The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-06 00:00:00

TO CORMISPONDIINTS.

A Second Fslftios of " The Ewes," taWlan the same evening%
Guette," V yoldlaked every Tuesday sal friday sight, ht time
Re peat.
Adria tomcats intended tee " The Ezpraw," London Evening paper,
taut be at the °Moe, 10, Bouverie.street, by Two o'clock on the
day of yablisalien.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TIM DAT—Moralag. 61. U.. —Afternoon. 71. S.
To•reaww—Monfag. 70.41 v. Aftarso" SI. lefe.

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 6.

OUR contemporary, the Times, congratulated the
English world a few days ago on the royal meetings
of Warsaw and Olmutz, "as indications that the
concert and alliance of the northern courts were
restored." It is quite consistent, certainly, that the
journal which congratulated Germany on the restora-
tion of the MrrrEnNfex n:gime at Frankfort, should
also give vent to a laureate ode on the resuscitation
of the Holy Alliance.
The meeting of the two sovereigns at Warsaw—
that newly established capital of central Europe—
inspired us with very different sentiments. Such
meetings, we know, never take place but to generate
some plot or device, some bar against the liberties
of Europe. But when the Warsaw correspondence
told how the Emperor NICHOLAS had put his arm
round the King of PRUSSIA'S waist, calling his Ma-
jesty his dear FRITZ ; and how FREDERICK WILLIAM
returned the imperial billing by a cooing of the''
same warmth, oh, then, we felt fearfully assured
that this same pair of turtle-doves had agreed and
determined upon some treacherous and liberticide
act. Nor were we wrong; for no sooner did the
King of PRUSSIA return to Berlin, hot from the Mus-
covite embraces, than an edict appeared, re-establishing
the old provincial diets of the Prussian kingdom,
which so long existed previous to 1848, and which
were invented to cheat the people of their promised
constitution. There is no Prussian who does not see
in this act the death warrant against the Prussian
constitution, the last thing of the kind which his
Prussian Majesty had invented, and the last to which
he swore and re-swore eternal faith.

—Alas for oaths and kings! And the Times has
nothing but congratulations for this great and final
rivetting of despotic fetters, whichitstrangcly regards
as the guarantee of order and of peace. Now, in our opi-
nion monarchy, anda respect for monarchs and for go-
vernments, would prove, especially in countries like
Germany, the best guarantee of order and of peace.
But had all the red republicans in the world set their
heads together to devise the most efficient means for
discrediting monarchy, for eradicating loyalty, and
for making the very name of prince the object of ex-
ecration and disgust, they certainly could not have
proposed any means so conducive to that end as the
conduct which has been pursued by all those patrons
and proteges of the Times—the kings and princes of
Europe.
Whoever has perused the account of the installa-
tion of the statue of the Great FREDERICK at Berlin,
at which ceremony the King and all officials duly
attended, but from which every unsalaried Prussian
stayed away, may judge how far the policy
pursued at Berlin strengthens the throne and the
cause of order, or how much that Holy Alliance
which the Times hails as a rampart not to be
" assailed by. any other state," really strengthens
Germany against attacks from republican France. We
cannot but think in this respect directly contrary to
the Ames. The utter subserviency of German
sovereigns to Russian policy and ideas, instead of
tending to exclude revolutionary or anarchist ideas
and powers from Germany, flings down on the
contrary every barrier that could resist them. Neither
the army of the smaller German powers nor that of
Prussia itself can be long depended upon, now that
the last vestige of a constitution is swept away. The
fate of Germany for the present, as well as of
France, is no doubt in the hands of their sol-
diers. But what the soldiers of these coun
tries think, what they recommend, what they
feel, and finally how they may act, remains a
mystery and a fear. That a great catastrophe will
be the end of all this, that the more completely all
constitutions and all liberties are abolished, the more
certain and the more fearful will be the catastrophe,
there is not a man that doubts. And this doubt and
that fear are no idle, speculative surmises. Such fear '
haunts the merchant in his counting-house, as well as
the statesman in his cabinet. It prevents the manu-
facturer from investing his capital, and the man of
property from spending it, just as much as it
encourages Communists and Jacobins to fur-
bish their ideas and their swords. And it
is this state of tyranny, fear, and insecurity
that paralyses all commercial activitv,as well as poli-
tical progress and social well being; this it is
that the Times hails with a sanctified satisfaction,
such as might become a scribe or a secretary of MET-
TERNICH or POLIONAC.

