The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

.. .
to support. (Heir.) It wee a tabled of great satisfaction to
him to think that it was Repaint-de to look upon the objects
they were meet to promote to any point of view without
disooyering some additional claim upon their sympathy. If
they considered the class whose orphan children were the
recipients of the bounty of the iastitutlen—a class with
whose distresses they naturally sympathised with and were
anxious to alleviate—or if they considered the character of
the education given to these children, and the sound min-
i...pies on which ft was hued, they must feel themselves
more and more impelled be do their utmost in furtherance
eitlbe Muss of tlas charity. (Hear, bear.) The conviction
be boil keg entertained was that education was the grand
gaof the day, bemuse streagthened day by rig.
h other questions sliced interest us for the mement—
we might be annoyed and excited at those aggressions
all of us felt called upon to unite in resisting to the
ithmost—(cheers, mingled with some hissee)—though we
might be sensible of the fact that injurious and pernicious
doetrines were gradually creeping into
en the communion to
which we belonged, seeking to sap d underm muies thou
principles on which all our best social interest
depended —he would ask them whether, alter ail, the
solution of all thee* difficulties did not depend on
the solightenmeat and education of the people. (Cheers.)
He wee no advocate for restricting liberty of con.
science. (Hear, hear.) He had always come forward on
every occasion in which he had the opportunity of doing so
to support, as far he could, the great priociples of civil and
religious liberty—(load cheers)—on which he believed the
civil freedom, and, consequently, the real property of the
kingdom rested. (Hear, bear.) But he was, at the same
time, sensible of this fact—that if you would have men to
choose for themselves between good and evil—if you would
have them to be the judges of what is true:and what is false,
you meet prepare their minds by education to diatinguish
rightly between the one and the other. (Cheers.) You could
not expect the masses to come to • correct conclusion
en matters of such vital importance, ening you first im-
planted in their minds sound principles of educatOn, based
upon the true word of God. (Hear, hear) He, for one,
had no fear with regard to the right solution of any question
that might be propounded to the English people, so long as
Shoes principles were kept in view. He cared not what the
question might be—whether between protestants and Roman
eatholies, or between protestantiem and tractarianism—(loud
cheer)—whatever it might be, he had no fear of the result
ft long as the mess of the people were educated In simple,
Mont, sweetmeat principles. (Hear, hear.) And from all
be had heard and seen of the education of the cbildren of the
Commercial Travellers' School, and that without compro-
mising any principle of Christianity—(hear, hear)—no ante.
rian views were, as he understood it, allowed to be inculcated
in this school; but a liberal education was imparted
' based on sound moral and Christian principle. (Hear, hear.)
The education given to these children wee also useful and
' practical ; not calculated to raise them above their sphere in
society, but to fit them for the petition they were likely to
fill hereafter, and to make them useful and respected in it.
I (Hear, hear.) He did not believe there was a single inttitu-
tion in this vast metropolis conducted on better or sounder
principle,mar-
riedmsochrec.altra tly
(Hear.)m
ooat than
wherethe
Commercial
And while on this point, though he did not wish on such an
he
T principles
ea velwl Travellers'
occasion to advert to any controversial topics. cr to intrude
' political /objects lute a meeting pier for harmonious and
charitable pureeing, he might be allowed to say that in his
' opinion the efforts of the government to soothe their discords
I and to bring into harmony thou 000fiicting internee, which
had hitherto prevented the spread of education in this
country, entitled them to the highest honour. (Cheers.) It
was not for him to say what might he the amount of success
that might attend the is efforts in this direction, but if they
succeeded in spreading the light of education amongst the
masses of this country, they would do more towards the
mainteeance of the prosperity of this country than had been
effected by the most glorious victories which our history
recorded. (Cheep) Depend upon it, that in proportion aa
you informed the national mind—as yo u extended the bles-
sings of an enlightened education amongst the penee, the
more you strengthened the foundations of the national pros-
perity. f Chun.) The efforts which were now making to extend
education encouraged him to look forward te days of honour
and prosperity for this country,w hich would cast into the shade
all that had gone before. The triumphs of peace were far
more worthy—they were far more enduring than the
triumphs of war • and he was led to hope that this country
would henceforward maintain her place amongst the nations
of the earth leas by the manifestation of her military
strength than by her moral power, her superiority in know-
laden,
and her preeminence in science; and by the general i
diffusion amongst her people of those religious principles
which elevated man and fitted him for the position in life he I
was awed upon to fits. (Cheers.) One word more and he
had done. They could not have a more conclusive proof of
the advantages of educating the people, then the effect that
had Wien already produced by the Ragged Schools. In the
last report of the Ordinary of Newgate, it was shown that
wince the establishment of these institutions, there I
had been a considerable decrease in the number of juve-
nile criminals. Here was a proof of the advantages of edu-
cation amongst the lowest class of the community: and
wherever TOU could trace its effects, whether in the higher
or lower classes, the same result would be apparent—that
the greatest good you could do to man was to confer upon
him the blessings of religion and moral instruction. Such
was the character of the education given in the Commercial
Travellers' Schools, and he knew he should meet with •
hearty response from every heart present when he wished
that institution, and all connected with it, prosperity and
happiness in the new veer. (Cheers.)
