A valuable life, which had exercised an important though almost
unnoticed influence on the development of secondary instruction in England, was somewhat prematurely closed a few days ago. The Rev. H. G. Robinson was one of the few clergymen who during many years occupied a post of import- ance in the Civil Service and the administration of the law. He was formerly the Principal of a training college for school- masters, and was a Prebendary of York. On the passing of the Endowed Schools Act of 1869, he was appointed as one of the three Commissioners charged with the duty of framing schemes, and otherwise carrying out the provisions of that measure. When the powers of the Commission expired, and the administration of the Act was transferred to the Charity Commission, he was the only one of the three Commis- sioners retained ; and he continued till the last to render valuable service in connection with the reorganisation of Endowed Schools. Without brilliance, or self-assertion, or any remarkable power of initiative, he was a diligent, able, and conscientious worker, and was distinguished for great know- ledge of all forms of scholastic activity, and for a very earnest interest in the improvement of education. Recently, he took the leading share in the inquiry into secondary instruction in Wales, and in the preparation of a most thorough and sugges- tive report, which is likely to prove the basis of important legis- lation for the Principality.
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