The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-16 00:00:00

TIRE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 16, 1841.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF
EDUC ATION.
Wednesday a public meeting of the inhabitants of the
Borough of Finsbury was held at White Conduit Reuse,
in order to take into consideration the scheme of educa-
tion as put forth upon the recent minutes of Council,
and to adopt such measures as might be deemed expe-
dient thereupon.
Mr. R. BASLEY, having taken the chair, said
that he was prepared to go as far as any man in favour
of education, or to further any means which could be
adopted to promote a diffusion of ger.eral in!Ormation.
He objected. however, very much to the principle of in-
troducing any discussion upon the minutes of Council.
The measure had not been brought forward as a regular
Bill, but upon these minutes, which bad been varied
more than once, and they had no security that, in the
course of the discussion, they might not see it varied
again. The way in which the measure was introduced
was most obnoxious to many classes. It was nothing
less than the introduction of a new Church Establish-
ment. He did not intend to detain them any further,
but he hoped that a fair and impartial hearing would be
given to those who might address the meeting. lie had
re ceived letters from the two representatives of the
borough, expressing their regret that they were unable
to attend ; but though they were absent pot he hoped
that the discussion of the question would continue.
Dr. EPPS moved the first resolution. He thought
they all agreed that education was a bent fit to the com-
munity, and therefore they did not meet to oppose it.
They were, however, met to discuss the merits of a par-
ticular scheme as proposed by the Government, and,
though he was ready and at all times willing to forward
so good a purpose as that of educating the people, a
glance at the system and its details had determined him
to oppose it. The plan was not to give education to an
increased number of persons, but merely to constitute a
body of educational officers, to drill as it were the minds
of the people of England, and it became an object of the
greatest importance to them to know to what they were
to be drilled, and what points were to be inculcated with
regard to questions of religion and morality. The
pupil teachers to be appointed were te undergo five dif-
ferent examinations, in as many years. in Scripture,
liturgy, and catechism; so that at the end of that period
he would be a well-drilled soldier to fight the -ty bat-
tles of the Church.—(Cheers.) He called upon item to
repudiate a system so fraught with danger to the Dis-
senting community, and leave the question of education
to private enterprise, if it could not be brought forward
in a better form. He would canclude by proposing the
first reselution—" That this meeting protest against the
scheme of Gov rnment education us put forth in the re-
cent minutes of Council on Edireation, and especially
against the unconstitutional practice thus introduced of
giving to mere minutes of Council, not authorised by
legislative sanction, the force of law."
Mr. ELT, in seconding the resolution, said that he did
not think that any great national scheme of education
would t..nd to decrease the amount of crime. They had
returns of the number of those convicted for crime, who
were able to read and write, while the) had no retur, a of
the number of those who could not, and still were honest.
They had as gross depravin
~hYanat
tni wiwii et,
industry
utlt
4.t
trauyrnyi
gn
to , awnesososvri w:
nteSchret:e.
Gdeel hoped eatlntlihitiht incentivesatht estGho(oi:vr. crime
net' uht
e
abject poverty, which was the main cause of crime as
well as ignorance.
The resolution having been read by the
ndnCleHnt_lß.3.lATNht
it Nisirthie. TAYLORopinion epirtThi'sSemd meeting an a
tirigitin:t, to secure the
ereatest amount of individual. so,ital, and political good,
it is necessary that every human being stn u:d have a
thorough secular education, and, therefore, that it is the
duty of Government to supply such educati n, and that
all schools stop red wholly, or in part, by charitable
contaibutions, are wrong in principle aed in praet,ce,
destruc ivr of the inch pendence of the %orlon_ classes,
and that the opponents of the Government measure are
mostly pers ns who are desirous that the British youth
shook! be • ducaied in the dogmas or relig on—thereby
keeping alive sectarian siri e and biAertiess ; and that
the Governmeut have refrained from bringing forth a
more liberal scheme because cf the opposition of a large
poreion of the Noeconthrinists." The opposition to the
Government scheme of education was purely sectarian.
