The Press. — London, England, 1853-11-26 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 26, 1853. would have been better to have established high schools—like Harrow and IVinchester, and similar foundations—in order to meet the alleged want of schools for educating, young Irishmen of the middle classes. Many persons, on reading the remarks in which Sir Ron Era KANE deplores the necessity of professors being obliged to lower the tone of their courses, and to turn themselves into mere school masters, will cry, etti bona the Queen's Colleges?' They may possibly express their re;:ret that, when, in con►pany with several othe►s, Sir IL KANE With for years bringing the whole question of education before the public. he did not apply his great. intelli gence to the tinestion of schools for the middle classes. Thanks to the energy of Lord DERRY, while the Noble Lord was Chief Secretary, the education of the lower orders in Ireland may be looked upon almost as practically perfect as can be expected. The Pro testant population, also, whatsoever Sir ItoBERT KANE may affirm, enjoy excellent private schools. Many of the most distinguished alumni of Trinity College, Dublin, are masters of seminaries through. out the island, and in several instances they are pre sided over by pious and learned clergymen ti the Established Church. But it is said k though not by Sir ItonEni Kass, who judiciously avoided this por tion of the question) that such schools as we have alluded to could not he expected to work efficiently amongst the Roman Catholic middle classes. Pre judices, traditions—even personal antipathies— would in many instances prevent Roman Catholic tradesmen from sending their sons to be taught elementary knowledge by a Tory and a Protestant— possibly half sun ected of Orangeism. Recollecting the peculiarities of Irish society, we are rather dis. posed to concur in this assertion. But these consi derations show what grave conclusions are involved in this whole topic. For instance, it is impossible to associate for any length of time with the Protestants and Roman Catholics in Ireland and not perceive the inferiority in self reliance and general intelli gence of the former. Have we, in this inferiority of school education, a solution of the reason why there is so much mental energy amongst the Protestants as compared with the Roman Catholics' And, further, taking the statement of Sir Roma KANE for granted, have we a reason for the vulgarity of tone, and the discreditable personality of coarse allusions, in which the Roman Catholic popular poli ticians too often indulge ? Compare the tiles of the provincial press in Ireland with those of the same grade of journals in England, and the numb: r of 6• scenes" and altercations of a furious character re ported to have taken place in Ireland eannot but to arrest even a careless scrutineer. The middle classes in England have certainly much to elevate their tone, and give them practical education in pro priety. Their clergy are gentlemen and scholars, and the religion in which they worship their Creator is almost compulsory of self .education—each aniengst them in his Bible "reads his charter to the skies." But in Ireland a bigoted clergy, who have never produced orators or scholars to rival the fame of the luminaries of the Irish bar or the Established Church, do little to indoctrinate the flocks over whom they rule with the hive for science or letters. The priests of Ireland have for the lust fifty years talked more than the rest of the European clergy taken together. The annals of Christendom do not re count such an array of sacerdotal spouters. Their style of eloquence can be estimated most accurately when one reflects that they have never during that long time delivered a solitary speech which any educated Irishman could quote as a worthy specimen of the fervid eloquence of Erin. No CURRAN, no Bestir:, no PLUNKET, no GRATTAN, no SHEIL, has ever written P.P. after his name. One orator was reared amongst the Irish in jests, anil that exception, the famous KIRWAN, conformed to the Protestant Church. It is, perhaps, to influences like these, and others too numerous to indicate, that the backwardness of elementary education amongst the Boman Catholic middle classes must he attributed rather than to the positive want of good schools. Sir lionslrr KAN E . t4 View of the question is rather a limited one, and it is necessary to examine it on all sides, if the subject be further agitated as to providing a better descrip tion of schools in Ireland. Ile hopes, also, to apply the training given in the Queen's Colleges to the spe cial purpose of developing the industrial resources of the soil in Ireland. But his views on this part of the question border on enthusiasm. The soils of England, Scotland, Belgium, much of France and America, have been "developed" without the aid of a staff of professors. Fanning is no more to lie taught theoretically than shepkeeping, thought the operations of the tiller of the soil, and of the trader, are ruled (like all other human agencies) by general principles which can be reduced to scientific demon stration. The whole statement of Sir Rotwirr KANE seems too partial in its conclusions for us to accept it with entire confidence ; and on all Irish questions it is specially necessary to be very careful iu ascertaining the exact betuing of all thy facts. THE PRESS. MR. THACKERAY AND MR. WASHINGTON. Otit attention was called to a letter in the Tines of Wednesday, headed "MR. WASHINti•roN," and signed "W. M. TuveraitAY." The Americans, it seems, have resented the 'mitier in which their national hen, has been mentioned by our poptdar novelist, and, with charaetetistie susceptibility. have given vent to their indignation in langinigo no less charm teristie. It appears, tn(breover, that the American correspondent of our daily contemporary has taken up the American view of the question, if not with equal bitterness, in "a tone of sadness and gravity " fitted to the enormity of the crime and the solemnity of the occasion. Mr. THACKEHAV, it seems, in 010 1491E4111W and allusive style which is at present so much in fashion. intending to indieate the year 1770. desoribo s the period when pigtails grow on t h e ba c ks o f " the British gentry (we tl ght they grow oo " their heads); when their wives wore cushions " 011 their heads and pomatuni on th e ir ; la i r HIM " Ministers of the Crown wore stars and ribbons in "the House of Commons, 4.. e.; when Mr. Inishing• " ton eras heading the American rebels with a courage, • it must be eonfeased, worthy a better rouse," AT. Having quoted this sentence at length (we have cur tailed it for the convenience of our readers), Mr. THACKERAV proceeds to give what he calls the " moral of the apologue which has been MO oddly " construed." We cannot but think be would have judged better to refrain. " The satire," he says, "if " satire there be, applies to us at home, who called " WASHINtiTON Mr. WAsHIS..T.IN, as we called ha:- " 11ERU:1i the Oreat the Protestant hero (who calls " him so ?), and NAroi.Eox the Corsican fiend, or " General lioNArAtrrE. Need I say that our officer: " were instructed (till they were taught better man " tiers) to call Wysiirkarrox Mr. Wminciotos ? and " that the Americans were called rebels during the " whole of that contest ? The rebels ! Of yours'. " they were rebels; and I should like to know what " native American would not have been a wild in " that cause ?" " Irony," Mr. 11%eliEllAV says, "is dangerous," and he proceeds to explain, "in perftwt faith and gravity," that he thinks the 4111.4 for which the Americans fought entirely just and right, and its champion the " purest, bravest, and best of (it'd's men." We hope the ATlierieilill4 Will be satisfied with the aldeet humility with which the English moralist prostrates himself before them. There is a homely proverb, " When you speak to asses you ought to bray." We believe no compliments eau be too broad for our transatlantic cousins, no flattery too gross for their digestion, but we ourselves understand irony so little that we should actually have thought with them that Mr. TitvesEn.tv did not mean to speak of th at inelaneb o ly conte s t with unquali fi ed approbation. It w o uld h a v n ap peared to us that an Englishman might have con sidered a civil war, so long and bloody and so disas trous in its progress and in its close, was not subject of unmitigated satisfaction. lint we were mistaken. Mr. TIIACKIAIAV himself enrrects us, anti it now appears that in America the imputation of "rebellion " is still offensive, while in England it is deemed a VI ompliturnt. "ttf et purse," says Mr. ACK ERA Y, " they were rebels." It is not in him power to pass a higher eulogium. DIRT) STANLEY AN!, I't►I'ITLAR EDUCATION. THE speech of Lord Siist.t•:v at, the Bury Atbenseum is deserving of particular attention. The great sub jet% of popular education has ttsi long been left in the hands of declaimers, who, with exaggerated views a n d inflated language, have in ROM respects injured a noble cau.a . In lord Si+at.rxy'a speech we find a plain and vigorous statement of what may be rationally expected from enabling pertains in the humbler walks of life to attain R really sound culture of their flu•ulties. Education is advccated as a great means, not a final end ; its utility is defended against some of its prejudiced assaihuits; and, with. out being too sanguine, the noble speaker's tone is decidedly hopeful a. 4 to the resulting benefits. In •lirecting his hearers to the library of the Athemeum rather than to its lectures, the Noble Lord showed that he was familiar with the reason why midi in• stitutions have not always attained what their muni• ficent founders and cordial supporters have desired. They have been too frequently made an introduction to the excitement of the Platform, and have too rarely served as an encouragement to the dkcipline of the Study. 