ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION (IRELAND.) Annual Report and Account of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland, for the Year ended the 1st Day of August, 1865.

THE sum appropriated at the usual annual special meeting of the Board in December, 1864, for the several Church works of this year, amounted to 58,5621. 8s. 2d. Of this sum, 4,9381. 7s. was set apart towards the completion of sixteen churches undertaken in former years, and 17,710l. towards erecting fifteen parish and district parochial churches, 1,355l. 1s. 2d. to complete the amounts required for the enlargement of sixteen churches already partially provided for, and 8,0551. towards the enlargement of twenty-two other churches, and the residue, amounting to 26,5047., was appropriated to the repairs of churches, and for fencing churchyards, including the expenses connected with carrying out

these several works.

In the sum of 17,710l. above mentioned is included 7,5501. granted in the previous year towards the erection of six of the parish churches, which are now included in this report, inasmuch as the grants made in previous years were afterwards rescinded, the conditions on which same were then made not having been complied with within the period prescribed by the Board; and in the sum of 8,0551. is included 1,2251. granted in the previous year towards the enlargement of six of the churches, which are also included in this report, inasmuch as the grants then made were afterwards rescinded for a like reason.

Grants to the amount of 630l. 11s. 3d. have been made towards building, repairing, and providing Licensed Houses of Worship in

ten Parishes, and a sum of 2741. 4s. 6d. has been granted for completing the works in 14 of the cases of this class mentioned in former years' reports.

The subscriptions from private sources received within the year, in aid of the building, rebuilding, enlarging, and improvement of Churches and Licensed Houses of Worship, have amounted to the sum of 15,935l. 4s. 6d.

A Chapel of Ease, in the parish of Ballysodere, in the Diocese of Achonry, built at the sole expense of the late Edward Joshua Cooper, of Markree Castle, in the county of Sligo, has been taken under charge.

A sum of 6831. 6s. 3d. New Three per Cent. Stock, has been transferred to the Commissioners by the Earl of Belmore, and accepted by them as an augmentation of the Perpetual Curacy of Garvery, in the Diocese of Clogher.

The Commissioners have, during the year, out of the Perpetuity Purchase Fund, granted loans on mortgage to the amount of 11,0071. 88. 8d., for building, improving, and repairing Glebe Houses, and a sum of 7,4951. 9s. 11d. has been paid on foot of these loans, and of those previously granted.

The Commissioners regret that owing to the present state of their funds, and the many very urgent demands upon them, they have not been able this year to allocate any sum towards the further augmentation of small Benefices.

Under the 31st section of the 23 and 24 Vict. c. 150, the Commissioners relinquished the further collection of the instalments payable on foot of the loans made by the Board of First Fruits, for building Glebe Houses in the parish of Lachagh, in the Diocese of Kildare, and of Rathaspeck, in the Diocese of Ardagh.

By the half-yearly returns of promotions, it appears that appointments have been made within the year to 92 Benefices, consisting of 11 dignities, 7 prebends, and 74 parochial benefices; of these 32 appear to be subject to ecclesiastical tax.

Fifteen applications for the purchase of Perpetuities have been received, and the sum realized from this source within the year has amounted to 2,3861. 6s. 7d.; and, for the liquidation of mortgages granted for perpetuity purchases effected in former years, a sum of 5941. 3s. 3d. has been paid.

EDUCATION (IRELAND).

Annual Report of the Commissioners of Education in Ireland, for the Years 1865-66. THE Schools of Royal Foundation, as regards the schools themselves, as well as the estates from which they respectively derive their endowments, being the most important of those vested in them was first noticed.

At Armagh Royal School, where scarlatina had broken out, and where the pupils had been dismissed previously to the date of their last report, they stated that they subsequently caused a thorough cleansing and purification of the buildings to be made, and that the school was re-opened in the month of August, and the attendance of the pupils soon afterwards resumed.

