The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-24 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1847.

The education grant, proposed by the Government,
vas last night acceded to by the House of Commons
with but very little opposition. The whole debate
upon that subject has been most interesting, and its
result most satisfactory. And it has been in-
teresting, not because great men were numbered
along its speakers, or because their discourses were
nnimated with eloquence, but because its theme was
most important and consequently a most interesting
tile, namely, the education of the great body of the
people. J3eyond this, the result of that debate has

been most satishletory, not again because 'a large
majority demonstrated the power of the Govern-
ment, but because during that debate principles were
laid down and affirmed as forcibly and as effec-
tively as if carried by the most overwhelming ma-
jority. And these principles—principles which
we might have supposed would hardly have
affirmation at the present day—were, in the first
place, that the education of the lower classes is a
matter of the most urgent necessity; secondly, that
it is advisable, in such an all-important affair, for the
Government to interfere ; and, lastly, that the assis-
tance consequent upon such interference should be ex-
tended to all the different sects into which Christianity
is unhappily divided. These great principles, of which
the last, though technically negatived, was virtually
affirmed,—these great principles were the topics of
the debate incident to the Government measure—a
measure which was introduced by the straightforward
explanation of Lord J. RUSSELL, and enforced by the
emphatic approval of Sir ROBERT PEEL; which ob-
tained the strenuous advocacy of the present Secre-
tary of State, and the hearty concurrence of
his predecessor; which, moreover, elicited the earnest
eloquence of Mr. MACAULAY, and the mag-
nanimous co- operation of Lord AnuirDEL.
But, after all, what is this Government measure,
from which so much is expected, and to which,
strangely enough, so much opposition has been
raised ? It is, in reality, very simple, very little in
itself, so little indeed that Lord J. RUSSELL antici-
pates the general exclamation, " Is this all ? are you
doing nothing more ?" It is for this very character-
istic, however, that we are chiefly inclined to welcome
it. By attempting little, the Government are likely
to do much. " This is not a final measure," ob-
served Sir GEORGE GREY, "In the meantime we
ask you for these means," said Lord JOHN RUS-
SELL, adverting to greater things which may
take place hereafter. It is precisely in this light, as an
incipient reform, as a progressive benefit—that we
regard and that we value these new education minutes.
Few as are the reforms contained in them, they are
nevertheless very important ones. The money voted
for educational purposes has for the most part hitherto
been employed in the construction of schools, the
Lords of the Council have therefore now thought
fit to turn their attention from the number
to the nature of these schools, and instead of
erecting new ones to endeavour to ameliorate the
condition of the old. For this purpose, in the first
place, more inspectors will be required ; and secondly
(impressed with the conviction that, in order to im-
prove both school and scholars, it is absolutely neces-
sary to improve the schoolmaster), they have framed
a series of resolutions likely to be of great and last-
ing benefit. Beautifully and truthfully has Lord
JOHN RUSSELL expatiated upon the value of the
teaching of a good master, as contrasted with
the lessons of an inefficient or indifferent
master : and in order to procure the inestimable
advantage of good instructors, the Government have
determined not only to reward the meritorious
during the discharge of their laborious duties, and to
pension them when unfit for further service, but also
by a system of apprenticeship to prepare them in their
youth for the duties hereafter to devolve upon them.
Were it only for this one portion, upon the de-
tails of which it is not necessary now to
enter, the proposed scheme would be most
valuable ; but when united with similar, though
perhaps minor reformations, and above all, when
coupled with the assurance that this is but a begin-
ning, and that better things are in prospect, the Go-
vernment measure elicits our hearty and almost entire
approbation. We have said almost, for surely it is
not necessary for us to state that we cannot concur
with the one exclusive clause of this otherwise very
liberal measure. In dispensing Government assist-
ance to the various schools scattered over the country,
Churchmen and Dissenters will alike be cared for,
even the Wesleyans will now be admitted, while an
equally loyal portion of their fellow-countrymen will
still be neglected and overlooked. Half-a-million of
money, Lord Join RUSSELL tells us, has already
been expended for educational purposes, but of that
sum not one shilling, he tells us, has been devoted
to these religionists; and so it is still to continue
So it is to continue, although, the Prime Minister
himself, although Sir GEORGE GREY, Sir ROBERT
PEEL, Sir JAMES GRAHAM, and almost every
speaker, whether in favour of, or opposed
to the Government, strongly and strenuously
declared their opinion to the contrary! Why
this should be we leave it to the impartiality of
unbigotted multitudes to determine ? Why this
should be we have not sufficient indifference to the
cause of religious toleration to pause and deliberate
with calmness ?

