attainments of the children to no other practising school which I have visited. I have appended to this Report (Appendix A.) a list of the books and apparatus used in the school, and a syllabus of the subjects of instruction in the first class. It is scarcely necessary to say, that great attention is given to the religious instruction of the children, and as it appears to me with a very satisfactory result. The higher classes read well. I was not, however, to the same extent satisfied with the reading of some of the lower classes. I have before me specimens of the writing, from copies and from dictation, on paper, of the boys of the three first classes, and of their skill in arithmetic, and also the notes of my examination of the lower classes. The writing and spelling of the two first classes is exceedingly good. I am not equally well satisfied with the arithmetic of the first class. I gave them sums in vulgar and decimal fractions, and the extraction of the square root, which they have for the most part worked correctly, but not so as to show that they clearly understood them. It appears to me of the more importance to point this out, as I have reason to believe from my oral examinations that they do really understand them, and that the fault lies in their not having been accustomed to write their sums methodically, and with a proper use of symbols. This is the less excusable as they have been taught algebra. To the second class I gave sums in proportion and interest, which they have worked intelligently and well. The third class have also done well in arithmetic; but of the arithmetic of the classes below the third, I cannot record a favourable impression. I have before me themes of the boys of the first class, written on a subject which I proposed to them, which show the greater number of them to have acquired the power of expressing their thoughts in correct and appropriate language. Of the knowledge of this and the other classes of the school of English history and geography, the numerous oral examinations to which they were subjected in my presence by the candidates for certificates, gave me the best opportunities for forming an opinion. That opinion was very favourable as to their knowledge of facts. The teaching of these subjects in this, as in almost every other elementary school which I have visited, appears, however, to have been merely fact-teaching — the teaching of facts about other times and places, in which the child feels no interest, and from which it can draw no conclusions. they not being of like kind with the facts familiar to the child's own observation. There seems to be needed in elementary education some means of impregnating the understanding more effectually than can be done by expedients like these-something which may correspond, for instance, with that vigorous exercise of the thinking power to which our own children are from a very early age subjected, when they are made to study the grammar of a foreign language, and to translate it. It is not necessary to seek so far away, as this, from the things which concern a poor child, and in intimate relation with which its life is to be passed, for matter on which its understanding may be exercised with advantage from the lowest state of its development to the highest. Religious Instruction.-Bible Narrative-Acts of Apostles-Catechism with Scripture illustrations-Prophecies. Reading.-Irish 5th Book. Arithmetic.-Coleuso's, whole subject-Mensuration-Triangles and Trapeyoids-Duodecimals-Circle-Irregular Polgym. Mechanics.-Tate's, to work done in drawing trains along gradient. Astronomy.-General view of Heavens, and definitions of the Circles and Geography-England-Physical-Historical-Mineral-Political-Ame- Grammar.-Analysing and Parsing sentences in their Reading Book. Arithmetic.-Elementary Treatise, Tate's and M'Leod's. In the more advanced stages, Coleuso's. For Mental Arithmetic, Exercises by Tate on the Pestalozzian Board. Algebra.-Coleuso (first class). Mechanics,-Tate's Course. Mensuration.-Irish Society's Small Treatise, and Nesbit's. History.-1st class: Mrs. Markham's History of England. 2nd History of England by S P. C. K. 3rd Outlines of History published by Parker. In the lower classes, Wilson's Catechism and Ince's outlines for the teacher. Poetry.-Goldsmith's Deserted Village, and other poems, price 1s.-The Book of Poetry. Writing.-Darnell's copy books in those classes which write on paper, and Mulhausen's course for slates. MISCELLANEOUS. Le Bas's Testimony to the Messiah-Ramsay's Catechism-Parables, APPARATUS. Boards.- Four Large and Plain-1 Mulhausen's Writing-1 Pestalozzian Ioard of Units-2 Small size plain. Easels.-Four Large-Three Smaller. Maps.-Irish Society's Maps-Chambers's Maps of Europe, America and the World. For Great Britain-Physical, Mineral and Political Maps, lately Slates. A sufficient number of large and small. One small Globe with slant axis 12 inches diameter. JUVENILE SCHOOL. Books.