The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 12, 1867.

pinion of most notorious receivers, some of whom had been
transported.
Mr. Barker remanded the prisoner until Mondry next,
and refused to take bail.

The prihoner, who seemed to feel his position acutely,
was then removed.
WESTMINSTER.
?NE MU:UN VOLUNTEERS.
- -

Edward S'werart, a youth between 17 and 18 years of
age, was placed at the bar, cluuged with the following
impudent robbery upon the occasion of the Belgian de-
barkation at Westminster-bridge.
Major Henry Court, an aged gentleman, coming
from Twyfonl, and a stranger in London, said that at a
little after ri yesterday afternoon be was going from
Parliament-street to Westminster-bridge when he was
suddenly involved in a crowd of persons and robbed of a
pair of silver eye-glasses which the prisoner afterwards
threw away.
William Lush, 198 K, said he was on duty at West-
minster-bridge, when the Belgians were landing and saw
Major Court. He was suddenly surrounded by four or
five thieves, including the prisoner, who impudently went
in front of him, and taking the eye-glasses from his waist-
coast pocket broke them from a stout riband to which
they were attached. Witness seized him, when he threw
the ;;Loses down and then kicked them horn him.
Pruroner—lt's all a mistake. That gentleman takes me
for somebody else that has robbed him. I ain't guilty,
upon my soul. Of course it's easy to make a mistake.
Lush said the prisoner had some trouble to break the
riband, it was so strong. In doing so he had bent the
gleam.%
Prisoner was fully committed for trial.

INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION IN ENGLAND.
IMPORTANT STATEMENTS.

The Schools Inquiry Commission, of which Lord
Taunton is chairman, having recently had their attention
called to the evidence considered to be afforded by the
French Exhibition of the inferior progress recently made
in manufacturing and mechanical industry in England,
compared with that made in other European countries,
communicated with some eminent English jurors on the
subject, asking them whether in their opinion this infe-
riority is, as had been stated, due in a great measure to the
want of technical education. To-day the replies have
been submitted to parliament in a special report.
Dr. Mayfair's letter to Lord Taunton has already been
made public. It will be remembered that he mentions
that out of 90 classes in the industries there are scarcely a
doyen in which pre-eminence is unhesitatingly awarded to
us, and that among practical men the one cause was be'
hared to be the want in England of good systems of in-
dustrial education. This letter of Dr. Playfair's was sent
to the jurors referred to.
Canon Norris, one of the jurors on primary instruc-
tion, finds the opinion universal, that England is really
losing her advanced position, and that in the matter of
higher instruction, of all that tends to convert the mere
workman into the artisan, Austria, France, and Prussia
are clearly passing us.

Profe,sOrTyn.l;ll, expressing a general concurrence in
Dr. Mayfair's views, adds :—" In fact, I have long enter.
ained the opinion th►t in virtue of the better education
provided by continental nations, England must one day—
and that no distant one—find herself outstripped by those
nations both in the arts of peace and war. As sure as
knowledge is power, this must be the result."
Mr. E. Huth, of Leeds, agrees with Dr. Playfair in Coto,
and say. that in woollen textile fabrics we no longer bold
that pre-eminence accorded to us in the Exhibitim of
1851. The enormous strides of continental rivals make it
daily more difficult for our woollen manufacturers to main-
tain even their present position, and this he attributes
to the inferior education given to our masters, foremen,
and workmen. For this, good national elementary educa-
tion is requisite, and Mr. Huth believes it must be com-
pulsory as in other countries.

Professor Frankland finds his own convictions substan-
tially expressed by Dr. Mayfair. He has been forcibly
struck by the great advances made by other nations as
compared with England in the different branches of chemi-
cal manufacture since 1862, and refers our want of pro-
gress to the " almost utter lack of a good prep:irately edu-
cation for those destined to take part in industrial pur-
suits." The training given in the polytechnic school, of
Germany and Switzerland is more than counter-balancing
the undoubted advantages possessed by this country in raw
material.

