The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-30 00:00:00

Havre, 6901. ' • Great Northern, 6551. ; Avignon, 887 f. 50c.;
Vierzon, 6171.50 e.; Bordeaux, 571 t. 25c.; Troyes and Mon-
teresu, 340 C, ; Bas'e, 220 f.; Dieppe, 3601.; Paris and Stras-
burg, 4eBf. 75c. ; Tours and Nantes, 492 f: 50c. ' • Paris and
Lyons, 515 f. ; Lyons and Avignon, 4851. ; Bordeaux and
Cette,•4ssl. ; Spanish Three per Cents., 3814 ; Ditto Do.
re..tic Debt, 3234.
KinsElLLas, DEC. 23.—Marseilles and Avignon, 8851.;
Northern, 6451.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 29.
Boulogne and Amiens, 16:,t4—Dutch Rhenish, 4%—East
Indian, I,4—Luxembourg, %—Northern of France Consti-
tuted„ll—Paris and Orleans, 49—Rouen and Havre, 26%.

COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS.
(THIS DAY.)
The first half-yearly general meeting of the members
of this institution was held shortly after twelve o'clock
this day, at the Freemasons' Tavern. The object of the
College is simply to test the competence of persons
about to undertake the business of instruction, and to
award them a diploma of their competency in the various
branches of education when proved to the satisfac-
tien of the Council, or a body of qualified examiners
to be appointed by them.
The tests for the ensuing year in the branches of edu-
cation on which the preceptors will be examined are thus
laccifled in the syllabus :
" Lowe r Commercial Test—Reading. writing, English
grammar, geography, the elements of arithmetic, and
English history.
" Higher Commercial Test—The First Commercial
Test to their fullest extent; and in book-keeping (single
and double entry), English composition, practical geo-
metry, with its application to land surveying and arti-
ficers' work, and in commercial history, or the elements
of political economy.
" Lower Classical Test—On the works of the follow-
ing authors, viz.:—Caesar, Sallust, and the /Eneid and
Eclogues of Virgil; with Latin composition; and Roman
and Grecian history.
" Higher Classical Test—Latin and Greek prose and
versa couposition ; the history of classical
.literature;
and at least one prose writer and one poet in each
language.
"Lower Mathematical Test—Four .hooks of Euclid,
the elements of algebra, and the elements of plane tri-
gonometry.
" Higher Mathematical Test—Candidates will be ex-
amined by papers selected from the Cambridge Questions
for Honours, or others suited to test the knowledge pos-
sessed b) the candidates, of the higher departments of
the mathematics, and of their application.
"Foreign Languages, &c.—ln the modern and oriental
languages, or in any departments of knowledge not pre-
viously enumerated, will be examined in the theory and
practice of these languages and departments of know-
ledge."

