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who thought that the Government , so far from being blsmed for having exhaused every means of maintaining peace , desirved the thanks of tbeir country for the proper alarm they had evinced on this trying occasion at the horrors and expense of war . ( Cheers ) . Not only the present , hut the former Government of Lord John BuBselU and also the intervening one , l ^ fiaoirie ^ everything in their power to keep aloof ttpniL the qxiarrel between the Latin and Greek ichnn ^ s , ^ whilst they had all along shown an anxious deiire to conclude the dispute between Russia and l ^ key . The Government had . been very much de-^ t ^ l'b jr placing confidence in Bussia , though he Cfiuld '" oSt " ' blana ' e the Government for
nlacintrcnnfi-: tftinoe ^ ittv the statements , oral and written , made by ttofagenig ofJEUssia , in the recent negotiations ; but lie . ha 4 "no hesitation in saying they had been deceived . 3 ^ rsliame * however , was not with them , hut with thbte by whom they had be « n deceived . fi _ Tlie ; ^ adual encroachments of ' Russia have be' iMini ^^ g ^ quB 'to the liberties of mankind . It was 6 i ^ p «|^ g >^ imd w 1 hat he considered the Government ^< p | pyi »|^ tb take | he course they had done . . Goa-^^ s ^ u ^ u aAijWe . were situated on the very verge of . t ^ w ^ tern continent of Europe , that our commerce •©^ iwed * the whole world , and that the liberties of ignlniHtfd mj ^ t be said to depend to a great extent ^^^; libfe * 1 y of England , he did not think the GovTemmenfc were to blame for the anxiety they had
xh ^ nifested in ibis matter . The increase that bad WK& $ ^ & *** * 13 ^ ^ en on ttiis occaj ^^ p ui-inode | ate in his opinion , considering the Ig ^ lpcyl and he was . happy to think that the expense wa « less , in proportion to the numerical inore ^ of ^ the mea than he had apprehended , which ^ u ^ o'wlng , no doubt , to the laudable anxiety on the 'pt ^; O ^^ t ^~ Government to economise the expenditure ; ; He ? tborog ^ measures set on ^ t : ^ ^^ OoVernment to stay the encroachments O ^ Busda on the liberties of mankind had been con .-QBh ^^ mdlezecated in the best and moat economical m ^ aaem . -. ' 4 h u . v . ;¦ -.: ¦ . '
" I hope the Goveniment will show more confidence and i «*^|^^ gW 3 ana ^« iqd , sense , in future , by placing more trust . Mlhelpwp ^ an jjthat , m future , such correspondence ; will Jjiiipb | pW ^ m ^ ei ^ may enable us to knowwbat our Goyernm ^ is id piiig ,-atad thkt we shall not be obliged to have £ a | vB $ 3 ® ^ heviiewspapjsrs of foreign countries for that hxfarniatwMi which 3 a witheld from us b y our own Government . I ^ jB pt think the people of England have been fiurly treated in th ^ i'iaatter , and I hope such a- course will not be ; again ¦ jf ^^^^ yias ^ B them by any Government , and that they Viiw Sielii&d JPJk ftaukneas and confidence , and not with du ^ st and suspicion . - The people are willing to repose a geMsou ^ . con ^ dence , in the Government , that they are so
disgMecMraibeen eaempunea m a most extraoramary degree . X-i ^^ expeB ^^ hat , I should live to see the day which has npwj ^ v ^ whett the people of England stand up as one -a ^^ V ^ vin wM ^/ the GfHidnct of the Cfpvernment in support of ^ tiieVoppreased-rin . support of the Turk—whose -TiHyvnauVe -W « a for years a word of reproach . See the pjritrwhich 5 has animated the public meetings that have bewthield pnthia question—sec the determination that has be « i ^ inced to -prevent th e powerful State from crushing and . overwhelming the weaker—see the people coming forward evincing those generous feelings which Englishmen Lave always entertained—their resolution to help the oppressed and prevent injustice . ( Cheers . " ) Sir , I thought jnghtto say thes e ,, few words in explanation of my intention to give a hearty support to the Government on this question . " ( Loud and prolon ged cheers , in which Lord Palmeraton
Mr . Monckton Milnes expressed a hope that the health and comfort of the men would be looked a $ er . Government , he said , had suffered severely for withholding information . Here Sir Henht Wiixoughby and Sir De La . cy E ^ ks engaged in a dispute on the merits of the . question , the former attaching , the latter defending JftBnisters , but advancing nothing new . Lord Pawcebston explained to Mr . Milnes ; first thai Government had not -withheld the papers from a distrust of Parliament or the people , but simply because the premature publication of unfinished itegotiations tends to defeat the chance of a successfiuuftie ; secondly as to the care of the troops .
