checked by the exclusive plan being adopted in one of them, because the other might comprehend the children of Sectaries. In places where only one School could be supported, it was manifest that any regulations which excluded Dissenters, deprived the Poor of that Body of all means of Education;—

The Committee, however, had the greatest satisfaction in observing, that in many Schools where the National system was adopted, an increasing degree of Liberality prevailed, and that the Church Catechism only was taught, and attendance at the established place of Public Worship only required, of those whose Parents belonged to the Establishment,-due assurance being obtained, that the children of Sectaries should learn the Principles and attend the Ordinances of Religion, according to the doctrines and forms to which their Families were attached ;

It was with equal pleasure that The Committee had found reason to conclude, that the Roman Catholic Poor were anxious to avail themselves of those Protestant Schools established in their neighbourhood, in which no Catechism was taught, and they indulged a hope, that the Clergy of that Persuasion might offer no discouragement to their attendance, more especially as they appeared, in one instance, to have contributed to the support of Schools, provided that no Catechism was taught, and no Religious observances exacted. It is contrary to the doctrine as well as discipline of the Romish Church, to allow any Protestant to interfere with those matters, and consequently it is impossible

for Romanists to send their children to any School, where they form part of the plan;

The Committee were happy in being able to state, that in all the Returns, and in all the other information laid before them, there was the most unquestionable evidence that the anxiety of the Poor for Education continued not only unabated, but daily increasing,that it extended to every part of the Country, and was to be found equally prevalent in those smaller Towns and Country districts, where no means of gratifying it were provided by the Charitable efforts of the richer classes,

In humbly suggesting what was fit to be done for promoting Universal Education, The Committee did not hesitate to state, that two different Plans were advisable, adapted to the opposite circumstances of the Town and Country districts. Wherever the efforts of individuals could support the requisite number of Schools, it would be unnecessary and injurious to interpose any Parliamentary assistance. But The Committee had clearly ascertained, that in many places Private Subscriptions could be raised to meet the yearly expenses of a School, while the original cost of the undertaking, occasioned chiefly by the erection and purchase of the Schoolhouse, prevented it from being attempted :

The Committee conceived, that a sum of money might be well employed in supplying this first want, leaving the Charity of individuals to furnish the annual

F

provision requisite for continuing the School, and possibly for repaying the advance;

Whether the money should be vested in Commissioners, empowered to make the fit terms, with the private parties who might be desirous of establishing Schools, or whether a certain sum should be intrusted to the two great Institutions in London for promoting Education, The Committee left the choice to be determined by the wisdom of Parliament ;

5

In the numerous Districts where no aid from Private exertions could be expected, and where the Poor were manifestly without adequate means of Instruction, The Committee were persuaded, that nothing could supply the deficiency but the adoption, under certain material modifications, of the Parish School System, so usefully established in the Northern Part of the Island, ever since the latter part of the Seventeenth Century, and which upon many important details were subjoined ;The modifications would be dictated principally by the necessity of attending to the distinction, already pointed out, between Districts where Private Charity might be expected to furnish the means of Education, and those where no such resource could be looked to, -and the Tables subjoined to the Report, would afford important lights on this subject. It appeared further to The Committee, that it might be fair and

5 See, The Second Report of the Select Committee, 6 Ibid.

p. 5.

expedient to assist the Parishes where no Schoolhouses were erected, with the means of providing them, so as only to throw upon the inhabitants the burden of paying the Schoolmaster's Salary, which ought certainly not to exceed Twenty-four pounds a year. It appeared to The Committee, that a sufficient supply of Schoolmasters might be procured for this sum, allowing them the benefits of taking Scholars, who could afford to pay, and permitting them of course to occupy their leisure hours in other pursuits. The expense attending this invaluable system in Scotland, is found to be so very trifling, that it is never made the subject of complaint by any of the Landholders :—

The Committee forbore to inquire minutely, in what manner this system ought to be connected with the Church Establishment. That such a connection ought to be formed, appeared manifest,-it is dictated by a regard to the prosperity and stability of both systems, -and, in Scotland, the two are mutually connected together. But a difficulty arises in England, which is not to be found there. The great body of the Dissenters from the Scottish Church differ little, if at all, in doctrine from the Establishment,-they are separated only by certain opinions of a Political rather than a Religious nature, respecting the right of Patronage, and by some shades of distinction as to Church discipline, so that they may conscientiously send their children to Parish Schools which are connected with the Establishment, and teaching it's Catechism. In England the case is widely different, and it appeared

to The Committee essentially necessary, that this circumstance should be carefully considered in the devising arrangements of the system. To place the choice of the Schoolmaster in the Parish vestry, subject to the approbation of the Parson, and the Visitation of the Diocesan,-but to provide, that the children of Sectarians should not be compelled to learn any Catechism or attend any Church, other than those of their Parents, seemed to The Committee the safest path by which the Legislature could hope to obtain the desirable objects of security to the Establishment on the one hand, and justice to the Dissenters on the other :

The more extended inquiries of The Committee this Session had amply confirmed the opinion, which a more limited investigation had led them to form two years before, upon the neglect and abuse of Charitable Funds connected with Education,-and they added, that although in many cases large Funds appeared to have been misapplied through ignorance, or mismanaged through carelessness, yet that some instances of Abuse had presented themselves, of such a nature, as would have led them to recommend at an earlier period of the Session, the institution of proceedings for more promptly checking misappropriations, both in the particular cases, and by the force of a salutary example. From the investigations of The Commission about to be issued under the authority of an Act of Parliament, much advantage might be expected,-—and, though it would not become The Committee to anticipate the measures which the wisdom of the Legis