a departmental committee of enquiry, abolished these offices, and in lieu thereof consulted gentlemen skilled in different branches of science and art, as to intended purchases, paying them according to a set scale of fees.* The South Kensington Museum is rapidly growing in public estimation, and the distribution therefrom of special collections, illustrating particular branches of science and art, to local museums in England, Scotland, and Ireland, Museums. is much and increasingly valued throughout the country. It is the means of affording recreation and instruction to the whole nation, and especially to the poorer classes, and has tended greatly to improve the taste and skill of mechanics and manufacturers. This remark applies with equal force to the admirable collection of art manufacture and implements of education at the Central Museum itself, which has attracted great attention abroad, and led to the formation of similar industrial museums in other lands. All these results are attributable, for the most part, to the International Exhibitions which sprang into existence in 1851.b Science ment. The Board for the control and management of the Control of Science and Art Department, and its affiliated schools, &c., and Art is composed of the Lord President and the Vice-President Departof the Committee of Council on Education, the controlling power, in this as in other matters, being with the Lord President. None of the other members of the Education Committee are consulted on the business of this department. The Board usually assemble about once a week, generally at South Kensington, for the transaction of business. To a Hans. Deb. vol. cxcii. pp. 1168, 1171, 1607. Rep. Com. Paris Exhib. 1867, pp. 34, 38-41. Hans. Deb. vol. clxxxix. p. 1232. The Select Committee on Schools of Art, 1864, recommended that the collection of works of decorative art at South Kensington be made more generally useful than at present throughout the country, especially in connection with VOL. JI. local museums.' Accordingly, the с Rep. Sel. Com. on Education, 1865. Evid. 822, 1329, 2308, 2461, &c. U U Science and Art Depart ment. Annual report. advise and assist this Board, there are, in addition to the secretary and assistant secretary, other permanent officers. First, a general inspector for art, who is presumed to be always present at the Board to answer questions, and to advise upon reports in regard to purchases, &c. He also superintends the various schools of art throughout the country, and conducts examinations thereat. In 1851, there were but seventeen art schools in the provinces, and one central school. There are now (1868) ninety-eight art schools; seventy-two night schools, first established in 1866, for the elementary instruction of workmen, after hours; and 588 schools for the poor, in connection with this department. There is also an inspector-general for science, in connection with the royal school of Naval Architecture, who superintends 302 schools for instruction in science generally, including mathematical, mechanical, and physical science. All these schools are examined yearly, and receive government aid in proportion to the number of pupils under instruction.* An annual report is submitted to Parliament by the President and Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education, exclusively concerning the proceedings of the Science and Art Department within the year, in relation (1) to the aid given to the industrial classes in obtaining instruction in the branches of science and art which have a direct bearing on their occupations; (2) to the administration of the South Kensington Museum; and (3) to the condition of the institutions for the promotion of science and art which are subject to the superintendence of the department. Appended to this report are special reports from the directors, &c., of the particular institutions or scientific bodies under the control of the department.' Rep. Com. Paris Exhibition, 1867, pp. 5, 9. Ibid. pp. 3, 16. Civil Service Estimates, 1868-9, Class IV. pp. 24-27. Hans. Deb. vol. cxcii. p. 1162. For a comparison of the provision made by the State for technical education in Great Britain and in other countries, see ibid. vol. clxxxix. p. 359. f Commons Papers, 1865, vol. xvi. p. 305. There is a separate vote on behalf of Public Education in Ireland, which is administered by the Irish Commissioners of National Education. It amounted for the year ending March 31, 1869, to the sum of 360,1957.8 The Science and Art Department, however, is for the whole United Kingdom, and takes charge, at present, of the grants on behalf of scientific institutions in Ireland." But it is in contemplation to constitute a separate Department of Science and Art for Ireland, similar to that above described, and to amalgamate as far as possible all existing Irish institutions, now in the receipt of state grants for the encouragement of science or art. With this view a royal commission was appointed in 1868, to report on the best means of carrying out this object. The Charity Commissioners. 