The sectarians had found that they did not keep pace
with the pepuiation, that their numbers were diminished,
and they therefore tried in every way to oppose the
progress of that which they at first looked upon as likely
to decline. to give way to others.
Mr. NIOORE seconded the amendment. He said,
were the Government to wait until the poor or ignorant
man was stained with crime before they would do any-
thing to further the education? Was it not the duty of
the Government to lock to the education of the people
before crime had taken place instead of afterwards? The
educ dion proposed was hy no means Scriptural, as de-
scribed by 1)r. Epps, but comprised a sound and sub-
stantial info7mation on all the ordinary heads of history
and gcQ.rrarhy.
Dr. PRICE said that the question was not one of a
purely sectarian nature, it was one which affected every
Englishman of every creed, and therefore these dis-
co
lgarsese ,farbol
me dt
class,t i ts,iho,n)us lld not baeteidndtoulsgeeptedarianrfaonrdtheesyt.rwanegree
calculated to create that mischief which it was the aim
and end of education to prevent. He admitted that the
greatest assistance which education had received was
from the Protestant Disseeters. They had proceeded
silently for years without any public demonstration,
without any resolutions at public meetings, and without
any speethes in Parliament, and against the bitterest
acrimony of the members ef the Church of England,
and he thought that eventually they should not be sub-
ject, d to the operation ot a scheme like the present, which,
if they availed th-rnselv2s of it, was likely to interfere
with th, it religious opinions.
Several titier gentlemen having spoken,
The CUAIRMAN put the amendment, r rich was
negatived by a largo majority, and the original resolu-
tion agreed to.
The second resolution—" That this meeting believe
that, if at any time a Governmental system of education
can be legitimate, it wilt be when the people are enabled
to pronounce an opinion thereon by being really repre-
sented in th,.• Commons' House of Paritment ,• in the
mean time this meeting instruct their members to
oppose the vote of money for educational purposes pro •
posed to be taken on the 19;h of this month"—was
propos d slid seconded from the platform, and was eel-
tied unanimensly.
After some iurther discussion the meeting.. which was
tteereusly and respeetahl v tot, natl. separated.

THE SULTAN AND THE DISTHES,ED
letter fr m Constantinople mentions an act of liberality
on
the part of the Sultan which does him great credit. eon
hearing of the sufferings of the Irish. the Sultan caused to be
handed to the Ron Mr. Wellesley I,odo/., to be disomed of
by him in the best way towards their alleviation.
OMsIBVs ItoußEar.-0.1 IVolile.d4y a lady, !rimed
['arsons, resi4l at No. 110, L..w•-r Park-street,
Regent's Park, was robbod IA a reicule in a City omni-
bus, betwoen the 13,titt and Charing cross, containing 34
st.vvreigns, two 51. Bank of England 'tows, and some

to se silver.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT TO A LADT.—Weilnesday
evening, oetween 7 and 8 o'clock, Mrs Wiley, of No. 10,
Havel-stock place. Cam en town,
was so severely burnt
by her dress it,niting from a ligi,ted coal that nut the
stighte.t h..pes see entert.in-ti f her ree,,vrry.
FIRES AND PROBABLE LOSS OF LlFE.—Wedneslay
afters .on a tire was discovered burning npon the premise*
belonging to J. C. Constable, of 31, Hy. e Park-square,
Bayswater-road. It c.aninenced in a loft over the carriage-
'Luse and stables, No. 42, in the Mews. It was caused by
the iron p;pe of a portable stove in the adj iining building,
which set fire to sixteen trusses of hay and straw, the joist-
ings and ratters, and the flames finally burst throagh the
roof. The alarm having been promptly given, the carriages
and hors .s were got out in safety, and intelligence was sent
to the engine stations. The parish and London brigade en-
gines were quickly at the scene, and owing to the exertions
of the firemen and neighbour's the flames were confined to
that portion of the premises where they began, but they
were not wholly extinguished until considerable damage was
done. The same morning, about one o'clock, a fire, which it
female,lai
her
teb, frtsoemabno reeedldoni,:lnamed
willea
biarsh:
zea
Aieubt,
~enpi
I,l"pv)d-seicoeld,isdioucwnrett:i,thaGontanrdfseaatattartatebelctrl
iecrheoptednhs steteNe:qoofibi
eeee96ldiudi consequences, ,et
immediately
rt
hbmereetaoe,
an aged
fl
upon hearing
ha
esaprai
nrgk must
tbe alhaarvme fearillteenrefdrotmh abluiLiglhdti:dg,cbauntdbl
ef:redthet
fire could be extinguished the beed and bedding was de-
stroyed. and Mrs. Wilson moat frightfully burned over the
whole of her body. She was promptly removedt? the infir-
mary, but owing to the serious nature of her
advanced age (74), not the least hopes can be injuries
tt:inudeTeort
her recovery.
REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE. —On Saturday
evenmg la=t ,everal of the inhabitants of Penzance were
not a lit le startled on witnessing an otter marching
down Chapel•Areet, with the utmost sang fruid. He
approached a female, who was unconscious that she was
in such comnp toy, and by getting in contact with her
fret, nearly threw licr to the ground. A man who
lodged at the Turk's Head Inn brought out a large and
powerful bull-dog, when-*.- sr were encounter ensued be-
tween the dog and otter, the result of which was for
some time doubtful, but ultimately terminated in the
death of the latter, which was subsequently purchased
by John Richards, of Poltair, wno, we understand,
intends presenting it, after it shall have la, m. stuffed, to
the Muwinn.— West Briton.

..... _____.....
INTRODUCTION OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGIIPH INTO
LIVERPOOL.—A gentleman was in Liverpool, on Satur-
day last, making arrangementson the part of the Electric
Telegraph Company for introdueing that wonderful
mode of communication between this town and the me-
tropolis. He had previously made similar arrangeineuts
in Manchester; and from the information which he gave
us, we trust that both these capitals of Lancashire will
be connected with Lund, .n, and with each other, by means
of the electric wire, within three months of the present
time. As the sane company has already communica-
tions with most other parts of the kingdom, Liverpool
will be at once connected with a great variety of places.
including most of the sea ports on the south and western
coast. The manner in which the int irmat;on received
in Liverpool, from London, Aleichester, and, other sta
Lions, is to be made avallabl-, is as foll.,ws:—A large
room is to be taken near thu Exchange News Romp (if
possible in the same biiiidiiig), into which t .e wires aid
the whole apparatus are to he introduc d. Here all
information of public interest will he received. and be
ininaydiately decip!lered, and posted up. for the informa-
um of the subset-1136-S to tois telegraphic news room.
be yearly subscription will be from two to three
uineas, and for this sun the subscribers trill he entitled
to see all intelligence relative to the arrival ii, the East
arid West India mails, inarki,ts, to p ilitieal events of
importanee, as decisions in Parliament, 10 the arrival of
Liverpool vessels at other ports, and whatever else m .y
bethought deserving of transmission by telegraph. The
company will Also convey private commullication, ut so
r much per dozen words.—Liverpool -I imas of yesterday.
A dispatch hasobaet,enlnrateicceoilv(eitidnekb/witthheanßim)arpri,rioafl
order Trade fai::ron utuhnec iT'g
Emperor Nicholas,
pr,par.(id Lter.dexJeaunru,asruyo2l24f,rtohme
bleriaeltaingtrecatilionhuot toeutersbousixl/41.

IMPERIAL PAI2GIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
April 15.
THE NEW HOUSE.
The Second Estate of the Realm assembled for the
first time this evening in the Chamber appropriated for
their use by her Majesty, in . her new Palace at West-
minster ; and certainly we feel ourselves compelled to
say that it is an apartment well worthy of the appro-
priation by the Sovereign for the use of her Peers—one
eminently adapted for the accommodation of their Lord-
ships, and one eminently calculated to add grace and
dignity to their procer dings. If he had done nothing
more, the interior of this chamber would immortalise the
name of Barry. We have already given at considerable
length a description of this most gorgeous apartment,
but we cannot allow so excellent an opportunity as the
first night of its being occupied by their Lordships to
pass by without again calling the attention of our
readers to some of the principal parts of this splendid
building.
