§ Lord Lyndhurstwas desirous to put a question to his noble and learned Friend opposite with reference to the Bill introduced by him on the subject of Education and Charities. His noble and learned Friend must, he thought, perceive that it was utterly impossible that such a measure could receive due consideration in the other House of Parliament, looking to the late period of the Session, and the business which was still to be got through there. He, therefore, wished to know whether it was the intention of his noble and learned 1619 Friend to persevere in bringing forward his Bill or not?
Lord Broughamwas not insensible to the justice of the observation made by his noble and learned Friend. He believed, that in the present state of the Session, and seeing that, in consequence of the situation in which they were placed, many matters of much importance had been postponed till next Session, and others connected with the public service were to be hastened forward as speedily as possible, any Bill which was likely to create such opposition as would detain it long in their Lordships' House would have very little chance of being sent down to the other House in time to be passed. Therefore, if he thought that his Bill would create so much discussion as would render it too late to be passed in the other House, he should be willing to abandon it. But this Bill consisted of two parts, one of which he conceived was not likely to give rise to much discussion. He ought, perhaps, to state distinctly to their Lordships that the Bill consisted of two branches—first, the creation of a new department in the State, a department which, he believed, it was admitted on all hands was greatly wanted. He meant a department of Public Instruction, as it was denominated in France, and which in Ireland was called a Board of Education. That department it was proposed to invest with such powers as would enable it to extend education throughout the country, to plant schools, to bestow properly those funds which might from time to time be afforded by Parliament in aid of this most important object, and to superintend the distribution of such other funds as might be raised by local taxation for this purpose. There was also a second branch to this measure, which he believed would give rise to more discussion than he would fain hope the first part was likely to create. That branch related to the jurisdiction which was to be confided to the same board over the charity funds already in existence. Though little opposition might be offered to the first and fundamental part of this measure, he was much afraid that such would not be the case with respect to the second portion of it, to which he admitted, great consideration ought to be given. Now, if he could flatter himself that the first part of the Bill would receive the concurrence of their Lordships in good time, he would 1620 postpone the rest of the measure till next Session. It would gratify him if their Lordships consented to pass one of the most important measures—as was admitted by all parties—that was ever introduced to Parliament. They had stopped one very important measure which had come up to them from the other House of Parliament; and they would, in some degree, redeem their character, if they passed at least one important measure, although they had not been enabled to do more.
§ Lord Lyndhurstsaid, that the portion of the Bill which the noble Lord wished to proceed with would require, in his opinion, a great deal of discussion. To several clauses he felt serious objections; at the same time he did not mean to oppose the measure altogether.
§ Second Reading postponed.