6 Board. In the year 1853, her Majesty was authorised by Act Charity of Parliament,' to appoint four commissioners (with a secretary and two inspectors) to act as The Charity Commissioners for England and Wales,' with power to enquire into all charities therein, their nature and objects, administration, management, and results, and the value, condition, management, and application of the estates, funds, and income of the same. In lieu of, or in conjunction with, the courts of equity-which in general take cognizance of all charitable uses, or public truststhis Board is empowered to call trustees to account for the funds committed to their charge, to appoint new trustees, rescind improvident alienations, consider and adopt schemes for giving effect to the donor's object, and afford commission was appointed, to enquire Civil Service Estimates, 1868-9, Class IV. No. 14. But practically the government has no control over this expenditure. The whole system of Irish education is at present in an unsatisfactory state, and will doubtless ere long be placed under a more responsible management. Hans. Deb. vol, cxci. p. 119. In 1868, a royal h Ibid. Class IV. pp. 31-33. 1 Act 16 & 17 Vict. c. 137, amended and extended by 18 & 19 Vict. c. 124 23 & 24 Vict. cc. 134, 136; 24 Vict. c. 9; 25 & 26 Vict. c. 112, Charity every species of relief that may be required by such Board. institutions. The term 'charitable' is understood to include endowed schools (not being universities), and endowments for education, whether of rich or poor, which are subject to the operation of this law, and amenable to the jurisdiction either of the Court of Chancery or of the Charity Commission.J All proposed alterations or improvements, as well as all sales or exchanges of charity lands, require the sanction of the commissioners; who are bound to institute enquiries and make reports to the Attorney-General, from time to time; and also to present to the crown an annual report of their proceedings, to be laid before Parliament. If any legislative action be required to give effect to a particular scheme approved of by the Charity Commission, a Bill for the purpose, after being sanctioned by the VicePresident of the Education Committee, should be submitted to the legislature by some member of the government.* Under the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Act of 1860, the jurisdiction of the Board was considerably extended, and it now constitutes a distinct court of law, as a subordinate branch of the Court of Chancery." The operations of the Board have been attended with great J See an account of the existing law of charities, as affecting endowed schools, with particulars as to the jurisdiction, powers, and proceedings of the Charity Commissioners, in the report of the Schools Inquiry Commission, presented to Parliament in 1868, vol. i. ch. iv. This chapter points out the inadequacy of the jurisdiction at present exercised on behalf of educational endowments, whether by visitors, or by the Court of Chancery and the Charity Commission, to effect the needful reforms. These commissioners further recommend an enlargement of the powers of the Charity Commission, and the appointment of additional members specially acquainted with all that concerns education, and of sufficient weight and reputation to have great influence with the country. They also advise that one of the new members should be a member of Parliament, who would be able to explain in his place the reasons for every scheme that was proposed, to show its relations to other schemes, and in the absence of a minister to answer any questions that might be asked' (p. 634). Hans. Deb. vol. cxci. p. 234. 1 Ibid. vol. clxxxvii. pp. 772, 925. public advantage, and are of increasing magnitude and importance. m The Commissioners on Popular Education, in 1861, advised that the Charity Commission should be incorporated with the Education Committee of the Privy Council, and that the Privy Council be empowered through this Committee (on Education and Charities) to make ordinances for the improvement of educational charities, and for the conversion to educational purposes, in whole or in part, of any charities which as at present administered had become useless or objectionable. These ordinances to be laid before the trustees of the respective charities (who should be at liberty to appeal to another Committee of the Privy Council from any such decision), and afterwards to be submitted for the approval of Parliament." This recommendation, however, has not been carried out; and it is doubtful whether Parliament would sanction the transference of the functions of a quasi-judicial Board to an executive and administrative department of state. It is more likely that, pursuant to the suggestions of the Schools Inquiry Commission of 1868, the powers of the Charity Commission, as an administrative Board, and as a central authority, under the control of Parliament, will be extended and enlarged. The commission is nevertheless under the general supervision and control of the Privy Council." The Board consists of a chief commissioner, and two assistant commissioners, who hold office during good behaviour, and who, with the secretary and the inspectors, are declared to be incapable of sitting in the House m See Fourteenth and Fifteenth Reports of the Charity Commissioners, for 1866 and 1867. Rep. Commission on Pop. Education, 1861, part v. Charitable Endowments. Hans. Deb. vol. cxci. pp. 1283–1290. "Commons Papers, 1861, vol. xxi. part i. p. 540. • Hans. Deb. vol. clxix. P. 184. P See a debate in the House of Commons, on June 16, 1864, on a motion for the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the construction, expense, and working of the Charity Board. The motion was opposed by ministers, and negatived. |