The New House of Lords is 50 feet long by 45 feet
wide, at.d it is 40 feet high. On entering this spacious
apartment the stranger will be struck with perect
ainersment. The ceiling win, t 1 übtless, first attract his
attention ; it is not arched, but perfectly horizontal;
massive ribs, carved and gilt, divide it into eighteen
compartments, anti each of there is Lubdivided into five
minor compartment:" or panels, the ground of those
panels boing ezire, enriched with heraldic devices. The
ribs are supported by corbels aid by spandrils, perforated.
At each point in the ceiling where the ribs intersecteach other there are p ti.!atits, which
greatly enhance
the beauty of that portieri of the building ; but there are
no depending tights—no I (ism's. no chandeliers swinging
from the mit; to cenceal elegance or cover deformity.
The length of the House cf Lords extends from north to
south, and during the day it will be lighted by twelve
windows, six on either side, which nearly reach to the
ceiling, but do not approach within twenty feet of the
them. These apertures are to be doubly glazed, the
inner portion being stained glass. One of this nuu.ber
has already been finished, and the completion of the
windows will, doubtless, add much to the elegance of this
apartment. Upon the same level with the windows,
but on the nortaern and southern walls, are six cempart-
tnents, three on each extremity of the House, five ot
which are now temporarily covered with figured damask.
They are ultimately to he filled with fresco paintings.
One of these six which stands immediately over the
throne has been completed the subject is the baptism
of Ethelbert. Tee-spaces between he several windows
aid compartments are fourteen in number, and they
contain niches which are y. t to he tilled with statues of
the( barons who obtained Magna Charts.
Having now disposed ot the upper portion of the
House, we descend to the galhories. That which is in-
tended for the admission of strangers bearing Peers
orders eccupies the north wall, and contains accemino-
dation for about one hie.dred and fifty per,ons. The
throne and the reporters' gallery fill spaces of pretty
nearly equal extent, but at opposite ends of the ll..uste
With the exception o[ these 'paces there is Carrie i round
the entire apartment a light galei y. cons;sting of only
one litee of sea's, and capebie tit contaiiiing about one
n
hundr• d and eighty persons. This portion of the build-
which protects
log wilt, be appr..priated to a few ladies, and to ‘lecnb+ ra
of
fro shees scats suse or
ei.1412 rbne(e railing
01 brass work
and enamel. Ihe only oat r gallery is that 'or reporters, a ito specimen
which is paced in tr.nt t th .t for strangers, but con-
siderable- nearer to the floor. and immediately ov. r the
bar. The situation thus appropriated for reporting is
certainly in the most 7avourable position that could be
as.igned for that purpose, censistently with the a,:com-
modarion of the Peers and the architectural arrangwents
of the buil.hing.
The ft or tit the House presents to the eye of the spec-
tator thr, c principal divisions, which extend transversely,
viz., from east to West, each occupying the full breadth
of the apartment, but ute-qaal parts of its length. In
the upper or southern &visit n are the throne, together
with the spaces assigned to distinguished foreigners and
eldest sons of Peers. The boundary of this division is
fifteen or sixteen feet from the south wall. Next comes
the central region, or " body of the House," which seems
capable of containing the four hundred and forty Lords
spiritual and temporal. 'The table and woelsacks occupy
the middle portion of the floor. At either side of these
are placed, on ascending steps, five lines of benches, co-
vered with scarlet morocco leather, for the use of the
Peers.

The throne is a work certainly of great magnificence.