And then we are treated to a homily upon the
virtue and forbearance of the Emperor NICHOLAS.
Forbearance, indeed! His Russian Majesty has
taken advantage of the Hungarian insurrec-
tion to render Austria completely subser-
vient and indebted to him for existence.
His interference in Hungary has made all the
Danubian and Selavonic races look to the Rus-
sian as the only dominant and self-subsisting
power in eastern Europe. As the consequence of
Hungarian triumph has been the ascendancy in Aus-
tria of a military and despotic party, which knows
no form of government but the sword, Austria
may be said to have no people. It has but an
army, supported by the overstraining of its
finance. Having thus subdued Austria, and ren-
dered it dependent on Russia, the CZAR'S go-
vernment made use of Austria to menace and
reduce Prussia to a similar antagonism with its
people, to a similar hostility with all that is really
German, and to a similar dependence upon Russian
support for existence. The two great sovereigns of
Germany thus in rivalry with each other, and at tho
same time objects of execration to all Germans, it is
impossible to frame or imagine a more utter state of
helpless weakness and dependency than Germany
has fallen into. The princes of that country are
mere satraps of the Cr" who from Warsaw dictates
laws and resolutions at Dresden and at Frankfort.
The Czar NICHOLAS has just ordered King FREDE-
RICE WILLIAM and his minister, MARTIN:TITRE, to abo-
lish the Prussian constitution. Neither the KING nor
his minister would like to go so far. They know it is

r cutting the last link that bound the house of Bon
acu.t.tmts to the people of Prussia; and that it is nothing
less than an eternal divorce of that dynasty from the
German people. But the CZAR ordains. And the
CZAR can give, take, and dispose of German crown,
and principalities as he pleases. And the 7'im,s
calls the CZAR forbearunt because, forsooth, he has
not annexed Gallicia, or declared Posen to be part of
the Polish empire. But the C7.AR is a long-winded
and stealthy operator. Two years are not much to
employ in the destruction of all the love that the
German people bore to their princes. Two years are
not too much to apply in desecrating German
loyalty, and converting German sovereigns into
Russian satraps. That completed, Russia, either
under Ntettenss, or under some other ltostAxoi
more courageous and less wily, may appro.
priate and take what provinces it pleasm.
No prince at least durst offer resistance. Although
what the people and the great people-amiits
might and will do remains, as we said, a mys-
tery. Diplomatic journalists may call this what they
please. But it is not political wisdom nor honesty.
Neither is it forbearance, but on the contrary 'a
pushing of tyranny to some of its worst
Neither is it order nor peace; both are incom-
patible with mere military despotism in countries
developed morally, physically, and intellectually, as
is Germany.