Mr. J. Fowler, the President of the Institute of Civil
Engineers, agrees with Dr. Playfair so far as that foreign
nations have made greater manufacturing progress than
Rag-
land since 1851, and Mr. J. G. M'Connell, C. E., is convinced
as regard. locomotives, kc., that our former superiority
either in material or workmanship no longer exists ; " in
fact," he adds, " there are engines shown there made in
France and Germany equal to those of the best English
makers. It requires no skill to predict that, unless we adopt
a system of technical education for our workmen in this
country, we shall soon not even hol 1 our own in cheap-
ness of cost as wall as in excellence of quality of our
mechanical productions. I found that on the Continent
there are now a number of workmen's schools established,
in which a clever mechanic can qualify himself for any li
scientific position in his business. In England our
mechanics' institutions are more like reading dubs.
Classes arefneglected, and in consequence when a good
workman is selected for a foreman's place, he is generally
found wanting in technical knowledge. We have treated
our workmen too much like a machine, but this must be
remedied if we are to maintain our ground. Having for
about 25 years superintended large numbers of English
workmen, I can speak of this point practically."
Captain F. Beaumont, R.E., is struck with the " im-
mense strides which foreign mechanical engineering has
lately made," notably, be thinks in the case of France
and Belgium, and " by which they are rapidly overtak-
ing the industrial power of Great Britain."
To Mr. Warrington W. Smyth, the greater proportion of
the advances made by France, Prussia, and Belgium, in
mining, colliery working, and metallurgy, appears to be
due not to the workmen, but, in a great part to the superior
training and attention to the general knowledge of their
subject observable among the managers and sub-officers
of the works. No candid person can deny that they are
far better educated, as a rule, than those who hold similar
positions in Britain."
Mr. R. Mallet's views, in harmony with those of Dr.
Playfair, were formed not only long before the Paris Exhi-
bition but independently of it.
The remaining letter given in the return are from Mr.
Peter Graham, Dr. D. Price, Mr. J. Scott Russell, Mr. K
Cooke, R.A., Mr. Spotten, Mr. Mundella, and Mr. F.
Young. At the request of some other jurors Mr.
Scott Russell bad already prepared • memo-
randum recommending to the nation the consideration
of the importance of establishing a national system of
technical and trade education. It is in those economic
manufactures which are the result of "fine taste and
aesthetic feeling," that Mr. Cooke feels the truth and just-
ness of Dr. Playfair's opinions. Mr. Mundella, of Not-
tingham. thinks that art and industrial education without
a thoroughly organised system of primary instruction. will
not remove the danger which threatens our manufacturing
and commercial supremacy.
Mr. J. Young, of Bathgate, uses his own Cate Al an
illustration of the value of technical instruction. He says
—" Originally I was a working man, but have succeeded
in increasing the range of manufacturing industry. The
foundation of my success consisted in my having been
fortunately attached to the laboratory of the Andersonian
University in Glasgow, when I learned chemistry
under Graham, and natural philosophy and other
subjects under the respective professors. This knowledge
gave me the power of improving the chemical manufac-
tures into which I afterwards passed as a servant, and ulti-
mately led to my being the founder of • new branch of in-
dustry, and owner of the largest chemical manufacturing
works of the kingdom. It would be meet ungrateful of
me if I did not recognise the importance of scientific and
technical education in improving and advancing
manufactures. Many men without such education
have made inventions and improvements, but they
have struggled against enormous difficulties, which
only a powerful genius could overcome, and
they have been sensible of the obstacles to their
progress. Stephenson, who so greatly improved
locomotives, bad to be his own instructor, but be
sent his son Robert to Edinburgh University, and the son
did works at least **great as the father, and with far less
difficulty to himself. The improvement in locomotion Las
necessarily created great competition in the industries of
the world, and unless we add skilled instruction to
manual labour, England cannot expect to maintain her
position in the industrial race."
The Schools Inquiry Commission, we should state, sug-
gest for the consideration of the government, • special in-
quiry into the state and effeets of technical education
abroad.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.
(THIB DAY.)

This day a meeting of proprietors was held in the
Bridge•houae Tavern fur the purpose of considering the
question of an amalgamation with the South Eastern
Company.
Mr. LAliec, M.P., who occupied the chair, said that he
explained fully at the last meeting the terms of the pro-
posed'arnangement with the South Eastern Company. He
bad, therefore, only to repeat his confidence that an amal-
gamation would be the means of placing both com-
panies in the position which they formerly held.
Without such amalgamation he saw the prospect of
a renewal of the outbreak of hostilities. With the amal-
gamation there would he a diminution of expenses. The
principle of amalgamation was that known as the North
Eastern—that was to my— there would be an amalgamation
as regarded traffic and working, but not as to liabilities or
capital. If in the course of 10 or 12 years
the receipts were doubled, there would not
only be enough to pay the interest on preference
shares. Esc., but to pay • dividend of seven or eight
per cent. to the ordinary shareholders. ("Hear, hear,"
and cries of "Oh.") That did not depend on his state-
ment, it depended on figures which were as acces-
sible to any shareholder as to himself. Such
bad been the result as regarded the North•Estern
Company. What be chiefly looked to, however, was the
saving which would be effected in the working ex-
penses. He had seen it stated that the saving of ex-
penses by the South Esetern Company might be
100.0001. • year. He did not know how that
might be, but there could be no doubt that • great
saving would be effected. The chairman then proceeded
to meet some objections which bad been made in pam-
phlets to the basis of amalgamation as being unfavourable
to the Brighton shareholders, and to show that nothing
could be fairer than the basis adopted.
' No resolution had been oome to when we went to press.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning the business of the day commenced
at the usual hour and with increased intere.t, inasmuch
as with this day commenced the third range in the first
stage for the Queen's Prize, which is at 1100 yards, and
with which this stage will terminate. On the conclusion of
this stage a great number of prizes will be determined.
The volunteer making the highest aggregate score
in the three ranges of 200, 500, and 000 yards
becomes at once entitled to the silver medal and
silver badge of the association and Of. in money. The
next 29 highest shots each receive the National Rifle As-
sociation badge and 15/. in money ; the next 30 highest
each receives in/. in money, and the next 90 each 3/. in
money. With this the competition (as far as
the 2,0:0 rent from different parts of tue kingdom
are concerned) is terminated, but beyond this the
CO who stand highest in the first stage are entitled to
shoot on a future day in what is known as the second
stage, which is at the respective ranges of SOO, 000, and
1,000 yards, seven shots at each range. From this select
60 the future winner of the Queen's prize of 2101., the
gold medal, and gold badge of the National Rifle Atari-
ciation is to be taken. Therefore, as we have remarked,
the commencement of the last range of 600 yards in the
first stage of the Queen's was of considerable importance,
as upon the shooting mule at it depended the hopes and
aspirations of men who were anxious to become the reci-
pients of the great prize of the meeting.
Mrs. Mahan', the lady who sustained the serious
misfortune of a broken leg, is stilt lying in the hospital
tent, under the care of Surgeon-Major Wyatt, and in
answer to inquiries made as to her state of health, the
report was that she was as well as could be expected.
The others are the Enfield Association Cup, Duke of
Cambridge's Prize for the military breech-loaders, Swim
Carton Prices, Running Deer, and almost endless pool
shooting.
Lest night a large musical party perambulated the camp,
and sang many choice songs, choruses. &c.
At the time this was written visitors were rapidly ar-
riving.
A suooessful day is confidently anticipated.