699 NI N 1 rAcrt• STATISTICS. o• r rou oF "rim mast 4." ~, hes,. much g i umt .. agr i ev a tunl i siatistics it is rather odd that Ito one broaches the question of the 'lllll4' 11H44.41111 1 In 11111113111- filettllVs. This 11,, 111,1tS'.1, of o mow .ital conse quence, it' tsnlan.;ol viers are taken of the subject. If it is so important to have 'quantum's and full re• turns etmeernite.: the quantity - of corn Rimer'', surely it i t of more to know as fully what quantities of corn eaters an , gathered together, and bred to, perhaps, dangerously ineoustautt employments. The action ol''apital on the population, it not controlled, ought at least to be known; and for that purpose a eons's% 'nice in ten )1441'S Is by no WIWI% tittliteleill, anti ha•t 11111'411, indeed, any use in reference to this su bj ec t. I . e.:1,0'11111kIII is to be reganleil as a pokey opposed to all the dangerous e‘trentes of either mob rule or alespotie ,:siverititietiis, and is consequently averse $4l um unfair partiality to any interest. Vet eapitwl, on the peetenee of luring live, arrogates to itself the privilege being, in this country at least, the only chiniered libertine of power. .t mere temutt-at pleasure in the country, it eomes and gtle! , 4 uaague.• (titllod. it may, its it has often done, dei s ied a t a a rural di.tri.•t alters% at Vll'llloll4 peasantry lived in lioidth and eimasirt, and idler driving them into wretelie.l villages which .well to miserable towns, — after 'Ming miles of wretched streets with an 111111111111• I 'HIIIIIIIIII4 •it is lel IieNVO thf.lll Wl lt'll it pica S'S au IMMO' tub Ilse'lll%Phin. 11111 l tat the country. The system sluieb Ints hitherto barn eert;iiiil) iisa work ell well. No &bola capitalists will .ay that if it were all hir strikia it would lie all very sell 'toil work very smoothly ; but what are strikes lint ene of the iie'e..aly frillt , 4 sit In% system itself * .tgitattass are said to get ; hilt, e‘u'll if that were wholly trate, who ol• what. Kelm np agitator* makes the operative iweillimaly liable to Iwo misli'd lay agitators, whit er whist is to lii thanked lion the igtairinlo4. The evil w o rking is, indeed, in mho nature of the system itself. Anil whether a full de. lineation of the stills in or capitol would cure this evil or mat, it widthl certainly open a will los cure. It 'lllllth' IN to 1111VM1 . 1 . Itistl gnarl' against the mischief, *Fla till• 111 the Slate* I'/111111 Ise missile readily, ir attacked befiire they heriatte folly esiedirmetl. a of elnirsio the cry of it riie‘ance, to which are Mind w h irr other interest 111 . 4• runlrrnrll , would 101 l g• 61 11,1 by the capitalists, that the return of the necessary facts 1 . 1,r such WIIIII4I lilt inter lerence awl a prying into their private affairs, and this is exiled.% the idea which is most likely to avail them, for a striiiiiisl 111.1ielley I Meat hunters rust inquiry in the eliSt. of II 111111u11 seigkilivo ~,, to its honour. Mit thi. plea should not mail where it is a matter of life and death, of corruption iii OW very vitals of the ~lair. mittihiira should be furnished as wlallll ena b le Iowa! as *ell as central exeentives, and, inderll, Al thiinisighilly to understand the w 111 Ph' 11111 of their lien posit . , 14) observe the 111111111C1' its kick the rising genera film is toeing trained, to estimate the probabilities of this population living emplopll, or o r a c h ange jak 1111, nature or condition of the market* being likely to east them a burden on the rent. Such returns would also help greatly to settle knelt a iittest• as the Preston strike. It is the myodr r.‘--that source 111 alesillittiatti—willt which eapitali%ts allow all their proceedings to be invested which mostly breeds strikes mill dm feelings whit+ give rise to strikes. Perhaps at strike at pre/Wilt is not. nndrsiruloh, by masters; lout the object of such statistics would be to prevent the present gaiiihling system which enables two great powers, 01104 e of masters anil torn, to play such a destructive game at the expense of the country genenilly. That such statisties might be SO collected and as to prevent con titling' glutting% of markets, and the consequent de ,r whh, advocate agriciiltural statistics to hinder famines or over produetion rim consistently deny. Stills statistical results e/mlll indeed come to he as 111-44111 tea the I111111111114'1111 . 4 . 1" thetusi.olves GM to ally other class. Nor can it he said to Is an 111141 m. interference With the rights of property. As to the right, every nation has atithotity to deride on chat terms it %till )ielil its protect isin In it.: toll•jcets in any enterurim., end it has certain!y a linty to pet-form to itself in hindering even by strict coutrol greet c‘ils resulting from any form ()renter-prise. lint this is not involvcil in the, linektiias of 4114.11 returns. This interference is mere!) that this operations of snch sio ,l e rt u k e rs of enti.rprises shall he conducted in the light of day, sin S is.). condition necessary fur the health of the community. - - 11.iphig hay renturk. 'nay iiiret with y'inr contaili ra titnt,-- 1 rut, pity ikeditiit *en out, E. N.