The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-04 00:00:00

EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE AT THE
MANSION-HOUSE.

On Saturday last the representatives of various
educational bodies throe/bent the kiagdoes, who had been
present at *air converses:tom at the Manioc-house on the
receding Thursday, met in conference in the Egyp ian-
ll, upon the invitation of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor.
Dr. Lyon Pleural: and Mr. Cole attended as a deputation
from the science and art department of the Board co Trade,
and there were also prevent Wm. Oroser, Req., M. Cutts-
beruon. Esq., Rev. W. T ,J. H. Newman. Esq
Richard Barrett, En., W. B. Gurney, Req., Rev. E. W.
Lenge, J. Warne, Esq., Robt. Gammen, E-q., Jno. Bar-
nett, Esq., H. Althea. Esq., WM. Cover, EA., Rowland
Wilkiason, Esq., Robt. Sweeties, M. Cornell, Esq
8. Gurney, Esq., S. Gurney, jun. Esq., —. Ferry, Esq ,
J. W. Nutt, Evil., Dr. Russell, W. H. Watson, E.g., Win.
Grolier, inn. Esq., Rev. F. G. Blomfield, Joseph Soul, Esq.
Robt: Foster, Esq., Wm. Ball, Esq., Mr. Bruce, Josh., Beldbam, Esq., Ray. W. Short, J. A. Mein, Esq., W.
Cover, Eaq., Alfred Earne, Bag , Jan. Sperling, Esq., Josh.
Burr, Esq , Chas. Reed, Esq., J. 11. Harries, E.q., ChM.
Lowry, Esq., Jae. Runts, Esq., Noel Iloare, Est, W.
Gendelier, EN., Hy. Wetherlded, Esq., W. J. 11..rthh,
Esq., J. hI. Crayon, Eeq., W. flugden, Esq., Rev. M. C.
Taylor, F. L. Smith, Esq., Thos. Cot, E•4l , Hy. Dunn,
Esq., Josh. Hall, Eel. Jao. Chamber', EN., J. K. B:arl-
iag, Esq., Rev. T. Nolan, G. Kemp, keg., W. T. Mayers,
Esq., Rev. J. Cohen, Chu. Tyler, Esq., Rev. Jno.
11. R. Williams, Esq., Josh. Eke, E.q., Mr. Russell, G. T.
Cockerell, Esq.. Jno. Wood, Eva' , Rey. Win. Tkier, Wm.
es Holm, Esq., Rev. Edward Aurod, Jno.. Staub, ~ J. J.
Caldwell, Esq. Danl. Sharpe, Esq 1). Pratt, k..q., E.
Payne, Esq., %V. Hartley, Esq., J. G. Grant, E.g , R.
Latter, Esq., Rev. J. C ,J. B. Day. Esq ,G. W•
Ansell, E•q., nee. T. W. Cunningham, Edwin Hough,
In., and Alex. Anderson, Esq.
The Logo blaeon, in opening the proceedings, said that
his object in calling the gentlemen present together was to
give some lasting effect to the geed beginning which had
been made at the conversaxione. lie was desirous that
their festive meeting, however pleasant in itself, should not
pass away as an empty pageant, out that from the comma-
nity of sentiment and interchange of opinion which that
meeting had promoted, some lasting good should arise for
those classes in whose welfare and advancement they were
all deeply interested. (Cheers.) The Board of Trade was
fully alive to the necessity of infusing some true principles
in art and science into the minds of our animas, and
deeply convinced that without more mental cultivation,
ear workmen, now so famous, must ultimately be passed
in the great industrial race which was going on all over the
civilised world. (Hear, hear.> The board had, in their
anxiety to promote the advancement of science and art,
given 6001. to Manchester, 4001. to Dublin, and I UMS
to different towns, but had found that such aids bad only
led to all sorts of jealousy and scrambling, and that the real
and original purpose of the gift had been too often lost eight
of. To counteract such feelings, he (the Lord Mayor) bad
adopted the never felling English expedient of leaking
them all to dinner, and had been quite successful, as they
had all gone away happy and contented. (Cheers and
laughter.) It had also a:ruck him that by calling the gen-
tleman he had the honour of addressing together in con-
ference, means might be adopted for establish-
ing departments for elementary teaching in art
and science in their various schools, and that
also in our metropolitan charity schools, with many
of which he was connected, much might be done in
im-
proving and expanding the system of education pursued.
