The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-05-10 00:00:00

• The Twentieth A,nnitersarykleetit g of thisgot*, was !seed
yesterday at the Freenuemne Hall, Great Queen-street, which was
fitted up wish seals, galleries, and plethora for die seriatim. t:
At an early hour of the morning the room was crowded with a
large and meet respectable assembly, among whom we observed
Lord John Russell, Mr. Spring Rice, M.P., Daniel O'Connell,
Psq., &c. ke. There were also present a number of elegantly.
dressed and interesting femeles, who appeared to take a deep in.
tenet in the proceedings of the Meeting.
The back slid more denied parted' the platfolens aPPeoPeleted
to the speakers and Corninittee. was occupied by several young
Greeks, whn had derived instruction in the Society's schools. They
were dressed in their tuitional cnstuine, and presented a most into. •
resting and gratifying appearance, being extremely fine-looking
youths, and generally front tea to twelve years of age. SIIIItea
another part of the platform we noticed the Canadian Chiefs, who
appeared, to excite considerable attention.
At half-past twelve o'clock the Chair was taken by _DANIEL
SYKES, Esq., ilt consequence of the absence of his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Sussex.
The CHAIRM•it Said, it became his duty to ley before the meet-
ing two communications, one from his Royal Highness the Duke
of seessex, which s'atetl that his Royal Wetness had been pre-
'vented by the occurrence of unexpected bounces from attendleg at
stile hour appointed for taking the chair. His Royal Hi hews ex-
pressed his determination to attend in the course of -the day if pos-
sible. (Hear.) The next communication was from the Bishop of
Norwich., expressive of that Right Reverend Prelate's admiration
of, and cordial concurrence in, ,the objects of the Society, hut
pleading the infirmities of an octogenarian as an excuse for his ab-
sence on he present occasion.
The Report was then read, and contained a summary expose of
the progress made by tine Society during the past year. With re-
spect to die funds of the Society, they had been augmented by
bequests and legacies—one front the late Sir F. Buttner of 5091. ; a
second of Wee from Thomas 11'ilkinson, Esq.; and a third of
200 L from the late Earl of Crawford and Lindsay. The goes re-
ceipts for the invested fund during the last year had been
4,6741. lee 3 and their debt had been consequently reduced
2,0001. The Society hail to regret that there existed but a small
number of auxiliary Societies, yet felt crateful' to their friends of
Bath, Bristol, and Plymouth fir their support. Thmugh the
charnels afforded by Branch Societies in thole places they had re.
aired 100/. The Society felt justified in pressing their claln•s
upon the public at a time when 30,0001. was devoted to the eats.
bliehment and suppers of home schools alone. The central school !
of the Society, hi the Borough-road, maintained its high repute.
tion under the care of Mr. !Nekton. Twenty.three thousand two
hundred and thirty-seven children had received education and in.
struction through that school since its ertablishnient, and
at eresent it was attended by 000 children ; 60 more were
anxioushy &ratting an opportunity of edmiesion. The fourth anni-
versary examination of this school was held on the 24th of March.
and was attended by Lord Viscount Althorp, the Countess of
Dar .'ey, and many other illustrious personages, who expressed
great satisfaction at the progress of the pupils. In this school were
seven Greek lade, who had been brought over to this country by
Captain Illaquiere; and their adveocement in the knowledge of the
English language :.lid other useful branches of education, during
the six months they had 1-en in the school, was highly satisfactory.
in the metropolis there were 60 other schools, exclusive of the
central one in the Borough, containing about 10,000 children.
In the past year wants had been made to various schools, in slates,
lessons, &c. to the amount of 1511. 13s. 3d. The schools on the
British system throughout the country were very numerous. In
the Highlands end Islands of Scotland, there were 75 schools,
containing many thousand pupils. Looking to Ireland, the Society
trusted the day would come when it might become a rival to Scot-
land in the religious education of its people. There 1490 schools
were established, which afforded instruction to 100,000 children.
With regard to foreign countris—in Russia, the prospect, of the
Society were gratifying—the cause of education was proceeding ;
the model school established in Petereburgle under the patronage
of the Emperor of Russia, and the direction of Mr. Eleard.continued
to be conducted web its usual success. The British system of
education had extended even to the frigid zone, and in Tobolsk,
the capital of Siberia, a school was eetabliehed which afforded educa-
tion to 1,00 children. In Decmark scriptural education had made
great progress, and &model school was established at Copenhagen.
In Sweden much had been done, and in the Netherlands the pros-
pects were highly tattering. A model school had been established
at Brussels, and contained 390 scholars. In France difficulties still
existed, particularly
.throtigh the provinces, but in Paris those
obstacles had been in a great degree surmounted, and 45 schools
were established, which were attended by 8,000 pupils. The So-
ciety had received no ieformation from Spain since the period of
the last anniversary ; but from Portugal they had a most satisfac-
tory account to communicate. A model school was established in
Lisbon it the Royal expense, and tinder • decree, dated September
Mg his Portuguese Majesty offered every encouragement to the
British System of education. In Tuscany 30 schools were estab-
lished. and in the City of Naples three, one of which contained
500 cbildren. Even within the Papal territories, and the immediate
states of the Church, there were four shoots established. (Hear.)
In Malta much was due to the exertions of the Marquis and Mar.
chionese of Hastings ; and under the patronage of Lord Guilford
education hail made great advances in the lonian lelands. A person I
had been sent out to Greeee for the establishment of schools, and
one had already been set on foot in Athens, on the Lancasterisn
system, and another in Argos, which contained 150 children. In
India the prospects of the Society were gratifying in the extreme.
