The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-08 00:00:00

with regard to the working of that association
which he could not help alluding to as one of the
most important features, namely, the comparatively
low value which was placed upon the mere system
of lectures, for, though having a most valuable place
in educational schemes, the noble duke was per- •
fectly satisfied that lectures given upon incidental
subjects, wholly unconnected with any study on the
part of those who heard them, must be of the
minimum use. The unrestricted choice of subjects
upon which gentlemen were asked to lecture, his
grace feared, was a great temptation to lecturers
to endeavour to show off themselves rather than
the subject on which they lectured—(hear, hear)
—and he was of opinion that a much higher esti-
mate ought to be taken by those who addressed
the working classes of this country, whether
from the platform, the hustings, or upon any public
occasion, of the intelligence of those classes, and of
the ability which they possessed to judge of real
argument and of reason in what was addressed to
them. Speaking of the social condition of the in-
dustrious classes, the noble chairman admitted that
the want of habits of frugality was by Po means
cw,o,annfiteoefds(n)rnehrhena
bgreatestvery remarkable
that class, lss,fort
amongstthe
the highest classes of this coy untry ; for they con-
stantlyn g
for sateo t mn
re
on living
r aat
oonv
se t
bh iurrd nn es omw eh, ipc
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tphonny-
ought to take upon themselves, and leaving very
great social evil in the embarrassment of estates
and the postponement of agricultural improvement.
A most important feature of their association was
the systematic nature of its work, so that it Ntv thew
really teaching, and not more lecturing; and
system of competitive examination was a most
valuable consideration, as affording a stimulus to
the great masses of the population. Altogether
the results of the past year must be regarded as
most satisfactory, for of 593 of the candidates for
honours, including the females, there were only 99
persons who could not be said, in the strictest
sense, to belong to the operative or mechanical class.
Alter analysing and remarking upon the various
features of the association as shown in the report,
his grace concluded by saying that such institutions
were the robust and happy growth of free institu-
tions ; they were not merely the proof of a free
people, but they were the indications of a people
who knew how to use their freedom well. (Cheers.)
At a subsequent period of the evening the noble
duke urged the employers to show their apprecia-
tion of the objects of the association by choosing
for preferment such of the operatives as had distin-
guished themselves at the public examinations of
the institute.

The prizes and certificates having been distri-
buted, on the motion of Mr. C. Heywood, seconded
by Major Gray, M.P., a resolution was adopted
expressive of the value of the institute as an im-
portant means of promoting the social welfare of
the working classes ; and a vote of thanks was
passed by acclamation to the noble chairman, having
been moved by Mr. Algernon Egerton, M.P., and
seconded by Mr. Thomas Bazley, M.P.

TILE GRAYD TRUNK OF CANADA _RAILWAY.

The surmise that the accounts by the Africa
regarding the Grand Trunk of Canada Railway
had been found to be of a discouraging nature ap-
pears to have been correct. The stock, which left
off on Tuesday at 211, opened yesterday morning at
20, and, although a subsequent rally took place,
it was only to 201 t o 21. The bonds also expe-
rienced a decline of about 1 per cent. No single
event in the history of finance has ever caused
such widespread anxiety as now prevails regard-
ing this undertaking. Yet, thus far, scarcely a
ray of additional light can be obtained ex-
cept such as may be gathered from the biassed
articles of the journals of the prop ince,
all of which abound in fierce invective
and wild recrimination. At Liverpool yesterday
a meeting of stock and debenture holders has been
held, which was convened to hear a statement from
Mr. Chapman of that town, a brother of one of the
English directors, and who has lately made a tour
of observation along the line. The chair was taken
by Mr. Edward Moss, and after a long statement
from Mr. Chapman, giving a picture of the causes
of the crash, a committee of five was appointed to
carry on investigations. Meanwhile, the conclusions
to be drawn from the latest articles in the Canadian
papers are similar to those previously suggested.
The Toronto Leader, au organ of the Provincial
Government, admits that a " tremendous catas-
trophe" is impending, and describes the probable
closing of the road as likely to involve a crisis for the
commercial interests of Canada which it would be
" frightful to contemplate." At the same time,
it admits that a further advance of money by the
Government is not. to be thought of for a moment.
The Opposition journals, on the other hand, assert
that the Government are only deterred by terror
from entering into fresh commitments, and that
the threat to stop all traffic on the road is but a
device to induce Parliament to sanction some new
scheme. The attempt, however, it is added, will
" utterly fail." " The line is paying something
more than running expenses, and the proprietors,
so long as it does that, will not injure them-
selves by closing it up. It is not so easy a thing
to open a road after it is once closed, that
£12,000,000 should be raised on so absurd a pro-
ceeding." The cry for an expose of the whole course
of the undertaking seems universal, but whenever
the discussion comes on in the Legislature it will
probably be found that, owing to the number of
' persons implicated among each political party, there
will be a general desire, like that exhibited after Mr.
Hudson's break-up in England, to make compro-
mises and check revelations. Nevertheless, nothing
could be stronger than the present expressions of a
determination to have the whole affair sifted. These
intimations, however, would be serious if they were
less violent. " Swindlers," "knaves," and " des-
peradoes," are epithets hurled at all concerned, and
the circumstances connected with the recent legal
proceedings ordered from this side are denounced by
the Ilainuton Times as having " an appearance of
rascality." Apart from this vituperation the graver
statements seem to be—first, that the amount and
nature of the advances obtained from the Bank of
Upper Canada, and the circumstances attending
them, require to be fully made known ; secondly,
that the members of the Ministry must be
forced to give a clear account of all their
recent and prospective measures on the subject;
and lastly, that there is a general impression
among the Canadian public that if an incluirT
properly pushed it will result in disclosuresha is
might compel many prominent political artd
personages to retire immediately from public
conclusion if it
On the whole, it would be a happy otheri
ife.
ified by a
should appear that justice could
tl cleanthat thesw interestsee il
of
allo f theth e innocent parties br
e"ez snsPv oresest investors hrjse 'couldan d
------7-----
tllelliihneasc.onsidered with calmness and generosity.