27 JUNE 1835, Page 12

ABUSE OF EDUCATIONAL CHARITIES.

DR. DUPRE, the non-resident Master of Berkhampstead School, is surely very ill-used by the Tories. 'What is there in his case which should excite their reformine. ire? Ile merely does

that as a schoolmaster which some hund7eds of clerical and not a few lay sinecurists are constantly perpetrating, nut only without ani- madversion, but with the cordial approbation of the Tories—lie pockets the public money without perlbrming any duties in return for it.

From the statement of several Members of the House of Com- mons, it appeared that Dr. Dt.PRE has received from 1;00/. to soil/. per annum since 1911. This money was left for the purpose of "garnishing*" 144 boys with useful learning ; but Dr. Duette, and his Usher, (whose very existence, by the way, is problema- tical,) are the sole trustees; and they find it impossible, we presume, conscientiously to aid in the spread of education among the lower classes : so Dr. Darns: has appointed a Mr. I) scosma his collector of rents, and resides on his living at Lineolashire ; except when lie wishes to absent himself, and then he makes use of a licence granted by the Bishop of LINCOLN in order that he might attend to his duties as a schooltuaster,—the Bishop never having inquired whether these ditties were really performed, or not. This is creditable to the Bishop, and shows bow careful he is to put an end to the non-residence system in his diocese. This ease lord GetmeroN brings before the House of Com- mons, and Mr. GouraitteN and Sir Enwaan KNATCDBULL are shocked at its enormity. But Mr. W ARD said truly, that the Berk hampstead ease was only one of a class ; and there must have been many Members present who could confirm the statement. Whose fault is it but the Tories' that the abuse was not remedied twenty Years ago? Who refused to allow inquiry to be made, by the Charitable Commissioners, into the mode in which public school funds were applied ? Dr. Dueee, at the time Me. Baou :naet's. Commission was issued, had been some years in the receipt of his 600/. or boo/. a year; but the Tory majority of the House of Commons refused to allow any inquiry to be made into his mode

of school-keeping,--thus of though indirectly, lending their sanction to his malepractices. On Mr. CouenurtN, Sir Eievaan KNaTennuee, and their Tory friends, rests the disgrace and real blame of the continuance of the Berkhampstead abuse. Therefore we say that Dr. Du l'IZE is hardly treated by them. They are " showing him up now, for doing that which they have repeatedly by votes and speeches defended, approved, and encou- raged in others, some years ago.

The Standard, however, is quite delighted at the opportunity thus presented to the Tories of doing a little bit of Reform, or staking a pretence of doing it- " Lord Greestoo has done himself great honour by the bold and unemnpro- misio4 manner in which he brought forward this very bad ease. We are glad that it was a (onsets ative nobleman who executed the task ; and we are not less pleased to find Mr. (halibut n assisting in it. As Cut.eivitives, they have a twektd interest in opposing every slime. They are., first, interestcd to remove every occasion of a lost general discontent from the people, in order to preserve their att irliment to the Constitution ; next, they are interested to show that this is their determination, in coder that they may stand right before their fellow subjects." This is very edifying, alien it is iemembered who have been the most stanch defenders of abuses, secular and ecclesiastical, fur so maily Years; awl who are I104' labouring, as openly as they dare, to obstruct a measure which must in a vast number of cases put an end to the same species of abuse as that which Lord GaimseoN and the Standard deem so enormous at Berkhampstead. Our contemporary praises Lad GRINISTON for the "bold and un- compromising manner in which lie brought forward this very bad ease.' There really seems to be nothing so very chivalrous in the affair—on the face of it; but perhaps there is more than meets the eye. DUPRE is a suspicious name: is the reverend gentleman connected with the Tory house of CALEDON—the patrons of Old Sarum, the DuottE A LEXA NDERS ? If he is, then indeed Lord GaialsroN may be called a bold man.