A Schrol-book Society had been formed at Calcutta, for the pur.
pose of prieting and circulating elementaty books in the reeve
language% of the country. Two of the native Princes had each
con tribated 1,000 rupees to the attainment of the object. in North
America the progress of education was satisfactory; and in the
various schools of South America the pupils were numerous. In
the State of Buenos Ayres alone 50 schools were established, snd
the New Testament had lately been translated into the Peruvian
language, by a descendant of the Inca's. (hear.) The Report
concluded by calling on the friends of education to come forward
in support of the Institution. Christian charity blessed these who
gave and those who received, and persevered in its self-denying
efforts, affording to the mind present satisfaction, and pointing to I
future honour and reward. W hen the day arrived when the accrete
of all hearts would be disclosed, the devoted labourers in the cause
of God would, see the result of their cares and toils, and hear the
approving words—" Well done, good and faithful Servants, enter
ye into the joy of your Lord!"
Lord Jour, Russets. rose for the purpose of moving the first
Resolution, and expressed the distrust and diffidence he felt in
coming forward on the present occasion, and in so prominent a
situation, to take a part in the proceedings of the Meeting. It leas
rally in the capacity of delegate for his noble father (die Duke of
Bedford) that lie ventured to trespass on their kind indulgence._
It would be in their recollection that he had contributed at the very
commencement of their Society, arid lent his aid to its establish-
ment.--(11earo-11 e had now to refer to a communication from the
Duke of Bedford which lie held in his hand, and in which his fa-
ther desired him to convey to the Society the regret be felt at being
unable to attend or bear a part in their proceedinee on the present
occasion, his ill-heslth operating to prevent his attendance upon
public niectirge; at the same time he begged to give utterance to
his good wishes for the prosperity of the Society, and ittclnse a draft
ler :he putpowe of being appropriated to their funds.—(llcar.)
Having thus i.tformed the Meeting of the sentiments of his respected
feiher, he needed only to say, front his own personal knowledge,
that it was a matter of satisfaction and pride to that individual that
he had been a contributor to the Society, and in any degree acces-
sary to its sauces. His own sentiments were entirely favourable to
an Institution whose. object it was to raise the humbler classes from
a state of igoorance to one of knowledge and information, and to
place in their hands an instrument which, supposing them to possess
talents and ability, could not eat to raise them into a more elevated
situation in society. (Hear.) But still farther was it the ten.
dency and effect of the British and Foreign School Society, to put
into the hands of the poor an instrument which would enable them
to direct their course thmugh life under the best guidance,
which was calculated to keep them clear of vice here, and
provide for them the rewards of true religion and virtue here.
after. (Lend cheers.) le hearing their Report read, which
he had done with the greatest and most sincere pleasure, he had
been much struck by the extent and magnitude of the scene of their
exertions. The greatest and most cetera:uml conquerors had com-
monly founded their fame upon the conquest of two or three
connirier ; but here was a Society which, without spending the
blood or spreading the eccastati;,:i necessary to a conqueror'. fume,
acquired a more lasting glory and extended fame, by spreading the
infltience of education, religion, and knowledge. tttrnugh every
rine:ter of tile globe. (Cheers.) He was particularly desirous of
adverting to that part of the Report which retered :o their domestic
exertions, and was pleased to observe the ptinciples of education
adopting in Ireland, on a more extended scale than formerly. It
was a gratifying thing to learn that 1,500 schools had been esta-
blished in that part of the kingdom. (Hear.) While Statesmen
in other places were pursuing various plans for the Improvement of
the couotry, it was extremely gratifying to observe this Society pro-
ceeding in its progress to confer a great national benefit, and with a
degree of purity of intention and singleness of object that could not
for a moment be mentioned. (Cherie.) Stich was the situation of
things at home. and he thought a still wider and greater field was
ttoc:;ing abroad toe their exertions. It had been a favourite observ-
ation with some of the old philosophers, that the whole world was
never at once proceeding in a course of improvement ; while one
state became enlightened others were sinking into ignorance ; but
it apecared to be the peculiar good fortune of our own tinier to re-
' verse that state of things, and afford a proof that the a hole woild
might be aevancing in knowledge at one tied the same time. Civi-
-1 liastion was at thia moment proceeding in a rapid career through
the remotest pares of America, awl science long extinct was again
rekindling in Greece. (Cheers.) It had been the mamice with
a certain class of philosophers among the Creeks to retire rata
the.nselves and seclude them from the world in silence, for an
almost incredible length of time, for the purposes of study and re-
Motion. and when they had stored their minds with a multitude of
thoughts and reeectionmtbey came forth into the world fur the pur-
pose of coternuuicating the fruits of their long and painfully se-
quire(' wiedom. Ile trusted the fate of Greece herself would soon
be capable of a comparison with this conduct of- her own sons in old
tittles, and that after the long lapse of ignorance and barbarititt, she
would swoon be enabl,el to come toward with ail :he light anti Willi-
I wee a knowledge and science, and tulded to them, that n:tv kind of
knowledge (the knowledge of religion), wheel it was the abject of
11 their Society to impart. (Loud cheers.) He wished it were in his
power to extend to Spain and Italy the same sort of hopes and ex-
peciaticns as he indulged in upon the subject of Greece. But he
feared that with the stogie exception of Tuscany—and to the Grand
Duke of Tuscany tilt Society was under deep obligations—the state
of Italy wits at present nearly hopeless. Fonda, did he wish that
I delete land to be restored to lice original briglianss, but feared the

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