The Duke succeeded in extracting from Mr. George Dixon an
admission that he did not at present aim at the extinction of the voluntary schools, but only at the repression of those demands which the School Board party think unreasonable. But with the deputation headed by the Bishop of Coventry, the Duke did not succeed so well. He asked them point- blank if they wished to see an end put to the compromise of 1870 between Board-schools and denominational schools; but after a little private conversation amongst themselves, they could not agree on a unanimous reply. They did, however, agree to say that they felt bound to resist the policy of establishing universal School Boards, and claimed increased grants to the voluntary schools, so as to put them on a better footing for the competition with the rate-aided schools. And with that answer the Duke of Devonshire had to be content.
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