The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-10 00:00:00

USHERS.

A Meeting took place yesterday, at the dice of
Mr. Williams, school-agent, Dyer's-buildings; Mr.
RYAN, A.B. in the Chair.
Mr. JONES said that he had been tossed about for
many years, in various situations, throughout all
parts of the empire, as a subaltern in the scholastic
profession; during which period he had experienced
all the different kinds of treatment to which Assist-
ants were liable; and though the extremes differed
as widely as the Arctic and the Antartic Poles, still
the best was far from being unexceptionable. He
knew many heads of seminaries, of high respectabi-
lity, cultivated minds, and generous disposition—
qualities not very exuberant in that august body—
who pursued a system of treatment towards the
subordinates which they acknowledged themselves
to be degrading, but justified on the grounds of
general usage; but it should be expected from
persons of this stamp rather to set a good ex-
ample than imitate a bad one; and not show
their pupils how little respect those attain-
ments could insure to others, to which they them-
selves owed all their distinction. If there
were any rule without an exception it was this, that
schoolmasters wished to build their own aggrandise-
ment on the degradation of their. Assistants. What
could be more mean, illiberal, or contemptible, than
this ? What more unbecoming professors of litera-
ture and instructors of youth ? He felt satisfied
that the period had now arrived when an end should
be put to this despotic system, and when Assistants
should be restored to their natural station in society.
The late exposure had opened the eyes, of the pub-
lic to the abuses which prevailed in the profession to
their detriment, and had excited an odium and dis-
gust against Schoolmasters which could not fail to
produce salutary effects; but Assistants should not
acquiesce in the probability of an amelioration in
their condition from these circumstances, while they
had it in their myn power to effect an emanci-
pation from their thraldom, and to overthrow
that tyrannical system which degraded them in
their own eyes, and those of the public. He could
never forgive himself for having submitted so
long to it, without attempting to throw off the
yoke. He feared that they should have to encounter
some difficulties in the onset, for that unfortunate
class were not always well supplied with pecuniary
means. The plan which he would take the liberty
of suggesting for their adoption was - this, " That
the names of all the Schoolmasters throughout the
kingdom should be entered, in alphabetical order, in
a book ; that the rules of the schools, the treatment
and salaries given to Assistants, the duties required
of them, the number of boys, and the terms of the
school, should be respectively affixed under each
name. That a Secretary should be appointed to
take charge of this book, which should always be
open for the inspection of the public, on payment of
one shilling per head, which he apprehended would
be sufficient to defray the expences of it." If the
plan should be adopted, -it would afford Assist-
ants an opportunity of knowing what duties
and treatment they should ba liable to, on
going to new places; and also to enable parents
and guardians to ascertain the various degrees
of respectability with which the different schools
were conducted, and of the attention paid
to the moral and literary improvement of the
pupils; for these were "in general in a similar
ratio to the treatffient and salaries paid to the As-
sistants. This book should be renewed once every

year, in order to record any change that might take
place in scholastic establishments, and encouraging
Schoolmasters to reform abuses. He would also
propose that a club should be formed, and subscrip-
tions set on foot, for the purpose of relieving such
Members of their body as should be out of place,
and unable to support themselves.
Mr. WILLIA3ts (school agent) did not at first in-
tend to take any share in the discussion, but he could
not avoid reprobating the unmeasured and unwar-
ranted terms in which Mr. Jones thought proper to
heap abuse on Schoolmasters. Mr. Williams sat
down amidst the hisses and negative expressions of
the Assistants, and the applause of a few School-
masters whowere in the room.

Some person remarked, that 11Ir. ‘Villiams had
been a schoolmaster himself, and for that reascn
espoused their cause.
Mr. WILLIAMS said, true it was, he had been a
Schoolmaster, and the knowledge which he had
thereby acquired, respecting the conduct and dispo-
sitions of Assistants, was by no means calculated to
prepossess him in their favour.
Mr. STAG was obliged to admit that there were
many of that ill-fated class addicted to drinking; but
the principals were chiefly to blame, in not wing
them any place to retire to, or mode of refreshing
themselves after the fatigues of the day, whereby
Assistants were often reluctantly induced to go to
public-houses, in order to relax their minds, and to
forget, for a time, their grievances. The situation
of Assistant had the same effect on many individuals
as the tread-rAill had on juvenile delinquents, who,
feeling themselves humiliated by the treatment they
had been exposed to, imagine that they are con-
temned by all others, and become reckless of their
conduct.

A young man, whose namo we could not learn,
indulged in a vituperative tirade against School-
masters, and observed, that should he meet one of
them on Waterloo-bridge on a dark night, he would
not hesitate to throw him over. He was sure that
no master would sink, for they had all empty heads;
there were not any brains amongst the fraternity.
They were non-descripts—half tailors and half don-
keys—and half—half—he forgot the other half now.
He would send them all to Turkey—that was their
climate. •

After a few observations from some others, an ad-
journment to Saturday next was stiggested, in order
to give the proposed plan mature consideration.
This being agreed to, the Meeting separated.

Th c private accounts from Lisbon received
yesterday, state that another convulsion in money matters
was expected, as the drain of specie for export continued
unchecked. Exchange with England 28 to 28g.

SIR ANnIONY HART.—We Were amongst
the number of those persons who advocate! the Propriety
of an Irishman being appointed to the Chancellorship of
Ireland. We did so on public principle,-at the first mentionof the appointment of an Englishman to fill that high
oflice, and when it was not known on whom the choice
would fall. Without meaning to qualify, in the least de-
gree, what we formerly advanced on this subject, We feel
pleasure in being enabled to say, that the appointment that
has been made has given general satisfaction. We have
been assured that the greatest courtesy is observed by every
individual in the LORD CHANCELLOR'S establishment, from
the Secretary down to the humblest domestic, whose duty
it is to answer public calls, towards all persons, 'whether
suitors, solicitors, or solicitors' clerks, who have occasion
to apply at his Lordibip's residence.--Freeman's Journal.

LONDON,
THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1828

THE MINISTRY.

For some days past a variety of rumours pre

railed in certain quarters, respecting the state of
the Ministry : we abstained from giving currency
to these rumours, not from a doubt of their pro-

bability, but because they originated in quarters,

and were circulated by individuals, having an

evident interest in the anticipated changes,

However, we believe we may now say that there
is no doubt of Lord GODERICH'S resignation,—
;hat event took place on Tuesday, when his

Lordship went to Windsor. Whether this cir•

emnstance may affect the Cabinet in part, or al

together, we, at present, can offer no opinion ;
but we wish his Lordship had known his mind
sooner upon a subject of so much vital import-