ditions upon which they thought public assistance should be given to schools, they said not a word, he remarked, of religious teaching; and he read opinions expressed by some of the most ardent and the soundest advocates of national education, that, if the Report of the Commissioners were carried out, it would be destructive of the present system, and effect such a radical change in it as would prepare the way for bringing the schools under the control of the ratepayers, and ultimately extinguish the religious element. He joined with Sir J. Pakington in urging the Government to consider the Report; but, as to legislation upon its recommendations, he cautioned them to look on both sides of the question, and they would see a good many rocks ahead. He called Mr. Lowe's attention to certain matters contained in the Report, especially to the statement that, of 900,000 children, one-fourth only received a satisfactory education; and that the instruction was too ambitious, and too exclusively adapted to the elder scholars, to the neglect of the others.

Mr. Lowe observed that the Education Estimates this year had been forwarded to the Treasury prior to the report of the Commission; they were, therefore, of the ordinary character. Having first explained the several Estimates, he proceeded to consider the Report and the remarks made upon it by Sir J. Pakington and Mr. Henley. The Commis. sioners, he observed, had brought charges against the Committee of Council for Education, which he replied to, observing that it was not the intention of the GoVOL. CIII.

vernment to infringe upon the principles of the present system. He discussed the recommendations of the Commissioners, and came to the conclusion that they provided no remedies for the faults they pointed out. He then detailed minutely his own proposals, admitting that some of them involved matters of much complexity, with a view to obviate the defects of the system, which were, he said, three in number: that the education was superficial and imperfect, that the schools were not spread so widely over the country as its exigencies required, and the complication of the system. In the course of his speech, Mr. Lowe adverted to the position of the National Society, in relation to the Committee of the Privy Council.

A general debate ensued, in which the Reports of the Commissioners were much canvassed as well as the modifications of their conclusions proposed to be adopted by the Government. A motion by Mr. Whalley to reduce the amount of the capitation grant met with little support, and was finally withdrawn.

On the same day, the Secretary for Ireland (Mr. Cardwell), in moving the vote for public education in Ireland, gave full details of the number of schools and of scholars (amounting to 840,000, of which 668,000 were Roman Catholics), the classes of which they consisted, and the nature of the instruction the pupils received, explaining the principle of mixed education in the schools. He insisted that the results of the system in operation had established a just claim to the confidence of the people of Ireland [M]

and to the support of Parliament. He stated the conclusions at which the Government had arrived in regard to certain changes indicated last session, relating to model schools, books, trustee schools, and, in particular, the constitution of the Board, and he read the names of the new members added to the Board.

A further debate on the system of education in Ireland took place a few days afterwards, on a resolution proposed by Mr. Butt, that it was inexpedient, in distributing the grant for the purposes of Irish education, to enforce the rule of refusing aid to all schools in which religious teaching was made a part of the general instruction of the school. He contended that, as a system of united education, the National system had utterly failed, and, if so, and if Protestants and Roman Catholics were receiving education in distinct schools, he asked what justification there was for imposing this restriction? By rescinding the rule, education would be made more advantageous to the recipients-for it could not be an advantage to exclude religion-and the grant would be a real boon to the country.

Mr. Lefroy, after some remarks upon the Board of National Education and its operations, stated the reasons why he did not oppose a grant made by Parliament for the benefit of Ireland, but he pressed upon the House and the Government the importance of making the Bible the foundation of secular education.

Mr. McEvoy supported the resolution, and pointed out what he considered to be the faults of the system pursued in Ireland.

Mr. Cardwell thought the House did not desire that this question should be discussed at any length, and briefly replied to the arguments in support of the resolution. He insisted that, whatever might be said to the contrary, the National system had been a success, and had imparted to a large number of the people of Ireland a good, sound, Christian education.

Sir H. Cairns said the only question with him was whether, by certain changes (which he indicated), it was not possible to induce those who had hitherto objected to receive aid, to come in and accept it, so as to make the system of education really national. Recent alterations had, in his opinion, thrown back the prospects of such a system.

Mr. More O'Ferrall asserted that the National Education had become completely a Government system, in which they could accomplish what he would defy them even to attempt in any other department. It was also a matter of fact that, while the religion of the Scotch people was carefully guarded, and the schoolmaster in that country was obliged to take an oath that he would inculcate no doctrine at variance with those of the Church of Scotland, no such safeguard was provided in the case of the Roman Catholic or Protestant children, who received instruction under the National system in Ireland. So far was that from being the case, it was, he believed, an undoubted fact that there were 1200 children in Ireland being taught doctrines different from the religion professed by their parents. The honourable member particularly disapproved of the vote

for agricultural schools, and urged some objections against the National system generally.

Lord J. Russell said he had always held, and still adhered to the opinion, that it was an advantage to the children of the poor to have a religious education, and this principle was adopted in England. In applying it to Ireland, he thought Lord Stanley's letter devised the best system. It was said, Why should not religion be taught to every child in the schools? This raised the question whether there should be a denominational system in Ireland. If that system was to be assisted by public grants, by far the largest proportion would go to Roman Catholic schools, and there would be constant controversies as to the nature of the education given in those schools. He thought the best course for the peace and instruction of the people of Ireland was to persevere in the system of grants on the principle of Lord Stanley's letter, under which 800,000 children were now educated, and he should be sorry to see any change in it.

