The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

CUbZfCIaI.

TIIR EARL OF EGLINTON delivered an effective
address at the Glasgow Athenaeum last week. The
noble earl, who was received with great cheering,
spoke with considerable earnestness upon the ques-
tion of education and upon the effects of such institu-
tions as Athenaeums:—

It is of no use for alarmists—who would, if they could,
attempt to stop all education whatever—it is of no use for
them to say don't over-educate the people. I say you
cannot overeducate the people ; the danger lies in an
imperfect education or the want of it altogether. You
may cram the head of a dull boy of the upper classes with
Latin and Greek, who is useless for any purpose, but you
cannot overeducate the man who is to toil for his bread ;
and if the people are educated, the evil councillor or the
fiery demagogue at once loses the power which ignorance
alone can give him. Are our artisans, because they are
better educated now than in former days, less able to carry
on their craft? Is the farmer less able to cultivate the
soil? Is the labourer less able to toil? Have our soldiers
fought with less bravery and devotion than those who pre'
ceded them ? The history of the world does not record
instances of greater bravery or endurance than the battles
of the Alma, Inkermann, and Balaklava; and where cap
we find more touching proofs of stern fortitude and Chruk-
tian resignation than those contained in letters written
from the seat of war by men of all grades ?
Upon the education of youth he considered mainly
rested the destiny of this country :
There never was a time in our history when so much
depended on the character and education of the youth of
this country. I think it was Mr. Disraeli who, on an
occasion like the present, said that the youth of nations
are the trustees of posterity. They are specially so at this
time ; and if improvements in liberty of sentiment have
distinguished the first ball of the present century, and the

DECEMBER 15, 1855.

same progress be made through the last, mankind will be
elevated to a pitch of civilisation which it is scarcely possi-
ble to have been anticipated. It rests with the youth of
this country to determine whether those mighty changes
shall be fur good or for evil—whether they shall tend to the
benefit or deterioration of the country. It depends mainly
on the education which the youth of this country receive
whether this country shall rise or fall in its position among
the nations of the earth. lint wherever these institutions
are established an educated man can be in no want of
innocent es well as wholesome amusement. There is no
history, however ancient, that books will not teach him;
there is no country, however remote, that books will not
bring before him ; no discovery that books will not convey
to him ; no art or science that books will not disclose
clearly to him.

Resolutions were passed affirming that the institute
would be eminently serviceable to the young men of
Glasgow, and calling on them to support it.
THE BIRMINGHAU CATTLE-SHOW, epened On Tues-
day, has proved a decided success this year, the
quality and quantity of the cattle bring in every re-
spect highly satisfactory. The cattle showed more
symmetry and good feeding than size and over-feed-
ing. The two gold medals were awarded to a Here-
ford ox and a Hereford heifer, while the short-horns
showed well, especially the Devons, among which
many first-rate animals were to be found. Among
sheep and pigs the show was good, while of poultry
there was an immense display in some 1,800 pens,
which showed every variety of breed. A novel
feature in this year's show comprised an exhibition
of roots, which proved highly attractive to the agri-
culturists.

MEETINGS OF PUBLICANS have occurred at Bristol
and other places during the last and the present week
for the purpose of memorialising Lord Panmure upon
the existing working of the billeting system. Various
resolutions in accordance with the objects of the
meetings have been proposed, and memorials to Lord
Panmure unanimously adopted.

Ar HARTLEPOOL a singular phenomenon occurred
on Saturday last. In the course of the afternoon a
dense cloud passed over the town, when suddenly the
inhabitants were startled by the appearance of a
flash of lightning, resembling a ball of fire, which
shot over the town at a very low level, appearing
almost to touch the tops of the houses. About fifteen
seconds afterwards, a terrible peel of thunder burst
over the town. No damage was done except in the
docks, where the lightning for a moment played
round the masthead of a Norwegian barque, and,
after breaking off a few feet of the maintopgallant
masthead, disappeared without doing further harm.
A similar phenomenon has occurred during,the week
in Paris.

THE CHRISTMAS VACATION AT ETON COLLEGE
commenced on Monday, when the sixth form and
first division left; the remainder of the school took
their departure on the ensuing day. The school re-
opens on the 16th proximo, when tie lower boys and
collegers return. The fifth form return on the 17th,
and the sixth form on the 1130, when the whole
school will have assembled.