the Court of Chancery, irrespective of the enormous expense of applying to it, being incompetent, from the nature of its jurisdiction, to originate any improvement; and an appeal to Parliament being all but hopeless, in cases where there is any local opposition. Where, then, are we to seek for a remedy? This brings me to the second question under this head, "What authority should be intrusted with the duty of dealing with such ?" cases * The one, As regards this question, I cannot pretend to do more than to state the opinion I have formed, after having endeavoured to make myself acquainted with the plans which have been proposed for effecting this cbject. It appears to me, then, expedient that a department of public charities should be constituted, by connecting the Charity Commissioners with the Privy Council.‡ Assuming such a connexion to be formed, two modes of administering charitable endowments have been proposed. analogous to a plan adopted by the Inclosure Commissioners, was recommended by the late Duke of Newcastle.§ The other was suggested by Mr. Hare, as the only effectual way, in his judgment, of dealing with the subject. It is to this effect: that the Commissioners, in their annual report to Parliament, should submit for approval, not each separate scheme, but the principle which governs them all; the schemes being placed in a schedule, and numbered 1, 2, 3, &c., it would be open to any member of either House to object to any particular scheme, and to move its rejection. If no opposition were made, the provisions contained in the report would tacitly become law. Mr. Hare gives the preference to this plan over the former one, and for reasons which seem to me satisfactory. 4. The fourth query relates to the best mode of securing, or at least encouraging, a due supply of qualified teachers. The superiority of trained over untrained teachers is so generally admitted, that it would doubtless be highly desirable if the means of normal training could be provided for the masters of endowed schools. But there are great difficulties in the way of this being done. The existing training schools were built, and are supported, with the aid of the public money, for the express purpose of preparing teachers for the elementary schools of the poor. It is not to be supposed that Parliament would give its sanction to extending the benefits of these institutions to classes which are able to pay for the education of their children. In * See evidence of Mr. Erle, qu. 3819 and 3820, p. 445; also Mr. Cumin's Report on Educational Charities, p. 355. My sources of information were the evidence given before the Education Commission by the chief commissioner and two of the inspectors of charities; the report on educational charities by Mr. Cumin; and more especially the valuable chapter on charitable trusts in Sir J. Kay Shuttleworth's work on public education. Mr. Cumin suggests, as a mode of establishing this connexion, that one of the Charity Commissioners should be an Education Commissioner, appointed specifically for that subject.-Report, p. 368. Sir J. K. Shuttleworth's plan is more elaborate.-Public Education, p. 204. § Chairman of the Education Commission.-See Question 4002. [] Ibid., qu. 4002 and following. LI is 10 acb n to d to prodient d, by incili ninis e one, s, was r was judghat the d subinciple edule, either rejeced in e prewhich 5, or at so genele if the sters of e way of uilt, and e express s of the give its to classes dren. In in's Report cation Com; the report le chapter on at one of the d specifically elaborate. point of fact, however, it is known that many trained and certificated teachers are now conducting middle and grammar schools.* Nor can any class of men be better qualified for such an office, when they shall have added to the ordinary branches of normal instruction some knowledge of the Latin tongue, of French, and of elementary mathematics. Meanwhile in the absence of middle class normal colleges, the only mode of testing the qualifications of teachers must be by examination; open, as such a test is, to the objection that examination can, at best, ascertain only the attainments of the candidate, but not his moral fitness for the office of teacher. May I be permitted in conclusion to specify the conditions. which, in my judgment, are necessary to the thorough efficiency of an endowed school. 1st. That the mastership should not be a freehold, but that the trustees should be empowered, with the approval of a central authority, to remove any immoral or incompetent master. 2nd. That the income of the master should depend mainly upon his own energy and skill. 3rd. That the system of nomination should be abolished, and the benefits of the school thrown open to the best scholars. 4th. That the school should be subject to periodical inspection and examination. The Lord Taunton. MY LORD, I have, &c. H. P. HAMILTON. RIGHT HON. J. W. HENLEY, M.P. Waterferry, Oxford, January 2. IN compliance with the request in your letter of the 31st ult., received this morning, to answer the four questions contained therein, within such narrow limits as may be consistent with clearness of statement, I have the honour to send the opinion I have written on the other side. Right Hon. Lord Taunton. I have, &c. J. W. HENLEY. 1. The will or directions of the founder, or cy près. 3. As the term "wasted" is not defined, I do not know to what cases this question applies. 4. Pay them well, and let the trustees see they do their duty. It is mentioned by Mr. Cowie that of the teachers trained at St. Mark's, 99 are, at present, so employed.-Report of Committee of Council on Education, 1864-65, p. 333. From A. J. BERESFORD HOPE, Esq., M.P. [Mr. Hope requested that the following letter, relating specially to Goudhurst School, might be taken as expressing his opinion of the use to which small endowments might in some cases be advantageously put.] Arklow House, Connaught Place, SIR, Goudhurst is a purely agricultural village in the weald, with a population (including a new district) in 1861 of 2,778; my house is the principal place in it. In the reign of Charles II. a John Horsemomen, a substantial yeoman, founded by will a school, which was among other things to teach Latin, placing the government of it under 12 local trustees, and directing that the master should be a member of the Church of England. By way of endowment he unfortunately did not leave an estate, which would of course have gone on improving; but he left a rentcharge of 35l. on his land,* which has ever since remained at the same nominal amount. A grammar school was not really needed at the time in a place then