VISCOUNT ENFIELDasked Her Majesty's Government, Whether it was intended to fill up the vacancy occasioned by the death of the late Mrs. Nassau Senior, who in 1873 had been specially appointed to inquire into and report upon the condition, management, health, and treatment of the children, especially the female portion of them, in our great Metropolitan pauper schools? That work was most conscientiously and ably performed by the lamented lady in question, to whose great abilities he wished to offer a respectful tribute of acknowledg- 1485 ment; and her Report, dated the 1st of January, 1874, to the Local Government Board, was well worthy the attention of all who were interested in the condition and welfare of our pauper schools. Mrs. Senior not only visited the 17 Metropolitan Schools, but she also inspected orphanages, industrial schools, reformatories, and "kinder-gartens," both in England and in Scotland; and in Paris she went over some of the most important salles d'asile and orphanages, in order to make a comparison as to the physical condition of the children in these different localities. He would not presume to go into detail as to the various plans suggested by Mrs. Senior for the improvement of the system adopted in workhouse and pauper schools; but, as these proposals were necessarily in abeyance, owing to no successor having been yet appointed in that lady's place, he had taken upon himself to ask the noble Earl, who represented the Local Government Board in that House, whether such an appointment would be renewed? and, as some years ago he had the honour of being officially connected with the Poor Law Board, he thought such a Question as that might with propriety be put by him.
THE EARL OF JERSEYjoined in the tribute paid by the noble Viscount to the memory of Mrs. Nassau Senior. Her Report was a very interesting document, and contained many valuable suggestions; it was highly appreciated by the Local Government Board. In reply to the noble Viscount's Question, he had to say that a vacancy was not created by the death of Mrs. Nassau Senior, because, owing to ill-health, she sent in her resignation two years ago. When it was accepted, the President of the Local Government Board did not think it necessary to fill the vacancy up. To that opinion he adhered; but should the appointment of a lady to the office filled under the Board by Mrs. Nassau Senior hereafter become desirable, it would be made.