The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1807-04-25 00:00:00

• • . ' hen o f , x kly, saj asesitontsd them to be obedient „o ff command end cant.t.ml. He approved b oy of the plan which bad been suggested that o 'vht by a Right Hon. gent. Cdr./tor) as to com h; '^ ning it with the institution of a Maritime School. I :, professed himself to be a friend to the Bill in ' -”ral, although he was convinced it was suseep of various important improvements. He wed he should have to congratulate t h e Hon. ;• , otleman who had introduced it, in having thus ; 1 the foundation of a system which would yet be , otnthol with the most beneficial effects upon So : tn". WINDFIAS4 said, that the acknowledged c ', J ot of the Bill, namely, that of amehoratinn the• oaatinn of the poor. was what every one must :,prove of ; hut the question came to be, was it I pelt' to have such a beneficial died ? He had ,ho Jo no in his own mind, that it ought, at all events, to stand over for another year, as the subject of the Ldl could not have become all of a sudden so pres sing as to prevent its being deliberately submitted to the general consideration throughout the coun try. It was a matter which required experience, ;Ind involved local circumstances and considerations. The system of education, and the system of the eimal fund. bore some connection with one ano n .r. The rapid introduction of this new system, showed the short-sightedness of mankind : for voiat were the House doing, but endeavouring to :Aire a system established by our ancastora, during a long period of time, had been :teemed excellent in its nature ? Was the Otatute of Qtteos Elizabeth so i. - nperfed, as that we should now stand aghast, and say, that we cannot delay one single Session in :dieting it com pletely, and carreeting the System of the Pont's Laws The House ought to look to the state of those nations, where letters were unknown, lied sav, what benefit is actually derived to the corn• enmity, from a general system of Education ? Let them say, what is the consequence of ignorance existing amongst savages? Does it render them less 1 , ..,2py, virtuous, and moral, than more civilized na. tinti? The poorer dusts of society less wanted Edu- cation. in proportion as those in other classes have it. Every individual in a nation muse necessarily par take of the benefits arising from the education and sepeilor knowledge which prevails amongst some of their number. What is a nation without teams, shoemakers, and carpenters ? But is it necessary that every person in a nation should be iosruden in these arts? Was it necessary, because a few of them may have a taste for music, poetry, arid paining, that all of the inhabitants should become mucciaes, p )Is, and [minters ? This was evidently a forced aseasere to infuse knowledge, or rather, merely the means of acquiring it. If a man be taught to read and write, he must neeetsarily be under the neces sity of devoting his time from morning to night to aoptire knowledge. Were they sure, that they were conferring upon him a great boon by so doing? Of that they were conferring upon him A source of • ?knowledge that would ultimately prove beneficial to Dire, or to society? A few men may, perhaps, rise, and a few may be benefited in consequence of such education, but the great bulk of them most remain in a situation in which one could hardly say that it would he of the smallest use.— In short, it would be injurious to the individuals themselves, and dangerous to die community. lf, by setting tiom a thinking, we lould teach theirs to think well, benefit would undoubtedly result.— Bet are we sure that by givulg them the means of kuowiedge, we are not giving them at the same time the means of erring ? He remembered of con versing with Dr. Johnson upon this subjed, and frond that he was of opinion, that such kind of literature as that now proposed by this Bill, would be injurious rather than AdvAntageaus to that class of society; although he could not help thinking it would be beneficial, were they able solely to read their Whies. Were they at all able to read, was it to be sooposed that the lower classes would confine them selves to reading their Bibles t Would they not ra ther devote their Sundays to reading Sunday News papers, and polttical Trod' ? Would their instruc tion be good or bad? Would they linen to the teachers of truth, or the teachers of error ? This Bill was to vet men to thinking.who could not think well. It would be fur the interest of every free Govern ment, were it possible to be arained. that all politi cal diseerninos sliould be confined to those who are really competent to them Nothing is so little true, as that becaos.: a matt is much interested in a quer Con, he is competent to the discussion of it. Upon the same principles of reasoning, every man ought to be his_ owo phesicien, ann every child his. own schoolmaster. (. s leugio). The 4:4 of thl. insti. theretore wouid be, that it would let in a Loge class of ;he community to the consideration sod discussion (.f