Hitherto this portion of the House of Lords has been
more like a great window with gold lace and velvet cur-
tains than the place intended for the seat of the Sove
reign, when she appeared among her Peers, and was at-
tended by her faithful Commons, in order either to
prorogue or open the proceeding* of the great council
of the nation. It .was reserved fur Mr. Berry to oast
these tawdry trappings to the wind, and erect
in their stead a throne worthy alike of the
monarch and the greatest nation upon the earth
Though retaining abundant gorgeousness, the new
throne is distinguished by an airy, light, and graceful
character, which harmonises with the building. The
platform, on which her Majesty's chair stands, is ascended
by four steps, and constitutes a central compartment, on
either side of which, forming two wings, are minor eleva-
tions, where chairs for Prince Albert and the Prince of
W ales are placed, the latter oo the right of the Queen, the
former on the left. The frame work ef her Majesty's
chair of state is carvAl and gilt, and studded with crys-
tal. In other r(spi cis the strzxtu.e of these sews is
conformable with the estublislit d fvhion of such furni
Lure, namely crimson velvet and gold embroidery. Tee
arms of her Majesty are enablazolied on tee central chair,
those of the heir apparent on the chair appropriated to
that interesting young personage, while Prince Albert's
is adorned wi•ti his unit shield, surmounted by the mul-
titudinous crests which Germans of gentle blood are
usual!y entitled to display.
It is impossisle, thally, to conclude our description of
the throne without 'taring that in its most elevated and
conspicuous parts there are five niches, in which figures
will be placed, full.- armed, each in he costume of one
of the tire British 0rt1e,.5 of knightho .d.
The House is lighted by large gas burners placed on the
side walls arid on candelabras springing from the floor,
and the effect of the whole, when fully lighted up, is
g,irgeoits and tn.oznlficent in the extreme, stick as to defy
description, and such us must be seen to be appre-
cett• d, As a wreee the House of Lords forms an ap-
propriate and pre-eminent feature in our great temple
of legislation, and assures us th it the work of erecting
a new Pal ‘cc at Westminster, so ably commenced, and
so successfully proceeded with, U der the superin-
tendence and guidance ef Mr. Bari,
will, if his life be
spared, brou,,ht to as equally succeaul a termination,
and will. when cotupleted, stand as a monument to future
ages of the lite-relay of the people of England of the
nineteenth century, and of the tote and chaste designs
of its gifted afehitect.
It wes announced that the Lord Chancellor would
take his seat upon the woelssck at half after
four o'clock. It was expected that the gal-
leries (inure particularly those appropriated to la-
dle ) would have b.-en tills occupied, and that there
would have been a large atteiidanv of Peers. The gal-
lery was ci,) ned at twenty live minutes before five. The
Lord Chancellor was on the :Woolsack, arid there were
not more than a d z•u Peers in the House. The
only Cabinet Minister present, aith the exception
of the Lord Coat.c nor, was Lord Campbell. The
ladies' greleries were unoccupied, and not more than
twenty rsons were in the strangers' gallery. There
was a large gathering of sons of Peers and Members of
the House of Commons at the foot of the throne; amp ne
them Lord John Russell appeared for a short time. His
Lordship afterwards visited the galleries and the other
parts of the House. The carpet (of the old Star Chain •
ber pattern), blue, powdered with stars, was laid down,
in the course of the morning, and its light appearance
contrasts beautifully with the deep red colour of the
benches. The coup crceil presented by the appearance
of the interior of the House is gorgeous. It is indeed
a fitting palace for the proudest aristocracy in the world.
In consequence, however, of the immense extent of the
hall, and its peculiarity of construction, the echo is so
great that it is extremely difficult to hear distinctly in
the gallery what is said in the body of the House.
Prayers were read by the Bishop of ST. Asses.
Shortly after the LORD CHANCELLOR had taken his
seat on the Woolsack,
Lord CAMPBELL rose for the purpose of addreTs-
tog the House. His Lordship, however, was, by an
accid.nt, deprived of the honour of being the first per-
son to bring forward any business in the new House,
for before he could commence his address, the Usher of
the Black Rod naneunccd
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Whereupon Mr. Greene and other Members were
petition in favour of the
called in and brought up several Bills. This was the first
POOR LAW ).
public business transacted in the flew House of Lords.
GOVERNMENr EDUCATION SCHEME.
Government education ePdßußcaLtiljonlirsec;eiellmt(ed. aThe petition stated that
,Nenalds?inPrfaevseonntredof a national rat
the plan was likely to be of great ser v ifcoaerptuoertltiahtileotencreaaugtinaoti.nrn
int
presented a petition froe.