MR. MACKENZIE opposed the second reading of
the School Establishment (Scotland) Hill, because
the believed it would have the effect of subverting
the parochial system." Why, in so far as education
is concerned, the parochial system of Scotland is sub-
verted—subverted, not by legislators with acts of
parliament, or judges with decisions, but by the in.
crease of population and the change in civil and so-
cial relations which have rendered it inapplicable and
inadequate to its original purposes.
When Joux KNOX and his associates—who,
we beg leave to remind Sir Itoßmir INGLIS and
Mr. REYNOLDS, were antiprelatists and iconoclasts
—laid the foundation of the system of parish
schools in Scotland, the inhabitants of each parish
were so few in number that ono school-
master amply sufficed for the instruction of all
their children. In those days, also, only two
churches were known in Scotland, the unre-
formed and the reformed, the existence of
the one of which was incompatible with the
other. Again, theology was the only practical science
that had been popularised. Law and medicine were
professional mysteries, general science was not ; but
theology was disseminated among the people as
" useful knowledge" has been in our days, and by
pretty similar agencies. Thus it came that the edu-
cational system of Scotland was made subservient to
theological instruction alone, because that was the
only intellectual pursuit which the people were ac-
quainted with or cared for; that the theology of ono
church one' was tolerated in schools, for the possi-
bility of the co-existence of several independent
churches was an idea that had not then entered into
the minds of men; and that each parish had its ono
schoolmaster, and no more, because the parishes
having recently been reconstructed on the basis of
population, one schoolmaster sufficed.
In the course of 300 years this state of affairs has
been entirely changed. While the number of pa-
rishes has been scarcely augmented, the population
has enormously increased, and its distribution has
been altered. There are parishes which contain
fewer inhabitants than they did in the days of
Ksox, mid there are parishes which contain more
tens of thousands than they then did hundreds. To ren-
der a parochial system of education applicable to the
existing wants ot society the number of parishes in
Scotland would require to be doubled or tripled.
Hut in the way of such an arrangement stands the
fact that there are now not two churches waging an
internecine war, but in addition to the old ltomish
church and the newer established presbyterian,
there are the "intermediate," as a London brewer
might phrase it, or the "demi-chand-froid," to bor-
row a phrase from Ai.r.sis SOYER, prelatical
church, the Cumeronian, which claims to be the

" genuine" kirk of Scotland, the united secession,
the free church, the independent or congregationalist
church, with many communions of inferior import-
ance, in so far as numbers confer importance. Tho
members of the established, or, as it is now more
commonly called, the " residuary" church of Scot-
land, are actually a minority of the population ; and
the majority will not submit to any arrangement by
which the national schools arc to be subjected to tho
propagandist purposes of the minority. Lastly, other
branches of science, abstract and applied, as well as
theology, have come to be cultivated by the people.
The professional cultivators of theology are no longer
competent to the task of exclusively superintending
and controlling schools in which many other intel-
lectual pursuits are cultivated in addition to their
own. The parish schoolmaster, us deputy or sup-
plement to the parish minister, is no longer adequate
to the education of Scotland. A modified system
of education is required for the wants of the com-
munity.
It is not merely required ; it has partially sprung
into existence. 'With the great and good Inventors
cr.founders of the parochial system of schools in Scot-
land, the parish school was only a part of their edu-
cational institutions. Every parish had its ele-
mentary school ; every burgh had its " grammar
echoed," more liberally endowed and imparting higher
instruction ; and both parish and grammar schools
were feeders for the universities, which in turn sup-
plied these feeders with competent teachers. Nar-
row was the range of study in all three classes of
schools in so far as the range of intellectual pursuits
was concerned. Theology, the only science of
morals of the age, the only popularised branch
of knowledge, was the be-all and end-all of
their studies. The vernacular language, Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew, the Aristotelian logic and
ethics, these as auxiliaries to theological in-
struction were the only things taught in
addition to divinity. The legal and medical crafts
educated their aspirants as they best might; but
every citizen was indoctrinated in the rudiments of
theology, and the auxiliary studies; the poor in the
parish schools, the more wealthy in the grammar
schools, the ministers, men of literary tastes and tho
nobility in the universities. The outline of the sys-
tem was complete and comprehensive, though
the materials of the structure were scanty and
meagre.
In time, however, as other branches of knowledge
came to be popularised, the established educational
institutions expanded themselves to embrace them.
Chairs of medicine, surgery, botany, law
(Roman and Scotch), were successively established
in the universities. The " regents," or professors, in-
stead of each teaching a whole curriculum of a
meagre literature to his own pupils, selected
their special subjects and taught them exclusively,
but to all the alumni. A faculty of medicine canoe
to be added to the faculties of arts and the-
ology ; in some of the universities a half-de-
veloped legal faculty sprung into existence ; and in
the faculty of arts, mathematics and what was called
natural philosophy, were added to languages, ethics,
and logic. In like manner the grammar or burgh
schools extended their range of instruction. And
here another change was brought into play by the
increase in the population, and consequent demand
for more schools. The burgh, or grammar schools,
had been placed from the beginning under the ma-
nagement, not of the clergy, but of the town councils.
The want of improved- education was felt tint
among the middle class ; the grammar schools
felt first the hand of innovation ; and in many places
where none existed, or where the magistrates were
slow to improve, academies were founded by volun-
tary associations, as at Ayr. Again wealthy indi-
viduals bequeathed large sums to establish schools or
academies in their native parishes, and thus (as at
Dollar, Closeburn, and other places) the rural
districts as well as the towns came into possession of
seminaries of a superior character to the mere parish
school, and more or lea independent of the clergy.
Lastly, every succeeding secession from the esta-
blished church has led to the establishment of ele-
mentary schools, connected with some denomination
or congregation over which the clergy of the esta-
blishment have no control; and of late years many
such schools have been established by purely lay
agencies.
By the process thus briefly indicated the parochial
school system of Scotland has sunk into a state of
minor importance, and has been to a great extent
already superseded. The best paid and most intelli-
gent class of schoolmasters are entirely independent
of the clergy ; a majority even of the mere ele-
mentary teachers are independent of and uncon-
nected with the established church; and even the

