The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-18 00:00:00

BRITISH AND .tiCIIOOL SOCIETY.

The SiAteenth -Anniversary Meeting Of this truly patriotic.
Society, and its fiienrls and supporters, was held yesterday in
Freemasons' 114, Great Queen-street. The hall and all the

galleries were at an early hour crowded to excess, and a consid.
erable number Of persons were unable to obtain admission.—
The six rows of seats immediately in front of the platform were
exclusively filled by Ladies, among whom were recognized
many of. rank, and distinguished for their uniform support
Benevolent Institutions.

At little before one o'clock his Royal. Highness the Duke
of SUSSEX entered, aecompa-lied by his Highness the Prince of
Madagascar, who was attended by his Secretary and Interpre-
ter. The Royal Duke was greeted with considerable appiause..
On taking the Chair his. Royal Highness explained the objects
of the Institution, and read a letter of apology from his Grace
the Duke of Bedford, who was unabla to be present at the
meeting business of importance having compelled him to leave
London yesterday morning. The letter contained an inclosure
of 1001. tlie•ainount of his Grace's annual subscription.
The report was then read by the Rev. Mr. CLAYTON, Se-.
cretary, and gave a very long and detailed account of the one-
rations of the Society in almost an 'parts of the world The `bl-
- is an abstract

In London, during the last year, additional Schools have
been established on the plan recommended by- the Society, and
a considerable. augmentation 'has also taken place in the num-
ber of ;Schools throughout the kingdom. In Ireland upwards
of 600 Schools are established on the plait of mutual instruc-
tion, and the number of pupils amoltat, at present, to more than
60,000. The same mode of education is extensively followed in
Scotland. The number of Schools increases withiiirprising
rapidity in France, through the judicious zeal of the " Society
for the Improvement of Elethental Instruction at Paris," and'
are liberally cherished by the. civil authorities. According to
the last Annual Report of the Society of Paris, nearly 1500
Schools have been established in that country, and cons in
wards of 160,000 pupils. In Germany, Russia, Sweden, and
Denmark, the number of Schools on the British and Foreign
system are annually increasing, as also in various parts of Italy,
in Spain, and Portugal.
Several gratifying, communications from the United States
were also read. In that country nearly all the Public Schools
are on the plan 'of the Society. From Brazil, Buenos Ayres,
and Monte Video, the Committee -hare received most pleasing
intelligence. Through the indefatigable labours of their agent,
Mr. Thompson, the Society's plan of education was become
very popular, and numbers of Schools had adopted it. In the.
East Indies, the South Sea Islands, and even along the coasts
of Java and China, Schools were established on this plan.
The Report, which was very voluminous, stated many other
pleasing and important facts. - •
The Rev. GEORGE BENDER moved that the Report be re-
ceived, printed, and circulated, under the direction of the Com-
mittee, which was seconded by Mr. Harrington, recently-ar-
rived rom the East Indies, and unanimously agreed to.
The Rev. Ro wt. AN D HILL proposed the second ResOlution,
which was one of thanks to his Majesty for his liberal patron-
age of the Institution, and for his munificent annual donation.
This Resolution was seconded by Mr. Allan, of the Society of
Friends, and carried with considerable applause.
The Rev. Mr WAULYN, Chaplain to the King of Sweden,
in an impressive address, moved the thanks of the meeting to
their Royal 'Highnesses the Duke of Sussex, and Prince Leo-
pold. The Vice-President of the Jewish Schools seconded the
motion, which was carried with acclamation. _ _ _

• The Duke of StSSEX, in the name of his relative, Prince
Leopold, and in his own, begged leave to return their sincere
thanks for the manner in which the meeting had received
the vote just passed. He believed that no person had the
interest of the Society so much at heart as his illustrious
relative, who, he observed, was anxious to support this
and every other Institution of interest to the cause of Charity,
from his sense of the obligations that he was under to this
country, from his own feelings, and from conscientious
motives of what his lamented Consort would have done
had she been alive.—(Applause..)—For himself, he had been
brought up in the principles of general toleration, and there-
fore supported those principles which had ,placed his family
on the throne.—(Cheers.)—ln respect to Societies like the pre-
sent, there would be difF.erent opinions; but in the main part
all must agree.--(Applause.)—He never fesred any danger;
but when he saw. it, he grappled with it, relying on Providence.
—(Cheers.)--So• long as this was England, toleration must
exist; and nothing but the subversion .of the present order
of things could prevent it.—(Cheers.)-.—His Royal Highness
then adverted, in proofrof what he said, to the presence
of Prince Ratafe. He believed education on a limited scale
was bad,
.and assigned his reason for not supporting the " Na-
tional Schools," and observed, that he supported the Irish and
Jewish Schools from conscientious motives.—(Loud cheers.)—
After making some other general observations, his Royal High-
ness concluded by expressing his fear that he had trespassed too
long on the attention of the meting. The Royal Chairman
then sat down, amidst loud and repeated applause.
A Reverend Gentleman moved the thanks of the meeting to
Prince Ratafe, for honouring the meeting with his presence.
The motion, on being seconded, was carried with acclamations..
Prince RATAFE, through the medium of his Interpreter, re-
turned thanks.

Several other Gentlemen then addressed the meeting, which
did not separate till near five o'clock.—A collection was made
at the doors. •

THE DINNER.—In the evenir.-- there was a dinner at the
Freemasons' Tavern. The company consisted principally of
the Committee and Mlle of. he active friends of the Institution.
After the cloth had been .removed, the Chairman, Dr. Cot.-
LIER, rose, and after a few observations expressive of the gra-
titude they owed his Majesty for the countenance and support
Which he afforded the Institution, proposed—" The King ;"
drank With applause. The next toast was—" The Queen and
Royal Family. '—The CHAIRMAN said, lie was sure the com-
pany would be happy to drink the health of three personages, who
were worthy of being associated—The Du chess of Kent, the Duke
of Sussex, and Prince Leopold. In the course of the evening
some useful suggestions were thrown out by several'of the Gen-
tlemen present, particularly with' regard to Monthly Reports,
which would bring the Institution more frequently before the
public; and the Chairman said, he 'had no doubt when its
merits were fully known, the Society would receive more ex-
tensive support. He regretted to state, that at present there
was a deficiency in their funds, but he was sure it would not
long exist if Gentlemen present would exert themselves to in-
crease the subscription list. The company separated at an
early hour.