Lord PRUEDIE SBDEANSLi °EEV.l;zrikeirsjeEnANt el'NdE INr
several petitions against
both of these laws.
petition
y.ipnirnteghiseenNtatiigpaettiiotinonL,awt
theA bLTelohrardewde eiLleftlYakaTge:aTtoililfei imLit airyrtnC°: 1 I i talteration)iN
alsotteEL LaoarraldpweFet
R, tr
of ots
),Ecs:us:
E:u
Iff porrl
rose
ee
resented
troead a
the abolition of ca pied punishineuts,
praying for
the noise in the El :use rendered his Lordship's voice in•
audible. He said, addressing himself to the bar, ".M.v
Lords, I shill be under the absolute necessity of having
the bar cleared, in order that the business of the house
may be proceeded w My Lords, I beg
.o move that the bar be cleared. I shall cemenly persist
in th .it motim it try warning has no effect. lam about
to ask a question of the Gevi-ruin lit, but if they cannot
hear my qu-stien, and I ann
may as well I,: it alone. —(Loud laughter frern the
c
„ et hear their answer, • I
Members of the Roos- or Commons who were present.)
l'he Noble lewd then is eat en to et<te, that the po:.rs'
rates in various parish s had been more than double
since the I.t o 1 1) ceinber, arid that a proportion if rime
he eeno:ns rece:ving relief were
nut ~f ten of Irish
L tit Sand 3 714 tiers els arriv-d in the
pert of Liverpenl. "Illi," It" n"". d.iy 2,386 persons,
waking an segregeee et about 6.000 ,lersons. '1 he cries •
Von which the Noide Lord preposee to found upon the
subject, rib' note i.o vever, rests the galkry, •
GOVFANMENT SCHEME OF E9UCATION.
The NOBLE Letter then presented a number of petitions
against the G•.veritment scheme of education, but was
andersto..d not to seppert the eraser of the petitioners.
Th • Marquis o' LA'NSDO 'NNE made some observa.-
tins in reply to there of the Noele and Learned Lord,
bat riot even their perport could be caught in the
gallery. . .

Lord BEAUMONT could not help expressinz his con-
curience in what had fallen from the Noble Lord. If it
was rendered imperative that the authorised version
f the Scriptures should be used in the schools to which
Government aid was to be extended, the Catholic clergy
would not permit Catholic children to attend them.
This being the case, it was necessary that some inn-
sure should be adop•ed to extend to the Catholic children
the benefit of education. He little expected that his
Noble Friend would make the statement he had just
made, as he considered from the opinions the Noble Lord
had at various times expressed on the subject of educa-
tion, and as he knew the Noble Lord had often expressed
the most liberal opinions upon it, he was little prepared to
expect that the Government would proceed so far as to
exclude entirely one class of her Msjesty's subjects from
the advantages conferred by this education grant on the
others. lie saw no possibility of theie being au uni-
formity of religior, and as long as that was so, p,2riect
toleration should be given to alt.
Lord STANLEY presented several petitions from
Dissenting congregations against the Government scheme
of education, but added that he did not concur in the
petitioners' prayer.
STANDING ORDERS.

The Duke of RICHMOND sod, that as a Member
of the Committee of Selection, he begged to call the
attention of the 11ou3e to a case which had bi-en re-
ported to them by the Railway Commissioners. It. ap-
peared that in one of the Bills which hail teen sub
mitted to them ore of the parties had an action
pending in the Court of Chancery. This a, peare.l
to him to be a very dangerous prec'dent to suffer, and
he should be very far from recommending to their Lord
ships' House to sutritr such a practice to prevail; aid he
trusted, therefore, that some directions would be given
to the Committee of Selection not to entertain the Bill,
or any 13.11 which was idiecLed by such acitcumstancc.
Lord LYNDHURST conceive.' that it would be un-
wise to stop a Bill on that account.
Lord BROUGHAM—Supposing they were to allow
such a proceeding, any man, by filing a in Chancery,
would be able to stop any Bill whatever that might come
I,efore their Lordships.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that he had no per-
sonal interest whatever in tha matter, but thought it
right to call the attention of their Lordships to the
subject.