The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

we not bound then to do what we can to relieve his mind
from anxiety, and to preserve his children from destitution
when it shall have pleased the Almighty to remove him
from the scene of his labours ? (Cheers.) You have given
an answer in the affirmative by your presence here to-clay,
and, although this institution can do materially but little,
morally it gives a public recognition of the claims which
the sons of the clergy have upon the sympathy and liberality
of the community at large, and, as such, is of the greatest
value. ( Cheers.) May it continue for further hundreds of
years as a bond of union between clergy and laity, and on
each recurring centenary may it find the nation ever ad-
vancing in prosperity, civilisation, and piety ! (Loud
cheers.)".

The Prince Consort concluded by proposing the
health of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who duly
responded. The financial report read by the trea-
surer stated that his Royal Highness had contributed
100 guineas, that the 113 stewards of the festival had
handed in lists amounting 3,5001., that the collection
at the cathedral doors was WU, that the subscrip-
tions at the dinner gave a sum of 3,1451., that an es-
timated sum of 3,8001. might be added as the pro-
ceeds of sermons preached in aid of the funds, that
the Dowager Lady Willoughby de Broke had given a
donation of 5001., and that the receipts for the year
would amount to 12,0501. This gratifying statement
was received with loud cheers by the company.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The anniversary of this society was held on Mon-
day, at the school-room in the Borough-road. Lord
J. Russell, who presided, had previously witnessed
the usual preliminary examination of the scholars,
with whose progress, especially in religious knowledge,
he expressed himself well satisfied.
At the meeting his lordship alluded to the difficul-
ties which the society had encountered at its origin,
and those of another character but not less difficult
to surmount which still beset them :

" After the society has existed for forty-five years we
find its position a good deal changed. Its difficulties are,
perhaps, not diminished, but they are of a ditferent nature
from those which formerly operated against it. During
the first few years there was a strong opposition made to it
from the persuasion that it was quite unnecessary to diffuse
education generally, an'l that the poorer classes especially
would be rather injured than benefited by the reception
of that education. Now, when we have to discuss these
questions we are met—as we are with regard to any matter
of this kind upon which the Government asks for support
—by two bodies, called respectively voluntaries and secu-
larists, both of which are opposed to the plans of the
Government upon this subject. With regard to the first
of these I need say nothing, because we are here a volun-
tary society. (Applause.) "

Of the second class of objectors Lord J. Russell re-
marked that their nostrum for obviating the differ-
ence of sects consisted of a proposal to give only
secular instruction in the schools, leaving religious
education to the parents or the clergymen. He con-
tinued :

"I own that to me, looking at this as a practical ques-
tion, innumerable difficulties rise up against the adoption
of such a proposition. (Hear, hear.) I could not but be
struck with the answer of one of the boys at the examina-
tion to-day, when he was asked for what purpose the Holy
Scriptures were given to mankind, and he answered, To
be the guide of our conduct in life.' (Hear, hear.) Well,
now, what an imperfect, what a lame system must that be
which proposes, either by State assistance or voluntary
effort, to educate the great body of the people of this
country and yet leaves out the knowledge of that which is
to guide our conduct in life! (Applause.) Can any omis-
sion be more unwise, or more fatal to the object we have
in view? The children who receive only secular instruc-
tion will conclude most naturally that they have the sum
and substance of that which is most necessary for them.
That they might attend religious instruction elsewhere is
no doubt possible ; but, when you consider the time that
is taken up at school, and the occupations of the various
ministers of religion, you will see that it is hardly possible
in practice that in one place children should receive an
adequate secular instruction, and that in another place
they should find a minister of religion capable of giving
them the whole of the instruction which is required for
their religious education. (Applause.) If that is the
case, and if it is so important that their conduct in life
should be regulated, will you give them moral instruction
apart from the Bible—apart from any religious sanction ?
That, again, appears to me to be an equally unwise and an
equally fatal course, because, if these precepts of morality,
these rules for the guidance of their conduct, have a divine
sanction, it ought to be revealed to them, and the council
of God should notbe withheld. (Cheers.) I should be sorry
that, whether it be by the State or by voluntary societies,
such a mistake should be made by those who are educated
as to think that their education was complete unless they
had received religious instruction ; or that religious in-
struction was something separate and professional. (Hear
hear.) I have always contended that this matter of religion
is secular as well as religious, that it belongs to us all, that
it pervades the whole business 'Aide, and is, in fact, one
of those things which ought to be reckoned among the
common things of which every household ought to par-
take. (Applauu'. )"
Adverting to thestatistics of education, the noble lord
cited the tables compiled in the office of the Regis•
trar-General

I find it estimated that although there were two millions
of young per-ons, between three and fifteen years old, who
are found in the schools, yet the number capable of re-
ceiving education reaches nearly four millions. Making

SATURDAY,

every kind of deduction as to those who cannot be expected
to receive education, deducting a million for those children
who have occupations that prevent their coming to school,
and reckoning thieving among those occupations, there are
still at least a million children between the ages ofthree and
fifteen who are without instruction. Now, I ask you to cocsi•
bider—after this society has continued fortyfive years, and
the National Society above forty years, and after the etfons
that have been made upon this subject—whether we have
arrived at a satisfiictory conclusion ?"