At Dungannon Royal School, the number of pupils in attendance having much increased, they were obliged to extend the arrangements for their accommodation; and they reported that this Royal School continued to maintain, as is evinced by the success of the pupils educated there, that high reputation which it has reached under the guidance of its present head master. Since the date of the last report, the Commissioners repaid to the master another instalment of the large amount heretofore advanced by him for the extension and improvement of this establishment, which is reported to them to be now in a most creditable condition.

At the Enniskillen Royal School, the attendance of pupils, both resident and daily, continues to be very large; and the Commissioners have again found it necessary to incur a considerable outlay in erecting new school and

class rooms, and in making alterations in the buildings, which are of a very extensive nature. The architect reported that all these works have been executed in a very satisfactory manner; but that in order to make the establishment more complete, other works have become necessary, in consequence of the alterations and extensions above alluded to. The undertaking these latter works has not, however, been as yet decided upon.

At the Cavan Royal School, beyond the fact that the Commissioners caused such outlay to be made as was reported to have become necessary, there is nothing calling for any special notice.

At the Banagher Royal School, it having become known that the present head master had been nominated by Government to a benefice, but that in consequence of some legal difficulty he had not, as yet, been put in possession of it, and had not resigned the mastership of Banagher School, which he holds under patent from the Crown, the attendance of pupils has considerably fallen off; this inconvenience to those resident in that locality will, it is hoped, soon be overcome by the resignation of the present master, and the appointment of a successor to his post.

The Raphoe Royal School, although placed in a remote and not very thriving locality, continues, through the exertions of the head master, steadily to improve its reputation; and the report presented to the Commissioners by an eminent scholar, who, at our request, conducted the examination for the school prizes annually granted by us, speaks in highly complimentary terms of the instruction and answering of the competing pupils.

The Carysfort Royal School, which is situated in a mountainous part of the County Wicklow, shows no feature calling for special report.

The reports presented annually have so frequently pointed out the great value and importance of the Royal Scholarships founded and endowed by the Commissioners, that it may be sufficient to state that these valuable exhibitions are held by pensioners and sizars only, fellow commoners not being eligible to them; that they can be obtained solely as the results of a rigid competitive examination held by Fellows of the University; that they become

forfeited unless the holders obtain in each year of their academic course a certain amount of University honours fixed, and that consequently the struggle to obtain, and the diligence and scholarship required for retaining them, have been productive of most satisfactory results. Many of those who had been amongst exhibitioners are now holding positions of eminence in the public service, both abroad and in this country. The course of examination for election to these exhibitions has from time to time been much enlarged, and is, to a certain extent, varied every year. And we beg to append to this our report a copy of the most recent orders made by us on this subject.

Referring to the Schools of Private Endowment connected with this board, the Commissioners reported that that of Midleton, which had fallen into an unsatisfactory state, is now in a flourishing condition, under the care of its present master, who had formerly held a Royal scholarship on the Dungannon foundation. A report presented to us by the local governors of this school, after a visitation very recently held by them in the schoolhouse, gives a highly gratifying account of the management of the school, and of the establishment generally, recommending at the same time, certain outlay, which we have determined to maxe, on the premises.

At Ballyroan and Navan, which are Privately Endowed Schools, vacancies have occurred in a mastership and undermastership respectively. Some delay in making appointments has taken place in consequence of legal difficulties in ascertaining the rights of certain parties as patrons. The Commissioners had reason to believe that all difficulties are now removed, and that the deeds of appointment will shortly be transmitted to us. It may be right to state

that these Establishments have not been closed during the vacancies referred to.

The Endowed Schools of Tullyvin have, in consequence of certain regulations made, and of the superintendence given by the local managers, become of much more benefit than heretofore to those residing in that part of the County Cavan.

Of the other schools of Private Endowment in connection with this board, the Commissioners did not feel called on to make a special report, but they stated that in all cases of

schools, either of public or private endowment, where there are funds under our control, the schoolhouses and premises are kept by us in good and satisfactory repair.

Of the Estates which constitute the Endowments of many of the schools, those of the Royal schools are much the most important and extensive, requiring under their control. the constant care and attention of the respective local agents in whose charge they are placed they could report that, generally speaking, the estates are in a very satisfactory condition, and the tenantry peaceable and well conducted.

