The Express.
London, England, 1858-06-29 00:00:00

THE EXPBFSS, TUESDAY NVENING, JUNE 2,

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Ant headed the people in their ntigraties. They
left handsome dwellings, cultivated leads, the re-
sults of long labour add the objects at strong ariera-
meat; and went ford into the wilderness Coen-
' Gaunter for the wooed time long mouths of privation
and danger. If the troops molested them by cross-
ing the frontier, strict orders, it is stated, were
given to set fire to every homestead, and make of
Deseret a Moscow beyond the Rbcky Movntains.

There was a report, indeed, in camp that this appa-
rent migration was a mere ruse, and that the object
of t►e Mormons was to return in force when they
had placed their wives, children, and moveable
treasure beyond the reach of attack. This report is
in all probability entirely unfounded. Governor
COXIIIIIQ, who had the best means of information,
and him& saw the exodus actually going on, had
no doubt whatever as to the genuineness of the
movement, which is besides rendered addition-
ally probable by the previously known facts
of Mormon history. The universality of
the movement may be judged of from the
fact that only about 180 people, of whom 70 were
children, notified a wish to throw themselves under
the protection of the Federal Government, and ex-
pressed a desire to be forwarded to the United
States.

On the whole it most be admitted that no social
phenomenon of the present age equals the strangeness
of this spectacle. Theocracy and Polygamy—the
ancient faith and the inveterate practioe of the East
—are in these last days finding devotees, nay,
martyrs, in the Far West. "We are going
" South," say these enthusiasts to those who ask the
goal of their pilgrimage. It is to Cedar City, or
some part of Sonora, that the sat reliable informa-
tion represents them as boated. One thing is very
elear—one thing was terribly proved by the expo-
rienoe of the last great emigration—that out of that
vast company hundreds, nay. thousands will leave
their bones in the wilderness. If it be true, as the
history of all modes of faith proves, that nothing
makes opinion thrive and prosper like persecution,
then it must be admitted that Mormoniam has received
from the hands of its enemies every possible en-
couragement for its growth. It is impossible not to
watch with the deepest interest the further evolu-
tions of a drami so extraordinary.

ON Saturday last the first examination of those
" who are not members of the University" was con-
chided. The first experiment of what is called
Middle-Class Examination has been tried, and upon
the whole it has proved eminently sueoessfal. It
lasted for six days, and the number of candidates
amounted to some 1,200. The young men were
drawn from all quarters : in fact, the Examiners
were sent down from Oxford to various towns
throughout the country—from Manchester in the
north to Exeter in the south. Although each hoes-
lity did not demonstrate its interest in the scheme
by furnishing examiners, as was the case with the
Society of Arts, still the mere number of those who
came ferward amply proves the interest which is felt
in the plan and the extent to which it is appre-
ciated. The list of those examined by the Society
of Arta discovers the fact that even men of humble
ealling--mechanics and day labourers—are not in-
sensible to the blessings of education. And, unless
_ _

we are misinformed, it will turn out from the ituallt
of this Oxford examination that the middle elm"
'of this country rightly estimate the importimatel
having some test whereby to measure the Wen of
the education furnished at the ordinary selmele.
Indeed, it seems probable that the clam of peruse
who have taken advantage of these Oxford examine."
Lions is even higher than might have been anti.
oipated. They are many of them the sons of
wealthy merchants and professional men, who are
not destined for the University. If this be the fa*,
this scheme of Middle-Class Examination will have
accomplished the very object for which it was insti-
tuted. The poorer claws have inspectors--the
higher classes have the Universities. In either case
there is a definite test whereby the progress of the
pupil and the skill of the master may be ascertained.
But for the middle classes there has hitherto been
nothing of the sort. The parent had no means
of ascertaining whether his child had been pro-
perly taught—the master could not show by the
uceess of his pupil that he understood his
business. A very alight experience of the results
of those exerninatioas will demonstrate the compa-
rative value of the schools throughout the country.
This is surely a real benefit ; nor need pedantic
writers any longer anticipate the day when every
grocer will have A.A. painted over his shop-door, and
every gardener be instructed in the Georgics" of
VIRGIL. In fact, if the candidates are of that sups.
, rior class to which, according to our present informs,-
tion, they seem to belong, the danger will rather be
that the examination does not penetrate to the lower
strata of the middle class of society. For satisfac-
tory information on this matter, however, it will be
I prudent to await the Report of the Examiners.
It is impossible to read the accounts of the meet-
ings of the Oxford delegates with the local com-
mittees, or the speeches made, without being struck
with the admirable moral effect already produced by
this movement. If anything is to calm down party
spirit and theological acrimony—if anything can
induce a state of feeling which shall result in a
system of general education, it will be this Uni-
versity scheme. At these meetings in the great
England, presided our by the
es and of every creed assemble
of stamping with thirseal of
those who voluntarily rehash
It is impossible to deny
young then Weald never un-
they bad the utmost confidence',
in the University examiners, unless they had a ion-,
siderable opinion of their capacity, and set a high
value on their good opinion. Mutual respect of this
sort is highly creditable. It shows that the benefits
of education are fully appreciated, and that the Uni-
versity of Oxford may do much to promote that
great cause. There is, indeed, no period at which the
University of Oxford ever occupied a more splendid
position ; though it is somewhat difilealt to understand
how it has been obtained. By sheer fetes of public
opinion Oxford has set herself at the harlot the edu-
cation of the country. Every single young man who
receives the honorary reward of his intelligence and
industry from the University Examinees will be
eager to maintain University right and to extend
Untanslty Menet. An a great national institu-
tion appall( to the widest sympathies, and
denuded en prineiples of general utility, the Univer-
sity of Oxford will find letesif mere ware then in
the times when she kept aloof him popular feeling
and jealously excluded the " profane vulgar" from
her Gouts.

There is one matter connected with them systems
of examination which any Government will do wel
t eseeider. It is quite clear that the principle of
competition must be extended. Now probably the
fairest and safest mode of extending the system
would be this :—Open all situations which are now
tilled up by nominations to all those who have
obtained the outificate of the Boeiety of Arts or an
A.A. degree of the University of Oxford. This
test will certainly mum all Use benefits which as
alleged to attach to the power of sembention.

Tee ►ppraval of the Oxford Examines, and of
those d the Society of Arta, must be quite as satis-
factory as the approval of the Meister of the
Crown. A great boon would thus be conferred on
deserving young men without inflames°, and a
stimulus would be given to education which it is
,difficult to exaggerate.