The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-10 00:00:00

T 4 he erortisfs

OUTGOING MAILS.
Mails tar Bridal North Amalie* and the United Maim, will be
made up this evening, the 10th of August
The Wert India Malls, eloludlng Bernimbi, Canna, Noma,
Bonaeres, New Grime, and Mesleo, and Winding the.. for
Modelle, K. inre-&-Viteraltna, New Granada, end Pent wit,
tos mode up on the 17th of August.
Tbe malls for Vigo, Oporto, Lisboa, Madeira, Wirt and Gibraltar,
will be made up on the 177th of August.
Ms mails for (armor, Malt., &newt the lonian Islands, Egypt.
(bike, India, and Mint eis soothe:tiptoe, wilt be made up on
the monitng of the 2Oth of August.
The milk vie Mozooilles, to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Ceylon,
Rang-liarg, let, will be made up on the Itth of August
The malls to Madeira, the Brad* and Buenos Ayres, will be made
up cn the 4th of September.

ZION IF ATVS AT LOWDOSII =IDOL
Tem Mr —llaguladb 60 stc par I; Aftermon. IS sta. peas 6.
Tiviteasnm—llerniar. Si Ms. —4; Altainees. ID W. pri 6.

LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 10.

NOBODY expects that the QUEEN'S visit to Ireland
will work a miracle. The impressions of a day, however
vivid and salutary, cannot change &character formed by
the events of centuries. Centuries of misgovernment
originating in self-willed despotism, or scarcely less
noxious self-willed ignorance—centuries of high-
spirited but unenlightened resistance, often /deiced by
vindictive and selfish passion—have made Ireland
what it is. To restrain party fends and sectarian
animosities within narrower bounds, to remove the
poverty arising from imperfect developmene of the
national resource', and from the manifold impedimt nts
t, the natural and healthy distribution of national
wealth, will require long years of the persevering
labour of clear and well-stored intellects, animated by
sordial benevolence. Any sudden and powerful, but
transient, burst of emotion can at the very utmost
only afford a favourable opportunity for beginning the
good work.
Yet the QUERN'S virit, if wisely and warily turned
to account, will materially facilitate the task of Irish
amelioration. The mere vision of royalty disembark-
ing for brief intervals at Cork and Belfast—skirting
the intervening western coast of Ireland—and spend;
nag a few der at Dublin—has vividly impressed oar
sountrymen of the green isle with a novel idea, mug-
Festive of unaccustomed trains of thought. Whatever
theorists may say, the actual presence of royalty does
mecite sentiments ref a lively character, during the ex-
istence of which the public and the individual mind
are more than usually susceptible of new impressions.
The QUEEN—her appearance—the incidents of her
progress, will be the favourite theme of discourse for
many days. And the images of domestic affection
and domestic happiness, conjured up by the sight
of the QUEEN as a happy wife and mother, combined
with the unostentatious deportment of the royal party,
and their marked interest in the useful institutions of
Ireland, are eminently suggestive of wholesome and
instructive trains of thought.
The temper of the Irish mind too is at this moment
favourably pre-disposed for the reception of such
good impressions. Four years of intense and conse-
cutive suffering have done their work, and somewhat
sobered and abated the disposition of Irish fancy and
sentiment to run riot. Amid all the cordial warmth
and enthusiasm of the QUEEN'S reception, a pervad-
ing tone of unprecedented sobriety in the popular de-
monstrating has forced itself on the notice of all. Our
Irish countrymen have been made a sadder and a
wiser people; they have not on this, as on former
occasions allowed themselves to fall into the erro-
neous belief that the glad excitement of the moment
is a guarantee of future prosperity. In this mood
the domestic utilitarian character and the appearance
and pursuits of the QUEEN and her amiable consort
are likely to lay strong hold on the national imagina-
tion. The Irish are at present left without a popular
leader of general and commanding authority—the
national heart and the national imagination are conscious
of an aching void—the people want some image to
which their love can converge, some image upon
which all imaginations delight to dwell, some central
point of interest in their common attachment to which
they can regain the tense of their unity as a people.
The events of the last week have disposed them to
instal their monarch, and her unobtrusive female
virtues, in this vacant place; and a happy thing it
will be for Ireland if this is the result of the royal
visit.