Mr. Monsell objected to several points in the administration of the grant. After a short answer from Sir G. Lewis, Mr. Butt's resolution was negatived by 36 to 6.

Just before the end of the session, the question of a revision of the Liturgy was briefly raised in the House of Lords upon the presentation of a petition by Lord Ebury in favour of a revision. He observed that next year would be the 200th anniversary of the Act of Uniformity, and he hoped then that the terms of subscription would be modi

fied. He intended next year to propose that the terms of subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles should be relaxed.

The Bishop of London was glad that Lord Ebury had confined himself to the question of relaxing the terms of subscription. With regard to the general revision of the Liturgy, no such revision, in his opinion, ought to take place at the present time. Such changes had been always confined to periods of great revolutions, and if any such changes were now desired, Lord Ebury ought to specify the exact reforms he wished to see introduced. He thought the terms of subscription were not so rigid as generally supposed. If it were desired, the services of the Church might be considerably shortened, but to this course the laity, and not the clergy, were the chief obstacle.

The Bills which the Government considered it essential to pass, having been now carried, and the necessary supplies granted, the period arrived for bringing the session to a close, and on the 6th of August Parliament was prorogued by commission, the Royal Speech being delivered from the throne in the following

terms:

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"We are commanded by Her Majesty to release you from further attendance in Parliament, and at the same time to convey to you Her Majesty's acknowledgments for the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the perfor mance of your duties during the session of Parliament now brought to a close.

"Her Majesty commands us

to inform you that her relations with foreign Powers are friendly and satisfactory, and Her Majesty trusts that there is no danger of any disturbance of the peace of Europe.

The progress of events in Italy has led to the union of the greater part of that peninsula in one monarchy under King Victor Emmanuel. Her Majesty has throughout abstained from any active interference in the transactions which have led to this result, and her earnest wish as to these affairs is that they may be settled in the manner best suited to the welfare and happiness of the Italian people.

"The dissensions which arose some months ago in the United States of North America have, unfortunately, assumed the character of open war. Her Ma jesty, deeply lamenting this calamitous result, has determined, in common with the other Powers of Europe, to preserve a strict neutrality between the contending parties.

66

Her Majesty commands us to inform you that the measures adopted for the restoration of order and tranquillity in Syria, in virtue of conventions between Her Majesty, the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, and the Sultan, having accomplished their purpose, the European troops which, in pursuance of those conventions, were for a time stationed in Syria to co-operate with the troops and authorities of the Sultan, have been withdrawn; and Her Majesty trusts that the arrangements which have been made for the administration of the districts which had been

disturbed will henceforward secure their internal tranquillity.

"Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the rapid improvement in the internal condition of her East Indian territories, and the progress which has been made towards equalizing the revenue and expenditure of that part of her Empire.

"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

"Her Majesty commands us to convey to you her warm acknowledgments for the liberal supplies which you have granted for the service of the present year; and Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction that, after amply providing for the wants of the public service, you have been able to make a sensible diminution in the taxes levied upon her people.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"Her Majesty commands us to express to you the deep gratification with which she has witnessed the spirit of devoted patriotism which continues to animate her Volunteer Forces; and the admiration with which she has observed their rapid progress in discipline and military efficiency.

"Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to the Act for completing the number of the members of the House of Commons by allotting the forfeited seats of Sudbury and St. Albans.

Her Majesty trusts that the Act for Improving the Laws relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency will be productive of important advantage to the trade and commerce of her subjects.

dating and assimilating the Criminal Law of England and Ireland, and for promoting the Revision of the Statute Law.

66

Her Majesty has given her assent to important Acts, which, she trusts, will have the effect of opening more largely employment in the public service to the European and native inhabitants of India, of improving the means of legislation, of furthering the ends of justice, and of promoting the contentment and well-being of all classes of Her Majesty's Indian subjects.

"Her Majesty has assented with pleasure to the Act for the Improvement of Harbours on the Coast of the United Kingdom and for relieving Merchant Shipping from Passing Tolls, and also to the Act for improving the administration of the law relating to the Relief and the Removal of the Poor.

"Her Majesty trusts that the Act for rendering more easy arrangements connected with the Drainage of Land will assist agricultural improvements in many parts of the United Kingdom.

"Her Majesty has gladly given her assent to many other measures of public usefulness, the results of your labours during the session now brought to its close.

spirit of loyalty, of order, and of obedience to the law, which prevails throughout all her dominions, and she trusts that by wise legislation, and a just administration of the law, the continuance of this happy state of things will be secured.

66

'On returning to your respective counties you will still have important public duties to perform; and Her Majesty fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your exertions, and may guide them to the attainment of the objects of Her Majesty's constant solicitude -the welfare and happiness of her people."

The session, of which we have thus recorded the principal transactions, was not remarkable for any great legislative changes, or constitutional reforms, but it produced a fair proportion of useful measures, the chief of which have been enumerated in the Queen's Speech: to which others, although not of primary importance yet deserving of honourable mention, might be added. Upon the whole, the aspect of public affairs, both at home and abroad, if we except the calamitous outbreak of civil conflict on the other side of the Atlantic, was such as to afford reasonable cause for satisfaction at the conclusion of the session of 1861.