universities have, by the admission of lay professore,
and the lax manner in which the religious tests have
been ended, been in a great measure emancipated
from ecclesiastical control The popular education
of Scotland continues, and will continue to be a
religious education, because the Scotch are a religious
people. The religions education or training of
children in Scotland continues, and will continue to
be in the main Calvinisto-piesbyterian, became, that
is practically the creed of all but two churches in
Scotland, that is, of an immense majority of the peo-
ple. But this religious character of Scotch educa-
tion implies no dependence on the established church
and requires no such dependence to perpetuate it.
From what has been said, it is obvious that Lord
IIELGI'NeS bill, in its broad outline and general
principle, did little more than give a legal recogni-
tion to the actual condition of the educational system
of Scotland, and provide for its extension and in-
masa efficacy. To fall back upon the parochial
system would be to recur to a state of affairs utterly
inapplicable to the existing state of society; to a
state of affairs which in fact never existed in
the way Mr. 31.tciteNztE and Sir ROBERT
INGLIS apprehend it. The parochial system of
education as conceived by these gentlemen does not
exist, and cannot be introduced in Scotland. Some
such scheme of education as that chalked out by
Lord MELGUND is the only possible system foe Scot-
land ; the choice lies between it and none.
Yet Lord MELGUND'S bill has been rejected on the
second reading, though countenanced by ministers
and supportedby a majority of the Scotch represen-
tatives. And this result is attributable in part to the
narrow party spirit of the Scotch thrice., in part to
the high church propensities of some English mem-
bers, and in part to a lamentable ignorance
of the actual state of affairs in Smwland,
which is not confined to Scotch members.
Mr. ADDF.RLEY, who voted with Mr. Fox, could not
eibly have opposed Lord MELGUND had he not
been deceived as to the state and wishes of Scotland.
The clan MATHESON could not have voted in a body
against Lord MELOUN D,had not long abeenoe from their
native country left them imperfectly acquainted with
its actual condition. The division on Lord MEI,
GENO'S bill is a triumph of political bigotry making
ignorance its catepaw ; and the narrowness of the
majority is our warrant that it is the last victory
such &contemptible alliance will be permitted to enjoy,
at least in so far as Scotch education is concerned.