The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-26 00:00:00

"laws and regulations of their own, and completely indepen-
dent of any surveillance but that of the governen6nt of the
country." That in the meantime until something better
was devised, the present parochial system might easily be
made the basis of the system, that the Presbyteries of the
bounds could readily look after the acquirements of
aspirants for the oflim of teacher, and that the Pres-
byteries might meet monthly or quarterly for edu-
cational purposes. Such a plan were it adopted
far a mere trial would help to break down
many Prejudices, and in a short time other teachers not
parochial, would be desirous of connecting themselves with
the corporation. I have fixed upon the parochial teachers,
because they are not only more in the hands of the G..piern-
meet than any others, but that a little trouble could t,:ga
nine the whole for an experiment. Your correspondent sees
many difficulties. Difficulties no doubt, there are, but they
are not insurmountable. All the difficulties mentioned by
S. H. hive often crossed my mind, and I am convinced some
of the parochial teachers, when offered promotion would
fear the change. Timidity is natural to some minds. It is re-
ported oft miserable race upon the shores of the Mediterranean
sea who live upon nothing but fish and room, but who are, for
all that, in constant dread of those on the hills coming down
upon them, and depriving them of' their means of support;
so some timorous and short-sighted teachers may get alarmed
at a change, lest it should be detrimental to their already ill-
requited labour*. I have no such fears' and lam still con-
vinced that Scotchmen are so attached to the parochial system
that they would rejoice to see it ameliorated, and perhaps
w the country p 'riches, a better could not easily be
adopted, if the specified changes were acted upon. The pro-
posed change would add greatly to the status and cha-
racter of the teacher, while it would detract nothing
from the reverence or respect due to the clergyman' although
it should deprive him of his superintendiug care. And coca
were it to do nothing more than add to the respectability of
the schoolmaster, that alone would draw a higher class of
educated men into the office, and at the same time these
men placed, as they would necessarily be, in the midst of
others, would have a beneficial effect in elevating their cha-
racters and advancing the whole education of the country.
It is well known that such would be the effect, for wherever
schools of a high grade arc established the sur-
rounding seminaries endeavour to emulate them. A
mere act of parliament incorporating the burgh and
parochial teachers would do injury to no existing endow-
ments, and to no private individual; if no demand were
made upon the public purse. All we claim at present, is
that the teachers be entrusted with the management of their
own affairs as the clergy, physicians, and procurators, and
other bodies of men ; and that they are capable of managing
their own affairs, we have appealed to what they have done,
and are doing. Far be it from me to undervalue the advanta-
ges to be derived from normal seminaries, but when referring
the literary attainments of schoolmasters, I said that normal
schools have been found to add little to the literature of the
students, and that some plan might be adopted to ascertain
the acquirements of those who are to become teachers. More
than the mere formula of teaching is necessary to make an
efficient teacher. He must have an active mind and as
active a body, and he must be well stored with infor-
mation in the department which he is to superintend. In
reference to the statistics in L. X.'s letter, I think you
have said all that need be said, only I would add that I
have little confidence to place in school statistics,
and, as for the adventure schools, although some of them
are among the best in the country, still a great proportion
of them could not be taken into account by any one con-
versant with such places of education. I dismiss these,
therefore, entirely from my view. Numerically at first, I
would cot add to the endowed schools ; I would 'take them
, as they stand, but would hold out er.couragement for
competent persons to join the ranks, until the comple-
ment was filled. Such is the bare idea of the plan
I would propose. It is so simple, that the govern-
ment, with the existing machinery, could organize
it in a month, and the teachers might be in a condition to
have their first assembly in September, 1347. Fears and
difficulties are out of the question ; make the attempt; it is
what will suit Sc Aland, it is consonant to their religious sys-
tem, and in sympathy with the warmest affectionsof the popu-
lation, The plan proposed would not supersede any necessity
there is for a central minister of education. A minister
must act through some organs, and what better auxiliaries
than the body of men referred to, who, however deficient in-
dividually, must be acknowledged, collectively, to know
more of the practical "department of education than any
other body of men whOever. L. T. S.
P.S.—Your correspondent completely misunderstood me,
when he supposed I could advocate a separate co-operation
foe the educator, and at the same time subject him to eccle-
siastical control. The synods and presbyteries I meant were
secular, nut ecclesiastical, the ecclesiastical the type.—L. T. S.

PROVINCIAL.
LANCASHIRE.
THE WEATHEL—LIVERSOHL, CHRISTMAS DAY.--The
thaw, which had been genera, gave place, yesterday morn-
ing, to a smart frost, and in the evening there was a fall of
snow. Last night, it froze intensely hard, and to-day there
is every appearance of a permanent frost.
CHRISTMAS CHARITIES. —The Liverpool charitable
societies are at present actively at work ; but the claims on
them are so numerous, that it is feared that they will be un-
able to relieve the distressed without the assistance of the
public.
TO ARSIHRE.
PROPOSED ATHEMMUM FUR SIIEFFIRLD.—At a meeting
of the promoters of an Atheneum in Sheffield, it was agreed
to join the directors of the Mechanics' Institute in their
endeavours to form the Atheneum in connexion with the
present institution. It was further agreed to prepare a
document for the signature of parties who wish to become
members of the same, and to commence an active canvass.
The Independent says: " A fair number of subscribers'
names has been obtained to make 'beginning of the canvass,
which will now be prosecuted with real. The Athenaeum
will combine not only provision for lecturing, but a library,
reading-room, and news-room on a respectable scale, so as
to furnish an agreeable place of resort for those to whom the
earlier hours of closing business which now prevail, give an
' hour or two fur evening recreation and instruction."

