by Sir John Guest, is far in advance of any school that has come under my notice within my district. The tone and extent of education there given is much higher than in schools of agricultural districts: it is intended to form those acute engineers and miners, upon a proper supply of whom the prosperity of the great iron-works at Dowlais so much depends; and, as no expense is spared, the object is readily attained. I can only refer to my tabulated Report for an account of the subjects taught in it; and I can promise a highly intellectual treat to any lover of education, who may be admitted to witness this school in full operation.

The other schools in Dowlais are kept up in a similar spirit; and that for girls, especially, is indebted for its efficiency in no small degree to the constant personal superintendence of the Lady Charlotte Guest. The teachers are all of good proficiency, and there is an ample supply of all kinds of materials. Did but the buildings correspond to the great work carried on within them, these schools might prove the envy of any town.

At Merthyr Tydfil there are four National schools, all in activity at Aberdare there are two, active indeed, but crippled in their promised development by the sudden decease of the late lamented Marquis of Bute. Along the valley of the Taff, other schools either exist, or are springing up, and the whole region is pregnant with mental as well as mineral wealth. But, independently of this more usual provision for the instruction of the labouring classes, there is an admirable system at work in this district, which demands especial notice. The staple trade and occupation of the country is that of the iron-works, whether in the mining or in the smelting departments. The population lead most laborious and painful lives: many of them pass the greater part of their time within the bowels of the earth, and to all of them is there very little opportunity afforded, from the nature of their occupations, of mixing with those by whose intercourse they might be improved, still less of attaining to any of the intellectual enjoyments of life. The peculiar moral condition, in which this large population of more than 50,000 persons is placed, has called for more than ordinary talents and exertions on the part of the resident clergy; and it is a subject of real congratulation to the whole district, that this necessity has been fully met. The incumbent ministers of Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais, and Aberdare, three gentlemen of rare courage and zeal, combined with high professional talent, and great warmth of religious feeling, after providing as amply as they could (though by no means adequately, from the sheer want of funds and of men) for the spiritual requirements of their parishes, have opened evening schools for those of the adult and adolescent among the people, who may wish to make up for deficiencies in education incurred while young, and who

may have no other method whatever of informing and improving themselves. The inhabitants of these towns have nobly seconded the efforts of the clergy, and a large corps of volunteer teachers, chosen from among the gentry and the tradespeople of these places, perform the gratuitous functions of teachers, by monthly and weekly rotation, in these evening schools. The mining and manufacturing people have availed themselves willingly of the advantages thus held out to them; and these schools, which are open every evening, present the gratifying spectacle of old and young sitting together on the same benches, forming one and the same class, and receiving with the greatest attention and order the instruction communicated to them by those, whom Providence has blessed with greater means and opportunities of doing good. The men and boys, and the young women from the works, dress themselves for the evening schools in their better clothes, come with clean hands and faces, as if to a feast, and, when within the school walls, work with a steadiness and diligence that soon produces its own reward. The effect of this system upon the morals of these towns, public and private, I am assured, is already distinctly to be marked, and they cannot but be considered as some of the most powerful engines that could have been constructed for humanizing, and, I may add, for Christianizing these hitherto rude and untameable populations. The clergy are always present in these evening schools.

At Aberdare the active co-operation of the gentry and the inhabitants is much wanted in aiding the incumbent to erect suitable buildings for school purposes. The population is rapidly on the increase, and the present means of accommodation are insufficient for the actual wants of the town. The school is well conducted, and the example, which a large institution of this kind might set to the surrounding country, would be of great service in promoting the welfare of the district. Had the Marquis of Bute lived, ample buildings would by this time have been erected: but, as things now are, the intervention of some generous and wealthy personages, or a general subscription on the part of the inhabitants, is necessary for the proper maintenance of parochial schools in that town.

Throughout this part of the county the cholera was raging at the time of my visit; the schools were thinly attended, and I did not see them under the most advantageous circum

stances.

In Cardiff, which, as the outport to the great mineral district of the Taff Vale, is rapidly growing into a large town, there are excellent schools in the parochial district of St. Mary's, and, during the last suminer, a meeting of the Glamorgan schoolmasters was appointed to be held in them for the purpose of receiving instruction from one of the National Society's

organizing masters. The cholera, however, thwarted this porject, and the meeting was adjourned to Abergavenny.

There are several good schools in the southern portion of Glamorgan, especially at Bridgend, St. Bride's Major, Newton Nottage, and Penmark; and, on the whole, the condition of parochial education may be here considered as satisfactory.

In Swansea, which is the most important town in Wales, and is the centre of one of the staple trades of the realm-distinguished moreover, as it is, by the singular intelligence and urbanity of its inhabitants-it might be anticipated that the schools for the working classes would not be neglected. This expectation is verified: for not only are there large and flourishing National schools established by the present Vicar, but there is also a girls' school of old foundation, well conducted, and numerously attended, besides others; and in the vicinity there are three large schools, erected by Mr. Vivian, for the use of his work-people, which rival in size those of Sir John Guest at Dowlais. Indeed, throughout Swansea and the adjacent country, there prevails a remarkable spirit of intelligence and of civilization, and in this respect, the western portion of Glamorgan answers honourably to the eastern.

