before for
this return, which appeared to him to be reasonable, and also
to the Commission appointed by her Majesty's Government, or
it would not have sanctioned the amount paid to officers on
half-pay, which was very great. He believed that a young
midshipman might be :promoted at the age of twenty, :and
from that moment become eligible for a pension, and in two
years from that time might be made a Commander. Of 1,584
Lieutenants there were 536 who had never served a single day
as Lieutenants. The Navy List was made a com-
plete Pension List for the aristoci acy. —( Cries of " Oh,
oh.") He maintained that this was the fact. Promotion
was given that they might retire on the pension without ser-
vice. Of two thousand Lieutenants, the average period since
they last were employed was fourteen years and seven months.
What finances could sustain this? Though the individual
amount of half-pay was a small pittance to maintain a man, yet
in the aggregate it was a great burden. The aggregate service
amount of the Captains was little more than two years each ; the
average period since they were last employed was 12 years,
and some of them had received 55 years of half-pay for two
years' service. The history of the Admirals was no better.
His complaint was against the system, and not against this or
any preceding Admiralty. It was on the plea that justice was
pot done to the officer who really did serve his country, and he