and comfort , and to the greater attention paid to the feeding , clothing ^ and . medical attendance of the British troops—I say . you will find that a British army , 40 , 000 strong , will Sat an infinitely greater number of men in the rank on the ay of action in the field of battle than any other army in the civilised world . This is one of the reasons—and I may say it without any national vanity— -this is one of the main reasons of the great efficiency of British troops in comparison with the numbers employed . Mr . Mmrrz thought the question might have been settled sooner had Ministers acted with vigour when the Russians threatened the Pruth . But being in the war , we must act like Englishmen , and get out of it as well as we can . The report was agreed to .
Education in Scotland . The Xobj > Advocate moved for leave to bring in a bill "to make further provision for the education of the people of Scotland , jand to amend the laws relating thereto . " Enlarging on the necessity for education , he said , one would imagine that , with the means ready to their hands , and a hearty good will in the cause , the teaching of the people of this cotratry ought to be one of the simplest and easiest tasks of the Legislature . Even regarding the subject as a mere matter of philanthropy and benevolence , men of all parties ought to -waive minor differences in an attempt to rescue their countrymen from that ignorance which
was as bad as the worst of creeds . But the question was no longer one either of duty or of philanthropy . It had now resolved itself into a simple consideration of' self-defence . The question forced itself on their attention with an importunity and an urgency which would brook no denial , when it was remembered that with , all our extending commerce—with all the expansion of our civil privileges—with all the wealth of our cities—there was growing up in the very heart of our great towns , and at the veiylfoot of our social system , a savage and barbarous race , J ) tied to us by none of the ordinary sympathies which held social communities together , possessing the energies and the passions , as well as the nerves and sinews , of their forefathers , but with those energies untamed
by any framamsing influences , and those passions unrestrained by any knowledge of their duty either to . God or to man . Anybody who was conversant with the statistics of crime from week to week in this country could not but be aware that this was a plain , simple , and authentic statement ; and unless the Legislature would deal with it in this conviction , they would find out their error when too late . It was time . that something should be done for the remedy of an evil which was fraught with dishononr to our national character , for in the ignorance and brutality of certain classes of our people there was gathering a flood of dark and pestilential waters , which , if not now restrained , would one day burst their channels and inundate society .