On the Dungannon Royal School estate, the schoolhouse which the Commissioners resolved to erect for the children of the tenantry, has now been reported by the architect in charge to have been completed to his satisfaction; and soon would be opened a school there.

On the Cappaghloughlin Estate, the Commissioners were unable, as yet, to carry out the partition of certain bog lands as had been agreed upon by us and by the deceased proprietor, and referred to in a former report; but it was expected that the delay was merely temporary, and that the arrangements would be completed before their next report.

The Diocesan School question generally, has been so frequently brought by the Commissioners under the notice of the Executive, that they merely stated that the appointment recently made by his Excellency to the mastership of the district diocesan school of Kilmore, Raphoe, and Clogher, would, it was generally believed, exercise a very salutary influence on this hitherto unsuccessful establishment. And that the Elphin, Clonfert, and Kilmacdaugh district diocesan school at Sligo is, we are happy to be able to report, likely to become successful under the care of its present energetic master, who has been enabled to induce the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in whom the temporalities of the diocese of Elphin are vested, to restore to the school that endowment which, for so long a series of years, had been enjoyed by the masters at Elphin, but which they had at first refused to sanction on the removal of the school from Elphin to Sligo, both towns being in the same diocese.

CHURCH ESTATES.

Fifteenth Report from the Church Estates
Commissioners.

THE Commissioners, under the provisions of the 6th and 7th sections of the Act secondly above mentioned, transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England during the past year a sum of 50,000l., in respect of the surplus proceeds of enfranchisements completed. The aggregate amount which has been paid over or transferred to the account of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners is now 1,250,2071. 2s. 2d., in addition to 140,000l. in respect of interest which has accrued on the surplus.

The Commissioners reported last year that the transactions approved by them between August, 1851, and March, 1865, were 2,638 in number, and that the value in fee of the estates so agreed to be dealt with amounted to about 10,310,0001.

During this year they approved the terms agreed upon in 105 cases, ninety-eight being cases of sales of reversions, and seven cases of purchases of leasehold interests, and the value in fee of the estates so agreed to be dealt with is approximately 350,000l. The aggregate number of cases approved by them is therefore 2,742, and the value of the property dealt with amounts to about 10,660,000l. In three cases they declined to approve the terms proposed; but in two of these the terms have been modified so as to meet with our sanction, and they have been included in the number above stated to have been approved.

BRITISH MUSEUM.

Copy of all Communications to the Trustees of the British Museum respecting the Salaries of the Officers and Assistants employed in that Establishment, and of all Minutes and Proceedings of the Trustees thereon subsequent to the Return of the 6th March, 1860. (Mr. Thomas Chambers.) 15th June, 1866. (413.)

On the 12th April, 1860, four senior assistants of the Museum wrote to the principal librarian that, having regard to the minutes of the trustees upon their memorial and the speech of Mr. Gladstone, they were prepared to submit to the Commissioners of the Treasury a statement of the disadvantages under which the

assistants in the Museum labour as compared with other gentlemen employed in the public service. To this the trustees made no objection, and on the 10th October, 1860, the memorial to the Treasury was forwarded, showing that, whilst at the British Museum the second class assistants begin at a salary of 150l., and rise to 2001., and the first-class assistants begin at 210l., and rise to 3001. a-year, in the Public Record and State Paper Offices, the Audit Offices, the Admiralty, War Office, and the Stationery Offices, the maximum of the third-class is 2501. and 300l.; the second and first classes rise respectively from 300l. to 3501., and from 400l. to 500l. a-year. But for a long time no answer was sent to this memorial, because it was not supported by or forwarded through the principal authorities of the Museum. The assistants then applied again to the trustees, and the trustees remitted it to the committee on finance, which, having agreed upon the report, the trustees agreed to write to the Treasury, recommending,—

"1st. To divide the first-class assistants into two sections, an upper and a lower section, causing the promotion to the upper section to depend chiefly on superior merit and good services, and not on length of service, though the latter circumstance should not altogether be disregarded.

"2nd. To enable the first-class assistants to reach their maximum more rapidly than at present.

