country. In this way the Board is enabled to take credit for having established a system of Education, which the various religious bodies have approved-while in truth the children of these various bodies are divided more effectually than ever, and a system of separate Education is virtually carried on." Meanwhile, we are glad to hear that the members of the Church are working as well as protesting, and that "Hitherto, notwithstanding every discouragement with which the Society has had to contend, its labours have been greatly blessed. Diocesan Societies have been established in the Dioceses of Ardagh-Armagh— Cashel and Emly-Clogher-Clonfert and Kilmacduagh-Cork, Cloyne, and Ross-Derry-Down and Connor and Dromore-Elphin-FernsGlandelagh-Kildare-Killalla and Achonry-Killaloe and KilfenoraKilmore-Leighlin-Limerick-Lismore-Ossory-Raphoe, and Tuam. Connected with these branches, and with the Society, there are now 1219 Schools, attended by 69,643 children, of whom a proportion of more than one-third consists of the children of Roman Catholic and Dissenting parents. These children receive a really united education-an education in which no essential principle is sacrificed to secure the union-in which, on the contrary, religion is itself the bond of union, and the Bible recognised as the source of the best and most enduring knowledge." Here we have in one parish alone a decrease in the number of baptisms to the extent of 771 in three years, or 257 ayear, although the parish has increased in population about 10,000 since 1835. Crime and Education. From statistics collected by us during the past year, it appears that at the various assizes and sessions for this county and city, held in the year, 476 prisoners have been placed on the calendar for trial. Of these there were but two of superior education, while no less than 204 could neither read nor write! Of those who could read and write well, there were but 20, and read well 5; whilst 121 could read but imperfectly, and 121 read and write imperfectly. The remaining three did not appear. Surely these facts bear witness, far more efficiently than any laboured argument, to the necessity of educating-morally and religiously educating-the lower orders, as the only practicable remedy for that fearful amount of crime which now stalks through the land-unchecked by police or other stringencies-punished, but not prevented, by the rigors of the prison-house.-Worcester Herald. Crime and Confirmation.-For the following statement we are indebted to a very interesting Sketch of the Norwood Schools, by the Rev. J. Brown, who has taken the trouble to make inquiries of the chaplains of various gaols and penitentiaries respecting the proportion of their inmates who have been confirmed. The result, indeed, is most striking, especially with regard to the females. should be premised, that the whole number of prisoners in the gaol is not here given, but only of those of whom the point was ascertained. The chaplains of Newgate, Horsemonger Lane, the Penitentiary (Millbank), the Parkhurst prison (Isle of Wight), and of the gaols of Ilches It Exeter Diocesan Board of Education.A general meeting of the Board was held at the Chapter-house, on Tuesday week, the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of the diocese in the Chair. Among the noblemen and gentlemen present were Lord Clinton, Lord Courtenay, M.P., the Very Rev. the Dean of Exeter, the Venerable Archdeacon Moore Stevens, the Venerable Archdeacon Barnes, the Rev. Chancellor Martin, the Rev. Canon Bartholemew, the Rev. Canon Rogers, Mr. Serjeant Goulburn, Rev. Prebendaries Hole, Medley, and Luney, and most of the clergy of the city and its immediate neighbourhood. Lord Courtenay read an elaborate and interesting report of the proceedings of the Committee during the past year, which was approved and unanimously adopted. Mr. Serjeant Goulburn was elected Vice-President of the Board, on the motion of the Very Rev. the Dean of Exeter, seconded by Archdeacon Stevens. Mr. Goulburn acknowledged the honour conferred on him in appropriate terms, remarking that his own experience in courts of justice, which was of some duration, had convinced him, that in exact proportion to the amount of Christian instruction imparted to any individual, would be the soundness of his principles and the honesty and morality of his life. The attention of the meeting was specially directed by the Lord Bishop to the noble author of the report. His Lordship observed, that every one would agree that the society was deeply indebted to Lord Courtenay for his uniform attention to its concerns-an attention the more valuable, in consideration of the many important duties by which his time was taken up. Thanks were voted at the conclusion to the Lord Bishop by acclamation. Winchester Diocesan Board. The Quarterly Meeting was held on Thursday the 5th ult. in the Chapter House. A report was read of the examination of the Southampton Diocesan Church School, drawn up by the Rev. J. Keble and the Rev. W. Orger, by which it appeared that they had examined the pupils separately, in the Scriptures, the Church Catechism, Latin (Cicero de Senectute), first book of Euclid, Arithmetic, and English History. The report concludes with the following important remark:"Our impressions on the whole were most favourable both from the matter and manner of the boys in general: and we consider the result of our inspection very satisfactory as an instance of the well working of these Diocesan Church Schools, especially in that one great object proposed by them-instruction in biblical knowledge." A report was also read of the examination, undertaken at the request of the proprietor, Mr. H. Mace, of the Fareham Commercial School, which is in union with the Diocesan Board, and which was conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon Hoare and the Rev. Wm. Nicholson, assisted by the Rev. Sir H. Thompson, Bart. Between £500 and £600 have now been voted by the Diocesan Board since it first came into operation (two years ago) for the purpose of promoting the building of parochial schools-a very small part of the designs contemplated by the Board. In regard to the inspection of parochial schools, we are informed there is every probability of the Diocesan Board being able to secure the services of the Inspector of the National Society in the course of the ensuing summer. Liverpool Collegiate Institution.