The Express.
London, England, 1859-02-01 00:00:00

CATIONAL raIONB.

The annual soirée of the Literary Institute, at
Whitworth, neer Rochdale, was held on Saturday, and was
presided over by Sir JAMES P. KAT-8111erLEWORT11, Bart.
The large room of the National School was well tilled, chiefly
by_persons of the working-clem.
Bir JAMES KAT•BIII:TTLEWORTH said, that beluga native
of Rochdale, he had meet readily accepted the invitation
to preside. From the age of 15 to 18 be worked regu-
larly in the Sunday-school at Bamford; and it was the
insight which he then had into the organisation of schools,
and the knowledge of their necessities, which first Implanted
in him the desire to see the education of the working
people promoted. He then gave a variety of statistics
relating to the Mechanic.' Institutions in Lancashire,
Cheshire, and Yorkshire, similar to those contained in his
speech at Keighley. In reference to the new government
minute, authorising the establishment of evening schools in
connexion with the day schools that were now under certifi-
cated masters, he urged upon his audience the necessity of
taking the matter into their serious consideration. la rural
end semi-rural districts the minute would produce very bens-
ficial results ; but, in large Marne, the new everting wheels
would be found dangerous rivals of the existing evening
classes connected with mechanic' institution'. Not only ,
would the meters ei the evening schools be certificated, tut
the assistant serders would also be certificated; so that the
machinery provided by the goverment would hereestefilcient.
Although having no naceesary connexion with the question
of government aid, ft was desirable to describe the efforts
made to awaken a barge amount of sympathy for the pro-
ceedings of mechanics institutions, by means of unions.
In addition to those in Lancaehire' Yorkshire, and Cheshire,
there were others in different parts of the country. Of their
object' some were common to all, while others were peculiar
to individual institutions. Of the former clam were—The
Prize Scheme, conducted either by the Unione themselves, or
by the Soddy of Arts, and the system of refreshing the libra-
ries of smaller institutions by circulating books throughout
the Unions in boxes. In the East Lancashire Union (of
which Sir Junes is president) a somewhat more complete
machinery had been adopted. Liberal subscriptions were re-
ceived from the gentry scat chief capitalists of the district ;
and liberal prizes were offered foe competition, the number of
competitors at the last examination being 100. There was like-
wise a system of instruction that was entirely new. Two
highly instructed itinerating masters were engsged,who spent
five evenings in the week In instructing climes@ in succes-
sive institutions; delivering lectures on Saturday evenings
at each Institution throughout the Union in succession.
There was in addition • local master, well fitted by his own
knowledge, and with the aid of the organising master in
matter. of discipline, to give instruction. In addition to
these there was a third officer, selected from those who had
obtained prizes of a certain class, and called a candidate
teacher. He was paid le. per evening for instruction ; and
he himself received instruction from the organising master,
similar to that given by masters of schools to pupil teachers.
So that, besides any lowa teachers whom each institution
might obtain, there were three masters provided by the
anion. Incentives were al to offend to independent erudite ;
and prizes were given to the best berbarisn and entomologist,
for tbebest collection of &mile, cad for the best phyelcal map
of the district. They were now oleo about to establish fern,
libraties, the proprietors of estates providing the books and
the tenants subscribing for periodicals, which would be taken
weekly from farmhouse to farmhouse, lectures being de-
hewed at the different plane by the organising masters on
the desists of chentiery and other matters remits' to a
knowledge of agriculture. The system which he had thus
described as being fa operation in the Rest Lancashire Union
was carried on with the knowledge and the aid of government,
but he did not believe there was at present say disposition to
extend that aid to other districts, nor did he know how long
it would be continued to this. The government aid,
however, formed no necessary eletseat of its noway
though tap to this pried it had bean of great importance in
its attainment. (Hear, hear.)
The saeadag was rubseepiestly addressed by the Rev. W.
R. Thorbara,llr. P. Seville, Mr. Scott, Mr. Thomas Jack-
me, said oases.

nal InsIMANCL—The damp duty on Are in-
maw% la Warye ended Mena bat, Wes so hoe than
1,366,0011.