§ House in Committee (according to order).
The BISHOP of OXFORDsaid, this Bill did not attempt to introduce any new principle of legislation; its object was merely to carry one step further the legislation which had been going on for several years, namely, to promote the erection of school houses for the education of different classes of the community. Originally these enabling Acts extended to parochial schools and diocesan training schools; and it was proposed by this Bill to extend these enabling provisions to two other classes of schools, one class being schools for the training of the sons of yeomen and of shopkeepers, partly supported by charitable aid and partly self-supporting. There was no class worse provided with regard to schools than that class. Practically speaking, the great improvement effected in the schools of the labouring class had a tendency to leave the class above the labouring class in need of considerable improvement in the schools suitable for them. He had proposed to enable parties to grant sites for these schools; but in consequence of objections which had been pointed out to him, he proposed to allow parties to sell, for a valuable consideration, two acres of land, and to enable ecclesiastical corporations to grant, with the consent of the dio- 498 cesan, two acres of land, for the second class of schools, which were for persons who had passed through the University, and were preparing for holy orders, to spend a year in pursuing theological study.
§ Amendments made; Bill to be reported on Monday next.