There was a numerous attendance. 11. Stein Turrell,
Esq., of Brighton, occupied the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said as those present were acquainted
with the object of the meeting, and as they had testified
the interest which they felt in it by the numbers in
which they attended, he should not detain them with
any observations, but at once proceed to call upon the
Secretary to read the report which had been framed for
presentation to the meeting.
The Secretary (Mr J. Parker) then read the report,which
was somewhat voluminous. It set forth that during the
brief but eventful period of the existence of the institu-
tion, it had given energy to an inert mass which, they
anticipated, if rightly directed, would elevate
the character of the preceptor, by placing him in a more
independent and elevated position than the profession had
hitherto occupied in this or in any other country. It
went on to say that its promoters had had to contend
with great opposition, they had been ridiculed and ma-
ligned, but relying upon the integrity of their cause they
had succeeded in establishing the institution on a firm
basis, and had induced many of the most eminent mem-
bers of the profession to join it, and they had also suc-
ceeded in obtaining the support of persons of influence
in other ranks of life. Two objections had been raised
against the college ; first, it had been stated in some of
the provincial papers that the movement was an anti-
church one. This was wholly untrue, in fact
several members of the Church had enrolled
their names, and some of them occupied seats
in the council. They had no intention of interfering
with the religious sentiments of its members, because
they believed any religious distinction would deprive
those who were Dissenters of a valuable privilege, and
would, moreover, be entirely opposed to the catholicity
of the institution. The second objection was equally
erroneous, namely, that the object of the college was to
force education into the hands of its members, and that
by the aid of penal enactments it would prevent any one
opening a school without being a member. Their object
was to establish a high standard of education, and to
impress the credentials of those found competent with
the authority of a college incorporated by royal charter,
and not to prevent any one from teaching with-
out its authority. The examiners, who were gentlemen of
eminence, had offered their services for the ensuing exa-
mination erotis. A deputation had waited on Lord John
Russell, who recognised the importance of the cause, and
promised to give the matter his best consideration. The)
had received a great accession of members. Last month
upwards of two hundred became members. The funds
hitherto had been equal to the expenditure, which had
up to that time been great, in consequence of the cost
of making the objects of the college more public. After
the discharge of all obligations, yesterday morning a
balance of 50/. remained, but with subscriptions not yet
received, it might be taken at 1001. The council recom-
mended the establishment of an Assurance Society and
Provident Benefit Association in connexion with thi
college, but wished to defer any decisive steps with re
specs to it until the next meeting. The number of mem•
bers was 450, and the number of local secretaries 68.
The report was received with loud cheers, and wet
unanimously adopted.
Mr. FREEMAN, of Enfield, proposed rescinding that
portion of the 10th rule which limited the admission of
principals of schoois, without ballot or exainii.ation,
until June, 1847, and the substitution of the Ist of
January. He urged in support of the alteration that it
the time remained open until June, numbers of unqueli-
fied persons would pay the guinea subscription, and
swamp the scholastic mind of the institution, but after
having obtained admission they would perhaps discon-
tinue their contributions, thinking they had obtained the
qualification cheaply. Those rejected would have a
right of appeal to the next meeting, whose decision
should be binding.
The Rev. Dr. STODDART seconded the proposition,
and availed himself of the opportunity to state that he
had recently received a letter from one of the most dis-
tinguished masters in the High School of Edinburgh,
stating that means were being taken to establish a simi-
lar college in Edinburgh.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Various alterations in the rules were proposed by the
Rev. Dr. WII.soN, and seconded by Mr. GOODACRE Of
Nottingham.
The Rev. Mr. WALKER. of Maidstone, proposed that
the following titles should be awarded to those found
competent in the various branches :—M. C. P. (Member
of the College of Preceptors) first and second class—
A.C.P. (Associate of the College of Preceptors) to pro-
ficients in foreign languages, &c., and the highest title to
those proficient in the native languages.
The Rev. Dr. Winsoie, in proposing a vote of thanks to
the chairman and secretary, said, the welfare of the
empire depended upon the success of such
an institution as this, because men must be
instructed before they could comprehend the doctrines
of revelation, and the nature of the moral relations. It
was, therefore, incumbent upon them to join hand and
heart in a work of so much importance. Their objects
were entirely disinterested—wholly free from selfishness
—the grand object they had in view was to elevate the
profession and to bind them together for
their common good.—(Loud cheers.) Let them
remember that Aristotle was only a schoolmaster,
and that his highest boast was to have taught Alexander
the Great.—(Cheers.) Hitherto, the interests of educa-
tion, and of those engaged in its promulgation would
not be neglected in this country, because its teachers
would lapse into professional existence, like the apothe-
cary and the lawyer. They would become a fourth
profession.—(Cheers.) It would compel a man to stand
upon his own legs, and if he was unfitted for the task
he undertook, society would, not support him. The meet-
ing, and the unanimity which had characterised it, would
be a great stimulus to the local secretaries to promote a
knowledge of the valuable nature of the college.—
(Hear, hear.) Dr. W. Barrow suggested many years
ago :that books should be printed under the superin-
tendence of a council of schoolmasters for general use in
the schools of the college. The present books were
inefficient and costly, but if proper books were prepared
in the way suggested, he (Dr. Wilson) anticipated that
a surplus would be created from the sale, which would
go a great way to relieve the widows and orphans of
teachers. —(Loud cheers.) A large income might be

realised. For instance,' they might have a grammar
of their own. It was true they might not improve the
Eton grammar, but they might compile one which would
redound to their credit, and it as well as other books
would produce a large revenue. Then the establish-
ment of an assurance, or benefit institution, would enable
young men who only contributed a few pounds a year to
accumulate a large fund for future.exigencies, and if he
wanted money in order to get married, or to speculate
in railways— (Loud laughter)—he might obtain it from

such an Instittition. -
Mr. WHARTON, of Brighton, seconded the motion, and
descanted upon the generous feeling and unanimity of
the meeting.
'rho Rev. Dr. STODDART, in putting the motion,
which was carried by acclamation, stated that they in-
tended to hold a public meeting in January, in order to
explain the objects of the college ; and a dinner would
also take place in the same month.—(Cheers.)
Mr. COLEMAN, of Sandgate, Kent, stated that he pre-
sided over a meeting recently held at Ashford, which
pledged itself to support the college. He hoped
similar meetings would be held throughout the whole
coun try.—(Cheers.)

The-CHAIRMAN returned thanks for himself and Mr.
Parker, and the meeting broke up.

THE IRON TRADE.—Our Birrningham Correspond-
ent says—" It is now undo stood, in well-informed
quarters, that ut the forthcoming quarterly meeting of
ironmasters no advance on present prices will be pro-
posed. The demand tor rails and chairs is such as would
justify an advance, but as that would be immediately
followed by a strike among the miners, if their wages
were not materially increased, and as it would have the
effect of crushing many of the small manufacturers,
whose profits are already reduced to the lowest point by
the high cost of the raw material, it is deemed most ad-
visable to let things remain as they are. Coals have
again advanced a shilling a ton."
Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh, Bart., late of Up
Park, Sussex, has lett the whole of his estates, real and
personal, to his relict, Lady Fetherstonhaugh. The per-
sonalty and funded property was estimated at 30,0001.
lie lived to the advanced age of 92.