of the salaries was to be paid by the ratepayers , and the other half was to be contributed from the funds voted by Parliament . The management of the schools in borougni would be placed in the hands of the town council—a body popularly elected , and therefore representing the opinion of the community , and subject to public control . The management of schools in the country was proposed to be placed in the hands of a committee , one-half elected by the heritors , and the other half by the ratepayers—the general board to have the right of nominating three mem - bers , and the clergyman of the parish to be ear offitfo a member . The constitution of the general board was now the only part of the subject to which he had not referred He proposed to make that board partly officialconaiatine
, of the Tx ) rd Advocate and the Solicitor-General , and to add to them -five delegates from the universities of Scotland , and three or five more by the nomination of the Crown . The third portion of this bill was a part to vfhich he attached very general importance . How it might be received by the House and the country he did not know , but it seemed to him , in our present circumstances , to be a most essential part of any national system ; because the wants of education were not always cotraterjbalanced by the abundance of means in the same locality . The poorest localities were generally the most ignorant , so that education was most required where the funds requisite were least to be had , ana that operated as a serious bar to the denominational system . It was therefore proposed , that a general educational rate be
imposed , not exceeding one penny in the pound over the whole of the valuation of Scotland , to be administered by the general board . And as to the application of that fund , it was intended ,- in the first place , to be applicable to the establishment and sustenance of educational reformatory schools , which he thought would be fodnd a great boon to Scotland , if they could have a certain and sure fond provided for that purpose . But any exertions in that direction , to be productive and efficient , mnst « be commensurate with the . necessity which exists , and the desirableness of checking crime ; and in his opinion a rate was the most available means to that end , and certainly very
justifiable was the application of it to the diminution of crime and the expense , with all the incidental evils , which crime entailed ^ upon society . In the second place , this fund would be applicable to the power of the parishes whenever additional schools were required in the country , or the rate in burghs -went beyond a certain per qentage . And lastly , this fund in the hands of the general board would be applicable for the subvention of denominational schools not included under this bill , provided that it were reported of them that they were useful and had submitted to the regulations of the board and the Privy Council . "
After some discussion , favourable on the whole , but eliciting Tory objections to the abolition of the test , leave was given to bring in the bill . Education . —There was a dull debate , but probably a real struggle of parties in the House of Commons , on Tuesday , respecting the Manchester and Salford Education Bill . It had been brought in as a private bill , and its " object was to enable the ratepayers of Manchester and Salford to levy compulsory rates on themselves for the purpose of making the existing denominational schools free . The bill came on for second reading about six o ' clock , and the discussion extended until nearly twelve . Mr . Addekljst moved the second readine . defending the bilL and throwing
14 He then set forth the provisions of the bill . In the first place , the remuneration awarded the schoolmasters was entirely inadequate to their respectable maintenance . It was inadequate and totally disproportionate with the importance of the duties they performed . In former times , the schoolmasters w « re maintained by a rate upon the heritors of land , which rate was in proportion to the price of grain . It was not proposed to relieve the heritors from the burden imposed upon them by the Act « f 1828 ; on tbe contrary it was intended that they should still be called upon to contribute henceforward to the foil extent of the ancient maximum . 347 .. but that the salary of every parochial schoolmaster should be raised to 501 . a year , the remaining 16 ? . being defrayed by
back tbe objection that it was a private bill upon Lord John Russell , who might have brought in a general measure and prevented local legislation . It was not disguised from the House by the advocates of the bill that they wished to commit the House to its principle as a model for a general system . * Mr . Milkkr Gibson met the motion by an amendment : " That education to be supported by public rates , ought not to be dealt with at present by any private bill . " He was taunted with interposing a technical objection ; but ifc was obvious the objection was sound . Lord John Kussell supported Mr . Gibson , and left the House . Without
mentioning all the speakers , we may point out that the motion was supported by Sir John Pakington and Mr . Wilson Patten , and opposed by Mr . Walpole and Mr . Henley . Of course Mr . Bright stood by Mr . Gibson , but Mr . Miall and Mr . Peto put in a plea for the voluntary system . Thus thero were three parties , irrespective of the Government section , which , through Lord John Russell , condemned both the bill and tho secular plan , and stood by the existing system , despairing of an uniform plan . The House went to a division in tins perplexed state , and threw out tho bill by 105 to 76 . The amendment was carried without a division .
