The Sun.
London, England, 1825-06-06 00:00:00

INFANT SCI 1001,..;,

Saturday, the first Auniver,ary of
the Infant sChools Soilety, ;Iris held at Freemasons' Hall, the
Marquis of LANsDO'svat in the Chair, supported by Lord Cal-
thorpe, Mr. John Smith, M.P. Mr. Brougham, M.P., Mr.
Sykes, M:P., Dr. Birkbeck,- 111 r. Zachari Lh Macaully, the
Rev. AIL Irving, and several other personages, who take an
active interest in the business of education.
The attendance of ladies was very crowded, notwithstand-
ing the wetness of theclayb -On-the platform sat the Canadian
Chiefs.

The Noble MAncturs called the attention of the Meeting to
the history and details of this Institution, upon which he prO_
nounced a warm eulogium, praising what had bean done, and
calling their attention to what remained to be effected by the
public voice and support. -
Mr. JbsEPll.Witsotkr read the Report, which conveyed a
flittering • picture of the success of the system which they had
assembled to promote-41'in object of this Society was, he said, to
pro Mote the education and tractability of Infants of tender
years, and the success which had hitherto attended the efforts of
the promoters of it, in really astonishing ; nothing could be more
interesting or gratifying than the appearance of those schools, in
which a system of education, adapted to the tender capacities of
these children (inarms) is carried on with, werei:eat, astonishing
success, from the early ageof 18 months, tt pwards. The moral dis-
cipline of the Establishment is its chief merit, in preserving and
rescuing from the idle habitsof the streets; children, whose parentS
arc negligen' nr unable to rear theni with proper solicitude. The
Report set forth the process of Education recommended by this
Society, and stated the successful exPiTiments which gave-pro-.
mise of the most -successful result. The Institution had, since