tioestions, in which they are, no &tub!, mete' Lally inter, tied, but which they are extremely ie:apaolat of manN,eiug. Trials nould, MOted, gain nothing ; but error a great d"4;. by multiplying thiokers, we should multiply the chances of error, instead of the chances of meta. The example which had beets stated in %Ilpi,ort of this Bill, was that of the Scotch ; Voir education, in reading and writing, beusg superior to the lower class in this country. He might observe, there was an old saying, when a man is hanged for 6 rgery, that " CI this comes of his reading and 'seinen." Why was all the su periority of the Scotch tit be attributed to their read• leg and writing ? Did not every nation diar Runs onother, in their ratural genius and disposition? Was such difference in nations to be attributed solely to the proportion of knowledge disseminated amongst the lower classes of society ? The soil, climate, and, above all, the breed, makes the dif ference. Were there nut also differences amongst the h ~-;:ter orders of the community ? Winis we End the Scotch sober, itaitastrious, discreet, careful of the tutu**, was it nut as proper to say, that that disposition was the ilium of their reading aod a•oiting. as that their reading and writing was the ertu:.e of that disposition 1 We find the Scotch tun a very migrating people. The real fad is, that their natural disposition and their education naturally opts rate the one upon the other; but it was not always from thence to be inferred, that the civilian*" acid moral, upright, and orderly combat of a nation,wiss owing to their education. Have we act 1111 instance the contrary in France, the Hagman@ of Letters, We have there an eassopie to show Of why a na ties ought sot to be forted wits last man& His Hon. Fslend (Mr. Whitbread) had said, in his speech upon We sublet of the Poor's Laws—. 0 1 See what an unenlightened mob,will do." But he (Mr. Windham) might, on the other hand, say to him—" See what an enlightened mob will do." The French were acknowledged by all nations to be mast enlightened and well informed, and a most ingenious people; but what has been the result of their information ? The events of late years w , .u'd explain what ravages and outrages they had corn matted. He eenki not conceive how it was to fol low, that by giving the poor this degree of instils:- 60n, they w. re to be rendered less miserable or less subje.2 t p sverty 64n they actually were. Upon this print, the Scotch had been again cited as tr amples. It had been acknowledged that the prsc• tine of instruling in reading and writing, had, as is Scotlan•f, become more general in the North of England; and yet th- Poor's Laws had been in creasing. Now, however, it was said, mtietiply instruction, an,l you get rid of the Poor's Laws." In this there was an evident i;:consistency. The Bill would tend to increase the vanity of the peo ple. It it be true that writers produce readers, so would it hold true, that readers would produce writers. In place, therefore, of giving them real useful keowledg►, it will either. make them think of becoming authors, or make them the prey of du! and designing men. If, by this Bill, it could with propriety be said, that they will be pre vented front being poor, it might with as great justice be said, that they might be equally pre vented from being poor, by teaching them to play upon the fiddle, and making them all mu sicians. Music, they say, snftens the heart, and soothes the savage breast, and therefore it twilit to be as useful in ameliorating their situatinns,as read ing and writing. Upon the whole, he really thought that dangerous political cnnsequetices might arik, if the lower class of the people, upon fancying them selves well informed, should t..ke upon them to de cide as to the propriety of peace or war, throwing aside reason, and appealing only to their passions. He thought that the poor had already as much in struaion as was good for them; any more would only ;endue* unhappiness and discontent, and there fore is became the House to consider the question minutely before they proceeded further with such a Sill. Mr. WHITBRKA D answered the observa tions of his Right Hon. F;iead (Mr. Nish harn)e in a most able and argumentative speech. He never could subscribe to the doarine, that public education was incompatible with political welfare ; that because the kill aledge of the individual Ras increased, therefore the happiness was en dangered. The examine of those countries, where public education wis made the objo of public concern, and w ere the diffusii n of knowledge was general through - u: ail classes of society, fully il• lisstrated the w.s.l sm of that policy, which tended to enlighten the bum in mind. and of course to increase the sum of human happinen.