The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-08 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

DURHAV.
THE FORBIDDEN TOPICS OF MECHANICS' INSTITU—
TTONB.—The following remarks are extracted from the ad-
dress of the Dean of Durham to the members of the Gates-
heed Mechanics' Institute, delivered at the opening of their
new building a few days ago : "As you may expect me to
make, before we separate, some reference to your own par-
ticular institution, I will do BO at no great length. I shall
confine my remarks to two of your regulations—those by
which you exclude from your discussions, and most properly
exclude, party politics and controversial divinity. Yet, is
respect to the former of these subjects—politics—l confess it
has often recurred to me, that the principles of general po-
litic, which term I use as oppaed to the term party politics,
and by which I mean those acenowledged principles Um
which are founded oar political rights and our political dutiert
—our proper offices as citizens, as mealers of the same iocial
community—l have cften thought, I say, that these prin-
ciples ought to fill a more conspicuous place than they do fill
in the education of all claws of tne people. Indeed Ide
not remember ever to have seen any elementary work so
composed as to display a compendious view of those princt•
plea ; to show, fur instance, how a graduated subordination is
essential to the existence of every. form of society—and hong
any theory of universal equality in wealth and condition io
at variance, act only with reason and experience, but also
with nature, which has distinctly laid down the opposite
law, and made all men in almost all respects unequal ; to
show that inalienable duties are imposed upon ail classes,
high as well as low, by the same social organisation which*
protects their property and their rights—to point out the
mutual relations by which the several classes depend upon.
each other for their mutual welfare—to make it clear, how
any evil which may befal any ono of these wit: looser or
later he largely shared by the others--and how national-
greatness and public and private happiness, depend upon the
co-operation and coaeord of all. Now, I think, that if these
principles, which no rational man disputes, and which er:
fact at the bottom of all that we call politics, were generally
inculcated as a part of education. we should reap the fruital
in some increase of that beneheent use and application
property on the one aide, and of that orderly intelligence,
that eni,ghtened and well-lbunded contentment on the others
which form together the swat guarantee for domestic peace.
This sort of knowledge, if it shall confer power, will cooler.
at the same time discretion in the use of power—it will shots
the proper objects of power, the proper limits within whiellr
power may be exercised. It will teach men their rights,
social and political ; but it will teach them their duties also--
for every right involves a duty, or rather a number of duties
—and men are generally much more wady to claim the one
than they are to perform the other. Indeed, if I were to
apply this remark to that description of polite:al right most
familiar to yon—the right of the franchise—how many are
those in this kingdom who exercise the right, and neglect
the duty ; or, I should rather say, never so much as consider
or feel that there is a duty--a serious and sacred duty—
which, like all other duties, ought to he honestly, faithfully
and fearlessly discharged. I think that if the above an&
other similar priuciplea were generally taught and under-
stood, political discussions would rise above the character
of party disputes, and might, with propriety and advantage,
be permitted. At present, you do well to prohibit them. Sr
do you likewie In regard to the ober rubject referrea to—at
least until that promised day shall arrive, of which the very
dawn can sceres'y be said to have broken on this generation
—the day where.o religion shall become a bond of union sal
:, pledge of love, and all the families of the earth shall adore
the same omnipotent aid merciful Lord and davieur, in his
own spirit of charity and pace."
WARWICKSHIRE.
FOREIGN NEWS IN THE PROVINCE.
Ptgo:deiDatyaitv liiiren
ews elasegbami,:rditiens
ti;:toThe 1."
noon. toutaining the intelligence of the fungal
the Matienel Assembly, and the speech d .
(de l'Eure), the Pre Went ot the Provisional
other morning paper was received in birtnthiglAsi J.,' •
news IMO Saturday." ve't
NORFOLK.
ATTEMPTED MURDER AND f)
—The magietrases residing near the'"rte Dome
been investigating • charge : , rr4

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