The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-25 00:00:00

COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS.

On last Saturday a special general meeting of the
members of this institution was held at the College, Bloom►
bury.square, for the purpose of receiving the report of the
C 31.1120, considering the bye-laws recently framed for the
government of the caUege, and electing the Lust council
under the charter. _

H. 8. Trirtaxu, Req., the president of the college, having
taken the chair, appointed five ecrutircers to examine the
balloting '
.late sent in by the members of the institution for
the purpose of electing the ctincil, and other officers.
The SECRETARY then read the report of the council,
in which they congratulated the members of the college
upon the fact, that its claims to permanent establishment
have been acknowledged by the highest authority in the
realm, and that it is now a corporate body by grant of
royal charter. The total number of teachers who, since
the commencement of the institution, have received certi-
ficates of qualification Irian the beard of examiners, includ-
ing those who it may be presumed will pass at the exami-
nation to be held next week, is 145. In addition to
this number are to be reckoned six ladies, and
this fact is the more interesting, as this is the
JIM occasion on which ladies have sought the college
diploma. The Eat this summer contains the names of 40
candidates, and it hu been ascertained from various quar-
ters that a large number of gi ntlemen an preparing them-
selves for examination at Chrirm is next. The report con-
cluded as follows
" With reference to the actual character and functions of
the college, it will be observed that hitherto they have been
thou of a judicial body only ; its aim has been confined to
judging, by means of its examining board, of the attainments,
character, and fitoees of the teacher. These functions are of
themseler s of paramount importance ; it remains Per the o
in-
sideration of the council, this day to be elected, whether
other and what functions should be added to the above;

whether, in short, the cent ge should become an operative as
well as &judicial body. Stare the great of the charter, the
atteet:on of the council has been chio fly directed to the pre-
paration of bye-laws, which, by the labours of a committee
appointed for that purpose, they are now enabled to recent-
mend to the consideration of taas eting. In the considera-
tion of these laws, there is one point to which the council beg
especially to direct the eitteatiou of the meeting, viz , that in
granting diplomas for the vairous grades of associate, lime-
tate, and fellow, and especially the latter, the highest dis-
tinction the colege can confer, it is essential that the fatal
error should never be committed c f allowing these different
erodes to be obtained simply by the mere paying of fees,
and they trust it will ever be the determination of the
executive to give the various grades of the college diploma,
and especially that of fellow, only to seta-ascertained
merit.'
Mr. REEVE moved that the report be received and
adopted.
Mr. IFFAUGER, on seconding the resolution, congra-
tulated the meeting on the fact that the object for which the
council had so strenuously lehoured, namely, the securing of
a charter of incorporation for the college, had been obtained.
The Rae. Dr. WILSON, in reference to that portion of
the report which stated that several ladies had sought the
diploma of the college, observed that it was generally re-
gretted that in this country there was not a sufficiency of
occupation for educated ladies whom circumstances made
dependent on their own exertions. He had no doubt, how-
ever, that by means of the pre seat institution an amount
of beneficial and suitable employment wooed be
secured for them greater than they hat ever hi eterto
possessed. Having expatiated on the importance of female
agency, especially in the early stages of education, the rev.
gentleman ceneluilcd be supporting the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN thought it right to state that the pod-
! lion in which the council had succeeded in placing the insti-
tution had been arrived at without any extraneous mist-
' ance either from political or religious parties, and by the in-
strumentality of schoolmasters alone. They felt that the
respectability, no leas than the efficiency of their
profession, depended on the establistment of a tri
banal having the power of recognising the claims
of qualified teachers, and of conferring such diadem-
' tions on them as should have the effect of putting an end to
the injustice which had so long existed of ranking in a com-
mon caves the qual.fiad and unqualified, the educated and
uneducated.
The report was then received and adopted; and the bye-
laws drawn up by the special committee having been towe-
-1 dered seriatim, were approved of and confirmed.
The scrutiny of the voting lists having been brought tt a
close, 48 gentlemen were appoiated to act as the council for
the ensuing year, and the proreedings terminated.
A diuner subsequently took place at the Freemasons
Tavern, in celebration of the successful issue of the efforts of
the council of the college to obtain a royal charter. Mr. W.
Ewan. presided, and upwards of 100 gentlemen he-
tere-ted in the cause of education attended on the occa-
sion. The usual loyal tows haying been disposed
of, the Chairman gave " The Royal Charter and
thanks to her Majesty's ministers, for their intervent'on in
procuring ie." This sentiment having been duly honoured,
he next proposed "The C -liege of Preceptors;' and elo-
quently advocate d the claims of the institution to public
consideration and support, in consequence of the laudable
exertions which its members bad made to elevate the cha-
racter and enlarge the qu.lificuti one of teachers.
Mr. TUItEtELL, the president of the college, having
briefly returned thanks,
Me. WILD, M P., pr .posed the healths of the Marquis Of
Northampton and the other nobla men and gentlemen who
had assisted in obtaining the charter of inconseration fur the
society.
The toast having been drunk with enthusiasm,
I Mr. I). HILL, Q.C., returned thanks, and pointed out the
advantages posse seed by. the iustitution as a centre round
which peewee engaged in educational pursuits might rally
and carry out many beneficial objects, which, while remaiu-
ing isolated from each other, they could nut hope to effect
The heeltbe of " The Pr. silent of the :college," .f
Council and Officers," " The Local 33 aside," " The Board
of Examiners and the Candidates for Examination," having
been also given and appropriately responded to, the com-
pany separated.