Turning to a less embarrassing consideration :
The Dissenters have very properly objected to a
Church monopoly in education ; their rights are now
to a certain extent admitted ; let them join with the
Church in showing similar liberality elsewhere. Let
them remember that however strong may be our
belief in the religious error of any sect, that that
is no reason for keeping them in ignorance.
The principal objection to the new measure, the one,
indeed, upon which all depended, namely, whether
the Government had a right to interfere in state edu-
cation, was handled in the most masterly manner by
Mr. MACAULAY. Not satisfied with his own impres-
sive eloquence, he enforced his arguments with the
most unanswerable logic. It is the clear duty of a
Government (he tells us) to protect life and property ;
ignorance endangers life and property ;—consequently
it becomes the duty of Government to employ educa-
tion as a preventive. Otherwise, nothing is left but force
and punishment, which latter mode is unfortunately
too much preferred. " More than half of those now
in our penal colonies might have been honourably
and usefully employed on their native soil, if the
State had expended, in forming them into honest
men, but a small part of what has been expended in
inflicting misery on rogues:' Further on, he tells us
that Government appears to be regarded as " the
great hangman of the age ; the business of Govern-
ment is to do nothing for the repression of crime
among its subjects, except by harsh and degrading
means; from the employment of all means towards
that end which operate by elevating the intellectual and
moral nature of man, Government is excluded." It is
unnecessary, however, to pursue the argument, suffice it
that the principle of Government interference has
been admitted, and is being acted upon. Men have
recognised the advisability, nay more, the paramount
necessity (to refer to an observation quoted by Lord
J. RUSSELL) "of placing a guide-post at the begin-
ning of a man's life rather than a gibbet at the end
of it." In order to do this, however, it is necessary
that unanimity should prevail. " While we are fight-
ing and squabbling about points of difference," said
Sir R. Ptair., " we are neglecting that which, in all
Christian lands, ought to be a subject of deep
consideration, namely, the enlightenment of the
people in Christian principles—the . improvement of
their intellectual culture and their instruction in
secular knowledge, I believe that true charity, true
poucy, and true regard for religious truth ought to
encourage us to lay aside our differences—to con-
template the magnitude of the present evil, and to
teach the children of all sects the great truths of
Christianity." Upon these beautiful and truly
liberal words all comment were superfluous.
Again, referring to the constant disputes between
Churchmen and Dissenters, he exclaims—" While
this is going on, what is becoming of the 800 children
born every day, of the 300,000 added yearly to our
population ?" Such a demand is, indeed, unanswer-
able ; such a figure is, indeed, appalling, At the
very lowest computation, according to a calculation
referred to by Lord J. RUSSELL, it appears that in
every ten years nearly 1,250,000 individuals are
thrown upon society, " who have never had a place
in any day school." More than one hundred and
And yet, twentyperhaps, thousand yearly ! Is not the sum appalling ?
such things whqlesal:te .irehatw so
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full magnitude of their meaning. In the same way
ihc h
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thousand prisoners, so many thousand left dead upon
the field ;" they are mere words, and we read them
as such ; they affect us no more than a similar
memorandum of so many liieces of cannon
taken. But, as it has been remarked, and
doubtless often experienced, let u`tr but enter into
details; let us but select one individual from the
ghastly group—view him in his death agony—listen
to his tortwed shrieks—witheas his final.struggles

How tame, then, and inglorious will seem the record
of the victory so purchased ; how terrible, then, will
be the thought that thousands in a similar condition
were " left upon the field !" Much in like manner
is it with the records now before us ; how many will
think upon the 1,250,000 children " who have never
attended any day school," and mention the number,
perhaps, as a startling fact or a striking truth, just
as they would talk of so many thousand acres, or of a
similar amount of taxes. Let them but descend to par-
ticulars, and endeavour, if possible, to think what a
life they must lead who are so " totally ig-
norant of the merest rudiments of knowledge."
What a blank must be their minds ! how desolate
their hearts I Not desolate, alas, but full of vicious
propensities. It is unnecessary, however, now to
dwell upon a picture so gloomy ; a reformation has
commenced, and however small t►nd apparently trivial
it may be, we nevertheless hail it thankfully.
There is one plea, be it observed, among the many
myriads in favour of education, which is certainly
most impressive and most forcible. It is the thought
of the future=a thought which ih important matters
is too often wanting. In trifles it is otherwise. Who-
ever planted a seed without thinking of the flower,
or an acorn without foreseeing the oak-tree ? Who-
ever lays the first stone without some thought of the
edifice ; or the first plank without anticipating the
ship ? Happy, were there a similar calculation
in all circumstances ! Let us look onwards,
therefore,—let us imagine a hundred years to have
elapsed; the grass to have grown over our heads,
a new generation to be occupying our places. Let
us think of this ; let us—
" See a bright race our spacious courts adorn,
See future sons and daughters yet unborn,
On every side in crowding ranks they rise,
Demanding life, impatient for the skies."
The chief elements of human nature have been per-
haps always much the same in different countries,
yet what amazing changes may be effected in the temper
and conduct of an individual, and in the general cha-
racter of a nation Let us but continue to contem-
plate the subject, let us but comprehend the reality,
and how awful does the responsibility not appear !
We lament the errors and sorrows of the
present day, errors perhaps too great for reparation,
sorrows two deep for remedy; but let us not, while
lamenting the past, and, perhaps, grieving for the pre-
sent, forget that the future, in a great measure, is in
our hands. " The youth of a nation are the trustees
of posterity," said the eloquent author of Coningsby ;
let us confide to those trustees the precious deposit 01
a religious and liberal education ; let us store their
minds with ennobling truths, and their hearts with
Christian sentiments, to be by them transmitted to
that future generation which we shall never behold,
but which shall thus have cause to remember us with
gratitude and benedictions.