so remote and thinly populated, particularly as there was a Queen Elizabeth's school in the adjacent market town of Cranbrook, and so the institution shared the fate of many others during the last century. I have heard a rumour that it was at one time filled by a master who signed his name with a cross. Early, however, in this century it had recovered under a master who was a clergyman, and who took boarders; and at some date in the first quarter of the century a new scheme for its government was sanctioned by the Vice-Chancellor. Unfortunately the chief novelty in this was a change which was no way for the better, viz., making the election of a clergyman as master obligatory, if any should be in the field. Certain regulations were also made as to the fees payable by the native boys, which were kept low. However, about 20 years since means were found to keep on a lay master for some time with advantage. I may say that after his resignation the school has never flourished. A blow to its prosperity was dealt before my connexion. with it, by the singular tactics of the then trustees. The Dean * I may explain that I am not possessed of this land. and Chapter of Rochester (patrons of the living, which has, however, always been in the Diocese of Canterbury) had for a long period let a house-not a good one, it must be owned,—and a small plot of ground to the school at a nominal rent upon a renewable lease. The trustees, however, allowed the lease to run out; and then the Dean and Chapter would only take them as annual tenants at 107., thus mulcting the school of a considerable portion of its scanty pittance. I have been a trustee some twelve years, and the history of the school during that period has been one of collapse, without master or scholars, with occasional spasmodic efforts to revive it. Twice have we been forced to elect clergymen, in both cases highly estimable men, who took the post in the vain hope of eking out a subsistence by boarders and Sunday duty in neighbouring churches, and in each case the gentleman has been absolutely starved out. On two occasions no clergyman offered himself; we put in an average schoolmaster, who endeavoured to work it as a local day "commercial" school, but after a time they also left. I must explain that during the long interregnum the revenue was carefully saved, and devoted either to pay off some liabilities or given as bonus to the incoming man. At present there is neither master nor scholar, nor house, and I am far from willing to see an election proceeded with under our constitution, for it would only lead to fresh failure. I must add that the house for which we paid so high has been within these few years given up. What I should propose would be to appropriate the 357. to any two exhibitions to be held by Goudhurst boys of the lower middle class at some good public middle class school, to be elected by the trustees. I should propose the lower middle class school at Ardingley, in Sussex, in connexion with St. Nicholas College, Lancing. At its rate of fees 35l. would just keep two boys. They would be of the class whom our founder meant to benefit, and his provision of their learning Latin could be fulfilled. I may note in recommendation of this that more than one boy from the parish has been educated with distinction at the analogous but dearer school at Hurstpierpoint, so I think the scheme would not be unpopular. I once thought that the money might be given to the master of the national school, on condition of his opening a middle-class division, but I have come to the opinion that the former plan would be more simple and useful. If the scheme is revised, I trust the law which forbids a fresh election till the trustees have gone down from twelve to six may be altered; it has proved very inconvenient in its working, Henry J. Roby, Esq. I have, &c. A. J. B. BERESFORD HOPE. The RIGHT REVEREND JOHN JACKSON, D.D., Lord Bishop of Lincoln. MY LORD, Riseholme, Lincoln, I WILL endeavour to answer as briefly as possible the questions which your Lordship has been good enough to submit to me on behalf of the Schools Inquiry Commission, so far as they relate to subjects on which I have been led to form any opinion. 1. I believe it is a misuse of endowments to give an education entirely gratuitous to the children of any class of society. Experience shows that education which costs nothing is usually undervalued and carelessly accepted; nor is there any reason why parents should be relieved at the public cost of the responsibility which belongs to them as parents, of educating their children by the fruits of their own self-denial. On the other hand, it is a legitimate use of endowments to diminish the cost of education, and thus to place within the reach of parents of the middle classes the same opportunity which is given to the labouring class by the voluntary contributions and Government grants which mainly maintain primary schools, of procuring for their children a better education than their own means can fairly afford. Again, an endowment is mischievous when it provides the master with a sufficient income altogether independent of his exertions and success; but some fixed income should always be secured from the endowment, in order to attract competent masters, who will not risk their fortunes in life altogether on the uncertainty of success; and also in order to enable the cost of the education given to be pro tanto diminished. The worst organized endowed school, therefore, will be that in which the pupils pay nothing and the masters receive an ample fixed income. The best will be that in which the masters receive the minimum fixed income, which will secure good men, with the opportunity of increasing it considerably by their own exertions, and in which the pupils pay fees which materially contribute to the masters' incomes, but which are low enough to put within their reach a better education than their parents' means, without some assistance, could obtain. At Moulton School in Lincolnshire, which has a rental of 6007, 1507. is paid to the head master, and has been found sufficient to secure an able man, who makes by his portion of the school fees and by boarders, a comfortable maintenance; while an excellent commercial and general education is given to the pupils at a payment of from 17. to 17. 58. per quarter. The above two points being secured, any surplus income may be well employed-1, in a fund for pensioning retired masters; 2, in founding a few exhibitions to be held, according to the character of the school in which they are founded, either at a superior grammar school or at one of the universities; or, |