Our Schools and Colleges. By F. S. do C. Bisson.
(Simpkin and Marshall.)—This is not a perfect handbook of its subject, though it is a considerable improvement on anything of the kind that we have seen before. Mr. Bisson has found himself confronted by the great difficulty of classification. Sometimes it has proved too much for him. Why should Wellington, Clifton, Marlborough, and some other schools, appear under the heading of "Oar Military and Naval Schools," along with Sandhurst and Woolwich ? A " Naval " or " Military " school, as far as the purpose of a book like this is con- cerned, is a school where naval and military knowledge is given. The preference for the children of naval and military officers has nothing to do with it ; or if it baa, why the appearance of Marl- borough or Clifton P The absurdity is specially evident, when we find the " Medical Benevolent College," at Epsom, classed among " Medical Schools," a term which has a very definite meaning. This institution, it is true, is mentioned elsewhere, in what we should call its regular place, the list of " Endowed, Proprietary, and Middle-Class Schools and Col- leges ;" but as for Marlborough, we do not see any reason why it should be classed among " Naval and Military Schools," except that it was founded for the clergy, and has now; probably much to the general advantage, been thrown open. Practically, this is not of much moment. It is not difficult to find any school for which one may be searching ; and the information is copious, as far as we can judge, correct, and not much disfigured by advertising. Mr. Bisson's pen might, indeed, have profitably retrenched some of the enthusiasm which some gentlemen display for their own institutions. "The communica- tion of useful and interesting knowledge," says one gentleman at Edinburgh, " forma an important feature in the teaching of all the classes, and every moans is employed to stimulate the youthful mind to its acquisition." What right has ho to say this, more than any one else P The whole of this notice is too like a puff, and Mr. Biaaon must be blamed for allowing it to pass. Once, at least, we notice an indication of something like pique in the editor, displayed against a particular institution.
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