The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 18, 1847,

the grounds of his opposition to the plan of the govern-
ment ? Why, thee it would destroy the system of voluntary
subscription for the nuintenanee of schools. Never was
there a greater fallacy! (Hear, hear.) The object of the
government was to aid that system by giving assistance to
sch •ols means, _d 'rived ;re •cs sole tary contri'.utions,
were insufficient. (Hear, hear.) Tbey all knew that ap-
peals were frequently made from the pulpit on b•
half of schools so circumstanced. His friend who
had spoken last had himself a school, in which he
was schoolmaster, inspector, everything, even a father to
the children (laughter)--and if at any time he should
find his funds inadequate for the maintenance of that school,
be would only hove to apply tothe government, under their
proposed plan, in order to have the deficiency made good.
lie knew not what it was that gyre so much alarm to Mr.
Baines and the dissenters, who seemed to increase their
opposition to everything coming from the Church of Eng-
land in proportion as they found that church becoming snore
tolerant and liberal. According to the minutes of council
the school committees were to hold in their own hands the
power of determining all matters of discipline, of deciding
upon the course of instruction, of selecting and dismissing
the teachers, Bee. He could not see hew any honest dis-
senter could object to that— (hear, hear)—and if the dis-
senters as a body were sincere in their wish to educate
the people they ought to hail inch a measure
as a blessing to the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. De Jersey
spoke of some schools having bat few pupils. Perhaps that
was owing to the inadequacy of the masters, who sometimes
required as much teaching as the scholars themselves.
(Laughter.) But in the parish of Barbican, not far from
that gentleman's neighbourhood, out of a population of
18,000, there were not in 1834 three hundred children re-
ceiving instruction. In fact, the voluntary system had never
been able to supply one-tenth of the people with @due ition
and were they, out of compliment to that system, and in or-
der to give his friend Mr. De Jersey and others all the eclat
of educating one-tenth of the people, to leave the remaining
nine-tenths without any education at all ? (Hear, hear.)
One of the parochial schools of London was some time ago
in such a state of destitution that a ball was got up to bene-
fit it; an application was subsequently made to that
court to pay the expenses of the ban, and in favour of that
application Mr. De Jersey voted; and yet he now objected
to receive aid from the government on the ground indeed
that it would destroy the independence of the children. He
hoped, however, that the government would not be deterred
by such reasons from persevering in an intention which did
them honour. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Cask believed it to be the duty of a paternal govern-
, went not to force a compulsory measure of education on the
people, but to afford them the means of being educated;
and when he considered that in Lon lon alone there were
150,000 children without those means, he could not refuse
his support to the measure of the government. In some of
the details of that measure much impravement might be
made, and if a committee were framed to consider and point
them out, he was sure they would be amended by the go-
vernment. The present lamentable state of education in
this country was a reproach to the government, and he re-
joiced they had taken up the question again, for it was
evident that the voluntary principle was a complete failure,
and utterly inefficient to meet the wants of the nation,
however usefully it might have worked in particular dis-
tricts. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. PRENDERGAST quite agreed with the last speaker,
that the government would seriously consider any alterations
proposed in the measure; for they had caused the minutes
of council to be widely circulated with the express object of
eliciting every possible information on the subject, whether
for or against their plan. Nothing could be more unfair
than to call that plan an attack upon the voluntary prin-
ciple. In his opinion, it relied too much upon that prin.
c4ile, for it required that for every 6d. advanced by the go-
vernment Is. should be obtained from voluntary cone ributions.
(Hear.) It, moreover, threw the whole power of the
plan into the hands of the people themselves; and for the
first time made the voluntary system effective. He was not
surprised that a man like Mr. De Jersey, who belonged to a
section that was opposed to the march of mind amongst the
people, should object to such a plan; but very much surprised
indeed was he to see it objected to by Mr. Wire, who had
preached so long and so well on the side of the people. And
yet the opponents of that plan had not dared to assert that
the machinery of the present system was capable of effecting
great good. They merely said that, if they were left alone,
the time would come when they would have a good system.
