The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-14 00:00:00

THE EDUCATION MOVEMENT.

A meeting on this subject was held in the com-
mittee-mom at the Town-hall, Birmingham, yesterday.
It was presided over by the May /I (Mr. George Dizon),
who convened the assembly for the purpose of laying be-
fore it Cie following resolutions, the result of the deli-
berations of a large number of gentlemen representing
all shades of opinion, who have recently discussed the sub.
jeep privately at meetings held at the Mayor's residence.
Iu openieg the proceedings the Mayor read the resolu-
tion • :- -" That, in the opinion of this meeting, increased
powers are Lee...airy for the extension of the torus of
education ; and that for this per pose it is desiral-le to
apply to parliament for an act empowering muni-
cipal corporations to levy rates fur educational purposes.
That this meeting approves of the principle that children of
tender age shall nut be employed, unless due provision be
WO.' for their instruction at school. That this meeting
declines to recommend any general system of compulsory
instruetioa, out that it is of opinion that the Industrial
Schools Act, extended by the light of experience. may
prove a means of securing the instruction of neglected
children. That • society be forme fur the purpose of
taking measures for carrying into effect the foregoing
resolutiomi, aml for promoting education in Bh-minghain
by any other means which may be deemed expedient, and
that a subscription of one guinea per annum do constitute
membership.' The Mayor, in introducing the subject to I
the nie..ting, said that as there appeared to be every pre- I
Lability of increased political power being extended to the
starves, it became the more urgent that they possess
all the advantages arising from education. The object
which he and those who thought with how had in view
was to take up the whole educational question in a manner
cou.uiensurate with the requirements of the town. It was
proposed that the business of that meeting should be first
iso pass a resolution to form the " Birmingham Education
Society ;' and secondly, to appoint • committee whose
duty it would be to form rules, and to obtain and dissenii.
sate information on the subject. An important topic for
discussion would be the question of compulsory education;
also in reference to the education of tho lowest clean of the
essuumusity, such as were not reached by the present
agencies. In carrying out the important work proposed
for this society, they might very advantageously imitate
much which lid been done at Manchester. One of
the to.t important things to be done should be
the esta`dishment of gradational schools, so that
so possibility could exist of boys (whatever their class or
station) being deprived of any advantages within their
reach by reason of defective education. His worship
mentioned that it was his intention shortly to bring a re.
solution before the town council, setting forth the
paramount importance of corporate bodies being em-
powered to levy rates for educational improvement,
and that steps be taken with the view of showing the
necesNity that existed for the adoption of some plan in
that direction. He added that he proposed him-
self to start this society, with a subscription
of lOW. a year ; and that Messrs. Chance, Messrs. Elkins.
ton, and other warm friends of education in the town,
had promised very liberal aid. He moved that a society
be formed with the title above-mentioned. The lion.
and Rev. Grantham Yorke seconded the resolution. In
doing so ho said that whilst he agreed se to the desira-
bility of establishing the society, it was most necessary
that its objects should be clearly defined. He, for one,
could not approve of a society the object of which was to
set up purely secular schools. It appeared to him that
the schuole established ought to be in connection
with the Privy Council. The resolution WAS carried, and
Mr. Lucas Sargent moved • resolution appointing a corn.
matte* to draw up rules, &c. ; this was seconded by the
Bev. R. \V. Dale, who said that the great object of this
society should be to reach those whom the denomination
system had not reached. Several other speeches followed
souse of the speakers declaring themselves strongly in
favour of compulsory education ; others spoke earnestly in
favour of secular education se alone having a claim to
stste support. A large committee was appointed ; but
from the sentiment expressed it was made evident that
there will be found much differemie of opinion amongst
thaw who compose it. A liberal subscription was raised
in the room.

TUE LOSS OP "THE CAVE."

(From the OW.)

An inqui7 into the loss of this vessel was held
ea Monday last by an Owl and two nautical assessors.
The ease excited much interest from the fact that the
vessel was engaged in the tint attempt made to settle
the new colony of Adullant, which has been lately founded
near Botany Bay.
ROBERT Lows deposed that be was chief officer of the
Cave. Had helped to build the vessel ; iu fact, bad laid
the keel himself two or three years ago, though she was
only Lit:riche' last year. She was a splendid-looking craft,
made an enormous number of knots an hour, and could
tarn in her own length. She was intended to carry a large
number of emigrants, but passengers did not come forward
we romlily as had been expected, and many who had
taken their prissag•e retuned to go at the last moment.
She left port, however, and had been at sea ever since,
up to the day she foundered. Observations were taken in
the usual manner, but they were not satisfactory, in con-
sequence of the clouded state of the horizon, and they
relied chiefly on the Tory log and dead reckoning. The
vessel encountered adverse trade-winds and currents, and
ou several occasions was run into and seriously damaged
by the craft called " Demonstrations." Thought that the
cauv, of her foundering. When he noticed that she was
settling down took a boat, but could not induce anybody
to go with him. Was tossed about a good deal, but soon
fell in with " The Tory " hulk, which offered to take him
on board. but be declined, thinking her very unsafe, and
was finally towed into port by " The Liberal.
Captain GROXYZNOR said he had done his best to save
the vessel. He had intended all along, to sail in company
with, or at any rate in the track of, The Liberal," but
she entwined him, and so he bore up and ran free. Attri-
buted the accident to the presence of dry rot, a great deal
of which was talked at his dinners. Thought his crew
were badly composed. Lowe couldn't even take • beating
and was unreliable, while Laing did more harm than good.
Considered that he now belonged to " The LiberaL"
FRANCIS Steno said be was second mate. Attributed
the loss of the ship to bad seamanship. The crew were a
shady lot—mostly lumpers, and some of them didn't
know a gentleman from a handspike. The vessel went to
pieces very enddenly, and he found himself struggling in
the water, but saved himself on a plank thrown to him by
some miner fellows from " The Liberal."

S. LArwta said he was the ship's cooper, and had hoped
to be made super-cargo. The captain had refused to give
him a character, and be was not sorry the ship did go
down. Had since got remunerative employment on a rail-
way, but would go to sea again under Captain Gladstone
if he could get made a petty officer.
A. CLINTON had hood it mid that the ship would
neither wear nor stay, and though he did not wear them
himself, believed they were good for the figure, and
therefore for the figure-head. Supposed that the catas-
trophe had arisen from want of knowing how to raise the
wind.

F:Donurog was one of the crew. Knew nothing about
the object of the voyage, and could not tell why he sailed
in the vessel, except that Mr. WERTMIN.TER had cashed his
advance-note hut he had been allowed to mess with the
officers. and was quite contented. Had gut good ecup:oy-
silent, and meant to give up seafaring altogether.
The Court, after a short deliberation, e ,me to the con-
clusion that the loss of the ship was th-casioned by fa,flts
in her construction ; but reprimanded Captain Gttosrucia
and the chief mate, Lows, for leaving port at all in so
unseaworthy a vessel.

SoCTHAMPTON, MARCH 13. —The North Gentian
Lloyd steamer New York sailed to-day for New York
direct, with tho English, French, and German mails, 467
passengers, and a full cargo, including French jewellery,
to the value of 80,000 franca.