§ Amendment reported (according to Order.)
LORD HOUGHTONexpressed his regret that the noble Earl at the head of the Government had not taken advantage of the additional opportunity which had been given to him of introducing among the new Commissioners some gentleman eminent for his skill in natural science. He had upon a previous occasion brought this subject before their Lordships, and, although he had not succeeded in attaining his object, yet there was a very strong feeling expressed that it was highly important to have a man of science on the Commission, which would otherwise be deprived of a great deal of the moral influence which it ought to possess. He might remark that our Public Schools were deficient in that practical training which would make a youth not only a gentleman in every sense of the word, but would also enable him to take a fair start in the different professions and walks of actual life.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, the question as to the representation of the interests of science on the Commission had been already discussed in that House, and it had not, he thought, been received with very great favour. The Bill was afterwards referred to a Select Committee, when the question was again raised, and did not meet with the slightest encouragement, and the Bill passed in its present form. Since that time, however, two of the gentlemen who had been originally appointed on the Commission had desired that their names might be withdrawn from it, and he had inserted in their place the names of two eminent Members of the House of Commons, in accordance with what he understood to be the general wish of their Lordships.
§ Further Amendments made, and Bill to be read 3a To-morrow.