Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-08 00:00:00

id the I

spoke as follois:—G
friend in the chai

ld NalE

aufactured

o 1 Lor(
words o

Brougham I use these epithets not as
courtesy and of course, but as expressing the universal
feeling of the people of this country—my noble and vene-
rable friend has anticipated some of the topics upon
which I intended to touch to-night, and you have
heard from Mr. Kennedy, from Mr. Chester, and Mr.

nien obtain if

ld ship them

them, they could' nqt.poss

s to this, perhaps,

Ls in union, can afford to do that

D. A. TiIcCORMICK ANI

services,

exctusive

to bring them from

Aoore, details of tke working or tors /lee „_
cieties, which thefr long
,experience, their official posi-
tion, render more accurate than any which I could
furnish, I stand before you personally as a stranger—not
indeed in this county, but in these districts. (Cheers.)
lie .i. I am acquainted with the proceedings 'of this East
•eao Lancashire Union of yours only through the means
Pae
of a printed report, and since we have long ago got
)ein past the time when people thought it necessary to
for talk mere generalities in defence of the practice of
On
,d giving instruction to the people, since we have learnt
ilea 'for the last quarter of a century to take all that
Ana for granted, 1 really feel some difficulty in the ab-
W.l sence of local knowledge in knowing what I can find to
ted. address to you that you will consider worth your hearing.
_ This, however, you will allow me to say, before I touch
upon any other subject : I beg to congratulate you, and , ......... ee_.____
111 • ' -- '— -- Ireite-n- and is destineu,
to congratulate the people of this town, upon the unex-
ampled spectacle which this hall afford to-night.
(Cheers.) You have here present one who for sixty years
;ET has been the foremost champion of the educational cause ti,
(cheers)—in days when that cause was not, asnow, a means lus in a Manna .. ~ —.— __ __
° P of acquiring popularity, but when it met with bitter .op- thing has been said to-night about the provision mac.
_ position from many and important quarters: (Hear, for teaching in schools. Whatever may be the faults of
'HE hear.) You have here men who, like Sir J. K. Shuttle- our system of school teaching—though I don't think it
worth, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Chester, have been less at all perfect, I wish to do it justice,—l do not think
St conspicuous, but still, in public positions, have given that in the actual constitution of society it gets fair
ex much energy and labour to that movement—you =have play. Parliament votes about three-quarters of a mil-
a s here, in what I am told are numbers very unusual, lion annually for schools for the instruction of the chil-
EN the operatives of this and the surrounding towns; dreg of the working classes. Nearly twice as much,
and you have assembled on this platform for the perhaps a million and a-half more, is contributed for
°us; purpose of paying due honour to. the prizemen of the same purpose by the parents themselves, or in a great
to 1 the working classes, assembled for the purpose, as measure from the benevolence or sense of duty of those
•eas far as in them may lie, of promoting and extending the interested in this cause. Now, what happens
education of the working -classes. You have assembled large number of the children of the we
til on this platform, Lam told, in greater numbers than ever to, school, attend there pretty regt
before for any educational purposes, those' who represent and to write and to _cipher with t•
LI .
the science, the mechanical skill and enterprise, and if you take the average of Englanu, their schoolna
the capital of these East Lancashire districts. (Cheers.) closes between the ages of twelve and-ten—l am afraid,
eTI That is a sight which anywhere and at any time would nearer ten than twelve. They read nothing more, they
Ail be -satisfactory ; but it is doubly gratifying now, at a learn nothing more ; the little they picked up at school
175 e time when, the relations—not only in this district, but is apt, to , 1.9, quickly forptten ; and I really do not be-
d in all parts of the country—between employer and em- lieve that I should be overstating the case if I said—l
'e3 ployed are subjects of anxious; sometimes, I fear, of am speaking perhaps more of the agricultural districts
ine acrimonious, discussion. (Hear, hear.) It is doubly, - than of these—that of every three, certainly of every
alt
r gratifying, because it shows that here, at least, the em- two, who at fifteen year of age are able to read and
male)
disorganisation or irreguianty ()I sue systemospeetuly removing feel how closely and how intimately their interests when he reaches . the age a twenty-five. (Hear,
the cause, thus restoring the sufferer to robutt health. As a
-
are bound up together—because it shows how both feel hear.) , This Shows that the large sum voted by Par-
family medicine they are unequalled, and may be taken by old
and young, restoring health and energy after all other means that the tie, the relation between them, cannot be a ~lament, ,and the very much larger gum added to it
have proved unsuccessful. mere relation of bargain and contract, but that 'it must by private persons—that of these vast sums a large pro-
ALL OF A TREMBLE.—The. ,secretary of one of our rest upon the firmer and more durable basis of personal portion is,' for all practical results, absolutely as much
insurance companies not long since advertised for a book- interest and personal eynepathy. (Cheers.) Gentle- wasted as if it were 'thrown into the sea. To- some ex-
keeper, and received in' response the following letter, men, I have told you that I have but little knowledge tent, you cannot prevent that condition of things. Men—
which is so original and business-like, that we. are per- of the working of this association. 'Something, how- young men and lads who have their bread to get—may
mitted to copy it, as a guide to other applicants for ever, I have gathered from that able summary of pro- or may not study, but they must work. After a Very
similar situations. The writer thoughtfully enclosed a readings chime the last two years, of which I hold a early time their days are taken up with daily work, and
leaf cut from an old account-book as a sample of his copy in my hand,b and from that document I collect that if any instruction is to be provided for them it can only
work.—" Big Tager, Wilkes Co., Ga.--My Dr. Sir,—l the object of this East Lancashire Union is generally be provided by means of. the night school. Now, it is
am a wanting of a situation in bookkeeping, and Mr. similar—l don't say identical—to a kindred,,
perhaps that form of instruction which you provide here ; and
Shirwan said how that you would like to get me in your a rival society in another part of- the county, which you do more 'than merely supply. the - school, you supply
