The Press. — London, England, 1858-04-10 00:00:00

THE PRE S S, APRIL 10, 1858. occupants of the Treasury bench. Under s uc h c i rcums t ances f ac ti on i s a difficult game, and attempts to get up a " movement " would end in positive abortion. The Times may reprint snarling paragraphs from Scotch Whig journals; but even the Times itself has seriously altered its tone towards Lord PALMERSTON, and the most careless reader may infer from its columns that there is no reason for supposing that the public interest at all suffers by the ejection of Lord PALMERSTON and his tail of jobbers. On the contrary, the facts recorded for the last month show very clearly that the empire has largely gained by ttie recent Ministerial change. Tho entire absence of all excitement out of doors, the tranquillity of the public mind, and the fact that no "indig nation meetings were even attempted during the Parliamentary recess, are considerations that will not be lost sight of by independent mem bers of the House of Commons. We confess ourselves somewhat at a loss to detect the precise ad vantages to be expected from the late resolution of the Commander in-Chief in regard to Woolwich and Sandhurst. Till recently an un restricted competitive examination was held periodically for candidates wishing to enter the Engineers or Artillery. Tho successful competitors received nominations to the Woolwich Academy, where they studied for two years, at the expiration of which period, if they maintained their efficiency, they were appointed to commissions in the above-mentioned corps. It is now, however, proposed that no young men shall be admitted to compete for Woolwich without a previous course of two years' preparation at Sandhurst, the entrance to Sand hurst to be the prize of a competitive examination, and the permission to become a candidate to be obtained from the Horse Guards. Now the change from two years' exclusive military training to four, and the existence of two competitive examinations instead of one, are barely sufficient advantages to compensate for the in jury which seems likely to ensue elsewhere. We our selves aro no advocates of too stringent a professional education. We consider the deduction of two years from the period devoted to general culture, and subjected to the beneficial action of public school influences, is a serious evil. But waiving this objection, is it certain that greater professional efficiency will be obtained by the new plan ? If we grant, on the one hand, that the masters and pro fessors of Sandhurst will prepare their pupils better than either public schools or private tuition, we must remember, on the other hand, that the class from which these pupils will be chosen must inevitably be greatly narrowed. The better workmanship, if it be better, will be cancelled by the inferior material. The difficulty of sustaining two years' extra expense, and the trouble of obtaining the Commander-in- Chiefs recommendation, will act as deterrents upon all that numerous class whose fortune is their brains. The excellent material thus excluded from the public service will be so serious a loss that we cannot, suppose it to have escapei the attention of the authorities. That a sufficient answer may be returned to our view of the subject we would not be so presumptuous as to deny; but we expect it with some curiosity. A Report has recently been published by Dr. LYON PLAYFAIR upon the condition of the " old original'' Mechanics' Institute, in South ampton-buildings. It appears that this institution is in an advanced stage of consumption, and the Times of last Tuesday has a very clever leader on the causes of its decline and probable fall. No doubt there is a great deal of truth in the general propositions laid down by our daily contemporary. Unity, tradition, association, the religio loci, by whatever name we choose to designate that intangible influence in virtue of which schools and colleges effect so much good, are inaccessible to the members of a Mechanics' Institute. But, then, as a Mechanics' Institute is neither a school nor a college, and was never intended to exercise influence of the same description, we do not see how the absence of these attributes can be logically alleged as the cause of its decline. To assert that one institution is a failure because it is wanting in conditions which account for the suc cess of an entirely different one, is at best but a negative argu ment, of the vaguest and most distant application. To object to Mechanics' Institutes that they have no genius loci like public schools and universities, is just as unreasonable as to reproach Mr. SPURGEON with lacking the elegance of a Trench or a Melvill. Suoh a quality is not essential to his success, and would not retard his failure. Morti fying as the lesson may be to some of us, we cannot doubt that the decline of institutions similar to that in Southampton-buildings is attributable less to the want of " unity " and corporeity than to the character of their teaching. Tho reception of facts, apart from the acquisition of principles, is a barren i and wearisome task. The man who has accustomed himself to this mode of learning for any length of time is sure to be dissatisfied at last. He finds himself none the more able to cope with his ancient opponents at the debating club or the harmonic meeting; none the more able to appreciate his clergyman's discourse; none the more able to lay his finger on what displeases him in a newspaper article. This is the true secret of the non-success of Mechanics' In stitutes, and not any want of the tone and the traditions of our great educational establishments. The isolation of the different classes could be a matter of small moment to earnest-minded men intent on self - improvement, however injurious to their juniors. It is the teach ing of facts, instead of laws, without which the former fly away from us, or at best remain but as useless lumber, which is the real defect of these institutions. The effort to fill with water a cask with a hole in the bottom of it is nut an exaggerated illustration of a system which pours facts into the mind without any law which may embrace them and intercept their escape from the 1101"11. ) Itil all THE MEETING. it m " Oh! if there be &human tear tltu From earthly dross refined and clear, 'Tie that which pi ous f a th ers s h e d Inv°. Upon a duteous daughter's head." ~~Ntr y Utin SCOTT'S " RONZBY." I idn) From batter'd wall and wave-swept deck, Vex'd land and ruthless sea, The slow blockade, the sudden wreck, By twofold marvel free, The Lady comes—her arms are flung Around the neck where oft they clung In childhood's loving glee; Long years—long toils—keen struggles past, The Sire and Daughter meet at last ! They parted, but as thousands must Till Peace shall conquer War : He to the Forum's learned dust, The conflicts of the Bar; And she, a gallant soldier's bride, With him to wander side by side, And act, in realms afar, The meek, devoted, duteous part Dear to a British matron's heart. They meet—and honour'd Chelmsford rears His head in " pride of place " ; I High raised among his country's peers, He fills with stately grace The seat which Hardwicke held of yore, Whence sounded Eldon's balanced lore And Lyndhurst's pregnant phrase ; - wlesbe6 Unenvied in his high renown, , " The glory of the English gown."* Irt u. And she, by whom true hearts were stirr'd To many a dauntless deed, u Whose cheering glanoe and kindly word Ph Were Valour's spur and meed ; ll' Fearless, yet patient—calmly bold, at The Lady of the lcaguer'd hold, "ii, - 141 , L Best aid in surest need, ,•, giiL Shall live while Glory kindles song, And Duty makes the feeble strong. There are, for whom the track of life With barren wreaths is strown, Who mingle in Ambition's strife, And make the palm their own, Yet count their trophies little worth, And gaze in sadn!ss o'er the earth To feel themselves alone : With them no kindred hearts rejoice; Love greets them not with thrilling voice. Ah ! happy they, the favour(' few, Who live, and shine, and rise, Still freshen'd with the sacred dew Of hornefelt sympathies! rr Nay, more, in mutual honours blest, May share with those who love them best The triumph and the prize r Match'd with the chaplet twined for them, What were imoaareh'a diadem ? 'Joy to the Daughter and the Sire! . t•.. •,fi. g We have not lost the strain ;4, 1 • Of high•soul'd worth—the sacred fire n'r Yet burns in heart and brain ; But England's laws shallt change their mood, And herds shall graze where Lucknow stood, Ere meeting such as theirs be view'd f On British soil again— Ere such a living gem be set In such a stainless coronet! if MIPI ti t if I itriihE Igit • Gloria liosaanv, Qutuli ane, tog .c. + Nolumus lege/ Anglia sautari