Statistics of Van Diemen's Land. 23 
Tables 54 to 57 form the statistics of Public Education 
for 1849. Of the Church of England schools, receiving aid 
from Government, there are 59, numbering 1408 boys and 
1049 girls, or a total 2457 scholars, being an increase upon 
the year of 78°7 per cent. schools, and 64°7 per cent. scho- 
lars. Of the schools conducted on the system of the British 
and Foreign School Society, which also receive pecuniary 
aid, there are 8, with a total of 456 children. The Church 
of Rome schools continue to be 4 i number, but show an 
increase of 6°8 per cent. of children,—the total being 343 
of both sexes. The increase in the schools belonging to the 
Church of England is principally due to the dissolution of 
the Board of Education, and the adoption of the Penny-a- 
day system upon the denominational principle. The Inspec- 
tor of Schools (Mr. Arnold), in his recent first report, also 
thus accounts, in part, for this numerical superiority :— 
“* Again, there is a large section of the Protestant dissent- 
ers in this Colony who, while they yield to none in their ex- 
ertions for the diffusion of intellectual and moral culture, 
are strict adherents of what is termed the ‘ Voluntary Prin- 
ciple” and will not apply for aid of any kind from the 
Government towards the support of theschools which they 
establish.” 
The following Table exhibits the result of a minute 
comparison ;— 
Number of Number of | Aid from Colo- 
Schools Scholars nial Treasury 
per cent. per cent. per cent. 
Church of England .. 83° 75°48 776 
British & Foreign School Soviety 11°26 14: 13°86 
Church of Rome... 5°6 105 8:46 
Compared with population, the children under instruction 
