Yesterday week, Mr. Walpole moved the second reading of the
Public Schools' Bill. Of course, he praised the public schools, and dwelt on the fascinating memories of boyhood. Of course, also, he delicately hinted, that though they deserve no censure, they need improvement, and even need pressure to make them conscious of the need. The Bill is substantially that of last year, and follows the course pursued in the case of the Univer- sities,—which was certainly not too radical. The report of the Commission has suggested a number of improvements. The Bill gives the great schools,—Winchester, Eton, Shrewsbury, West- minster, Rugby, Harrow, and Charterhouse,—till 1870 to suggest for themselves the mode in which these improvements should be carried out, with an executive commission to direct and tontrol them ;—the executive commission to have power, in case of their neglect, to carry the improvements over their head,—the reforms so carried being, however, first submitted to the Queen in Council and to Parliament.
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