On Thursday evening he had bad the honour of receiving
the representatives of 800 school., and he had a confident
hope that with so much able assistance much might begone
towards forwarding their important object. Now, there
were four points to which he wished especially to nirect the
attention of the meeting. The first was to ',certain from
the science and art department of the Board of Trade what
was the nature and what the amount of aid the varioue
schools might expect. The second was, that they should
know that various diagrams, boxes of colours, and scientific
instruments bad been prepared under the inspection of
Mr. Redgrsve, and were available for school purposes at
half the cost pries. The third was, that where art educa-
tion was desired in rchools, the Board of Trade was
prepared to send trained masters at an exceedingly
moderate figure; and the fourth was, that pecuniary
aid from government was to be consideted the
exceptional MO, and only applicable to districts where, from
poverty, there was a difficulty in getting the school together.
Having made these observations, he hoped that the gen-
tlemen present would favour bum with their opinions, and
that the result of their meeting would be the formation pia
committee, far which he would willingly give • nom in the
Mansion-house, and provide a clerk to carry on their busi-
ness and correspondence. (Cheers.) He knew that in
making this request, he was applying to gentlemen, many
of whom had their bands full of business, but he remem-
bered the amine of a detected friend, "If you wart any.
thing of importance done, go to a man whose every moment
is employed, as if he does it at all he must do it at once ;
whereas if you go to the man who has nothing to do, he
will pat it off from day to day, so that in the end you may
not get it done at all.' (Cheers and laughter.) His lord-
ship concluded by calling on Dr. Playfair to explain the
intention' of the science and art department of the Board
of Trade._ - -

Dr. L. PLAITAIllsaid the meeting was no doubt aware
that government had established a science and art depart.
ment at the Board of Trade, for the
,purpose of diffusing a
more general knowledge of both among the people than
found to exist at present. Science had long since been
generally introduced into the schools on the continent, hut
in England as yet was of but limited application. The
Board of Trade, in establishing this new department, did
not expect that elementary schools would atone create a
crop of philosophers, but they thought that a taste for
science might be infused into the children, and that then,
the oesendary institutions throughout the country (mecha-
nism sad literary) would be stimulated into activity and
mealier, and serve to complete what the elementary
schools bad begun. Those institutions were now laugniale
nit bum, they had been established before their tine.
siMpewegoosed a population already imbued with a taste
IR 1111.0 ; but, if the proper taste were ones created in
MO othoundary schools, these secondary institutions would
11011111 lummais mid and important. (Hear, hearjziz.
limed dooterproceeded to dwell on the value of
tie. as a aid to science, and on the importance of physissl
geography distinguished from that geography which
only taught the artificial boundaries of nations, which too
often were marked out in the blood of the people.