—His Right !knowable Fiend (Mr. Windham) had adverted to the high cheek-bones and manly stature of the inhabitants of the northern parts of the bland ; he descanted on the vigour And athletic prowess of the Niothionorians; but in answer, he would con tend that it was not by physical difference. or physi cal superiority, that the exc.illence of man, in his individual state. or his contribution to the general welfare, was ascertain, dor estimated. it was by the moral chsrviaer, by the exercise of his mental endowenents,and by the performance of his social du ties, that he either fu tilled the end of his ezisteace, or enlarged the share of his own comforts and happr nes, When he heard opinions stated in hostility to the extension of education, he could not abstain from desinng those who advocated such opinions, to look to the state of society in this great metropolis. Let them refkft upon that aggregate of distress, misery. vice. and depravity, which unfortunately was too prevalent throughout every pan of it. It a calcu lation was made of the wretched viaims to the in jured and violated laws of the country, the result would prove, that they were of that class, who, in a state of brutal ignorance, were consigned to the guidance of their own depraved habits, without either a sense of religious duty or moral feeling. Search the Calendar of the Old Bailey, or inquire into the state of the Hulks, and of what class will the great propnr.ion of the wretched criminals be found i They will be seen to belong to the unfor tunate and laborious pour of the Irish nation, who, deprived of the means and benefit of education and support in their own country, have been too fee. qu •nt i forced, 4' the agoniting effeas of want and calamity, to violate the laws of the land, and to trerpass on those intellects of society, which it was their duty and ultimate benefit to support. His Right Hon. I'riend (Mr. Windham) had quoted Mr. Malthus, an authority of great and deserving weight, upon the nature and clefts of the Poor's Laws. He had also endeavoured to draw from the writings of that eminent author, a corroboration of the opinion which he (Mr. Windham) had that night delivered. But what said Mr. Malthus is the letter, which, upon the present subjeel, he was so kind as to address to him (Mt. Whitbread).— ‘• Elevate the minds and chars er of the lower ciatses of society," said Mr. Malthus, "and you will improve the individual comforts, and increase the sum of general happiness; and the best and only means of effeaing that elevation will be by diffusing the benefits of education amongst the lower classes of society." Mr. Hume and Adam Smith were of a similar opinion. But a danger hat been appre hended from this shffesion of knowledge amongst the lower clasies of the State. They will, it has been said, be rendered subjeft to the views of agita tars, that those hewers of wood and drawers of water. will read the Sunday Newspapers, and of course be the prepared psi (Mips of demagogues arid interested politicians. l'o sbch an objedion. the best answer WAS, that the artful incendiary found the greatest number of proselytes amongst the un informed; that his best allies were brutal ignorance, and unsounde4 delusion. In fait, where would the incendiary or demagogue saturant look for the support of their cause. or fur the propagation of their principles i Where. bet amongst the ignorant, the prejudiced. the uneducated, and, of course s the deluded t It bad been observed, that the people did not want this (Winslow of knowledge i that. as the bums* body was com mitted to the care and guidance of the physician. so the political system was best is the ban ds of those •, • .. • who could t pecir;de for the wants and distresses of majority. Allowing the force of this ingenious simile. it was not digressing to ask, or to put it to the judgment of the House to conceive, how proportionably augmented would the safety and relief of the patient be. if he was acquainted with the nature of his disorder, if he was compe tent to decide on the manner in which it originated, sad the symptoms attended it; if, in facet, he was able t" give his physician that information, which would form the surest grounds for the regu lation of his opinion, and therefore the most certain re • comerendatioa of the remedy which he should feel it necessary to prescribe ? If small societies were taken as a rule by which the judgment might be formed, the excellence and superiority of the edu cated would be visible. An of jeftion to such a position has been founded on the (mina: eircum• star:ces which affent particular places, and which by en means extend their influence generally. Take the ag4regate of man, assembled from different parrs, not only of private communities, but bronght ints one society, from various portions of the w,xld, and it will be uniformly found. that the most v4rtious were those who received the most general instruaion. With respell to the diffi:ultirs which have been stated to the advancement of a pnblic education, he would contend, that when the key or a lowledge was once given, and the door unlocked, mental ex ertion mud !Inman persevere ice would pursue the path to ultimate and general advantage. The Hon. Member panegyrisei the anie plans rind scholastic systems of Dr. Bell and Mr. Lan caster, noel he was confident. that if they were extended throughout the country, the greatest praftical benefit would be the consequence. Such systems hal the advaatage of combining, in the same period of instruaion, both reading and writing; at the same time that they communicated mechani cal information. they promoted the precepts of mo rality. 