The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-13 00:00:00

led to the reflection that it is scarcely fair,—certainlYl
not generous,—to have left the giants b find in the
labour itself its own exceeding great reward.
will be struck by the fact that the Parisians, who
have gone on overturning governments one after the
other as a child overturns curd-houses, have been re-
warded by their successive rulers with public gifts of
parks, gardens, picture galleries, and libraries, to
which -Europe can show no parallel ; whilst
the English,who have, during the revolutionary fever
which convulsed the Continent, remained faithful to
their rulers, and continued to toil for those who are
put in authority over theme, must—if they wont any
enjoyment that lifts them out of the ordinary routine
of labour—pay for it.
To take one example. A short time ago there
was scarcely such an institution as a free library in
the whole length and breadth of the island. A
working man, if he had any desire to give his mind
a little amusement after his heavy labour, could find
no help from his government lie might take his
pence to the retailer of cheap literature, there was
no free library open to his use, furnished with works I
selected by men whose education warranted them in
niwuming the tusk of directing the reading of the un-
instructed. The government of the country had done
nothing for him, and his superiors in rank, educa-
tion, and wealth had done little more. Our working
Englishman, therefore, was left to himself to form
his taste and educate his judgment, with no one to
rely upon but himself.
At last, however, his claim to notice began to be
admitted. It was acknowledged, almmt reluctantly at
first, that it was something like a sin to leave men grop-
ing in the dark for the most valuable of all treasures,
when, by a little expenditure of time, and still less of
money, the means of self-education might be placed
within the reach of all. Free libraries were recom-
mended, and Manchester, taking the lead, established
a free library. This was a noble example. Is
it to bo followed? Is the great manufacturing
city to remain without a rival in the noble
work of contributing to the advancement of the in-
telligence of working men? Safely not. If there
was need of one free library in Manchester, there is
need of many in London. Hut while our need is
greater, we may be thankful that our facilities for
supplying the need are also greater. The immense
influx of literary men, scientific men, and artists in
London, renders the formation of committees to
direct the working of such institutions infinitely
easier; while at the same time there is every proba-
bility that the funds necessary to set the libraries
going would be found far more readily in the metro-
polis of the empire, the residence of the majority of
the wealthy men in the country, than in any provin-
cial city however large.
We are happy to see that steps are being taken iu
the right direction. Mr. OLIVIEBA, in a letter
which appeared in our columns yesterday, Informs us
that a committee has been formed in order to pro-
mote the establishment of a free library in the
populous district of Marylebone. Subscriptions have
already been sent, and it appears that there is every
probability of the intention being carried out.
" Next," says the writer, " to greatly increased
comfort in the dwolling-houses of the industrial
classes—which, in my judgment, is'a point worthy the
consideration of the wealthy and the intelligent in
all our large towns—next to this is, in my opinion,
the establishment of places of resort for the poorer
members of the community after their labour—
where they may at once recruit the mind by useful
and interesting lupines, and give repose to the
frame; thus also bnnging them into social harmony,
and inviting them from more debasing pursuits."
If there is one thing more than another calculated
to preserve to England the blessings of internal
peace, which have so largely helped to develop
her prosperity, it is the education of the people.
" More light," should be the cry of every
prudent politician as well as every good man.
The more Englishmen are able to see and
understand the working of those institutions, which,
with all their imperfections, are a means of preserv-
ing us from the spasmodic convulsions of the Conti-
nent in its aspirations after liberty, the more will
the stability and the ultimate tendency to perfection
of those institutions be secured. Keep men in the
dark, and there is no knowing what they may not
upset, when they are in motion. Give them tight,
and if they err, it will at least not be through igno-
rance. The more thoroughly the minds of men are
cultivated, the less likely will they be to dis-
turb the working of the constitution. Education
is the great conservative agent. Nevertheless
our government has done nothing towards furthering
national education, and free libraries are but just
introduced, and are the result of private operations.
The ruling powers will of course neglect to recog-
nise the value of this incipient movement. Let
them neglect it if they will. The people have done
other things for themselves, and will do this also.
All who have the improvement of the masses at heart
will join in the establishment of free libraries.