Notwithstanding this, much more might be effected, considering the concentration of money and of genius in this county, than actually is the case. The clergy are here heavily taxed, in comparison with the laity, for the support of education; and yet the wealth of the latter renders them capable of standing a much heavier run upon their purses, than has been hitherto got up in the cause of school-building and schoolmaintaining.

I ought to add to the above account, that neither Sir John Guest nor Mr. Vivian have ever applied for any aid from Her Majesty's Government in the support of their schools. Nor are they the only gentlemen in Glamorgan who contribute largely from their own fortunes to so good an object. There are several other schools in this county supported in an efficient manner, entirely at the expense of gentlemen, who are actuated by a sense of the duty they owe to their country and to themselves.

MERIONETH.

The National school of Dolgellau, the county town, is the most worthy of notice of any in this district. It is in an efficient condition, under a good master, in a commodious building, and in a situation unrivalled by any other in Wales.

I also found at Llanfawr, near Bala, a plain village school in good order, and producing good results. The master was a man of strong common sense and tolerable information,qualifications that go a long way towards forming a fit teacher.

It is much to be regretted that a flaw in the title to some land, and an original fault in the choice of situation, should have deprived the important town of Bala of the advantage of a good Church school; but it is to be hoped that the measures, now contemplated for remedying this evil, will be crowned with

success.

There is a lack of good schools throughout this county; and though the clergy are exerting themselves to supply this deficiency, their efforts must be aided by the gentry and landowners, if they are to effect what is proposed.

MONTGOMERY.

In this county, the principal towns, Newtown, Llanidloes, Welshpool, Machynlleth and Llanfyllin, are all supplied with good schools under Government inspection; and in several of the country parishes similar institutions of a fair character are well supported. It is in fact a prosperous part of Wales, with a happy admixture of manufacturing industry and agricultural skill: there is a good body of resident gentry, liberally disposed to promote education; and the clergy are well seconded in their endeavours to instruct the people. I have been particularly pleased with the cheerful spirit that animates the schools named above, and I anticipate within a few years, finding them far more effective than their original supporters ever contemplated.

There is one feature almost peculiar to this county, in the existence of several valuable endowments attached to parish schools. A sum of money bestowed in this way gives a character of permanence and independence to a school, which it is difficult by other means to attain and if the charitably disposed were to reflect, more commonly than they do, upon the wide-extended good which money bequeathed for educational purposes is likely to effect, I am persuaded that testamentary donations to schools would be of much more frequent

Occurrence.

The schools lie on the skirts of this county, as the large towns do, rather than in the interior. It should be to the education of the smaller and more remote villages of this highly beautiful district, that the attention of its gentry should be in future principally directed.

PEMBROKE.

This county, though equal neither in extent, nor in population, nor in wealth to Glamorgan, may yet stand a fair comparison with it in point of intelligence and of educational progress. I have met with many excellent schools in it, and they are supported with no less zeal and liberality than in the other

extremity of South Wales. The centre of life and activity in Pembrokeshire is Her Majesty's Dockyard, near Pembroke; and here there are two first-rate schools, under the special superintendence of the naval authorities, which stand in point of excellence next after the schools of Sir John Guest at Dowlais. I found no less than eleven pupil-teachers in these two schools, and the whole institution was carried on with a spirit of regularity and smartness, that told unerringly of the quarter from whence the main impulse and the controlling guidance came. In fact, some or other of the superior officers of Her Majesty's Dockyard are constant in their visits to these schools: the children mostly belong to the artizans employed on the naval works: the most promising of the boys are commonly elected into the School of Naval Apprentices; and it may be readily conceived that the whole character of the instruction given, as well as of the discipline observed, is very high. My visit of inspection to these schools caused me the greatest satisfaction.

At Warren, in this county, is the Agricultural School, established by the Earl of Cawdor; and this place is well worthy of a visit from those who are interested in the working of such schools. Whenever a proper master shall be found, the success of this school will fully justify the liberality of the noble founder.

The same nobleman maintains a good school at Stackpole for the use of the inhabitants; and this institution enjoys the honour and the advantage of being continually visited and superintended by the Countess of Cawdor, and other members of his Lordship's family.

Model schools have just been erected at Haverfordwest, by aid of a grant from their Lordships of the Committee of Council; and it is to be expected, from the importance of the town and district where they are situated, that they will attain an honourable rank amongst similar institutions.

At Burton, Uzmaston, and Narberth, the schools under Government inspection are in a satisfactory condition; much aided in their maintenance by the generosity of the resident gentry while at Rhydberth, in this part of the county, is the school which I have already had occasion to point out for special notice in a former part of this Report.

One of the best infant schools that I have met with in my district is at Tenby, where it has the advantage of being superintended by an active and discerning committee.

There is a good school at Cilgerran, in the northern part of Pembrokeshire; and I have heard of several others on the point of formation or resuscitation.