'rt. Bills he proposed, 'vent to consign such education to tile Ministers of the G who cer tainly possessed more rim e , and whose more imme diate duty it was to attend to such impr..ant and necessary concerns. The Hon. Mernher concluded his comprehensive and able reply, by declaring his coatis:lion. that it was to the benefits of a public education the country had to look for the surest proteetion against the crimes of individuals, or the disorders cf a multitude. The ignorant and brutal population of Paris had furnished to the world a lamentable example of a sanguinary. infuriated, and ignorant multitude, seduced and managed by de signing agitators, and unprincipled incendiaries. Mr. %VINDHAM and Mr. ROSE explained. The. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not conceive the general abstraft principles upon which the Hon. Member founded his measure, a sufficient inducement to change and destroy those laws which had the 'nation of long experience. lie could not consent to the deditaions which were made from the reasonings of Mr. Mathes, inasmuch as they went to assume that which the state of the country completely contradided ; namely, that the population of this country exceeded the means of its subsistence. The want of soldiers and s•-amen for our armies and navies, fully convinced him of the fallibility of such a statement. The question for gcing into a Cam:ranee was then put anit carried. The first crause of the Bill being read by the Chairman, Mr. CAREY said, h: vri.hed to make someob servations upon the g-neral tendency of this Bill. Mr. WHI [BREAD immediately rosy and said, that if any Gentleman had any amendment to pro- pose to this clause, he should be happy to hear him upon it ; but if it was only general observation. he could not see the necessity of the Hon. Geatleuran's remuks at that time. Mr. CAREY replied, it was his intention to ob ject to the general compass of the Bill. Mr. MELLISH proposed, that the Chairman should report progress, and ask leave to sit again. Mr. CAREY said, that having no particular clause or amendment then to propose, he rather wished the question acij9urned for a future oppor tunity, er'.:en h. should deliverbis sentiments upon it. Mr. SIMEON thought it implssible, from the multiplicity of objects which this Bill embraced, and from the lateuess of the hour, that the Corn mittee could come tasany determination this night; and he was sure it was not Cie wish of the Hon. Gentleman who brought forward the meature, to press it upon the House against the general inclina tion, but that he would give them sufficient oppor. tenity of considering it. Mr. GIDDY rose to answer a gimps put by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; when Mr. 110BHOUSE observed. that the question before the Committee was, that the Chairman do report progress. After a word or two from Mr. GIDDY, Mr. WHITBREAD said, that wishing to give every Hon. Gentleman an opportunity of consider. ing this measure fully, belted not the law ohjedlion to the Chairman's reporting progress ; at the same time he begged leave to observe, that the Bill had been on the fable since the month of February last, for the purpose of giving Gentlemen fall oppor tunity for considering it; he, therefore, wished it to be understood. that Gentlemen would come fully preEtred with their amendment. when the Hon* should again go into Committee. The Chairman then reported progress, and ob• tained leave to sit again on Monday next. Mr. HORNER then moved, 44 That Sereb Ben rose, who had been brought up from Shrewsbury, pursuant to the Speaker's Warrant, to appear before the Shrewsbury Committee, which she at first had refused to obey, and was now in the custody of the Serjrant at Arms, should, under the peculiar circum stances of the ease, be discharged." The SPEAKER said, it was quite unusual to disiharge persons who had been c o mmi tte d by t h e or4er of that House, for contumacy. unless under very peculiar circumstances, which should be stated to the House. Dr. Hanbery was then called in, and stated, that Sarah Barrow was very far advanced in pregnancy, and it might be atteadvd with dangerous conse quences to her bite, to call her to the bar of that House. he was then ordered to be discharged, upon pay- Mini of her fees. The ether Orders of the Day were thee disposed of, and the House adjoaroed. Amid • • •PTel c9P •••,Eriroodidoory Sfookao-4310/ co•IdiI n of No. 111. ce PAondsy. For Fashionable Intelligente, Law; d e is this P gt. THE BRITISH PRESS. LONDON, SATURDAY, Aram Q. An intereiting conversation upon Mr. Warr eat AD'S System for the Benefit of the Poor, took plaze last night in the House of Commons. We this day insert