"Your sub-committee would, therefore, recommend,

"1st. That the assistants belonging to the upper section of the 1st class should begin on a salary of 3201. a-year, from the 1st of April next, with an annual increase of 201. till the salary reaches the highest limit, i.e., 4001.

2nd. That the assistants of the lower section of the first class should receive, as now, 210l. per annum on their first appointment, but that the annual increase be in future 201., instead of only 101. as at present, until they reach a maximum of 310l. per annum.

"3rd. That the salaries of the assistantkeepers should commence at 4251. per annum, with an annual increase of 251. until they reach a maximum of 4751., and that their minimum of 4251. should commence on the 1st of April, 1861.

"4th. That the salaries of the second class of assistants should remain as at present, that is to say, the minimum 150l., the rate of increase 10l., and the maximum 2001. a-year.

"In order to give the assistants now in the Museum the benefit of these alterations, the sub-committee recommend that twelve years of past services be taken, on this occasion, as the starting-point from which the upper section of the first class may be enabled to obtain the advantage of the new regulations.

"Upon the assumption that this suggestion is adopted, there are now fourteen assistants who would at once be included in the upper section.

"The sub-committee further recommend,—

"That when the appointments for the three new departments of antiquities are made, and when it is decided to which of them the mediæval antiquities are to be attached, it should be considered whether the assistant charged with this latter branch of antiquities should not be raised at once to the upper section of the first class.

"Two places of assistants of the second class are now, and have long been vacant, one in the department of manuscripts for Syriac, and another in the department of printed books for Chinese. In order to secure the services of competent scholars, and to remedy the deficiencies now existing in these respects, it may be necessary to appoint at once an assistant to the upper section of the first class for each. "The filling up of places in the section upper should never take place as a matter of course; there may be occasions when it may be advantageously postponed.

"It is also recommended that the existing regulations (not inconsistent with these suggestions) should continue in force."

Upon the recommendation of the Trustees, the Treasury consented to these propositions. Mr. Thomas Watt, assistant keeper of the department of printed books, and superintendent of the reading-room, wrote to Mr. Pannizzi with reference to his position and remuneration, and, in so doing, he gave the following account of his labour.

"It is now a little more than twenty-three years since I first entered the service of the museum. In 1837, when I was quite unacquainted with the establishment, the Rev.

H. H. Baber, then keeper of the printed books, was kind enough to purchase at my recommendation a small collection of Russian books at a sale, and accepted my offer to catalogue them as a volunteer; from that circumstance flowed my introduction to yourself, my appointment as an assistant at your recommendation in 1838, my drawing up for your approval a further list of Russian desiderata, then one of Hungarian, then one of Dutch, and so, in due course, of several other languages which I had studied. The result was such as to lead you to entrust me more and more with this branch of the Museum affairs, and I have now for many years been continuously engaged, both under yourself and Mr. Jones, in examining for this purpose the lists of new publications in nearly every country in Europe, as well as miscellaneous catalogues, histories of literature, foreign reviews and bibliographical works of all descriptions. In the course of the ten years from 1851 to 1860, inclusive, the number of separate works ordered at my suggestion cannot have been less than 80,000 and to select these orders required the examination of at least 600,000 titles of books in Greek and Latin, in French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, in German, Swedish, Danish and Dutch, in Russian, Polish, Bohemian, and Hungarian. I have also had occasion to prepare lists of desiderata in Welsh, Icelandic, and Chinese, and I had the pleasure of drawing up under your inspection the first large list of American orders which was ever sent across the Atlantic from the Museum. No one can be better acquainted than yourself with the state of affairs at the Museum in these respects at the time of your appointment to the keepership. A collection of Icelandic books presented by Sir Joseph Banks, which had been in the library for more than sixty years, and some twenty or thirty Russian books which which had found their way into the King's and Banksian libraries, were first catalogued by me. The object which has been kept in view during the last three-and-twenty years has been to bring together from all quarters the useful, the elegant, and the curious literature of every language; to unite with the best English library in England or the world, the best Russian library out of Russia, the best German out of Germany, the best Spanish