POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

In the House of Lords, last night, the Marquis of LA.NSDOWNE asked Lord Derby, whether any minute had been agreed to by the Committee In the House of Lords, last night, the Marquis of LA.NSDOWNE asked Lord Derby, whether any minute had been agreed to by the Committee

of the Privy Council of Education, effecting, or proposing to effect, an alteration in the administration of the public funds granted for the pur- poses of education ?

The Earl of DERBY said, a minute had been drawn up in substance, but not in precise terms, which would make an alteration, and would effect a relaxation in the stringency of what was called the management- clause respecting schools.

He wished to have "certain words" introduced into that clause relating to future schools, in lieu of the words which it now contained ; and the in- sertion of those words, at the option of the parties, would not disqualify them for the assistance of the public funds."

Lord LANSDOWNE observed, that the alteration had been described by high authority as "an important" alteration.

It had ever been the practice to lay before Parliament whatever important alterations were proposed ; but the other House had only the other day been asked for the Education-vote without being told of this alteration ; and that House had passed the grant on the conviction that no alteration was about to be made. In reference to the alteration itself, he said—" When the time comes for discussing how far the alteration of this minute affects the Church of England, I shall be prepared to discuss that question ; and then I will un- dertake to show that the Church of England is placed in a most advanta- geous position under the administration of these Educational grants, and any alteration in the management-clause affecting the Church of England must be inevitably attended with unfortunate consequences, as it must lead to alteration also in the conditions annexed to the grants made to other deno- minations."

Lord DERBY hoped it was not meant to charge Government with any desire to delude or deceive Parliament?

He and those who thought with him, had never concealed their opinion, or ceased to complain, that the clergy of England were treated with injus- tice; and at the first opportunity they bad, they consulted with the Com- mittee on Education, in order to see whether, keeping in view the equality of all denominations, and maintaining the management-clause, it was practi- cable to introduce such alterations into it as would meet all well-founded objections against it. It was not an unreasonable demand to give the same liberty to the Chusth of England that is extended to other denomina- tions. The alteration would have the effect of removing well-founded dis- satisfaction from the clergy of the Church of England, and of healing dis- sensions in the body of that Church ; and it would likewise materially in- crease the amount to which members of the Church may profit by that aid of which they can now conscientiously partake.

Lord LANSDOWNE rejoined-

." I beg to explain distinctly, that the sole ground of my complaint to- night is, that whereas meetings of the Committee of the Privy Council of Education have been repeatedly held on a subject which, the noble Earl him- self says, has been a repeated subject of consultation with himself and his col- leagues both before and since his acceptance of office, and whereas his sense of the importance of making this alteration in the minute of that Committee has been always strong and decided, thew meetings were allowed to pass

without any declaration of their object, and that alteration was kept setret from Parliament and from the public until the grant was obtained."

After some further pressure, Lord DERBY gave a promise, that under this minute, about to be issued, but not yet issued, no sum of money should be employed until Parliament should have had full time to pm_ nonnec its judgment upon the expediency or inexpediency of the altera- tion now in dispute.

In Committee on the Surrender of Criminals (Convention with France) Bill, the Earl of MALMESEURY proposed a new arrangement, which he hoped would remove the jealous fears expressed in a former sitting of the House as to the liberty of the subject.

Having conferred with the French Ambassador, he proposed that no psi. soner should be surrendered to the French Government till our Secretary of State should first have the piece d'accusation or mise en accusation, with a certificate from the Inge d'Instruction—that officer being a judge inde- pendent of the Executive. He saw a noble Earl smile ; but, if they did not believe in the honour of a gentleman, nothing could be done—they could make no convention at all. Governments must have faith in one another.

Lord CAMPBELL suggested, doubtingly, that the Juge d'Instruction is removeable. Lord BROUGHAM observed, that they did not know the real ef- fect of the mise en accusation, or the process by which the judge issued his mandat d'arret on the pieces d'accusation. Other Peers—the Earl of ABERDEEN, Earl GResiviLLE, and the Duke of ARGYLL—carried on the criticisms in a tone of distrust. At last it was resolved to agree to the amendments, that they might be printed, and seen as they would affect the bill.

Lord LYNDHURST moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the allegations of the Baron de Bode's petition ; and supported his motion by a speech, in which he showed his ancient power of stating an elaborate and involved history with singular lucidity and effect without reference to a single note. The Earl of DERBY, who "himself brought forward the wrongs of the Baron" twenty-four years ago, assented to the Com- mittee. It was opposed by Earl GREY; but the House granted it.

The Earl of HARDWICKE informed the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, that he hopes very soon to receive the consent of the French Government to a reduction of postage between the countries. The Earl of DERBY in- formed the Earl of CAWDOR, that a Commission has been issued to in- quire between Galway or Limerick which is the better port for a Trans- atlantic packet-station ; but the issuing of that Commission is no indi- cation that either of those ports will be preferred to Milford Haven.

In the House of Commons, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER dada small stroke of financial economy for the edification of Members in Com- mittee of Supply. On Thursday, Mr.*Asisiity and others had challenged the vote of 4331/. for rebuilding the chapel of the British Embassy at Constantinople, and the CRANoELLon of the EXCHEQUER had postponed the item. Yesterday morning, the CReNer.LLoR of the EXCHEQUER said that the Government had considered the item, in connexion with the enormous expenditure that had taken place on the Ambas- sadorial house at Constantinople-85,000/. in ten -years ; which on the face of it seemed indefensible. Without blaming predecessors, they wished to express their dissatisfaction on this head : Mr. Disraeli therefore withdrew the vote ; and he intimated generally, that such items, if the opportunity were aforded to the Government, would be subjected to very severe examination. [This, of course, pleased certain gentlemen very much, and was rewarded with cheers.]

The legal Members congregated in Committee criticized in detail the two bills on Chancery Reform—the Improvement of Equity Jurisdiction Bill, and the Mestere' Offices Abolition Bill. The two measures passed through the stage without material alteration ; and Sir hems GRAHAM graced their exit from Committee by compliments to the Lord Chancellor as a conscientious Law-reformer.

Mr. BLANEY moved for his standing Committee, or unpaid Commission, on the social condition of the labouring classes. Mr. WALPOLE compli- mented him for his philanthropy, but resisted his motion; and it Was withdrawn.

Mr. HORSMAN made another attempt to get assistance from the Govern- ment in nominating his Select Committee on the Vicar of Frome's case : but the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER put him off with general cour- tesies, as Monday is an unusual day for such a nomination, and the morn- ing and evening are both apportioned to very important business.