education or even of instruction, or else only at Sunday schools.

If then to the number wholly without means of instruction we were to add those who are only very ill instructed, the result would be that there must needs be provided for, not merely one half, but at least three fourths of the youthful population of districts such as these.

And every step in the progress of accurate statistical investigation into this subject has brought accumulative evidence that these districts are but too fair specimens. of a very large portion of our country. A continuation of the enquiry as regards the remainder of the city of Westminster, so important a part of the metropolis itself, has led to a result scarcely more favorable than that at which we have just arrived.* How is it possible then, that on the principle of extending the aid of the State merely in proportion to the amount of voluntary subscription, these wants shall be overtaken?

School

Lord

am's bill.

By the bill, intituled "An Act for promoting Education in England and Wales," introduced into rates. Parliament by Lord Brougham during the last session, it was provided that in all municipal corporations al- Broughready, or hereinafter incorporated, the town-council might lay before the board of commissioners to be formed by that Act, plans and estimates for the establishment of new schools, and for the support of schools already existing, with the proposed rules and regulations, and that on the approval of such rules, the commissioners might authorize the town-councils to levy a

The preceding table is founded on those Reports of the Statistical Societies of London and Manchester, which have been already alluded to. The results have been authenticated by evidence before the last committee of the Commons on Education, in 1838. See especially the evidence of Mr. J. R. Wood, and of Dr. Kay.

local rate for such purposes; and it was further provided, that in any parish or township, not within any municipal corporation, any five rate-payers might require the overseers to call a 'school-meeting,' of resident rate-payers, for the purpose of choosing a 'schoolcommittee,' should such meeting so determine, and that such committee might lay an estimate before the board, in like manner as the town-councils in corporations, whereupon the board might authorize the committee to levy a school-rate as in the former case.

I entertain little doubt that to some such plan as this recourse must ultimately be had. In the shape in which Lord Brougham has framed it there is such an evident anxiety to avoid the slightest approach to means of a compulsory nature, and to afford the greatest possible scope to every kind of voluntary exertion, that the plan could scarcely be obnoxious to any section of the real friends of education.

Undoubtedly great difficulty must be expected in the attempt to produce such just conceptions of the educational wants of the country-especially amongst the great body of rate-payers in a rural district-as would suffice to put the system of school-rates into anything like adequate operation. But at the very outset, an enduring stimulus would be given to the zealous exertions of those who are already convinced of the importance of the subject, such as has hitherto been wholly unattainable.

The more closely, then, the circumstances of some of the densely-populated portions of the empire are con

* And of certain other persons having an educational qualification,' (see clause 14 of the Bill,) a provision which will be spoken of hereafter. The Bill provides for due notice, &c.

sidered, the more apparent, I believe, it will become that eventually the government itself must take the initiative, to a certain extent, in the establishment of new schools. But, for the present, it is most usefully employed in the encouragement, upon as liberal and unrestricted a plan as possible, of the various efforts of societies and individuals already engaged in the work.

To this end the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council on Education have judiciously resolved: "That the remainder of the grants of the years 1837 and 1838, and any grant which may be voted in the present year, be chiefly applied in aid of subscriptions for building; and, in particular cases, for the support of schools connected with the National School Society, and the British and Foreign School Societies, but that the rule hitherto adopted of making a grant to those places where the largest proportion is subscribed be not invariably adhered to, should application be made from very poor and populous districts, where subscriptions to a sufficient amount cannot be obtained.

"The committee do not feel themselves precluded from making grants in particular cases which shall appear to them to call for the aid of government, although the applications may not come from either of the two mentioned societies."*

2. In

spection of ceiving

schools re

That all schools assisted, either in their establishment or in their maintenance, by the government from State funds, should be under government inspection, appears to be so obviously just and necessary, as at sistance. first sight to render all argument on the subject superfluous. This very point, however, has been, and to

State as

* A copy of the report of the Committee etc.-Commons' Sessional papers, 1839, No. 284.

some extent still is, the subject of serious dispute between the government on the one side, and the National School Society on the other. The latter resisting all inspection into the state of schools in its connexion, unless carried on by its own agents.

The other of the two leading educational societies -the British and Foreign School Society-long since gave expression to very different sentiments on this subject, its managers having in July, 1838, resolved:

"That it appears to this committee highly desirable that the schools, aided by Parliament, should be inspected, and full reports published regarding them; but in the opinion of this committee, no enquiry as to the way in which the public money has been applied could prove satisfactory to the country, which was not carried on by parties wholly unconnected with the societies whose schools they are to visit and report upon."*

The committee of council having resolved to recommend "that no further grant be made, now or hereafter, for the establishment and support of normal schools, or of any other schools, unless the right of inspection be retained, in order to secure a conformity to the regulations and discipline established in the several schools, with such improvements as may from time to time be suggested by the committee," proceeded to appoint two inspectors-the Rev. John Allen and Mr. Seymour Tremenheere-to commence this task, under instructions, from which the following is an extract:

"In superintending the application of the Parliamentary grant for public education in Great Britain,

* In a previous memorial of this society, bearing date April 14, 1838, the government were strongly urged to appoint a board of education, and to give to this board the power of appointing examiners to ascertain the capabilities of all teacher-pupils prepared in training schools, established or assisted by the State.

my Lords have in view the encouragement of local efforts for the improvement and extension of elementary education, whether made by voluntary associations or by private individuals. The employment of inspectors is therefore intended to advance this object, by affording to the promoters of schools an opportunity of ascertaining, at the periodical visits of inspection, what improvements in the apparatus and internal arrangement of schools, in school management and discipline, and in the methods of teaching, have been sanctioned by the most extensive experience.

"The inspection of schools, aided by public grants, is, in this respect, a means of co-operation between the government and the committees and superintendents of schools, by which information respecting all remarkable improvements may be diffused whenever it is sought; you will therefore be careful, at visits of inspection, to communicate with the parochial clergyman, or other minister of religion, connected with the school, and with the school committee; or, in the absence of a school committee, with the chief promoters of the school, and will explain to them that one chief object of your visit is to afford them your assistance in all efforts for improvement in which they may desire your aid; but that you are in no respect to interfere with the instruction, management, or discipline of the school, or to press upon them any suggestions which they may be disinclined to receive. * * * * * *

"In adopting the regulations in the inclosed minutes respecting religious instruction,* the committee have refrained from enjoining any report on this head with

* "Regulation (A.) The inspectors will not interfere with the religious instruction, or discipline, or management of the school, it being their object to collect facts and information, and to report the result of their inspections to the Committee of Council."