The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-30 00:00:00

t;VE'{P TIM Ell.l

• I'fr. Brougham's Bill "to incorporate certain
persons for the establishment of a College in -or
near London, for the education of ynuth in the
Sciences and in Letters," is to be read a second
time this evening. Not having seen the Bill' we
can say nothing of its details. The motives by
'each the Learned and Honourable Member. is
actuated, in bringing forward this measure, are
'evidently most laudable. The desire of extend:
iug the empire of science and literature as wide; Cr
as, possible, and •of improving the intellectual
condition of every class in society, must be felt
by every friend of his country and of humanity,
and, for our own parts, we are peculiarly anxious
to promote the real, substantial, and useful•infOr.=
mation of the poor, inasmuch as• we fee! that such
a course of proceeding must tend, not only to
dignify and exalt their feelings, but to augment
the wealth, safety, and true glory of the comma..
nity at large. No man can have cast an atten-

tive eye over the history of the last half century,
without perceiving that, in almost every part .of
the globe, a manifest progress has been made in
the adoption of means for enlightening the labour-
ing classes ; and we are well satisfied that.
nothing can effectually arrest that progress, but
the injudicious eagerness of those who endeavour'
to urge it too rapidly forward. The principal.
objection which, in our imperfect information as
to the details of Mr. Brougham's Bill, strikes
us, as to its principle, is derived from the.
simple axiom of political economy, that supply';
and demand should go hand in hand. Is it meat►t
by the proposed Bill (we ask for information) to
enlarge the supply of persons acquainted with%
any, and what particular branches of science or

Iliterature ? And if so, can it be shewn that,
in those branches, the supply is not already
fully, equal to the demand ? Ve are not aware` .
that there is in this country, at the present.
moment, a sensible deficiency of educated per-
sons in any one department of useful knoiv-
ledge. On the contrary, the usual complaint is,
that of toilsome struggle and competition to 014
most successful, and of disappointment and
want to the great majority of all who earn
their support by the labour of the mind. Is rukt
every profession crowded with aspirants for its.
honours and its duties ? Is the Law, the Church,
the Army, the Navy, meagrely sufficed with
Officers of competent skill and ability ? Do we
find that there are too few Physicians or Sur- ‘
geons ? Are Architects, Civil Engineers, Sur-
veyori, not to be found for the, construction or
our public works, or private edifices ? Nobody
will assert that this is the case. - Well, then,_,;
what must be the consequence of adding to the
number of conwetitors for employment, in' ~
these various lines ? Why, that the price or :.,
their labour, where not fixed by.absolute • .
enactment,. must fall. We' have obserted
this evil carried tb its full extent in Franee,- -,
in regard to the art of painting. Soon after the
establishment of the Consulate, it became part-
of the policy of the Imperial Go'vernment to
foster the arts, and painting, in particular,•was
encouraged by praises, and by the facilities