Impressed with this conviction of the healthy,
humanising, and elevating influence exercised
by the QUEEN'S presence over the ardent and
vivacious temperaments of Ireland, it is with
unspeakable gratification that we have witnessed
the early and marked countenance afforded by her
Majesty and Prince ALBERT to the National Model
Schools. Their first public visit was paid to this insti-
tution. The infant school, the girls' and boys' schools,
were inspected in succession with marked interest,
and the royal affability was freely extended to the
teachers, and to those who are being trained for the
important business of tition. The most elevated
prelates of the Anglo-Iru ish and Roman catholic
churches were present to witness the interest ex-
pressed by their sovereign in unsectarisn education ;
and towards the dignitaries of both churches the
I royal bearing was such as unequivocally to declare—
" You are both my subjects—equally entitled to my
love and prolection : and your return of loyal attach-
ment can be expressed in no way more agreeable to
me than by your promo'irg the great object to which
this institution is devoted."
We are no believers in the efficacy of any one uni-
versal remedy for evils so deep-rooted, of so long
growth, as those which diminish the prosperity and
happiness of Ireland. We are even no unqualified
believers in the efficacy of what is com-
mouly called education, to make individuals or com-
muniti-s wise, good, and prosperous. The most
enlightened and diligent training exercises at best
but a partial influence over the character and for-
tunes or the individual ; and the character of every
society depends upin the character of the individuals
who compose it. Thee, is a constant process of self-
education (for good or for evil) going on even in
commueithe where no provision is made for educa-
tion ; and in communities where the utmost pains are
taken on this head the work of self-educition is in-
cessantly going on in the hearts and minds of every
one, moditying and altering the effects of instruction
and precept received from without. But generally
diffused education of the young imparts a greater
stimulus to the self-formation of character, facilitates
the acquisition of knowledge, points out the shortest
road to the end in view, and saves from many a
devious wandering in which, without its aid, not a
few would be ultimately lost.
In every country of the European civilisation that
has distinguished itself above its fellows, it is to more
or lees perfectly developed institutions for general
education that we can trace the origin of its superio-
rity. The parochial schools of Scotland and the
township schools of New England have impressed
upon tr e natives of these countries that eminently
practical self-relying character which insures them
success and respect wherever their lot is cast. Men
may dislike Yankees and Scotchmen, but they find it
impossible to withhold from them their admiration
and a reluctant grumbling esteem.lt is a learticipatiou
in this peculiar character of Yankees and Scotchmeu
that is wanting to the prosperity and happiness
of Irishmen and Ireland. A little leas of im-
pulsiveness, a little more of shrewd calculat-
ing forethought, a little more of resolute perse-
vering self-dependance, are what is wanted to enable
Irishmen to extricate themselves from suffering; and
whatever aid they may receive or even be entitled to
claim, this must after all be mainly their own work.
It is only by the discipline of early secular education
that the necessary firmness and strength can be
communicated to the national character.
Mere elementary schools will not rnffice. For the
education of a people, minds are required devoted to
the increase and extension of practical and theoretical
knowledge, as well es minds devoted to the education
of youth. Without a national literature in the widest
acceptation of the word, the meet sedulous training of
the young must degenerate into mere drilling. The
Amber can only exercise his pupil in the
I Processes by which knowledge is to be ac-
quired, and to indicate the field in which he is to
curses them for himself. The aggregate
knowledge embodied in the national literature is that
Add. Without such a continually accumulating com-
mon store from which each individual may fill his I
mind, teachers can only make empty formalises ef
their pupils, and can be nolbetter themselves. Directly,
the state or public can do nothing to promote the
growth of a national education ; but indirectly, they
can do much. There are professions which require
fee their efficient discharge higher and more varied
intellectual acquirements than are needed in mere