The Press.
London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 1, 1856.

formidable, seeing what kind of a man a Yorkshire
mau is.

In my next letter I will make my Whig re-
spondent speak out and tell his real objection to an
increase of the county members, a reason which, in
the meantime, you may have an idea of by referring
to a parliamentary guide book.—l am, &c.,

J. A. G.

M. SOULAGE'S famous collection of Italian art, con-
taining specimens of the works of the great artists of
the sixteenth century, has arrived safely in this
country. The purchase has been made by a number
of noblemen and gentlemen, on the understand-
ing that the collection be offered to the Government
at its cost, that if declined it should be sold by
public auction, and any surplus applied to promote
art. It, will be forthwith exhibited to the public for
criticism, and when public opinion has been ob-
tained, the offer of sale will be made to the Govern-
ment, which we believe will be accompanied with the
condition that the collection shall be exhibited next
fear at Manchester.

THE WORCESTER DIOCESAN TRAINING SCHOOL
annual meeting was held at the College, Saltley,
near Birmingham, on Thursday week. Lord Lyt-
telton presided, and among others present were Lord
Calthorpe, the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington, M.P.,
Mr. Adderley, M.P. At the conclusion of the formal
business of the annual meeting the usual distribution
of prizes took place, when Sir J. Pakington in a brief
speech addressed the meeting. After expressing, on
the part of the public, thanks to Lord Lyttelton for
his zeal and ability as founder and president of the
college, he hoped that, after all the difficulties it l►ed
passed through, they might believe the time was
coming when they might consider it one of the suc-
cessful institutions of the county :

It was most desirable that it should be so successful,
for certainly nothing could be more important, nothing
was more pressingly wanted for the promotion of educa-
tion, than a supply of well-educated schoolmasters. The
more successful were the efforts which were now being
made in the country for the advancement of education,
the more important and essential did it become that there
should be a supply of persons qualified and willing to
undertake the superintendence of schools in all parts of
the kingdom. He could not refrain from cautioning his
brother committee-men concerning what, in his mind, was
an important consideration in connection with those insti-
tutions. They should remember that the object they
really had iu view was to train up a body of persons who
were able, competent, and willing to take the charge of
schools of all descriptions. They would want masters for
schools in rural and often remote districts, as well as for
schools in such large towns as Birmingham It was,
therefore, desirable that young men trained in those insti-
tutions should not, to use a common expression, be over-
strained, hut that their instruction and education should
be so conducted as to qualify their pupils to take charge
of schools in all the various parts of the country in which
their services might be required. He mentioned the sub-
ject merely as a caution, believing that the tendency of
those institutions was to lead young men to higher training
than was required for their duties in schools.

THE WORCESTER COLLEGE DEBATING SOCIETY held
their last meeting on Thursday the 23rd ult., when
the following motion was proposed by Mr. W. E. A.
Young, and carried by a large majority (more than
two to one) :—" That the great talents and political
rectitude of Mr. Disraeli eminently entitle him to the
confidence and support of the country."

THE SALE OF POISONS has been taken up by the
Pharmaceutical Society, who have declared that they
only require support and extended powers to bring
this important question within narrow limits. An
address, putting forward these viewa, has been pub-
lished this week. The society remarks:—

The indiscriminate and uncontrolled sale of poisons has
engaged the serious attention of the council, and some im•
portant statistical information in reference to the sale of
arsenic was obtained by the intervention of the Pharma-
ceutical Society at the time the Sate of Arsenic Act was
introduced. The assistance of the society, and the expe•
rience of its members, wauld be available on any future
oocasion in reference to the sale of other poisons, on
which numerous suggestions for legislative interference
have been made by persons practically unacquainted with
the subject, and the difficulties attending the proposed re•
stne Luis.

The Pharmaceutical Society has always taken an active
part in exposing and endeavouring to prevent the adultera•
tion of drugs. The subject is constantly under discussion
at the meetings of the society; and in several instances
the publicity thus given to cases of fraud, and impurities
prevalent in drugs and pharmaceutical preparations, has
led to considerable improvement both in the case of
foreign products and those of home manufacture. The
council believe that the exertions of the society in elevating
the scientific character of pharmaceutical chemists will
have more effect in checking adulteration, imperfections
in medicines, and accidents from poison, than any penal
enactment that could be passed ; and that, however desir-
able it may be to provide facilities for the summary punish-
ment of persons guilty of fraud, it is equally important,
and should be the first object of solicitude, to regulate the
qualifications of those who dispense medicines, and who
ought to be sufficiently educated to be able to test the
quality of their drugs and preparations.