office. If so, please answer to oncet. I send you a' spe- has its head-quarters in Manchester, and a meeting at the same time incentives and inducements to attend
cimen of my single entry, but I can keep' em double as connected with which was held no longer ago it by your system of examination, by the competition
well. lam all of a tremble, having just been licking than Tuesday last. There may be wide differences for prizes, by the public honour and respect which on
a nigger. From yours truly.—F. S. Hinenreennne in management and detail, but the leading funda- occasions like the present you pay to' intellect'and in-
-New York Journal If Cointne:ree." mental idea, as I take it, of both . are the same—to . dustry. These honours are a sample and foretaste only
give strength and spirit and encouragement to' of the more substantial distinctions which later life
lk - affords to those who are competent to obtain them. You
THE CONSERVATIVE CAUSE AT Henwicer.—The month, scattered up and down' throughout the whom I address are Lancashire men; you know the
municipal election at Harwich closed most triumphantly county, scattered in your case over a' circle 20 miles conditions of life in these swarming regions of the
for the Conservative party: Two ' Conservatives and across, by uniting them, by supplying them with a north, where every man, rich or poor, is a worker, where
two Liberals retired from office. _At the close of the common centre of action, and by encouraging a mutual fortunes are made with hardly less rapidity than they
poll four Conservatives were at the head, and accordingly and healthy competition between their respective mem- are in America 'or Australia.' , You know how !false
returned. bers —by enabling them to obtain the services of a better is that belief—sometimes entertained in ignorance, some-
and
ALARMING FlRES.—During Saturday night Sun- -class of teachers than they could,, singly and separately times it may be professed to be entertained with a noble
command, and by bringing the experience of each to purpose—the belief that England affords no scope for the
day morning several fires took place in different parts of bear for the benefit of the whole. • (Cheers.) That, I social improvement-of the working man. I believe that
the metropolis; the majority, however, evere not attended take it, is the object and purpose for which the East one of, the most important volumes that could possibly
with any serious destruction of property. One fire Lancashire Union exists. NoW, I find it stated further be written, and when it is written it ought ,to find a
happened in the premises of Mr. Beak, iron bedstead- in the report to which I have referred, that the place in every hamlet, almost in every cottage, would be
maker, Hackney-road.- The firemen, by dint of great majority of these associated institutions are—as; from a biographical record of a few selected instances of those
perseverance, managed to
_get' 'the mastery over the the physical characteristics of the district' they eminent and illustrious persons who in various occupa-
flames, but not until• the ground floor and all its con- must necessarily be—very small ; that they consist, tions and departments of life have raised them Selves
tents were destroyed, the floor over the shop was burned, for the most part, of , evening . classes, a library from the ranks. .(Cheers.) Many a- story might be
the roof of the factory adjoining damaged by fire, &c. and newsroom ; and I see it stated with more told in such a volume which would cheer the courage
Another fire took place in the premises of Mr. John than ordinary satisfaction, that ' though of course and buoy up the heart of the struggling operative in his
Chapel, M the
y don't reject or. refuse assistance when tendered most distressed hours. 'But you need no such volume to
green. The disaster was occasioned from the light of e
"lions
the wealthy or middle class, still that these institu- read to your recollection' the .fortunes, and fame 'of the
the gas burner -coming in contact with a large quantity ions are not in the • habit of relying upon that assist- • elder Stephenson you do not require to be told of did rise
of goods in the windows. The flames could not be con- ante, but that they are supported and maintained and the wealth of. Arkwright ; and, above all, in these
quered until a large amount of property was destroyed. mainly out' of the Subscriptions of those who use them districts, the meeting here, you know well, what was the
The occupier of the •premises was insured in the Sun =mainly out of the wages of working men. (Cheers.)- origin of the family of Peel. (Cheers.) You may say, no
Fire-,office. Long, I trust, may that independence continue. It is doubt, that these are remarkable instances ; remarkable
the best and surest guarantee of the permanence and instances they are, exceptional instances I believe they
i success of the work n which you are engaged, and it is are not. I believe there is not one town westward,
that spirit of independence, it is . that preference for from here to Liverpool, or eastward over the hills, not
self-help over help offered: by others, shown as it is by one town in all the West Riding, where you may not
all classes in the country—more especially by the work- find at least some one or two men—men -wealthy and
ing class—which has Made England what - England is powerful, men who are large employers of labour, and
to-day. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, there are one or two who are looked up to by society-77hp have in early life
other facts I gather from this report, some-of which are earned their 15s. or 20s. a week, it may be in the very
worthy of your notice. There is generally a tendency, mill of which they afterwards became the owners. (Cheers.)
natural, and to some extent harmless, in places originally There is a chance for all here; it is but a chance, no doubt;
established for the purposes' of instruction, to become no doubt many competent men fail by no faith of their
places of amusement instead. lam told that here this own, and, in the eineertainty of, human affairs, it may
is not the case. I am told that those who frequent .happen that some who do not deserve fortune succeed.
your evening classes do so for the purpose 'of obtaining But whatever may be the uncertainties of fottane, it is
instruction ; and further, that tae kind of instruction , something, at least, to -know that, to the educated and
1 which they seek is, generally speaking/ of 'a • practical ' intelligent than the door stands open and the ewe-
and even homely character—it is sought with a practical clear
; it is something to know/ as was late'
object; that it is that kind of teaching which will repair Manchester that
the defects of •early school instruction, fit the students once in his life
to hold situations of confidence and trust, and -
them to ro;- 'e the social se^'
WI"

