The discussion in the Commons on Tuesday concern- ing the
management of Wellington College, though it resulted, by a minute majority of 7 (67 against 60) in favour of the present management, and against the proposed Royal Commission of Inquiry, will certainly do much to expose the ex- pensive system of living now prevailing amongst many of the pupils of Wellington College. Doubtless Mr. Gladstone showed that the introduction of civilians there, far from having preju- diced the sons of military men, for whose sake Wellington College was founded, has greatly contributed to the funds at the disposal of the College for the education of the orphan sons of soldiers. But even Mr. Gladstone, though he was speaking against inquiry, had to admit that a very formidable case had been made out against the costliness of living at the College ; and Sir Thomas Acland stated that he had seen bills for Brussels and Kidderminster carpets for newly admitted boys, when there were old carpets which would have served well enough,—and that the real grievance is the needlessly expensive style of the College, which renders it unsuitable for the sons of poor men, or even of men of moderate means. The real meanin g of the division was that this charge at least must be held to have been made out.
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