-Irish Society's First Book-Mim priss's Easy Reading Lessons from Music. School Harmonist (Ridgway)-Hullah's Part Music. Report, in 1849, on the National Society's Training Institution at Whitelands, Chelsea, for the Training of Schoolmistresses. By the Rev. F. C. Cook, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools. MY LORDS, November 1849. In accordance with the instructions which I received to visit the establishment for training schoolmistresses at Whitelands, belonging to the National Society, in order to examine the candidates for Certificates of Merit, and to report upon the general state of the institution, I passed 10 days there in the month of January 1849, and have to submit the following account to your Lordships. General Objects of the Inspection.—My attention was directed naturally to these points. 1. The character of the instruction given in the institution to the young women in training, both with reference to the extent and quality of information and to the development and training of their mental faculties. 2. The means adopted to give them both a theoretical knowledge of the principles and a practical facility in the art of teaching. 3. The general tendency of the system with reference to the formation of character, whether it can be proved or fairly assumed to be likely to send forth mistresses with such principles, dispositions, and habits as will enable them to discharge their duties in a cheerful, humble, and contented spirit, to acquire that influence over their future pupils and their parents which is indispensable to their success, and to give satisfaction to their employers, as well as to the Society to which they are indebted for their training. Points noticed on former Inspection.- Before I proceed to the consideration of these subjects it will be proper to notice some important facts which have already been submitted to your Lordships by the Rev. F. Watkins, in the Report published in 1848. Premises. With reference to the condition of the premises, Mr. Watkins then stated that the premises generally are unworthy of, and unsuitable for, the great objects for which they are used. He stated particularly that the bed-rooms, though perfectly clean and neat, are deficient both in pitch and clevation; and justly found fault with the class-room, the dining room, the larder, and pantry, and especially the laundry and scullery, which are overrun with rats. In these remarks I perfectly coincide. The improvement then contemplated have not been carried into effect. The school-rooms, which were built two years since, are commodious and well arranged; but the dining-room, chief class-room, larder, pantry, and out-offices are in a state which is not only inconvenient for the domestic arrangements, but seriously detrimental to the efficiency of the institution in a very important department, viz., the industrial, or economical training of the students. At present they are not admitted into those offices, and I am informed by the principal, Mrs. Field, that it would not be practicable to carry on any regular system of such training with the present arrangements. I venture to express an opinion that unless such changes be completed as will enable the superintendent to give the students a practical and experimental acquaintance with all the details of housekeeping, this institution must be considered as deficient in an essential point. And it may be a question whether the annual examinations for certificates, which secure so large an addition to the income of Whitelands from the public purse, should be continued unless a security be given that this deficiency shall be supplied. Mr. Watkins, moreover, stated a doubt whether there is sufficient space and opportunity for healthy exercise in the garden of the institution. It certainly appears to be a disadvantage necessarily connected with its situation that there cannot be much space, or any privacy, for such exercise and recreation as are requisite. Whether it be compensated by other advantages is a question for the consideration of the National Society, but it is certain that if, as appears likely, the establishment is permanently fixed in this locality, the whole area of the garden should be laid out with a view to such exercises as may conduce to the development of the physical powers of the students. It appears doubtful whether sufficient attention has been paid to this subject, and whether the young women, though healthy and cheerful, are strong enough for the work which they have to undertake. I am well aware of the difficulty of introducing a good system of exercise, but it is a subject well deserving the careful consideration of the Committee of Management. The officers of the institution are the same generally as when Mr. Watkins visited it. The character and qualifications of the principal, Mrs. Field, are too well known to need any encomiums here; but I cannot refrain from expressing my conviction, that the personal influence of that lady has been one main cause of the success which has attended the institution, notwithstanding the great difficulties with which it has had to contend. Many of her former pupils are in my district, and |