The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-31 00:00:00

COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS.
The first half-yearly general meeting of the members
of this institution was held shortly after twelve o'clock
rest Hay, 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-
tion 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
specified in the syllabus :
"Lower 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 ..neid and
Eclogues of Virgil; with Latin composition; and Boman
and Grecian history.
" Higher Classical Test—Latin and Greek prose and
verse composition ; the history of classical literature;
and
.at least one prose writer and one poet in each
langunge.
"Lower Mathematical Test—Four books 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 Ps:
sessed Is) the candidates, of the higher departments of
the mathematics, and of their application. tal
"Foreign Languages, &c.—ln the modern and orien
languages, or in any departments of knowledge not pre-
viously enumerated, will be examined in the theoryelnd
practice of these languages and departments of know-
ledge."
There was a numerous attendance. H. Stein Turiell,
Esq., of Brighton, occupied the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said as those present were acquainted
with the object of the meeting, and as they had testifi!d
the interest which they felt in it by the numbers in
which they attended, he should not detain then; with
any observations, but at once proceed to call upon ff.!
Secretary to read the report which had been framed for
presentation to the meeting.
The Secretary ( Mr J. Parker) then read the report,
was somewhat voluminous. It set forth that during ,
tu-
brief but eventful period of the existence of the insuhe
tion, it had given energy to an inert mass which;etile
anticipated, if rightly directed, would
in e wore
the character of the preceptor, by placing h`w a had
independent and elevated position than the profession e.
hitherto occupied in this or in any
went on to say that its promoters had
other Country
whthiche
with great opposition, they had been ridiculed and ,
ligned, but relying upon the integrity of their cause try.
had succeeded in establishing the institution on a nr..r.
basis, and had induced many of the most eminent Insuu!..
hers of the profession to join it, and they had also
eancen
had to co. d.
ceeded in obtaining the support of persons of Will jot'
in other ranks of life. Two objections had been sae of
against the college; first, it had been stated in °rase
the provincial papers that the movement was an -El
in fit
church one. This was wholly untrue,
e roma"
several members of the Church had seats
their names, and some of them cecup.ied ing
in the council. They had no intention of inte,rfe.oe
with the religious sentiments of its members, nec"i"
they believed any religious distinction wood depv__d
those who were Dissenters of a valuable privilegee7e
would, moreover, be entirely opposed to
of the institution. The second objection was egos ta
erroneous, namely, that the object of the college w_
d tbst
force education into the hands of its members, an
by the aid of penal enactments it would prevent anY.
cot
opening a school without being a member. Their cling
to
was to establish a high standard of education, with
impress the credentials of those found the catholot titiyy
eemPelteciihts„er,
the authority of a college incorporated by ror! with-
and not to prevent any one from teachnigal__
out its authority. The examiners, who were gentle suer.
eminence, had offered their services for the ensuing
Oho
mination rads. A deputation had waited on reer"and
Russell, who recognised the importance of the causa.
promised to give the matter his best considerationt.,Lnort
had received a great accession of members.
upwards of two hundred became members. 1712,e..hfuhnacitsi
hitherto had been equal to the expenditure, u"..
up to that time been great, in consequence of After
of making the objects of the college more Puhan',.tirei a
the discharge of all obligations, yesterdaY. 111 yet
balance of 50L remained, recom-
received, it might be taken at 1001. The counc
the
mended the establishment of an Assurance Sooleiti
h the
but with subscriptions not
Provident Benefit Association in connexion
college, but wished to defer any decisive stte:
opoleyi.
specs to it until the next meeting. Th
hers was 450, and the number of hoe al
se
Steers, and was
The report was received with loud c
unanimously adopted. o ed rescinding that
Mr. FREEMAN, of Enfield, the admission of
portion of the 10th rule which limited
am.na.on
e neer:Aries 68.
principals of schoois, without ballot or ex u
January. He ured in support of the alteration that?l
until June, 1847. and the substitution of the nif
of unquall-
the time remained open until June, numbers
nd
feed persons would pay the guinea subscription,
y
swamp the scholastic mind of the institution, but :fter
having obtained admission the would perhaps discon-
tinue their contributions, thinking they had obtained the
qualification cheaply. Those rejected would have *
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 toasters in the High School of Edinburgh,
stating that weans 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. WILSON, 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 :-51. 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, Sce.,
and the highest title to
those proficient in the native languages.
ote of thanks to
The Hev.Dr. WILSON, in proposing a
we
of of s
the
the chairman and secretary, said, the welfare
such
mitt
empire depended upon the success e be
an institution as this, because men -- trines
-1
instructed before they could comprehend the doc...
of revelation, and the nature of the moral relations. ;
hand elm •
was, therefore, incumbent upon them to join,. ;--recbiecte
heart in a work of so much importance. n,. ;r
were entirely disinterested—wholly free from ste the
—the grand object they had in view was to eLeYfor
profession and to bind them gether
to
their common good.—(Loud cheers.) Let "1.7,
remember that Aristotle was only a schoo
and that his highest boast was to have tlnias
aught Alexander
ca.
the Great.—(Cheers.) Hitherto, the interests of ecitiald
flee, and of those engaged in its promulgation gibers
not be neglected in this country, because its teacubee.
would lapse into professional existence, like the ;et th
cary and the lawyer. They would become a four
profession.—(Cheers.) It would compel a Don to 011
upon his own legs, and if be was unfitted for the O't.,
und ertoo w °ll
k, society ould not support him. The inee
he id
ing, and the unanimity which had characterised ite w
be a great
stimulus to the local secretaries to
...mote A
knowledge of the valuable nature of the eollege•-;
(Hear, hear.) Dr. W. Barrow suggested many Yet
ago :that books should be printed under the suPer7;
tendence of a council of schoolmasters for general use 're
the schools of the college. The present book* we d
inefficient and costly, but if proper books were pre sfrheat
in the way suggested, he (Dr. Wilson) anticipergu'ad
a surplus would be created from the sale, which:re; of
go a great way to relieve the widows and orl'!"4
be
teachers. —(Loud cheers.) A large income might
.„ mor
realised. For instance, they migbt have gr''''-",he
of their own. It was true they might not improve
Eton grammar, but they might compile one which ool,'
w
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 may yiO3, or to speculate .
in railways—(Loud laughter)—he might obtain. it from
such an institution. • a
Mr. WHARTON, of Brighton, seconded the motion, an
descanted upon the generous feeling and unanimity of
the meeting.
The Rev. Dr. STODDART, in putting the motion, •
which was carried by acclamelion, 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 hepre:
sided over a meeting recently held at Ashford, venieel
pledged itself to support the college. Hi hope
similar meetings would be held throughout the whole
country.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for himself and Ur*
Parker, and the meeting broke up.

