The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-03 00:00:00

LORD JOHN RUSSELL AT SHEFFIELD.

Lotto Joax RniELL visitel Shahid last week for
the purpose of presidia; at the annuli ragged-schools
meeting. The noble ions, accompanied by Duly
Russell and three children, arrival in Shelllald on
Thursday evening (week). Oa the fallowing morn-
ing the noble lord proceeded to the council-hall to
receive an address from the corporation, to which
Lard John Russell replied briefly, promising to con-
tinue to be " the advocate of civil and religious
freedom, of social progress, extended education, and
constitutional reform." The noble lord referred to
the Indian rebellion as follows :--

A revolt of the most treacherous character, accompanied
by murders of the most savage atrocity, has filled us with
horror and indignation. Yet amid these terrible scenes it
is permitted to us to hope that if, in restoringour dominion,
energy is combined with a deliberate plan of action—if the
sword of Justice is not separated from her balance—if
in prcviding for the future government of India we can
reconcile our duties as Christians with the most entire
religious liberty, and a benevolent rule with the firm asset..
tion of power, we may preserve to Great Britain and to
civilisation a fairer and more secure empire than we have
ever hitherto possessed.

The meeting of the ragged schools then took place,
and after the reading of the report and the moving
of certain formal resolutions, Lord John Russell rose
end addressed the meeting. The noble lord, refer-
ring to the vast number of vagabond children in this
country, asked how such a reproach to a Christian
country could be remedied by any system of poor
laws or national education:—

Hitherto there have been found innumerable practical
objections to the adoption of any sufficient or satisfactory
course. Of course I do not advert to any particular restric-
tions or limits, hut all men are agree 1 that there must be
a limit to the assistance given by the State in that respect.
If, again, we look at the question of a national system of
education, we find that the utmost differences prevail, and,
among other differences, that which is perhaps the fore-
most, the religious difficulty of inducing persons of various
denominations of Christians to agree, in the first place,
whether religious instruction should be given at all, and in
the next place to what extent that instruction should be
given. For my own part, I cannot say that [ feel the doubts
which many persons have felt upon this subject. In my
own mind I certainly have come to the conclusion that the
religious part of man, as I may say—that that. faculty which
induces us to seek religious consolation, and which• I be-
lieve is part of our nature, perhaps the very best part of it,
cannot be neglected in any system of education. And
likewise, although we have not hitherto come to any agree-
ment upon the subject— although our differences are still
so wide that there are no means of adopting a measure
which will be generally satisfactory, my belief is that if
such rev. gentlemen as the one who has just spoken, and
those who have charge of the education of very young chil-
dren, would attend more to religion and less to theology—
if they would teach that which is really the religions senti-
ment, and leave the differences of creeds to be afterwards
explained by the ministers of the different denominations
when the children are of riper age to underatand those
differences—l believe if the attempt was made really to
found education upon the cultivation of the religious
sentiment, upon a belief in the Being who is the giver of
all good, and in the immensity of the great sacrifice that
has been made for mankind, the great religious difficulty
would be found in no very long time to disappear. But we
have not yet arrived at that state of opinion, or that state
of education. It is therefore absolutely necessary, as it
appears to me, whether you will look upon it that this
state of difference is for ever to subsist, or whether volt
suppose that in time we shall get over these ditliculdea,
that for the present at least the voluntary efforts of those
who love mankind, and who have a feeling of regard for
their neighbours and for the safety of society, should com-
bine in endeavouring to provide by what are called ragged
schools, and by schools of a similar description, a supply
for the wants to which I have adverted.

In conclusion, Lord John Russell advocated the
principle of " payment," as tending to secure that
sense of independence so dearly prized by Eng-
lishmen.

A complimentary resolution to the noble lord was
then passed. Lnrd J. Russell replied, and, alluding
to the prospects of a Reform Pill in 1858, said :

Gentlemen, in allotting the franchise in the Reform Act,
we who framed that act were solicitous, while we made a
large extension of the franchise, while we destroyed nomi-
nation—at the same time to carry those changes into effect
peaceably and quietly, because, whatever other classes may
suffer in the course of violent changes, I am persuaded
that those who belong to the working class of this country
are the most likely to suffer in any change which sets at
war with each other the different classes of the community.
That I am sure the working men feel, and therefore it was
that in the Reform Bill, though at the time it was thought
unduly hold, and though many characterised it as rash,
Lord Grey and those who acted with him knew that they
framed their measure in a spirit of caution, and that it was
better to frame it in a spirit of caution than to run any
risks to the peace of this great community. Gentlemen, I
believe the time has come—and the Government of the day
has allowed that the time has come—when the franchise
may be further extended, and I think, nearly in the words
of the Prime Minister, that large classes who have not
hitherto possessed the franchise should in future enjoy and
exercise that privilege. You will not doubt, I hope, that I
shall be very glad to see a measure introduced by Govern-
ment by which the franchise will be thus extended. And