the Privy Council out of funds to be allocated by Parliament for that purpose . Under the presents system the schoolmasters had no retiring allowance , but the Government now proposed that on being superannuated they should enjoy an allowance of at ¦ i east 25 £ . a year : one-half to be paid by the heritors and the other half by the Privy Council . The bill also contemplated some advantageous alteration in the matter of house accommodation , for whereas k by the Act of 1828 the schoolmaster had only -two rooms , it was to be provided that for the future he should have at least three rooms . But these improvements in the condition of the schoolmaster should , of course , bo accompanied with additional regulations with respect to superintendence , * inspection , and the mode of
University Ueform . —Mr . Blaokutt asked Lord John Russell whether the proposed scheme of the constitution for the University of Oxford , which had appeared in the news papers , had been submitted to tho Government ; and if bo , whether the Government liad sanctioned it ? Lord J . Russell— " Let me first say in answer to the question of the lion , gentleman , that I think the Hebdomadal Board at Oxford deserve credit for the pains they have taken to expound a scheme of tho constitution of the University of Oxford ; but with respect to the petition to which the lion , gentleman alludes , I have to say that the Government , having taken tho proposed constitution into theirconhidenition , feel it to betlieir duty to dissent ; and my noble friend the Secretary of State for the Hcme Department has signified to the authorities at tho university that the Government could not advise her Majesty to assent to that petition for granting licenses in iho mode proposed . " Mr . WAU'out inquired whether tho correspondence between the Government and tho university on this subject would bu laid upon the table ? Lord J . Russjcll replied in the ufiinnative . Mr . Wai . i-oi . ic asked if tho correspondence would bo on tlie tablu before tho measure was brouglit under tlio nolieo of tho House for discussion ? Lord J . Russell—You . Sulsoiiucnlly , in the House of Teem , Lord Dilrby said , Govcimiujnt had thought fit to announce , their dissent from the proposition about to bo made by the University of Oxford for its own reform , mid had thus , by anticipation , condemned that achemo ; und therefore ho wished to know whethor they would give tho governing body of tho
univerappointment . In the first place , th « Government did not intend to limit tbe heritors choice of a schoolmaster by the restrictions which , now existed , nor to confino the office exclusively to members of the Established Church of Scotland . Ifc was provided that henceforward it should not be necessary for tho parochial schoolmaster to subscribe any test or any confession of faith , nor to pledgo himself to any particular foitnula . In the preamble of tho bill it was set forth that , " Whereas instruction in tho principles of jeligious knowledge and the reading of the Holy Scriptures is consistent with the opinions of tho great body of the people ; but at tho same time ordinary school instruction shall be provided for children of all denoiniuutioLs . "
It was then provided that every committee bhall appoint stated hours for religious instruct ion , but tho children shall not ba bound to attend it if their parents object . Where an inspector shall report tho necoHwity of an additional school in any district , and if tho board shall bo of opinion that that report ia well founded , they slml ] intimate tho same to the town council , who shall have the power to assess tie borough ; and the magistrates and town council shall form the school committee . In country parishes tlio same proceeding shall take place , excopting tlmt the ratepayers of tho parish shall have the power of deciding whethor the school shall bo founded or not . It waa proposed that thoso schools should bo supported in this way : one-half
. "lean , assure my hon . friend and the house that that subjectu r . one . which above all things attracts the attention and employslfhe care of her Majesty ' s Government—and not now onlj , but always—though it does so more especially now , considering the distance and the quarter to which the troops are Pfi ^ St an ^ the service on which they are to be employed . Every care has been taken to provide for their . health and comfort , and to guard them against those inconveniences which may result from various casualties arising from private causes or otherwise ; and thoso friends and relations whom they leave at home may be satisfied that nothing shall be omitted which it is possible for tbe Government to
Bupply in that respect- It is a peculiar feature of the British service ^ that greater caro is taken of the health and comfort of British troops than of the troops of any other nation in the world ; and although that may be attended with some in-Crease of expense , and may at first sight render the British army more costly than the armies of other countries are , yet when the expense comes to be measured by the result , I think it will be . found that our army is the cheapest that can be ; and I will venture to say that if you take two armies Ofoqual numbers—say 40 , 000 or 60 , 000 British , and a like number of the soldiers of any other country—jou will find th * t . owing to tho greater euro that is taken of their health
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17 ^ T H E LEADER . [ Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 25, 1854, page 172, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2027/page/4/
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