of the Act, with or without the will of the residents.
This is particularly the case in parishes where there is no large
landlord, no one to take the initiative, and no large farmers to
support the clergyman in his attempt to obtain, or maintain, an
independent school. The matter is distinct from political feelings.
It arises in a measure from the desultory village life, which
possesses no organization, no power of combination. Here is a large
and fairly populous parish without any great landowners, and, as a
natural consequence, also without any large farmers. The property of
the parish is in the hands of some score of persons; it may be split
up into almost infinitesimal holdings in the village itself. Now,
everyone knows the thoroughly independent character of an English
farmer. He will follow what he considers the natural lead of his
landlord, if he occupy a superior social position. He will follow
his landlord in a sturdy, independent way, but he will follow no one
else. Let there be no great landowner in the parish, and any
combination on the part of the agriculturists becomes impossible.
One man has one idea, another another, and each and all are
determined not to yield an inch. Most of them are decidedly against
the introduction of a School Board, and are quite ready to subscribe
towards an independent school; but, then, when it comes to the
administration of the school funds, there must be managers appointed
to carry the plan into execution, and these managers must confer
with the clergyman. Now here are endless elements of confusion and
disagreement. One man thinks he ought to be a manager, and does not
approve of the conduct of those who are in charge. Another dislikes
the tone of the clergyman. A third takes a personal dislike to the
schoolmaster who is employed. One little discord leads to further
complication; someone loses his temper, and personalities are
introduced; then it is all over with the subscription, and the
school ceases, simply because there are no funds. Finally, the
Imperial authorities step in, and finding education at a dead-lock,
a School Board is presently established, though in all probability
nine out of ten are against it, but hold their peace in the hope of
at last getting some kind of organization. So it will be found that
the few country School Boards which exist are in parishes where
there is no large landowner, or where the owner is a non-resident,
or the property in Chancery. I