But how many pee le were to remain in ignorance, and how
much crime might be committed on account of that ignorance
in the meantime ? Mr. Baines, in his book, said, in reference
to the government plan, that it was obvious that the school-
masters and future teachers under that plan would be nearly
as dependent upon the inspectors as the slaves of the United
States were upon their masters. Such was the nature of the
arguments, if such they might be called, which were em-
ployed by the opponents of the plan. Mr. Baines, in the
same worthless book, insinuated most uncharitably that in-
spectors might report that pupil teachers had not answered
as well as they really had, thus rendering it necessary to be
in favour with the inspectors in order to ensure success. At
what aloes must he have been when he descended to such an
objection ! As for Sendsy-schools, they were of little good
without daily ones. Opposite the names of prisoners at the
assizes he had frequently observed—not that they could
neither read nor write—but that they could do both
" imperfectly " showing that the imperfect education
they had received had had ao moral or useful effect
upon their minds, and that they might as well have been
utterly ignorant. Now, the object of the government by
their proposed measure was to improve that system, so as to
render it sufficiently " perfect " to elevate the character of
the people. The question was an English one '• se such, and
not in a sectarian light, he hoped they would view it.
(Hear, beer.)
Mr. ASKIIRAT considered they theuld be guided in their
decision by the course which the established church had al-
ready taken when entrusted with the education of the peo-
ple, and with an extensive pant for that purpose—a course
which showed that it had not done what was expected to
have been done. Out of a grant of 30,000!., 27,0001. had
got into the hands of the state church, and one-tenth of the
grant only into that of the dissenters. He could look for no
better result under the proposed plan, and on that ground
he opposed it. It would place an enormous amount of
patronage in the hands of the government in the way
of pensions to masters and pupils, and apprentices, which,
particularly in Ireland, would enable them to keep
the people where they were, at the starving point, but, at
the same time quiet—because when they pensioned a ebild
they secured the family, and so on. All this was to be
effected through the established church, and until they got rid
of that church he did not think they would do anygood. He
did not object to tho measure on any narrow or sectarian
ground, but upon the broad ground of its being opposed to
the principle of religious liberty. If those who supported it
wen the friends of civil and religious liberty, as they pro-
fessed to be, they would be just as anxious that an atheist
should enjoy his belief as they theirs. Suppose, then, we
had an atheistical government, the chief priest, the lord pre-
sident of the council, and all regularly sworn to that
creed, and that they appointed the friends of that
creed to be magistrates all through the country,
would those who now supported the government in their
plan of education say that the priests of that atheistical creed
were the parties who ought to have the education of a great
proportion of the people? He did not think they would,
and yet they blamed the dissenters for entertaining a similar
feeling towards the est,bliahed church.
Mr. King, having addressed the court in favour of the
voluntary principle, which he mid would be destroyed if
the government measure were adopted,
Mr. Wins attempted to speak on the same side, bat was
objected to u having spoken already. After a noisy contest
on the point, the Lord Mayor decided that the debate,
being a new one (the " court," and not the " debate,"
haying been adjourned on the last occasion) every gentle-
man had a right to be heard.
Mr. Lowe then moved that the debate be adjourned, and
the question being negatived, he briefly addressed the court
in favour of the voluntary system, which he regarded as
more effective, by the very nature of it, than any the state
could invent.

Mr. HALL followed on the same side, observing that he
should prefer seeing the intended sum of mousy given to the
people for clothes and food.
Another attempt to speak on the part of Mr. Wine, gave
rise to another contest, which, like the rest, terminated in a
motion for adjournment. This time it proved successful, and
the debate was accordingly adjourned to Thursday next.
DINNER TO LORD TORIONOTON.—The chairmen
and directors of the South Eastern Railway gave • splendid
banquet last evening to his Excellency Viscount Torrington,
who starts by the first India mail for Ceylon, to which
colony he has just been appointed governor. Mr. Mac-
Omor, chairman of the company, presided. About one hun-
dred gentlemen sat down. After the usual loyal toasts,
the chairman gave " the House of Peers," o
that if ever there was a time when its membersbu:Toil
be endowed with " grace, wisdom, and understanding,"
it was at the present crisis of affairs, when parte of the
kingdom were enduring such severe sufferings, and it was
now the duty of esesy man to give them hearty end disin-
terested support. The Attorney-General, in returning
thanks, was quite certain all must be convinced that gush-
ten were earnestly striving to carry out measures most con-
ducive to the welfare of the country. The sole aim of
government, in its official appointments, was the nomination
of the most fitting persons, and the appointment of the noble-
man whose departure they had then met to commemorate,
bore out this assertion. It must be pleasing to most of
those to remember that Lord Torrington lac-
ks habits of business chiefly in his connexion with the
§cuth-Eastern Railway Company.—The chairman, in pro-
posing the health of Lord Torrington, observed, that in the
commercial enterprise through which he had made his ac-
quaintance, he had been able, and gratified, to witness the
noble lord's enterprising mind and active talent. The
noble lord had gained much popularity in the county of
Rent by the benefits he had conferred upoe the agricultural
interests of the county, and it was to be both hoped and ex-
pected that he would gain the same popularity in the country
where he wee going.—Lord Torrington, in return, could
only sure them that the gratitude he felt would be long
engraven on his memory. He looked back with pleasure to
his oonnexion with the South. Eastern Railway Company,
which connexion had been entered into with no speculative
views, but solely for the future benefits he might be able to
render his country. He hoped to return to that oonntry
with the credit of having fally carried out the views held
by her Majesty in appointing hint.—Sir Edmund
Filmer returned thanks for the health of the House
of Commons, every member of which, he could with justice
eay, desired above all things to do their duty to all classes.
