The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-13 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL

SOCIETY.

The forty-first general meeting of this society was held
yesterday in Exeter-hall. The attendance was very large,
the hall being completely filled. The Right Hon. Lord
John Russell was unanimously called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said—ln opening the forty-first anniver-
sary meeting of the society, he would venture to address to
them a few words previously to the reading of the report.
It was scarcely necessary to state that there bad been no
change in the fundamental principles on which the society
rested ; but that they were unchanged in their opinion that
the Scriptures ought to be taught to every child who could
be brought to receive instruction within these kingdoms ;
that they were no less unshaken in their opinion that the
schools ought to be made as general and diffusive as possible ;
and that the separate instruction of each religious persuasion
should be left to parents, and to the teaching of the places
of worship ; and that there should be no exclusion on account
of differences between Christians in the schools themselves.
But while their principles in that respect had remained for 41
years unmoved and unaltered, they had participated in the
general progress which had been made in the science and the
art of education. With respect to the improvements which
had been adopted from time to time, and the suggestions of
benevolent and able men, they had not been slow to avail
themselves, of which any one who would visit the normal
school of the Borough-road would see ample proof. The
contributions of the public had enabled the society to adopt
in that school the improvements which tended most to the
progress of education in the land. But when he said this,
he wished he could say that any improvements which they
had adopted, or any contributions that they had received, or
any subscriptions made either by the state, by communities,
or individuals, had enabled them to keep pace with the
want of education.—(Hear, hear.) He was sorry to say
that the utmost they could do was to keep down the
weed of ignorance from overspreading the land, and
that they were very far from having succeeded in eradi-
cating it. They would agree with him when he told them
that it would appear in the report that in the neighbouring
county of Essex alone there were now 40,000 children who
did not receive the benefit of instruction ; and he might add
further, that while they were proceeding to the utmost of
their power, that while there had been new schools added,
containing room for 13,000 children, in addition to those who
were provided for last year, that the supply was far from
keeping pace with the yearly increase of population in the
country. This want was felt by all classes of the commu-
nity. Lord Ashley, whose name was never to be mentioned
without honour—(Cheers)—in moving an address to the
House of Commons on the subject of education, and parti-
cularly on the state of the manufacturing districts, was an-
swered with regard to one great manufacturing town, that of
Leeds, by the experienced pen of Mr. Baines; but he suc-
ceeded in proving, not only the ill condition of Leeds, but that
the city of Westminster, in the very heart of the metropolis,
was even in a still less satisfactory state. So that if they
went to the rural districts they would find whether, by re-
ports cf commissioners on education, whether by reports of
commissioners sent by Government, or chaplains of gaols,
that there were thousands of children to whom the first
elements of religious teaching was entirely unknown—
that if the name of Jesus Christ was mentioned to
them, they were in ignorance of its meaning, and igno-
rant of every doctrine of Christianity. He said then
that the present was no time to • wait. There was
another point to which he would call their attention—
the state of the schoolmasters. He had mentioned the
great improvements which had been made in the modes
of teaching, by which the disposition and understand-
ing of the children were brought into activity, but still
nearly everything depended on the capacity and disposition
of the teacher. One who merely taught children by rote,
either to read or write, left them when they left the school
in possession of nominal rather than of real knowledge. He
asked them if it was not fit that an effort should be made to
raise both the emoluments and rank of the schoolmasters?
It had been supposed that teaching was an easy art, that
persons who had retired from other businesses could well
undertake that of instructing youth. But every year they
lived, every step they took, only tended more and more to
show that to teach well, to elevate the mind of children, to
implant religious and moral principles, and to send them from
school in a fit state to take a part in the community—that
this was one of the most difficult tasks that any man could
undertake. With one observation more he would leave
them to the report. In stating last year in the House of
Commons the want of education, he had pointed out that
there were reasons why a great portion of the labouring
population of this country were unable to educate their chil-
dren as they might wish ; and he could trace that those who
received a certain amount of wages could lay out a certain
portion of their earnings in the education of their children;
that where they received less wages, they could dispose of less
in that way, and were unable to obtain the comforts and
clothing which were necessary to maintain a decent appear-
ance even as a labouring man ; and that if the labourers re-
ceived only the lowest rate of wages, the greatest portion of
it went to pay for the necessary bread for the sustenance of
themselves, their wives, and families. He trusted, however,
that they would see in the progress of events, and by the
wisdom of the Legislature, that the labouring classes in this
country would speedily be enabled to obtain such a command
of the necessaries of life—{Loud cheers)—that they might be
able to devote a greater portion of their incomes to the edu-
cation of their children. He was sure they would wish to
do so if they were able; but he had always held that all
those great questions were connected together, and that it
was unwise end unworthy to look only to one portion of
their task. The man who looked only to the education of
the people, and would not care what was their physical
condition, left out a most essential element of his duty ;
and he who, on the contrary, would only endeavour
to improve the wealth of the country, and not cast
an eye to see whether this was an educated, in-
structed, and religious people—that he likewise only took
half of his duties, and had a limited and narrow conception
of the duties which belonged to them all. He said, let us
endeavour to improve the physical condition of the people ;
endeavour to improve their instruction ; and let us, with a
population in Great Britain nearly double what it was at the
commencement of the century, endeavour so to raise the
condition, so to improve the education of the people, that we
may be thought not unworthy to be directors of a great
people in an enlightened age.—(Loud applause.)
The SECRETARY then read the report, which was of great
length. The total number of students, it stated, admitted to
the normal schools since the opening f the institution, was
45,889. The financial condition of the society was more
satisfactory than it had ever been; for the first time they
were in a healthful condition. Within the last few days the
liberal donations that had been made had been increased by
a donation of 1,0001, which the donor would only allow to be
announced as from " a lady." The total receipts were 14,664/
18s. The balance at the end of last yesr was 756/. 15s.
The first resolution, moved by the Marquis of Lorn and
seconded by Lord Kinnaird, was for the adoption and print-
ing of the report, and was carried unanimously.
The second resolution expressed the satifaction of the
meeting at the formation of county associations for the pro-
motion of county education, proposed by the Bishop of Nor-
wich, seconded by Lord Monteagle, and supported by the
Rev. G. Smith, of Poplar, was also unanimously carried.
The Rev. lotus STOWLER, of Kensington, seconded by the
Rev. W. Fraser, of Stockwell, proposed the third resolution,
" That the remuneration of teachers of all kinds should be
better," and was also carried unanimously.
Mr. FINLAY, M.P., proposed the fourth resolution, ex-
pressing the acknowledgements of the meeting to the Queen
and Prince Albert for their munificent annual donation of
1001. This was also agreed to, as was also the last resolution,
thanking the Duke of Bedford for a donation of 1001. to the
society, and Lord John Russell for his conduct in taking the
chair. _ _

