The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-18 00:00:00

to banish ignorance and repress crime, we must
have recourse to a national remedy, seeing that
we have to contend against a national evil. The
resolutions passed and carried at the meeting of
the Congregational Board of Education, deny
this principle. One declares that the only means
required for the attainment of Education ought
to be derived from the payments of parents, aided
when necessary by the resources of Christian
benevolence, andenlightened patriotism. Grant-
ing the truth of this assertion, we might as well
argue that in order to repress and punish crime,
the only means required should be the payments
from the parties injured, "aided, when necessary,
by the resources of Christian benevolence, and
enlightened patriotism." Who will stand up
and vindicate the soundness of such a doctrine.
Admitting that it is metaphysically correct, is it
practicable ? Can it be carried out without injury,
to every grade and condition of society. The next
resolution adopted at the meeting in question is
still more objectionable, inasmuch as it puts forth a
monstrous fallacy. That fallacy is that granting
national aid to education is "destroying, by a
slow but certain process, the voluntary income
of industry and kindness, and throwing on the
public revenue expenses which the community
are able and willing to bear."
Now to this statement, we have only to say,
that the fact of ignorance and immorality prevail-
ing and operating in all ages; grades, and sects of
society, proves clearly and incontrovertibly, that,
although able, the community is not WILLING to
bear the expense; The Rev. Mr. PARSONS, and
Mr. EDWARD BAINES, know full well, that if their
educational principles were correct, our jails
would be empty, the Union Workhonses deserted,
every man would be a patriot, a philanthropist,
and a Christian, and-we should find ourselves in
the midst of that much Coveted, but greatly dis-
puted period h-the Millenium. Society would
be a second Paradise, and none would have to
rail against it for the neglect, the indifference,
and the very scorn whiCh it heaps upon the call-
ing of the Educator. The Ihnes would not be.
called .npon to insert advertisements, headed,
c, Who will assist a poor schoolmaster," nor
would that important functionary be destined
to see his youth and his strength pass away in
the performance of monotonous and painful
labours--surrounded by ignorance. and most
commonly exposed to ingratitude and injustice,
sinking into despondency and despair, were it
not that he is supported and encouraged by
principles and motives more powerful than those
which arise from the prospect of personal
ad vantage.

Animated by an anxious desire to see the
cause of education progress, and its professors
ranked and rewarded as the importance of their
calling justly merits, we cannot but regret
that sentiments such as those, enunciated by the
Congregational Board of Education, should be
proclaimed. They do not advance the cause of
Voluntaryism. They are antagonistic to the
progress of sound and useful instruction, and
only tend to fan the ►llme of prejudice by which
this much vexed quegtion of National Education
is constantly surrounded, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON
purposes to move a serious of resolutions on the
question when we shall have something more
to say upon this most important topic.

IT would only be absurd on our part, with the
evidences before us of the feeling of the people
of Liverpool, on the vital question of water
supply, to offer the' slightest apology to our
readers for the amount of space we have hitherto
devoted to the elucidation of the question.
The Report of the Medical Officer of Health
for the last week stated that the deaths in the
Borough during that period had been no fewer
than 241, in this the most temperate and healthy
season of the year; a mortality greater by 56 than
that of the previous week, and 20 more than the
corrected average of former years. This is in itself
a startling fact. No doubt a portion of this large
increase in our mortality may be accounted for
'by the somewhat ungenial and chilly weather
which has prevailed during the last few we ks,
but we also fear that the use of the impure water,
which has for some time been forcibly thrust
upon the inhabitants, may have had some share
in swelling the bill of mortality to its present
very unpleasant proportions. It is idle to
disguise the fact, that the whole town complain
of this filthy water. The chairman of the Water
Committee tells the Council that there are no
complaints; that all are satisfied. If he examined
our file he would discover his mistake. We have
them in abundance. And let us go into what
company we will, we hear but one opinion, that
is, a loudly expressed condemnation of the
Water Committee, in still compelling the
inhabitants of Liverpool to use their filthy
diluted wash, for no other reason than that of
gratifying their own stubborn and stiff-necked
prejudices.
Surely their:fdends, and the projectors of this
abominable job. might rest satisfied with the
rewards of their jobbery, without doing further
injury to the dupes whom they have so adroitly
hoodwinked. That great hydraulic Pike engin-
eer, Mr. THOAIAS HAWKSLEY, has already received
on " account," 10,5001., for his share in the job
—his staunch friends and coadjutors, the very
worthy FRANCIS FAMILY, came in for a nice little
slice of corporate cash, to the tune of nearly
4,0001. Then we had the JacxsoNs, the
SPENCERS, the KNIPES, and a flock of such other
birds, "all of a feather " rejoicing in their well
filled purses, their sumptuous dinners at the
Burlington, their claret, burgundy, and hock at
FENDALLS, and all their little gentle appetites
and passions indulged in at the cost of the Cor-
poration. And our worthy Town Clerk who
received his handsome gratuity of 5001., for hav-
ing successfully carried the Pike Bill, might now,
in mercy to the poor wretches, the Ratepayers of
Liverpool, leave them alone, to do as they can
with their old and dearly beloved, although

much decried well water. They may keep all
they have got in the shape of remuneration, and
welcome, if they will only take their bog wash