Although gratified at the appointment of Lord Torrington,
they could not but regret his departure.—Lord Torrington
proposed the health of the chairman, and alluded to that
gentleman's unremitting attention to the welfare of the
community at large, through the medium of the South-
Eutern Railway.—The chairman, in returning thanks, said
that communication with Dover merely, he hoped, was the
smallest benefit that would accrue to the country from their

rsilwar. He looked forward to a communiostiew through
the 80-nth-Eastern Railway. with Marseillea.Conat;ntinople,
and even Ceylon itself —The Attorney-General returned
thanks on behalf of the Bench and the Bar, who, he could
with sincerity say, tally deserved the compliment done
%them in having tk. boa/elm 'rut. ?e, and the apps •,.hatienot
all classes, which was the chief reward they looked forward
to is all their labours.—Mr. Alderman Lucas returned
thanks for the Lord Mayor and aldermen of London, and
remarked that if the landed and resident gentry of Kent
—and himself among them—had not opposed the scheme,
there would have been a direct line to Dover years ago. He
now put in his recantation.—The chairman, in proposing
the prosperity of Ceylon, said that he fully expectvel that,
under the rule of Lord Torrington, that colony would soon
assume a position of importance it had not hitherto attained
A railroad was now being projected there under the auspices
of the noble lord. The last toast was the Viscountess Tor-
rington, which was received with more enthusiasm than any
of the evening.
MISS HER,CIIEL.—THE GLOBE OF TUE MOON.—
Sir John Herschel has communicated to the Athenneurn the
fallowing correction of certain particulars stated in a para-
graph relative to Miss Caroline Herschel, his aunt—which
has been going the round of the papers, and was quoted in
our column last week

April S.—Permit me to cornet an error in the article in your
0 Weekly Oorsip" of hut week, p. 366, respecting my venerable re-
lative, lilies Caroline Herschel, who (as is correctly stated; is reeidest
In Hanover, where ate has recently completed her 9;th year,- distin-
mgatted by the favour of bar govereign and the condeseer,ding knid-
nem of the amiable prince and princess royal. Though still In prow_
session of all her faculties, however, she is quite incapable of astro-
nomical observations; nor has she meetly, or at any time,
constructed a globe of the moon. model in relief to which
allusion is probably made —• beautiful and admirable work—is the
production, out o(Niiss Herschel, but of another Hanoverian lady,
Madame Witte. This exquisite production—unrivalled in accuracy
of reproentation as in delicacy of execution exhibited to the
British Aasociation at Camteulge, and sulasequenUy to the Royal
Astanaornical Society of Lambe', to the unbounded admiration of all
who beheld it. It it infinitely to be regretted that so fine a work
should leave this country, as it most shortly do, unless Dome fortunate
combination of circumetances should secure it a place in one of our
national or academic collection.—J. F. W. Haaweat.
_

Loos
oe THE TWEED.—Sir,—Haring perused the
short article in your paper of Saturday relative to the me-
lancholy low of the Tweed, I feel an interest in communi-
eating to you the result of my own experience sea traveller
in the same latitudes, and which will be found to have some
bearing upon your observations. I was a paesenger to Vera
Cruz by a " sailing vessel " from London prior to the esta-
blishment of "steam communication," and reached the Gulf
of Mexico in the month of December, during the height of
the "Norther" reason (which lasts nom October to March
in.clusive). A Ncrther sprung up, and lasted for some days,
during which we were without a sight of the sun ; it cleared
off, and we found ourselves carried by currents some thirty
to forty miles out of our reckoning, and in imminent danger.