A second list of suloscrietions was then read, including
the names of the Lord Mayor for ten guineas ; the Mayor of
Bristol. 20 guineas; Mr. Muterman, M.P., 10 guinea; W.
G. B. Gunton, E-q., 331 2e; J. C. Podmore,E‘q„ 101.. 10s.
Mr. MASTERMAN, M.P., next rose. He wee sure the
toast he had now to propose would be most cordially res-
ponded to by every one peewee. The kindly feeling ex-
pressed by the worthy chief magistrate of London toward
the institution whcse interests they were met to promote
was extremely gratifying ; and he was happy to be able,
from personal knowledge, to say that that kind feeling was
not misplaced, for the Commercial Travellers' School, if not
the best, was certainly amongst the best institutions of its
class in this great metropolis. It was extremely
gratifying to him, holding the position he did as
the pendent of the institution, to hear its merits
dilated upon as they had been by the chief mogis-
trate of London and also by the reverend gentleman who
had just addressed them. The linger he lived the more
convinced was he of the advantages which educational insti-
tutes conferred upon mankind. (IL ar, hear.) Educate the
young and the nation would continue to prosper end im-
prove. He was glad to see in such • clue such a number
of ladies assembled—(cheers)—and he was sure, with their
sympathies enlisted in its favour, the institution could not
but prosper. (Cheer..) He begged to propose to them the
health at their right honourable chairman the Lord Mayor.
The toast having been drunk with the usual honours,
The LORD MAYOR, in returning thanks, remarked
that it would be unpardonable if he detained them more
than a few misutee in acknowledging the compliment
which had been paid to him. His hon. friend Lad re-
ferred to the presence of the ladies—and it was most gra-
tifying to him (the Lord Mayor) to find that there were
ladies present, and of course much more so that they
should have joined in paying him • compliment. (Hear,
hear.) It was, however, much more pleating to him to
find that the fair sex were so warmly enlisted in the cause
of this charity, for he remembered it had always been said
in matters of this kind, " if you can only get the ladies to
join you, you are mire to succeed." He would appeal to
those ladies who had honoured him by joining in the last
toast to persevere in their object, and to endeavour, by the
exercise of that iofiusuce which each pomaded within her
own sphere and her own neighbourhood, to obtain support
for the institution, and to extend its usefulness. For his
own part, it would always be • pleasure to him to do all
he could to mkt in promoting the interests of the Commercial
Travellers' School by all the means in his power.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, said that
the company must have regard to the fact that the gentle-
man whose name he was shout to mention would shortly be
compelled to take his leave in order that he might be in
time for a particular train to convey him home. He should
therefore be very brief in bringing this toast under their
notice, and he would at once propose to them the health of
Mr. Masterman, the president of the institution. (Hear,
hear.) In the coons of his experience he had often had
opportunities of proposing the health of this gentleman as a
member of the House of Commons, but upon the present
occasion he wee about to introduce his name in a vary dif-
ferent character, although it was one which he felt
assured was quite as acceptable to him es that of •
mamba of the legislature. (Hear, hear.) In giving
them this toast he could not do otherwise than offer his
warmest congratulations to the directors of this charity, on
the fact of their being enabled to have so excellent • peen
dent; for his knowledge of teat gentleman bad shown him
that where there was good to be dons he was always ready to
do it. (Hear, hue) It was always the greatest pleasure to
him to be enabled to confer benefit upon his poorer fellow-
creatures; and it might truly be said of him that he was
everybody's friend and the friend of everybody, He need
say nothing more upon this subject than to ask them to do
an bet of justices to Mr. Masterman, their president, by cor-
dially drinking his health. (Cheers.)
The toast having been drunk with the usual honours,
Mr, MASTERMAN returned thanks, but in so low a tons
of voice that, at the distance at which we were situated, we
were only enabled to catch a few disconnected words. The
ken. gentleman observed that he was deeply tensible of the
kind manner in which the Lord Mayor had introduced his
asses to their notice, end he was, at the same time, extremely
thankful to them for the cordiality with which they had
recened the proposition. The complimentary terms in
Mlle thie Lord Mayor had mentioned his name had really
Ole uoaervid him, and had entirely prevented him from
saying that which he wi.had to have said. His long con-
nexion with the mercantile community had wives him a
gnat interest in the welfare of such an institution as the
preeent, end it was 'ratifying to him to think
that the commercial people of this country should
eseekter him • fit and proper person so fill the office of their
palest. He could inure them that so long as his life sin
spud it should be hie humble though earnest endeavour
ko gemneek the usefulness of this valuable institution ; lad
he aft "Haug he begged to tender his antlers thanks for the
berme which had new been confined upon him. (Hear.)
Baas be at down he must take thaprivUege of proposing
Is them • toast, viz.. the health of • gentleman, who, though
be was not present on this occasion, was • very warm sad
sincere friend of the institution—he alluded to Mr. George
Moore, their treasurer—and be was quite sure that the mar
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very whateverr:
greet:ei oh:-
.. sire, depend upon the exertions of the treasurer, sad it