East and West

S the eettn.

;ry,• an,

to em

Indies, Australia, New Z
and 'other British and Po:

)ur practi

two, three, or more days of the weel

instructions to the p'

to assist and do their work

,bsence, how ix
(Hear.)

tion may most .effe

mparted

is the system you adopt, a

there cau

it multiplies, so to speak, your means o 4
enables you to produce a considerable rc '
paratii-ely small amount of outlay

action, aim
it with a com-

town, I would make one remark of a more general ci_
ratter. If this experiment of yours succeeds, if the progress
which you have,hitherto made daring the three years to
which your existence has been limited, and is destined,
as I believe it is, w continue, not only will you have
given a great stimulus to the educational movement in
israllY, but you will have applied that stimu-

A very

arly, learn to read
Aerable ease,

SUBSCRIPTIONS. FOR THE _WIDOW AND FAMILY OF,
THE LATE REV. C. HODGE, DROWNED IN THE ROYAL
CHARTER.-It appears that Mr. Hedge went out to Can-
terbury, New Zealand, about three years since, with his
wife and four children, and was returning home alone
when this sad catastrophe occurred. From many affect-
ing remarks in the diary, it will easily be seen that he
was devotedly attached to his family, and often, as he
expresses it, racked.with anxiety on their account, lest
when I die they should be pinched." This fear, work-
ing probably on a kind and sensitive nature, seems. to
have embittered many of his latter days. So, assiduous
and kind were his attentions to those on board the
Royal Charter that a testimonial was presented to him
towards the end of the voyage, and. about £3O were
raised by the passengers ; this, and the little money he
had with him, of course, is all lost. Under these cir-
cumstances much sympathy has been felt for his family,
four of whom are 'in this country, and.four still remain
with their mother in New Zealand; and some steps

man ti

>maid

F. Cool

3; Brown-,

,e their position

;beers•)

lanchester, and

taken,

scription on their behal
collected and a comraitte
the purpose of carrying