The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-17 00:00:00

of the Law, and concluded by enforcing the advan-
tages which the labours of such an association may
render to the Legislature :
Nothing of party, nothing of what is termed political,
except in the good sense of the phrase, can enter into
the structure of the functions of our body. While men
of all opinions and shades of opinion ere united in the
good work, there never can arise any feeling unfriendly
to the established order of things in this free and happy
,country—while no disrespect will ever be shown towards
the very different institutions of other nations—while
the sound view is taken that these institutions may
probably be suited to their diversity of circumstances—
while the want of all constitutional government in some
countries, and the excess of popular interference in
others, may neither proVoke our pity nor our envy,
persuaded as we well may be that our own system
protects us at once from arbitrary power and from the
rule of the irresponsible multitude, which only terminates
the countless evils of its own peculiar despotism when
it brings on the more ordinary domination of a single
tyrant. The inestimable blessing of this security we owe
to our well-balanced Constitution ; and the change, as it
is called by some, the renovation by others, effected of
late years bas certainly been attended with one conse-
quence not to be overlooked in our present deliberation.
It cannot be denied that the representation of so many
places by members whom local influence returns has,
with many most important advantages, one material
drawback. Local interests are well represented, as they
ought to he; for any system would be most imperfect
which made the wants and the wishes of each place
merge in those of the whole community. But it is
undeniable that, with some distinguished exceptions, the
general result is the confining men's cares to their
immediate constituencies in discharging their parliamentary
duties. In the theory of the Constitution, beyond all
doubt, it is in contemplation of law that they represen t
the whole country and are to consult its interests; but
practically, and in fact, they are too apt to regard
themselves as representing the place that returns them,
and this unavoidably leachi to confining their views within
narrow bounds. They do not devote much of their
attention to subjects of a more general character—they
do not of themselves study measures of that catholic
description, or volunteer their exertions to carry such a
policy into effect. But the same persons—and they form
a very considerable portion of our whole representatives,
as things are now ordered—would be far from showing
any indisposition towards men whose labours might cast
light upon such important subjects, and point out both
the wants of society in these respects and the means of
supplying them. This help would assivedly be well re-
ceived by all well-intentioned representatives of the people,
as it would be honestly and frankly, but respectfully,
offered ; and the exertions of the association which we aro
now engaged in forming will be invaluable in this view.

Lord Brougham concluded with an eloquent perora-
tion in favour of the diffusion of knowledge and the
extension of progress
Knowledge thus diffused, but especially knowledge of
social interests and rights and duties, even more than the
firm and temperate distribution of justice itself, possesses
the great, the cardinal virtue of insuring the stability of
the social system. It is, to use the language of the day, in
the very greatest degree Conservative, and in the highest
sense of the phrase. But this diffusion has another and
most happy tendency—it leads to the improvement of the
system, because it inspires all classes with the desire of
promoting measures shown to be safe as well as effectual,
in a word, wholesome reforms. Nor can anything be more
groundless than the fears of progress entertained by some—
affected by more. It is, in truth, ignorance continued, not
knowledge advanced, which they have to fear—nay, which,
when we come to an explanation with them, they really do
fear. Knowledge is power ; but its natural ally is the
friendly power of virtue, with which its dominion is
willingly shared. This is above all true of the knowledge
which we shall seek to improve and to impart. The
supreme Disposer and Preserver, who " decketh himself
with light as it were a garment, but defentleth all the earth
as it were with a shield," has provided that the false steps
into which we are led by the twilight will be prevented or
retraced when the day dawns. If any one is still alarmed
at the force which the people seem to gain when their
faculties are expanded by cultivation, let him recollect that
this happy process canna be continued and further know-
ledge acquired, without a new security being given by
that very increase of knowledge against the delusions and
the excesses from which the peace of the community has
most to fear. We are reminded by the subject, as well as
by the place where we are assembled, of the exquisite
invention, the happiest perhaps in the history of science,
which makes the power of steam provide by its expansion
for its own control, the one very nicely proportioned to the
other. Knowledge is thus both power and safety—it
exercises this self-control; it gives to the mighty social
engine both the movement and the governor—
Unmeasured strength with perfect art combined,
Awes, serves, amazes, and protects mankind.
But it is not safety alone that we expect we fondly hope
for more; we confidently look higher. Undaunted by the
resistance of adversaries, undismayed by the obstructions
which the bias of prejudice, or the conflicts of faction, or
the strife of controversy raise to impede social progress or
to retard, its friends lift up their view to the loftier
heights where religious and moral truth sheds an eternal
light. Piercing the darkness of ignorance that shrouds one
region, the mists of doubt that obscure, the storms of
passion that vex, the instinct of selfishness that chills
another, the eye loves to repose on that bright summit
where the same beams dispel all doubt from our opinions
towards God, and warm our benevolent feelings towards
men