The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

THURSDAY, FEB. 23,

Mr. PATTEN presented a petition from Mr. Bramley-
Moore, one of the candidates at the last election for
Kingston-on-Hull, complaining of the report of the com-
missioners appointed to inquire into the election practices
of that borough, in which they stated that systematic
bribery and corruption had taken place, and that Mr.
Wore was cognizant of the fact; that the chief commis-
sioner in open court had expressed himself to the effect
that the denial of Mr. Moore, in his evidence, that he had
any knowledge of such bribery was perfectly satisfactory ;
and that, in consequence of this statement, the petitioner
had not remained in court to hear any evidence that
might be brought against him. In these circumstances
he prayed the house for redress, and desired to give the.
most public and decided denial to the report of the
commissioners.

PRIVATEEP.S.—Mr. HORSBALL asked whether the trea-
ties with foreign nations, or the steps which her Majesty's -
government were prepared to take in the event of war,
were such as would effectually prevent privateers being
fitted out in neutral ports, to interfere with British ship-
ping.—Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that the only answer
he could give to the question was, that the relations :of
neutral nations and the policy to be adopted towards
them had been subjected to the very anxious-considera-
tion of the government.' Certain customs were always
observed according to the laws of nations, and' diiTerent
countries had- different laws and notions in referenee_to
the subject alluded to by the hon. member. In enterino
into alliances this question was one of great, difficulty
and intricacy, and all he could say' at present was, that,
while government would strive to avoid, in eVery.possible
way, exciting the jealousy or provoking the hostility of
neutral Powers, they would endeavour at. the same time
to use such precautions as would effectually conduce to
the protection of their allies. . •
DUELIN HOSPITALS.—Mr. GROGAN moved for a select
committee to examine into, and report upon, the ex-
pediency of the grants from public funds to the Dublin
hospitals.—Mr. IVILsoN did not object to the appoint-
ment of a committee, though he did not see, unless Dub-
lin could show some peculiar claims, how the house
could rescind its own resolution.—After a brief discussion)
the motion was agreed to.
EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND.—The LORD-ADVOCATE
moved for leave to bring in a bill to make further provi-
sion for the education of the people in Scotland, and to
amend the laws relating thereto. It was proposed to'
establish, under a general board, a system of school inspec-
tion, by which a complete educational survey would be
made of the whole of Scotland, on a large scale and in.
minute detail, to be laid before parliament yearly. In the
meanwhile certain alterations were proposed to be made
in the law regarding schools. It was intended to raise the
remuneration of school-masters, which was at present
entirely inadequate, to £5O a-year ; to give them a retired
allowance, and to provide better house accommodation.
The government had determined that it was not necessary
that a parochial schoolmaster should subscribe any-reli-
gious test ; but it was not intended to make any change at
present in the body electing the schoolmasters, subject
only to the approbation of the inspector of the district and
of the.general board. The superintendence of the paro-
chial schools, which was now in the presbytery, and was
nothing but a name, it was proposed to place in the hands
of the heritors and minister, under the control of, the in-
spectors and the general board, except in particular cases.
lie read the preamble of the bill, recognizing the necessity
of combining religious with secular instruction, and one
of the clauses, which enacted that, in the parochial and
additional schools certain hours should be set ;Tart for
religions instruction, but that no child 'would be bound to
attend them if the parent or guardian objected, no addi
tional charge being, however, made in respect to that
attendance, which would be considered as part 'of the
ordinary school instruction. It was proposed that a ge-
neral rate for educational purposes should be levied over
Scotland, not to exceed ld. in the pound on the whole
valuation, to be administered by the general board, and.
applied, first, to the establishment of industrial and re-
formatory schools • secondly, to the assistance of poor
parishes ; and thirdly, in aid of denomination schools,
which should comply with the rules of the Privy Council,
Under the control of the general board.—ln the course .of
the discussion which ensued, Mr. WALPOLE objected, that
the preamble of the bill did not consist with the provisions,
which seemed to transfer the national system of Ireland
to Scotland, just at the time when it had proved more. or
less unsuccessful. He could not see, he added, the neces-
sity of doing away altogether with a religious test. Why
could not the university test be adopted ? The proposal
to establish, by means of a rate, reformatory and indus-
trial schools, was a noble one ; but, being a -national nat-