1714
109

501;

714
11

1% p

PA p
13/4
131

324

34 54,

1N
36

15:v
31:
I►%

9,,/s

12%

I/
22

-
5 LA

40%

17 LA
3i/8

-
2p

38%
12%
73/1

81!4(
39%
1334

181,,s

31/2

103/4
13%
8,,,2

814
491/2
36

261/2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—Tur.smtz.
CRESTER CUP.
50 to 1 agst Crim Con—offd 1000 to 15 agst Blirgua r—t
50 to 1 agst Fitz-Allen and afterwards offered
1000 to 16 agst Antler—takeni 1000 to 15 agst MorpathOli
DERRY.
Bto 1 agst Vas Tromp-...t to 100 25 to 1 agst Cobweb colt--offd
14 to 1 agst Epirote—t to 25 33 to 1 agst Lunedale—offd
500 to 30 agst Planet—taken 33 to 1 agst Old Port—offd
25 to 1 agst Glentilt—t to 50 33 to 1 agst 'Wanota—offd
Nothing else named.

DARING STREET ROBBERY.ShOrtIy after two
o'clock on,Tnesday morning, as a gentleman, by the name
of Dougal, residing in Jubilee-place Mile-end-road, "u
along the Commercial-road, when within 50
yards of the George Inn, two men rushed from under
gate-way, and after knocking him down, one of them
knelt upon him, and robbed him of a silver watch and
guard- chain, with which they made off before any alarm
could be given.
SINGULAR POLICE NOTICE.—The following sin-
gular information was on Tuesday circulated throughout
the divisions of the metropolitan and city police :—" P
Division, December 28, 1846. At 3 o'clock p.m., this
day, a coachman and footman, with carriage, set down st
King's-cross, and have not yet returned. It is supposed
they are locked up at some station. Description : A
yellow-bodied chariot, arms painted red, a pair of light
bay horses, 16 hands high ; harness brass, mounted
crest a trees; the servants in green livery, with drab
great coots._