last year, given assistance to similar societies,in different parts of 1
the country and the SecretargnaMed the various places where
schools Were now established upon their excellent plan. The '
report also stoted, that the Lord Mayor of "London. together
'with the Bishops of London' and Exeter; had lately set on foot
Infant schools for the City of London. Some description was
also given, of the success of similar plans in America. The
subscriptionfOr the past year' amounted to 1534/As.; but the
want of ati adequate and capacious School-house was dwelt
upon. The building intended to be erected would be expensive,
and for the amount the Committee apPealed to the public ; and
the co-operation of all was entreated for the benign purpose of
educating the-infant children of the poor. .
Mr. JOHN SMITH, in proposing a Resolution for the adop-
tion of this Report, lamented the absence of Mr. Brougham,
who was detained by business in the Court of King's Bench.
He-described the.number of Infant Schools . which had been
formed during the last year, allattended by the constant con-
sequence, not only of the improvement of the children, but of
their parents.—(flear !)—The plan .of the Society essentially
required persons of excellent temper, to guide the manage-
ment cf wayward children of tender years; and they had most-
ly the duty of educating beforehand those who would in their
turn educate others hereafter. He congratulated the Society
upon having their object taken iip by the leading members of
the State, some of whom were at first 'prejudiced against it, un-
' der an impression of its Impracticability.
Mr. SYKES. in seconding this motion, declared that he knew
no Society More entitled to their patronage than the present.—
At first he was one of-those who were prejudiced against the
system, but when he afterwards saw children of 18 months and
two years old, moving tractably together, and imbibing the elea
ments of early education,' then he could no longer shut his eyes
to the great merit and actual value of a plan so full of advan-
tage to society at large. He anticipated before long to see the
youth Of this metropolis brought up in the paths of virtue, and
dissipating before it the seeds of ignorance and vice, which of
late so unfortunately deformed the surface of society. He
gave an affecting instance of the appearance of a youth of
eight years of age, at the bar of a Quarter sessions, who had
committed fifty felonies in that. short career.. This child was
totally devoid of education of any kind whatsoever, and might
have been rescued from such crimes-by the means extended to
deserted children, by such a Society as this.—(Hear !)—Pie
believed similar instances were but too freq.ueat.in this great
metropol'is. ' • - . . .
' Mt. RIIT T took-an able review of the progress of education
in modern.times, . and highly praised the- objects of this So-
ciety, carried on as it •now.was to the education: of infant chi].
dreit. .lle congratulated the illeetangem having a Noble Lord
for their Chairman, the descendant of Sir William Perry, who,
two hundred years ego, laid down a great foundation of uni-
versal education. It were better he thought to he the descen-
dant of such a philosopher, than of one of those steel-clad
barons who marauded upon their fellow countrymen, or even
, who had rescued Magna Charta from A tyrant. lie also
adverted to the. mistaken opinion of the celebrated Lord
Carteret, who though the poor ought not to •be taken from
! their • work to learn things which they tied no business with.
Lord CALTHOI3,PE, in proposing. the areond resolution, de-
claratory of•the incrtaireaof the,Sehools, expressad his cordialsa-
tisfaction at the progress of this Saciety, and-at its Praaticabi-
Rey now proved to clemonatrotieo, - 7 . -
The Rev. EDWARD InviNci, in sect,nding: this resolution,
coop:erred in all the expressions of satisfaction which erg*
had. heard of the progyess! and •aalue of this soeiety, and
which he. hoped",ivou4,.i.ooli., COrtrit,ebe,ll4. the. children of the
riches well as
.the .poor; for, the former lie, thought wanted it
quite ate much.—( Hear !)-a-He cm clially.ricommended this. so-
ciety tothe.patronaggand suppott Of persons ofevery religious
persuaeion, a . . - . _- . .. ,
Pair Jin.g.csottst Lrwits prooose_d the third resolution,: and
instanced the case of the eatalilishment of an Infant School
ha , Ireland where the Catholic - Clergy , gave their cordial
Supper t.
. .
Mr. BROUGHAM. in seconding- this motion.- declared the
warm interest which 'be felt in such a Society as this, and more
particulatly in the candid support whiehat had received from
some episcopal cliatactera, who had at first opposed it. lie prais-
ed a Rev. Gentleman at Bath for the candour of his opposition,
. but he,denied that the !eitpcation of-.these children eves " prig-
gish," as that Reg. Gentleman bad described it; on the contrary,
'await the least format 'of any mode of education existing, for
9-1011 r of it consistedla giving a playful scope to the !amuse-
menta of children arferider years; he, however, agreed in the
propriety of giving them, as far as they were susceptible, the
benefits of an- elementary religious aclocaticn. • •
' Sir GREGOIti" I,lwrer said he
.bad to perform the pleasing
duty of -moving one:of the most poPular resolutions that could
'possibly be proposed to the audience he had the. honour to
• address-a-a resolution of thanks to the Ladies who had by their
presence and benevolent exertions materially contributed to pro-
mote the objects of the Institution. . .
Mr. BROUGHAM seconded the resolution:. It afforded him
! heartfelt satisfaction that the success of the Institution, in accom-
plishing its benevolent objects, was row established beyoad the
pdsaibilitv of a dotibt ; and he rejoiced that even those by whom
it was at first opposed—but opposed, he felt great satisfaction in
. saying, with a moderation that was honourable to the charastefs-
•of those by whom that opposition was giyen, were now converts
to its utility, and -themselves promoters of an Institution fin.
the same laudable purpose. He had seen a Resolution propos-
ed by one Right Rev. Prelate, another Right Rev. Prelate in
the Chair, for the establishment of en Institution•for the forma-
tion of Infant Schools.' He congratulated the Meeting on this
great advance in the object they had all so much at heart. Ile
was persuaded the very Learned Prelatea to-whom he had al-
luded, the Bialuips of Landon and Chester; could-not, if they
were to live in this lower world 500 years, gender a greater sera
vice to-the cause of religion and 'human happinese, nor *act in
more perfect conformity:With their:etaered characters, as Over-
seers of the Christian Church; than .byafie early cultivation of
the human mind. It was a Mistake.; that religion was to be ex.
eluded from, the education of children, it was only desirable that
they should not be puzzled with-mysoetfeaVeyond their compre-
hension, He agreed. perfectly in -. aan lied,beeii said by. his
Bevereeed Friend, that it was, by persons directing their applica-
tion to local districts that they :would' Make the roost effectual
I progress. - Dr. Chalmers' experience. ih'(ilasgow had fully de-
cided this point. Females had so math" Melte intereourse . than
men with infants, that their exertions weae •-peetiliarly useful,
', eand he was happy to bear testimotig that.' they had been most
benevolenely be.stogiedeand had. peculiar pleasure in seconding
the resolution. Vile resolution Was put from the chair, and
carried by acclamation.
The Rev. I:tsarina> STANLEY roved. That it Walt expedient•l
that a central school lie established, at which the instructors of .1
the children might learn from example, the beat means of per
forming their duties. ,
Doctor Bs maser-ex seconded the. Resolution: Human hap-
piness might almost be summed up in the four words, "good
health, and goodlgetamer ;"! and the discipline preserved in
these schools was eminently calaulate.! to communicate to the
child both those blessings. The Resaution was carried with
applause.
The Marquis of Liet4Dowee epologised 'for the necessity he
was under of leaving the. meeting; and expressed his convic-
tions that the Institution was established on a foundation not to
be shaken. •
14:::-.1mtici Smile we's called to the! Chair, and resolutions
-of thank« to the Officers of dm-Institution and the Marquis
of Lar'sdc'wnoPassert, which concluded the business of the day.

•
* Iho—ire BERLIN, MAI( 24,--The tarty Chinese, w .
at Halle, had asked the King's permission to be initructel in
" the Christian religion. After -paving received l 0 mor.lths- in-
• structions from the -I{ eimrend hl. -Trernam.they were baptized
• with great solemnity "on Ascension Day, in a numerous -as-
. sembly of the clergy, and civil authOrities, and on the Sunday
following received the sacrament in Sr. George's church. . His
eitY's
his Royal Highness Prinz.- William, his'Ai
brother, to
A tho, the younger of th,: two.—( Frani:flirt Paper.)