On my return, prior to the establishment of the steamers, I
embarked at Vera Crux in the month of July, the meat
favourable season for the navigation of the Gulf, on board a
United States mail packet, commanded by one of the most
experienced captains iu the Mex'can trade ; our destination
was New York, and in the Gulf of Florida we sighted a
light-house, wbick by the reckoning we were held to be
fifty miles from. Such experience therefore leads me to view
the Tweed's diluter as one which might occur without any
fault attaching to thew in command. The great strength of
the carrents during the " Norther " season, and their varia-
tion both in force and direction, render it impossible to pro-
vide against them by calculation; whilst the captain's diffi-
culty is generally increased during the prevalence of the
" Norther" by the impossibility of getting an observation of
the sun. In offering these observations, I by no means
underrate the urgent necessity for a searching inquiry into
the facts of a case involving such vast loss of life; and to
render such inquiry the more effectual and satisfactory I
should like to see the whole evidence submitted toe jury of
merchant captains, experienced men in the navigation of
the Gulf of Mexico.:7A Suasousea.

FALL DOWN A WELL—Yesterday morning, a man
named Henry Basing, aged 22, proceeded to the residence of
Mr. Cooper, at Greenwich, for the purpose of bricking up
a deep well in that gentleman's garden at the rear of the '
dwelling-house. The wall was upwards of forty feet deep,
and quite clear of water. The men commenced their laboun,
and after they had lowered a quantity of bricks and mortar
the man Basing attempted to be lowered down by a rope
from the spindle at the top. He bad proceeded about three
yards when the rope suddenly snapped and precipitated him
to the bolters, of the well. An alarm having been raised, a
large body of persons congregated round the mouth of the
well, and atter several minutes the poor fellow was rescued
by a chair being lowered to the bottom. He liras in a '
dreadful condition when brought to the surface, bleeding
from the nose and mouth, the left collar bone fractured, dis-
location of the shoulder joint, fracture of the left leg, toge-
ther with contusions and lacerations of the faee and body.
Mr Sutton, surgeon, was called in, who advised his removal
to Guy's Hospital, whither he was taken in a cart. He is
lying in a very precarious state.
FIRE3.—AT THE NEW SMALL DEBTS COURT,
EDGEWARE•ROAD.—Last night, at a few minutes past 10
o'clock, a fire broke out in the New Small Debts Court, 112,
Edgeware-road, near Chapel-street. The first discovery was
made by the police constable on the beat, who immediately
raised an alarm, and sent a messenger for the engines. The
two parish engines quickly arrived, and there being an
abundant supply of water, no time was lust in setting them
to work ; but such a powerful ascendancy had the flames
previously obtained, that before a drop of water could be
discharge', they were to be seen issuing through the win-
dow, and roof with such fury as to threaten with destruction
the whole of the surrounding property. The engines of the
London brigade, from Baker-scot and Ring-street stations,
were the next that arrived, closely followed by several others.
The fire continued to burn upwards and downwards, so that
it was not until nearly 12 o clock that it could be subdued.
By that period the whole of the upper portion of the build-
ing was destroyed. The backs of some of the houses in
Chapel-street are damaged, but fortunately not to say great
extent.—lN SHOREDITCIL Last evening, shortly
before six o'clock, an accident of a very singular character,
I and which occasioned considerable excitement in the neigh-
bourhood, took place in High-street, Shoreditch, nearly
facing the Eastern Counties Railway terminus. It appear,
that a number of men were engaged in unloading a waggon
filled with puncheons of turpentine. One of the immense
casks bad been attached to a crane belonging to Means.
Oabey and Wells, wholesale oilmen, and had been drawn up
some distance, when by some mishap the hest of the
pantheon came out, and the whole of its contents fell to the
ground. A lad who was standing by, was in the act of
lighting a cigar with a Inciter match, which coming in
contact with the turpentine, the whole of the 120 gallons
became ignited, and the flames role in one immense sheet
upwards of 20 feet, setting on fire the shop front and side
doors of the defunct Parcels Post depot. At the same time
the sheet of flame was drawn under the archway at the side
of Messrs. Gabey's oil stores, sad fer some time it was feared
that those premises would have been destroyed. A number
of the inhabitants and several of the men employed on the
premises rendered essential aid and succeeded in getting the
fire extinguished, but not until considerable damage was
done to the premises numbered 223, and the whole of the
turpentine destroyed. Such was the alarm created in the
district, that merengen were despatched in all directions
for the engines. Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of the
brigade, and Mr. Fogo, the foreman of the A section, quickly
' attended with four engines, but fortunately their services
were not required.