The news from America, just received by the ship
Rainbow, which sailed from New York on the 3d
instant, is important and interesting. The papers
furnish us with more detailed accounts of the belli-
gerent operations under the auspices of the American
Generals Scan' and TAYLOR. The former had landed
12,000 men within three miles of Vera Cruz,
and succeeded in completely investing the
city and castle. This result was accom-
plished without any difficulty worthy of no•
tice. A few skirmishes took place between the
opponents, and nothing more. Of these, however,
the Americans give us a most inflated version, scion
leur rigle. They anticipated a speedy surrender on
the part of the besieged, than which nothing is more
likely, seeing that from the first the Mexicans have
made it no part of their policy to offer any stout re-
sistance to the capture of Vera Cruz. We have
copies of General TAYLOR'S dispatches, three in
number, dated the 24th and 25th February and the
Ist March respectively. The first was written at
Buena Vista, the second at Saltillo, and the last at
Agua Nueva. From these we have the General's
own account of his engagements with the.forces under
SANTA ANNA. He estimated his own loss at not les:
than 700 men, which he describes as " very severe."
It appears that SANTA ANNA left Agua Nueva on the
27th of February, in the direction of San Luis Po-
tosi. General TAYLOR had decided upon resuming
his head-quarters at Monterey, evidently with the
apprehension that his line of communication to the
rear remains exposed to interruption. He admits that
he has already suffered some distressing casualties from
the arrangements which the Mexicans had made to in-
tercept his retreat, in case they had forced the strong
line he had occupied in front of Buena ViAtA, where
the greatest amount of slaughter occurred. It is
evident that when the Mexicans were repelled in their
attack, on the 23d of February, great as might have
been their loss, their rout could have been nothing
like the account given of it by the Americans, as
contained in the former advices brought by the Hi-
bernia; since, in General TAYLOR'S own dispatch
from Saltillo, he admitted the possibility of the at-
tack upon him being renewed, which he stated he
was prepared to receive, should the "main
Mexican force" venture to make it. Moreover,
the
,respective armies had, at that time, just
effected an arrangement for an exchange of pri-
soners, which is an additional reason for excepting to
the exaggerated representation which was made of
the total discomfiture of the Mexican troops. It re-
sults from the intelligence under review, that General
TAYLOR'S position is still beset with difficulty. With
respect to Vera Cruz, nothing will be gained by its
acquisition, seeing that the climate of itself would
decimate the Americans, far more effectively than
the hostile use of the implements of war. Indeed,
so much is this dreaded, that General SCOTT, after he
shall have obtained possession of the citadel, will, it
is believed, immediately consign it to destruction.
A reconnoitering squadron will then, it is thought,
be appointed to prevent the Mexicans from again
availing themselves of Vera Cruz during the con-
tinuance of the war.

The accounts from Ireland are still in the highest
degree gloomy and unfavourable. Pestilence is
raging throughout the land, and cutting off its vie--
tims, who, weakened by the destitution and the in
sufficiency of wholesome food during the winter and
spring, have little strength left to enable them to re-
sist its ravages. Many in a more comfortable situa-
tion of life, who have had ample supplies of food at
all times, have also perished under the fierce attacks
of the prevailing malady. No class is spared, the
highest and the lowest are alike sufferers—magis-
trates, clergymen of every sect or denomination,
landed proprietors, and farmers, are in turn afflicted,
as well as the half-starved labourer. Typhus broods
over the entire land, and whole families are swept
away under its fatal influence. Indeed it could scarcely
he hoped that something of the kind would not take
place from the neglect of the ordinary rites of sepul-
ture that has too frequently occurred. Bodies
have been suffered to remain unburied for days and
weeks; coffins have been dispensed with, and many
huddled into one common grave, with scarcely a
covering of sods. In Westport we read that no less
than fifteen corpses were cast into a hole in a sandpit
without a sufficiency of earth to cover them. Equally
harrowing accounts are received from other parts of
the country.

While such things are tolerated or permitted, how
can it be supposed that the public health can be
preserved ? The atmosphere is tainted, and malaria
engendered on every side. Surely it is time that
boards of health should be established in every dis-
trict, and means taken to counteract, as far as prac-
ticable, the fearful scourge. The necessity of State
interference respecting the sanatory condition of the
people has now been fully recognised. An impor-
tant measure is at this moment before the Legisla-
ture, by which the most efficient means will be
adopted to preserve that greatest blessing, health,
and to do away with the causes by which it may be
impaired or deteriorated. If such a measure is im-
peratively demanded in this more favoured country ;
if a general feeling in its favour is prevalent,
surely a tenfold necessity exists for some energetic
steps being taken on behalf of unhappy, plague-
stricken Ireland, which has been reduced to the con-
dition of a pest-house. It may be impossible at once
to subdue the disease, but every exertion should be
used to arrest its progress, and to abate its
virulence. A supply of food is not the only neces-
sity of the people. Without an adequate supply
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