The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-05 00:00:00

when they had experienced the benefit of having a
house of their own, they would persevere in habits
of industry and economy. (Hear.) I believe if
they did so the working classes of this country would
raise themselves much higher than they are likely to
do by their present careless way of spending their
money. (Applause.) I think we have had rather
toomuch teetotalism to-night. (Laughter.) I quite
agree with my noble friend, Lord Stanley, that we
have no right to dictate to a man how he shall spend
his money, and whether he shall go to a publichouse
or not. But what we have a right to do is to estab-
lish institutions of this kind, and say to the working
men, "We hope you will share and avail yourself
of them." The noble lord gave me and some friends
of mine rather too much credit with regard to the
origin of this institution. I would thoroughly dis-
claimthat, and state that the origin of the institution
is due to Mr. Hodge, Mr. Chandler, and other gen-
tlemen now present ; that having got into such a
position that it could not go further, myself and a
number of other gentlemen thought, as employers
of labour in this place, we should do what we could
to establish a workmen's hall which would be second
to none in this kingdom. (Loud applause.) We
have now got into a very good position. The hall
is established ; and, as I said before, it remains
for the working men to make it successful or not. I
will not occupy your timelonger, but:will now move
a vote of thanks to Lord Stanley, Lord Grosvenor,
and Lord Richard Grosvenor for their attendance
here to-night; and I may state in doing so that I
know that Earl Grosvenor has taken a great interest
in societies of this kind in Chester. They have not
their hall there yet, but I hope before long that his
friends will enable him to afford the same accom-
modation to the working men of Chester that we
do to the working men of Birkenhead. (Applause.)
Lord STANLEY, in reply, said—l have made you
one speeeh to-night, and you will excuse me if I do
not make another. I thank you very sincerely for
the kindness with which you have received me, and
I am very glad to have been able to take part in an
undertaking which is so successful, so practi-
cal, and likely to be so useful. (Hear, hear.) I
only hope you will never allow this institution to
get into the hands of any sect, or any party, or—in
an invidious and exclusive sense—of any class.
(Great applause.) And now, ladies and gentlemen,
I shall retire from the scene and leave the matter in
the hands of my noble friend Lord Grosvenor, who
is—l was going to say on his own dunghill—
(laughter)—l mean in his own county—and who, I
have no doubt, will address you at great length and
with great eloquence.
Earl GROSVENOR, M.P., for whom three hearty
cheers were called and given on his rising, said—
Mr. Chairman, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
—After the very forcible appeal which has been
made by my noble friend Lord Stanley, who used a
rather poetical expression in making it, I can only
say I am unable to crow here as he is able to crow
not only here, but everywhere. I have neither the
power nor the eloquence which he says I have ; and
I envy him the power which he possesses. But, ladies
and gentlemen,' if you will allow me to say one
word about the subject upon which we have met to-
night, I will express the pleasure which I have felt
in accepting the invitation of my friend Mr. Laird
to be present on this occasion. (Loud applause.) I
am only sorry that I have not been able to take part
in the good works which he and other gentlemen have
promoted in this town. Ladies and gentlemen, you
are all accustomed here to launches of great vessels,
and I am sure, if this may be called a vessel which
you are launching to-night, it is certainly not one
of the least worthy of those vessels which have been
built on the shores of the Mersey. (Applause.) We
celebrate a launch here to-night. I am fully con-
vinced the ship is well found in every particular.
Every one who knows the handiwork of Birkenhead
workmen knows the work they turn out is first-rate
of the kind. (Renewed applause.) There is no fear
of the success of the voyage, but it must be remem-
bered that, after all, though the start may be fair,
the working of the ship must depend mainly and
almost entirely upon the crew themselves. When it
it is committed to your hands, you, the Working
classes, will have to take charge of the ship and
navigate her wherever she is bound. I was glad to
hear 11Ir. Hodge say, and I have heard it before, and
I believe it is the general feeling of the working
classes, to have the co-operation of the gentlemen
who are about them in that position of life which
enables them to give assistance in managing insti-
tutions like this. He knows practically how the
matter stands in this respect, and I am glad to hear
him say this, which shows there is a feeling that
these things are best conducted when all classes—
the higher classes, the working classes, and others—
are working together harmoniously. Mr. Laird re-
ferred to' the working men's institution at Chester.
I am sorry to say we are behind this town in that
matter, because our ship is not yet built ; but we
hope to build it in the course of the autumn, and,
though we cannot expect to have such a large and
spacious building as that in which we are met to-
night, still I hope it will be one which, for the pre-
sent at all events, will be useful to the town, and
accomplish the object for which it is intended. I
shall be glad on the occasion of its opening to see
any of the friends now present—(applause)—and I
hope we may both run together in the race of pro-
gress which these institutions are established to pro-
mote, and so far as the rivalry between us is the
rivalry of doing good, we shall do all the good in
this practical manner which it is in our power to
do. (Applause.)
Lord RICHARD GROSVENOR, who was received
with applause, said—Ladies and Gentlemen, when
I accepted Mr. Laird's very kind invitation to be
present on this occasion I had not the least idea that
I should be called upon to make a speech ; and as I
am requested to make one 1 can assure you it will
be of the shortest possible description, as it is quite
time those of us have to get up at 4 o'clock in the
morning should be in bed. (Laughter and ap-
plause.) I can say truly that I came here, as you
did, to learn, and I trust that the lessons which we
have all learnt this evening will not be forgotten by
us. The best possible advice has been given to us,
and I hope to carry it away with me, and to use it
on any other occasion that may arise. I shall not
trouble you any more, ladies and gentlemen, but
simply return my thanks for the compliment that
has been paid to me. (Applause.)
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

The Committee of .Council on Education.

Yesterday a report was issued from the Select
Committee of the House of Commons " appointed
to inquire into the constitution of the Committee of
Council on Education, and the system under which
the business of the office is conducted, and also into
the best mode of extending the benefits of Govern-
ment inspection and the Parliamentary grants to
schools at present unassisted by the State." The
minutes of evidence arc appended. The report
is as follows :—" Your committee have received
much evidence upon the questions referred to them.
With respect to the constitution of the Education
Department, and the system under which the annual
grants for the promotion of popular education are
administered, they have examined present and
former presidents and vice-presidents and the secre-
tary of the Committee of Council, and several of
her Majesty's inspectors. They have also taken
evidence from various parts of England with respect
to the policy of making a certificated teacher an in-
dispensable condition of State assistance to a school,
and with respect to the existing practice of the exist-
ing practice of the Education Department on the
important subject of religious teaching and the
adoption of the Conscience Clause. Your committee
are obliged to state, with much regret, that, consi•
dering the period of the year and th 3 peculiar eir-
ttilaieprietsoent session, they are unable to
cdc 1 le
in
inn csP erealreadytn ec esof
their
nkcieunry ;thbeuht tuhseewith a
presenteotnhveic
conviction
that, although on some points imperfect, and as yet
one-sided, it will be found to be of great interest
and value. The question raised in the second part
of the order of reference—viz., ' how best to extend
the benefits of Government inspection and the Par-
liamentary grant to schools at present unassisted by
the State, is one so wide, and of such extreme im-
portance to thepromotion of popular education, that
your committee think it desirable thatfurther inquiry