We are astonished to see the Daily News speaking slightingly
of the qualifications of Lord Lawrence for the chairmanship of the London School Board, and talking—what we should call such non- sense, if it were not talked by the Daily News, as this :—" Lord Lawrence ought to be out of the question, unless the Board wishes for an ornamental chairman, and chooses him for his title. Even if his peerage were not a disqualification for such a post, we are unable to understand what his qualifications are." q'hat a peerage conferred for severe administrative labour of the highest kind should be talked of as disqualifying a man for any but ornamental func- tions, goes rather nearer to twaddle of that really snobbish sort which makes a title a crime, than the Daily News ever found it in its thoroughly sensible heart to go before. As for a friend of " popular education," Lord Lawrence has been all his life a hearty friend of popular education, and has done a great deal for the popular education of India. But with great deference to the Daily News, what we want as chair- man of the School Board is not that very cheap and common thing of which there are probably just forty-nine specimens on the Metropolitan Board,—a lifelong "friend of popular education ;" but an able, clear-headed, successful administrator, and Lord Law- rence is just as much fitter than Mr. McCullagh Torrens or Mr. Reed for work of this kind, as the new School Board is fitter than a parish vestry to legislate for the education of London.
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