The income of the society last year was stated in
the report to amount to something over 15,0001.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

HER MAJESTY has, it is understood, intimated that
Saturday, the 10th of June, will be the day most
suited to the royal convenience for the opening cere-
monial at the Crystal Palace. It appears that the
27th of May, the date originally contemplated, would ,
by coming into the same week with her Majesty's
birthday, have interfered with her Majesty's invaa
riable custom of spending her birthday week "at
home," with the exception of the great annual
reception-day.
The 10th of June will then stand as the first
" shilling " day, leaving to the working classes the
enjoyments of Whitsun week and of the Derby day
undisturbed by other attractions, while the season-
ticket holders will have the interval at their disposal
for a leisurely inspection of the gigantic edifice and
its contents.

The floral decorations of the interior have received
an important and gratifying accession. The Queen,
whose deep interest in the progress of the palace
has been evinced by repeated visits during the pro-
gress of the works, sent a few days since her head
gardener, Mr. Ingram, to ascertain whether there
was any deficiency in the supply of exotics, which
might be supplied from the royal collections. A
minute inspection having satisfied that gentleman as
to what additions might be desirable, the result of
his visit was an abundant supply of rare and valuable
plants, which have already arrived at Sydenham, and
are now in course of agangement. Twenty-four
magnificent palm-trees, brought by the Himalaya
from the East, and landed at Southampton, have
also been delivered at the Crystal Palace, where they
were received with a hearty welcome by the manages
of the botanical department. These specimens were
supposed to have been lost, for they were put on
shore at Malta with the rest of the Himalaya's cargo
whilst the vessel was pressed into the service of the
State to convey our red• coated botanists who go in quest
of laurels on the banks of the Danube to Constanti•
nople. On her return, however, she picked them up
again, and on their arrival at their future home the
trees were still in fine health and vigour.

THE COMMITTEE ON CORRUPT PRACTICES OF IRISH
MEMBERS reassembled on Tuesday, Mr. Henley in
the chair, but have announced their resolution hence-
forward to sit with closed doors.

THE TYNE SEAMEN who go to the south of Eng-
land are now making 121. a month. They are better
off, as far as wages are concerned, than mates or
skippers. With such wages no one can wonder at
the difficulty of getting seamen to man hex Majesty's
fleet.

THE JUDGESHIP vacant by the lamented death of
Lord Cockburn has, it is stated, been offered to Mr.
Neaves, formerly Sheriff of Orkney, and Solicitor
General for Scotland during Lord Derby's adminis-
tration.

THE amount expended on official residences in the
neighbourhood of Downing street between 1831 and
1853 was 24,9711. 11s. On the First Lord of the
Treasury's official residence, 4,1031. 3s. Od. On the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's official residence,
7,230/.75. 10d. On the Colonial-office, 4,6491. Os. Id. ;
and on the Foreign-office, 8,9821. 10s. 4d.
STAITE'S ELECTRIC LIGHT is now being adapted
for the tower at the north end of the Huskisson and
Sandon docks, with the object of lighting the basin
and approaches to both these docks, for which pur-
pose it was tried on Sunday and Tuesday evenings.
THE FLOWER EXHIBITIONS which the Summer
season brings forth are usually heralded by Mr.
Groom's show of tulips at Clapham. The show this
year is a very tine one, several novel specimens being
on view, fully maintaining Mr. Groom's celebrity as
the producer of new tints and new characteristics.
The flowers are now in their highest perfection.
THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PROTESTANT Asso-
CIATION was held on Wednesday in Exeter-ball, under
the presidency of Viscount Bernard, M.P.
THE MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMIES IN THE EAST are
indicated by an ingenious arrangement at the United
Service Institution. A large map of the seat of war
has been mounted on a board, and, by means of
moveable cards, the positions of the various forces—
Turkish, Russian, French, and English—are day by
day marked, acccording to the latest intelligence re-
ceived. The movements of the fleets are in a similar
manner exhibited on the Admiralty charts of the
Baltic and Black Sea.

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