The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-05 00:00:00

ttt

LONDON, 771UR5D.117, OCTOBER 5, 1865.

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The public are always delighted to hear of Lord
131:orGIIA131 coming forward and addressing a large
aIiCIiCIICC of his fellow-countrymen. At the meeting
of the Social Science Association, which took place
last evening at Sheffield, the noble and learned
Lord delivered an address with all hiS 'old ability
and vigour. It was received throughout, with great
applause, and afforded the greatest satisfaction to
all those who heard it. At the opening address of
the ninth Congress, Lord BROUGHAM commenced
by stating that they had to lament the losses which
they and the world had sustained since last :they
met at York. This year has been signalised by the
untimely removal of many distinguished individuals
who have done great services to mankind in their
day and generation. The best memorial to their
merits is to be found in the honoured mention that

s made of their names, and the enduring recollec-
tion that is kept of their works. First among the
list of the departed was placed RICHARD COBDEN,
" of whose great services," as Lord BROUGHAM said,
" not only England, but France also, has been
witness, and felt justly grateful." The promoters
of social science feel that they owe a deep debt of
gratitude to Mr. JOIIN CASSELL for his great exer-
tions in diffusing knowledge on secular and religious
subjects at the lowest price at which he could issue
his useful works. Above 60 millions of the "illus-
trated Bible" were sold in weekly numbers, which
fact testifies to the benefits that accrued
from his efforts. Lord CARLISLE is also
to be remembered among the influential persons
removed from among us lately, and as one who knew
him well the testimony of Lord BROUGHAM is worth
having, when he states that " a more virtuous per-
son, or, in all his positions, one more useful did not
exist." On these losses, said the noble and learned
lord, we may use the touching words which the Royal
Psalmist poured out in his sorrow—" We shall go to
them, although they shall not return to us." Con-
cerning the course of events since the last Congress,
Lord BROUGHAM was enabled to congratulate his
hearers. In the first place, the calming down of
party spirit, which they rejoiced at on a former
occasion, has been abundantly evidenced during the
general election which has recently taken place. As
here mentioned in this address we may notice that a
greater absence of party and personal animosity was
observable than at any time of our history since the
Revolution. Many will be amused to find that the
noble and learned lord has been employing his un-
rivalled powers of criticism on LordßussELL's late
preface to his new edition of the Essay on the
Constitution. The " proverbial inaccuracy" of
contemporary history is instanced by the fact that
Lord RUSSELL has omitted all mention of the great
meeting of the Opposition at Lord ALTHORPE'S
chambers to consider the plan that Lord BROUGHAM
had given notice of, but which was put a
stop to by the change of Administration shortly
after. In discussing the several points in which
Reform is needed in the private business
of Parliament the noble and learned lord
mentioned a very vital one, which is the necessity
of every one particular in each Bill undergoing the
same inquiry in both houses, so as always to double
the expenses of all parties. With the late Duke
of WELLINGTON Lord BROUGHA3I was always asso-
ciated in the efforts to improve these details, and
brought forward the standing orders which now
regulate the private business of both houses. At
the time of the introduction of these changes the
great plan was proposed but rejected, because, as
emphatically stated in this address, the influence
of professional men was against it, as they saw
that it would cut off nearly half their services. It
proposed a joint committee, to be composed of
seven Commoners and four Peers, and the advan-
tages that would thus accrue are obvious enough
to all dispassionate observers. That he earnestly
advocated the adoption of so marked an improve-
ment was greatly to the credit of the Duke of
WELLINGTON, and should be remembered by those
who appreciate these changes. The Work-
ing Men's Club Institute was adverted
to by the noble and learned lord, and he
laid great stress upon the primary object of all
such efforts being the relaxation and amusement of
the labourers. As President of the Institute, Lord
BROUGHA3I has always upheld this wise notion ; and
he rejoiced that Lord STANLEY had lately, at Bir-
kenhead, inculcated this fundamental doctrine. It
is quite absurd to suppose that those who are
not of a high intellectual status can, after hard
toil and great fatigue, turn their attention
to dry subjects and heavy matters. If these ideas
were carried out to extremity there would be an end
to all the hopes that have been so freely entertained
of the success of these undertakings, but fortunately
wiser counsels have prevailed. In the Congress at
York the subject of female education was considered,
but mistakes were made under the impression that
the proposal concerned " degrees for females," and
this led to differences of opinion. The University of
Cambridge has shown its discernment by entertain-
ing the proposal, and it is to continue as a" tenta-
tive measure" for three years, at the expiration of
which period it is trusted that the scheme will be a
permanent one. If so, it will be in every sense of
the word a great gain. The effect of " examina-
tions" is always beneficial, and, as here mentioned,
it cannot be but that the " moral value of the recog-
nition by one of our old Universities of the import-
ance of female education is likely to be still more
widely and deeply felt." In the way of charity
rather than education, as the noble and learned lord
justly observed, much has been done by some bene-
volent persons. Companies have been formed under
the direction of the principal ladies in London for
" homes," and these have succeeded to a great ex-
tent. It is very satisfactory to find that the result
of the labours in this direction in Edinburgh has
been successful, and in the effort to extend the re-
sources of female labour " photography" has
been an important branch. Lord BROUGHAM
thinks that great benefits will accrue from
the labours of the Commissioners appointed to
examine into the schools. It was issued upon the
recommendation of the Council of the Social Science
Association, and has already done a great deal.
The Commissioners have assistants, who examine
the schools of this country, and also of America,
and on the Continent of Europe. The efforts of
the Association have long been directed towards the
benefit of the working man in various directions,
and it is satisfactory to find that they have been so
far successful. Several employers have reduced
their hours of labour, the early closing movement
has also progressed greatly of late, and no doubt,
as the noble and learned lord states, " in both these
relaxations, the loss in hours of labour will be coma
pensated by the more healthy state of the men,
and their more diligent working." There can be no
more fatal error made than to pursue any employ-
ment to excess, and it is an error too often wit-
nessed nowadays, both in mental and physical
undertakings.

Some remarks were made in this discourse upon
the subject of penal servitude, and Lord BROUGHAM
considered on the whole that due care was being
taken on that important question, although it

might with advantage receive the attention of the
Congress. The noble and learned lord rightly de-
signated the seizure of the Danish territories as a
" crime," and went on to state that the "chief blame
in all respects is that of Prussia, and the proba-
bility is that the wrong-doers will even find
their folly to have exceeded their guilt."
The great Law Reformer declared with
consistent emphasis that the Emperor of the
AUSTRIA and his Ministers would gain in moral
honour if they carried out their supposed intentions,
and cr. ated an unpaid local magistracy, similar to
our own, but in Prussia no such home improvements
can be found to
set offviolence. Senators are
s
pr
oasge
caui nt se td efxorteirN
oarld
sd esepdlonf
in debate, while the kinsman of a Minister is suffered
to commit murder without being brought to trial.
The noble and learned lord concluded his compre-
hensive address in the following earnest and elo-
quent terms, in which he set forth the true objects
of the promoter of Social Science. "He is pleased to
contemplate the flowers in their raiment surpassing