All thiamine° phenomena of nature should be explained
sad taught, bat then were other things necessary to be '
blight which would be invaluable in improving cottage
and in increasing cottage enjoyment. (Hear,
cited one or two examples to show the value
ifeliimuthodge of first principle' to awry peasant, for in-
diums a knowledge of the nutritious character of various
Wit a had, and of the miasmatic causes of disease, the
Iffilattf 111111i111114 by exhorting his hearers to form cow
mithaas the the wpm of devising meths of diffusing a
Mepresent
m of entuastioa among the people than they
at
Ile. Coin imam' ortlis lasportsau of art an
ma &mat fa imissidal aimmles, and • necessity of pro-
noun; mei alloying balks balsams of the general detici-
emeritilea peggie Is art karawisige. Few, he said, could
inn esto a shleimelkes
_mai est nes la • Misdeed of the
omtholoothoo In lid the slivhMest nor.)ed_s of the
od hums_flgan. (Hear, hear.) The first
Is be tonW Id tilliren was the art of seeing cor-
ks"
and then bulls width MUM tie Wends value,
was best perelllm gusgmsaliss Am intim el the im-
passe of relish these tumuli ass et seam be two
*aims. Mr. Cole's (NaW abseummllms referred to the
=oust of aid te be supsslsi hen des Beard of Trade, and
Me nods sf it. OW ire of whisk ban already
been sum Mss
Mr. L Elwasas Wirt suolaUesk, resegabing
Me masseally of fa ukase sad art into
see peg*, time& Hs that flfty-sse years be.
ha. IS bed ems kb the of Louisa se ma aggsaatiee,
sad at *ma time thereat man of the widths aim were
whrislimassted. Be numbered lawaestem mad Bell,
ma pal they_bad done, in initiating • national system
af He believed the Came of Educe- ,
Ms hal dens melt good, especially la training pupil '
Imighstmomi he was another step pupae& of which he
. (Cheers.) Cunbridge and Oxford
IMILLIP=IIaniI 131 reek, and it was really disgraceful
thle gam mesa bad spent years in those so-called seats
ea
gii=tb. -b-le spumaittehowi ra months,°ey or wtoejnotin on
nn
tthh:
spot alleallea esernsmadea. (Hear.) He e.tirely approved of
the kabsrarfrai Meese befog taught at least as much Mem
mg an as was applisabb to the practical purposes of life,
believed that there was no better aid to true religion
Alma sa intelligent knowledge of the great works o f the
Cluster. (Cheers.) There was one point to which be
with to make a passing allusion. Much stress had bean
NI ea the propriety of repudiating government aid, but he
laseglit they should not as yet commit themselves on that
salient. Seeing that 16 millions were spent annually on
the army and navy, and only 200,00 W. on education, it
could not be said that the people leant too hardly on the
government in the matter of learning. (Hear, hear.)
However, he wished to see the self-supporting system car-
ried out as much as possible, and thought that much might
be done in that way in our metropolitan charity schools.
He approved of all tho plans of the Board of Trade, and
begat that they would receive general diffusion and co-
if emation. (Cheers.)
Dr. Russets. (Head Master of the Charterhouse) se-
ended the resolution, stating that ho had adopted the
drawings and diagrams of the board at the great Educa-
tional Institution at Norwood. With reference to an ob-
servation which had fallen from Mr. Gurney, he hoped that
as sa old Oxford man, and one who, for the last fiveand-
=peen, had been employed in teething the much
Latin and Greek, he might he allowed to say • few
Mei On behalf of the universities. (Hear, hear.) He
lima In to remind Mr. Gurney that Latin and Greek
were the feeds of much of our modern English, and that if a
body of mss were not educated and brought up with the
knowledge asomary to keep these sources of our language
pare, our noble English tongue would soon, in the hurry
and excitement of commerce, run away into a dialect at
once barbarous and irregular, to the speakers of which our
great literary works would be incomprehensible. (Loud
cheers.) Another point to which he would direct Mr.
Gurney's attention was, that • knowledge of Greek was
essential to a knowledge of what Christians ought to believe
and he was sure that if such knowledge were more general
many differences of opinion would soon disappear. (Cheers.)
Rev. Mr. CVNNINOHAM, Vicar of Harrow, also defended
the universities, and reminded the meeting that but for the
much despised Greek they would have known nothing of
Euclid, and that their physicians were daily deriving know-
ledge from the Latin writers. The meeting would be glad
to hear, however, that the necessity of a more extended
system of education was forcing itself upon the con-
ductors of public schools, and that mathematical teaching