Mr. Patrick Cumin, C.B., Secretary (i.e., the permanent head) of
the Education Department of the Privy Council, died rather suddenly last Saturday, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He was a very able administrator, whom Mr. Forster selected for his private secretary on the passing of the Education Act in 1870, and who was raised to the important office he held on the retirement of Sir Francis Sandford in 1884. It will be a difficult task to fill his place, and in the present state of the dispute between the School Board system and the Voluntary system, the appointment will be scanned with very jealous eyes by both parties. But the permanent head of the Department does not determine questions of po!icy ; he only carries out faithfully the policy of his superiors; and what is wanted is a man of great vigour, con- siderable experience, conspicuous fairness, and one not deeply committed to either side of the controversy between the School Boards and the National Schools.