the cuncituinn of: the piny/ed. ings of the Catholic Meeting, in I.MWith on &mt. day I.tst. It will be found in our last pap. We wall take an early oppottunity to make a few 0). servationa urton the good sense and modara:ion Xs. plated upon that occasion. The 'lack/Ira picket, with Mails. from 1.411 mt, i; arrivcd at Falmouth; sLe as also brouitut Mails of the Diana packet, fro New York and Halifax. which put into °pork; ha &arms. The !utters will be delivered this day. We understand that there ereacee. MAGUS dial% ences betutsentbs Members of the Conseil, anti the Governor of Priete of Wales's Wand. An seaming of several reignations is czpeasd by the neat yes set horn that Co:ony. Yesterday, the Duke of Yoga held s publie 4 dlYa at his office, and gave audiences to a traitzber of officers in undress. The 13th reOrnent is ordered foe L.-eland. Wituoso burro, Esq. the lase Member for Norfolk, means, it is said, in cam of a Dissolutidn, to start for the Borough of Southsvme, Mr. Peacsvot cried out that s argaire4 was in danger, but not one foot would be see until he o'-- coined the Duchy of Lancaster tO stimulate his ?loss exertions. Thursday morning the Ist Battalion of tho 6th Regiment, consisting of upwards of 1200 men. marched from the North Barracks, Deal, is Rams. gate, for embarkation. Sir Lawrence PANIC/MS, nowlost of Rolm Oh Repre.entativit in the imperial Tellidasst ferlbe King's County. His brother, Mr. Joust Pumas, it is thought, will succeed him. The Earl of CLAIM/Limy, it is said, will succeed the late Earl of Roes as one of the Repro ettative Peers in the imperial Parliament, for IrAund. We bate received letters, daiirins to, know the name of the present Administration. We declare so!.-rnnly that we do not koow. Whether it is to be called the C•nartar Administration. or the POILT• LAMM Administration, ediviesie is not yet settled. The Overland Dispatch him India. received ors sdiv, we at e infurrift4contains intalligence.asirt TOrafgraerbas lately bests illscoVered. be 0hj.42 of which was to destroy the 9th sod 1 lth regimeoth at Nuns Di olg. We are. however, happy to,bear, that at the date of the lac: ace - Ants, every thing re mained tranquil in that quarter. We have received advises from the Island of Bt. Domingo to the sth of garea. By these it ap pears, that, alter much Islc'ocidsed. the two rival Generals, Pscrion and CHRISTOPIit i hare entered into a treaty to divide the Island equally between them, and to unite in a hood of friendship fur the future. Their partisans and followers have return ed to their several occupations, and made is evad ed to be soon as brisk as eve:. l'he sank consented yesterday to make all use remaining payments on the Loan, escept the last s which, however, is not to take place till the I tth of January next. a later period than any hitherto granted for the redemption, and when besides the Dividends will have ben payable. Our trade with the Continent is at present eery brisk, particularly in sugars. Four Indiamen, via. the Treaty. the Irstfird, the Hope, and another, will sail in about a month, and take with them 2,000 troops for India. The 3L.►y. SE',gouty, from BAtast fur Charles• ton. is put into Bermuda, with damage, a*J is condemned there. The Priweis bfelsabeti ?ticket, front Faleout4 arrived at Lisbon, on the 10th The Training Ad is about to be enforced io be metropolis; we understand that St. Jame's parish is required to raise 1,700 mer., exclusive of the persons exempt by serving in its V,lunt,:er Corps. 11 a Bulanvi, a new 74, was launched ran Thurs day, at Portsmouth. Tie number of people pre sent was r7eater thsa on any former similar nr• casion ; V4count Asm Jam) K, and the Nobility and Gentry from every part of Hampshire, and of Sus sex, attended this grand spenaale. A motion was made on Saturday last. in the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, far a Condinim. Order to thew cause why a new trial shour4i n:a b had in the case of Lord CLoscvlay against Si- !. Picas. Counsel on behalf of the Defendant wen: heed in support of the motion, which, however, :he Court refnsed, without hearirg Cous.el on the oihi.r side. ... The contest about dm Chief Justiceship of :Its Common Pins. is s•ery warm. Lord Raossoa thinks himself entitled to bct the prescnt i.o • sessor is n .t disposed to lieid rbe piece. Lord No AsN cal, the New Chancellv of Ireland, proceeds lr•r that part of the United Monday next. On l'ue‘day were apprehended by Messrs. Darr- SETT, ED WA itos, and an Officer Irons the "'ohne- Office, Hatton-Garden, Frilham LaaJath, alias Ilea nett, alias Pistol Bennett, J.satrs rysors, and fradAla East, three well-known charaders to Wrinisw and its environs, as dealers in horses, cows, pigs, pou lie y. kc. &c. and a private of the horse-guards, (binds), OR susrsieian of horse-stealing, They were 6.1,04 in Windsnr gaol all night, and en Wednesday morning conveyed to London, to the Patlic-Offirm, Hatton-Garden, for examinericm, where swot Weir accomplices bit turned evidasee. _ _ • , 46 . • : Ir • • • •