INQUESTS YESTERDAY. THE FATAL CASE OP
BURNING Irian LUDOLTZ-111LL.—By Mr. Payne, at the',
Blue Last, Broadway, Ludgate-hill, on the body of Eliza-
beth Maxwell, sged forty-four, who was burned to death at
her residence, No. 6, Broadway.—Barbara Hill said that the
deceased was her sister. About half past six o'clock on
Saturday night she sent witness to eager& Hall, Bride-lane,
to see if her husband was there. She returned in about a
quarter of an hour, and on entering the room found the de-
ceased lying in front of the grate, and on going to feel for
her found she was roost dreadfully burned over the head,
face, and neck. When she went out deceased appeared
very weak and odd in her manner, as if she bad been
drinking. In answer to the coroner, witness stated that de-
ceased was in the habit of eating very little, but drinking a
great deal. She could not tell how the occurrence took
plant-o.omo Maxwell, a tailor, said that he saw his wife
alive for the last time on Saturday at noon. She was then
sober, but unwell. She had been ill for some
months.—Mr. John Richmond, the landlord, said that
his impression was that abe was intoxicated, and fell
into the fire. Verdict, "Accidental death." Set-
CIDS AT ROTHERNTTEE TROY PECCNtAaT DIPTICVL-

rtes.—Before Mr. Carter, at the King's Paves, Lower
Rotherhithe, respecting the death of Mr. Wm. Butt, aged
46, of No. 363, Rotherbithe-wall, who committed suicide.—
Elizabeth Bury said she bad been in the deceased's service
about eleven months. He was a cheesemongcr, and formerly
carried on a very lucrative business. Witham for some time
past had observed a great change in his manner, which she
attributed to pecuniary difficulties, arising from his trade
having seriously fallen off daring the last few months. He
was a man of sober habits, and very kind in his disposition
towards his family. On Friday morning last the deceased
came down from his bedroom and proceeded into the shop,
where he paced backwards and forwards in a very singular
manner for several minutes. About seven o'clock he went
up stain again, and when witness entered the kitchen, which
is situated on the first-floor, she discovered him suspended
hy a rope, which had been fastened to a hook in the ceiling.
He was black in the face and quite motionless. Witmer in-
stantly raised an alarm, when Mrs. Butt and the shopman
ran into the room, and the latter cut him down. He fell into
his wife's arms but seemed dead. Two Burros' were im-
mediately sent for, but all efforts to restore life were useless,
as the deceased had been dead some minutes. He had
effected has purpose by standing oa a washing-stood—The
deceased's brother-in-law stated that deceased had not been in
his right mind for several weeks, which came on owing to
his being unable to meet the heavy demands of his creditors.
He had been pressed very much for the income-tax by one
of the parish officers, and he (the deceased,) was fearful of
an execution being put in for the amount. On the previous
night witness had an interview with the deceased and
promised to assist him with getting tome cash, but when
witness reached the house on Friday he was dead. Other
evidence having been taken the Coroner remarked on the
melancholy nature of the case, after which, the jury returned
a verdict of "Temporary Insanity."--.SunDere DEATH
AT OODITO'S BREWIllitY.—By Mr. W. Carter, at the
Waterman's Arms Tavern, Belvidere-road, Lambeth,
relative to the death of Joseph Soden, aged 64 Tears:—Thu
deceased had been in the service of Messrs. Gaoling and Co ,
the brewer', for many years, but latterly he had been in the
receipt of a pension from the firm, owing to some injury he
had sustained while in their employ. The deceased resided
on the premises with his wife, and on Friday last, whilst
standing in the kitchen he was suddenly seised with an
epileptic fit, and fell to the ground, whore he was subse-
quently found by hie wife. Mr. Carruthers, the surgeon,
was ailed in, but the deceased expired shortly afterwards
from the effects of that fearful malady. The jury returned
a verdict of " Death from natural causes."