The Noble Lord having briefly returned thanks, the meet
ing separated.

PROCEEDINGS of LAWSOCIETIES
(From the Law Times, May 9.)
ARTICLED CLERKS' SOCIETY.

The gentlemen who, so creditably to themselves, pro-
posed the formation of this very useful society, of which
the plan was suggested by a correspondent some time
since, have, in pursuance of their object, addressed the
following letter to the Lord Chancellor and the Master
of the Rolls, who have promptly transmitted the replies
which we subjoin. The suggestion of the Master of the
Rolls will, we hope, be adopted by the attorneys, who
should give their cordial aid by contribution and advice
to this endeavour of their clerks to obtain the most effi-
cient means, for that best of all education, self-improve-
ment :

My Lords,—We, the undersigned committee of ar-
ticled clerks to attorneys and solicitors in England and
Wales, having met together for the purpose of consi•
dering the propriety aad necessity of establishing a
general Law Students' Society, and having resolved
that such a society would be a great boon to the pro-
fession to which we have the honour of belonging, it
was determined that our first step should be to obtain
the saection of your lordships. We have, therefore,
taken the liberty of addressing to your Lordships the
following observations, under the full conviction that, as
your Lordships have ever lent your powerful influence
towards the promotion of all wise and judicious re-
forms in the law, and of all measures tending to raise
the legal profession in efficiency and public estima-
tion, your Lordships will not deem it an intrusion on
your valuable time when we humbly state that we
entertain the highest sense of the importance of the
society in question ; but that, on the contrary, your
lordships will grant us your sanction, and render us all
proper encouragement.
Our objects may be briefly stated to be educative and
protective. We humbly think that nothing will tend so
mach to secure the honour, respectability, and efficiency
of our profession as carefully watching the education of
its rising members. It was to promote this (as your
Lordships are well aware) that the examination pre-
paratory to the admission of attorney s and solicitors
was established, a measure which, in our humble opinion,
has already been of great advantage, and which bids
fair for much greater hereafter. Your Lordships' atten-
tion may not have been called to the fact that there is
no institution existing, either in the metropolis or e_ls:o
where, receiving the general support of the profession,
calculated to assist the articled clerk in his studies or to
consequentlyaaisnuirda,t
ithelhaem in his
nds iffi(irticosurtil institution at.
hsinoeepa
ttnh
oactflr
clerk
might
hrt ekhoatotaaotfo t
sritrh:iehe advice )
frequently eaoxnmadm mia io
ae nrs
sc
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et
owf
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iihs
asto
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unoitfr acquiringekedvneomrweldvg
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fo soundaobel
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ive
trot the knowledge of his profession, and aims solely at gettings
and
than
siochm which,
much
being eat;rafted firmly in his mind, and made, as it were,
attained;
owingitsh emcoarsee , shpee efda sy,
oar,paasrtisoffrehqiumesnetllfy,
to his want of inclination or ability, as of that assistance
cad stimulus which the generality of youth so much re •
q• uire We would also request your Lordships' attention
to the fact that, although amongst articled clerks are to be
found youths at least equal in ability to those of any
other profession, and although their number is so great'
yet few ever attain to eminence or distinction in their
t as we would humbly submit
crofession, caused, to your
Lordships, by
the absence of an institution such as we
now propose. ,
Another consequenceis, that the profes-
sion and the public are much exposed to the malpractices
men, who, having but a superfi.
of artful and design.itng with
the l:sw, make it an instrument of
oppression. Thus t
cial acquaintance wihe
public are injured and the pro-
fession disgraced.
The remedy, we humbly suggest, is
to be found in the establishment of an institution which
will raise the qualified practitioners abovea line of demarca.
of these indiricluals, and drew 50