-This Institution, of which we gave a short account in our last number, was opened on the 7th ult. in a manner worthy of the occasion, and under circumstances which cannot fail to impart the highest gratification to all who value the blessings of sound Scriptural education, combined with useful learning. The foundation-stone was laid about two years since by Lord Stanley; and for beauty of form and elegance of design the structure reflects the highest credit on all who have taken part in its erection. The fact is, moreover, worthy of record, that the munificent sum of £24,000 was liberally subscribed by the inhabitants; and that although £4,000 were granted by the late radical corporation towards the founding of the Mechanics' Institution, the Collegiate Institution has been brought to its completion without any public grant whatever. On the platform were seated large numbers of the clergy and gentry of the town. About halfpast one o'clock the Mayor entered, accompanied by the Lord Bishop of the diocese, the Rev. the Rectors of the parish, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P., Sir Howard Douglas, M. P., Mr. J. W. Patten, M. P., and many other distinguished clergy and laity. It was intended that the inaugural address should be delivered by Lord Stanley, the patron of the institution; but in consequence of his Lordship having been obliged to attend upon Her Majesty at Windsor, that duty devolved upon the Right Hon. Mr. Gladstone, who discharged it in such a manner as to command the unqualified approbation of all present. We had intended to have inserted the address as reported in The Times, but our readers will be much better pleased to hear that an authorized edition has been published by Murray. Wells Training College.-It has been found expedient to make a few alterations. The charge for pupils has been raised, for all new comers, to £25 per annum, in order to carry out the principle of making the institution selfsupporting. Considering, too, the difficulty of pledging pupils to enter upon a course of life for which they may be incompetent, or to which they may be disinclined, it has been determined to dispense with the pledge hitherto required on admission, except in the case of exhibitioners. The care of house-keeping has been placed under the management of a bursar resident in the house. one important respect this Training Institution is a pattern to many others, viz. in the number of exhibitions. There are now in the college four exhibitioners at £10 per annum, and others are promised as follow:-by the Diocesan Board ... 6 at £13 Dean and Chapter 4 at £12 Special Commissary 5 at £10 Ditto 10 at £ 5 Honorary Principal 1 at £15 In per an. 10s. per an. per an. per an. per an. Medical Collegiate Institution.-The truly noble and munificent benefactor of mankind, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wilson Warneford, has placed in the hands of Wm. Sands Cox, Esq., the founder of the Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, at Birmingham, the sum of £1,000, in furtherance of the intended institution, for the board, lodging, moral and religious care of Medical and Surgical students. A sum of £50 has also been presented by the Rev. Vaughan Thomas, of Oxford, for the same purpose, and we understand that a letter on this subject from the pen of this highly talented and accomplished scholar, will be shortly submitted to the noble patrons and friends of the School. Eton College Improvements. — Chairman, the Right Honorable Lord Lyttleton. The principal object proposed is a great improvement in the manner of lodging the boys on the foundation, by which the elder certainly, and, it is hoped, all the boys will be lodged in separate rooms, and have opportunities of private study. Such an improvement will be doubly valuable; it will remove the objections of parents to benefit by the royal foundations of Henry VI., and will considerably decrease the expenses imposed on parents by their endeavours to remedy some of the inconveniences of the present system. There are other objects also proposed, by which the whole school will profit; e.g. a large, convenient, and accessible room within the college walls for the library; a room for the examination of the candidates for the prizes in modern languages given by His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, and for the scholarships founded by the Duke of Newcastle; additional schoolroom; apartments for two assistant masters; and pupil rooms for the tutors in mathematics and modern languages, within the college walls. These objects will, if attained, promote the studies and discipline of the school, and add to the beauty of the college fabric. They will require an expenditure of about £20,000, of which above half is subscribed; the College of Eton and its members including the head masters, have subscribed £4,000; King's College and its members, already above £2,000. Grammar School at Rugeley.-On the 12th ult., a meeting was held at the Town Hall, Rugeley, for the purpose of presenting to the Rev. Thomas Bonney, M.A., a testimonial of respect, purchased by a subscription entered into by young men educated by the reverend gentleman at the Free Grammar School, Rugeley, and by their parents and friends, as a token of their respect, esteem, and gratitude, for his ability, zeal, and fidelity and for the examplary manner in which he had conducted the school since his appointment as master, more than sixteen years ago. The testimonial consisted of a set of the Regent's edition of the "Delphin Classics," in 139 volumes, superbly bound in rich gilt calf, by Mr. Walters, of Rugeley. On the first volume was inlaid a silver presentation plate, handsomely enchased, and bearing a suitable inscription. Mr. Bonney, with feelings of deep emotion, expressed |