WARWICKSHIRE.
ROBBERIES IN WAllWlCK.—Notwithstanding the estab-
lishment of a small police force, robberies are almost nightly
committed within the limits of the borough, and many of the
inhabitants complain, and very justly, of the inefficiency of
the police. The complaint is not that the present officers do
not do their fluty, but they consider their number a burleeque,
compared with the extent and population cf the town.
They also considered it impossible for four men and a super -
intendent to perform both day and night duty ; the popula-
tion of the borough being about ten thousand, and the extent
more than two miles.
wohcEsTEttsitlnF..

---
REPRESENTATION OF EAST WORCESTERSHIRE.—The
addresses which have been published by Sir Horace St. Paul
and by Mr. Taylor, father of the present member for East
Worcestershire, repudiating any participation in the arrange-
ment recently entered into between the Whig and Cm.ser-
yetis° parties at Droitwieh, and ratified at Worcester, has
called forth the following address to the electors front Mr.
James Arthur Taylor, the member for East Worcestershire :
" Gentlemen -A compromise having been entered into at a meeting
held at Droitwich on the 11th instant, repecting the representation
of this division of the county, which appears to me to be unfair to
the independent electors, I think it right to inform you that I
was no party to it, and that I do not in the slightest degree deem it
binding upon me. I have for some time (for private reason) con-
tempt:it'd retiring from Parliament, and I have mentioned in more
than one quarter my intention to do so, in case these reasons still re-
main in force at the next general election ; but I did not feel called
upon to make that announcement public, because, should iircom-
stances alter, and should nip constituents desire it, I had determined
again to solicit their suffrages. Thin my intention remains the same,
being anxious, ant, the confidence with which you hove honoured mc,
to leave open till the last moment any chance of bring again able to re-
present you in Parliament. In any event I shall ever remember with
the deepest feelings of gratitude the favours which you have conferred
upon cue.-1 remain, &c., J. A. Tavicia —Moseley Hall, Dec. 24,
ISM."
It will be seem from thin that Mr. Taylor has not finally
determined to withdraw from the representation of the
county.

Lziur, cm-man...
SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE.—LUTIERWORTH, DEC. 25.
—The Lady Braye, of Stanford-Hail, has, with a spirit of
liberality deserving high praise, returned the last halt-year's
rent to the numerous tenantry who occupy pieces of allot-
ment ground on her estates in the parishes of Stanford,
Swinford, and South Kilworth. This seasonable benevo-
lence is felt as a great relief by the majority of the persona
who occupy the ground, the general failure of the potato
crop having had a serious effect upon their resources. In
addition to this act of liberality her ladyship has caused
coals, blankets, and food to be supplied to all necreitous and
deserving persons residing in the above parishes. This
example, it affords us pleasure to state, has been followed by
the Rev. G. 11. Franks, J. Lindsay. Esq., and Sir Thomas
Esteourt, to the poor of Waleote ; the Rev. Edward Mushiest
to those of Shawell ; the Rev. J. P. Marriott, to the poor of
Cotesbatch ; the Rec. R. H. Johnson and Colonel Everett,
to the poor of Clayhrooke and Ullesthorpe ; the Rev. 0.
Monington,Miss Powell,Miss Twining, and Mrs. T. Watson,
to the p,sor of Bitteswell ; and the Rev. R. H. Johnson, the
Rev. J. R. Gurney,lirs. T. Waton, &c., to the poor of Lot-
terworth. By these sets of kindness the poor people, not-
withstanding the extreme severity of the frost, will be enabled
to enter into the usual rejoicings that characterise this season
of the year. The inmates of the union house at Lutterworth
were also allowed to participate in the festivities, the
guardians providing an abundant supply of roast beef and
plumb-pudding for the Christmas dinner, together with a
pint of a'e and tobacco to each male inmate ; whilst the
female's and children were regaled with tea and cake. The
Lady Villiers, of Sulby-Hall, Northamptonshire, has distri-
buted food, clothes, and waist." all the poor of Sibbertoftand
Welford, to the amouat of 2001.

NOTTLVGILUISHIRE.
REPRESENTATION or Newana.—t ue Mayor of Newark,
G. Hutton, gave yesterday se'nnight a sumptuous dinner at
the Town-hall to the principal inhabitants of Newark, and
many of the neighbouring county gentlemen, when Lord
John Manners bid farewell to the constituency of Newark
(it has been well known fur some time that he h►s secured a
peat for Stamford in the next parliament), and stated that
J. H. Manners Sutton, Esq., of Kelham-hall, would, in all
probabil;ty, became a candidate for the suffrages of -the
electors ; and that Lord Stanley had taken the lead of what ..
once was the Tory, then the Conservative, and what now is
styled the Country Party, and that the noble lord had well
matured his measures for the coming session. Mr. Stuart -
also spike, but avoided all part• p ,lilies, observing only that
he should again become a candidate for Newark.
DEVON'IIIRE.
BATHS AND WASH-HOLT,ES AT PLvaeovTif. —lt will
probably be recollected that at the recent meeting held at
the Mechanics' Institute to roceive a Report on the Sanitary
Condition of Plymouth, a memorial to the Town Coatesl
was adopted, asking the council to consider the necessity of
some measures for improving the dainage of the town, and
more effee'ually cleansing the streets and removing the
refuse, and especially that they would, without delay, con-
, eider the desirebleness di carrying into effect in Dianna