Star.
London, England, 1816-12-13 00:00:00

fRIIISII AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIEIT.

The Annual General Meeting of the Prima, tee
this Society, took glace yesterday at the Free Mason?,
Tavern His Royal Highness the Duke of Oussez,
presided, and was attended by the Russian, Prussian,
and Said" Ambassadors, besides many other fo-
reigners of distinction.
The Duke of SUSSEX, in opening the business of
the Meeting, stated, that he felt peculiar pleasure in
beholding so respectable an assembly, though he
coda have wished it had been more numerous, a c:r.
camstance which be knew was attributable only to
the unfasnurable state of the weather. On the other
hand, he had to regret that it had fallen to his lot to,,
fill the chair, owing to the absence of a Noble Duke,
who generally presided, and to that of his illustrious
brother, the Duke of Kent, who was not now in the
'country. He should endeavour,' however, to do
every thing in his power for promoting the interests
of the Institution, and he had, in the first instance;l
to request the attention of Ladies and Gentlemen
while the Report of the Secretary was read to them.
He WAS instructed, likewise, to state, that in conse•
quence of the Secretary (the Rev. Mr. Schwabe),
being a foreigner, he had declined reading the Re-
port, lest he should not make himself distinctly under.
stood, and it would.therefore be read by Mr. Forster.
Mr. FORSTER then came forward, and read a de-
tailed account of the proceedings of the Society, since I
the last Meeting, by which it appeared, that the'
greatest success had attended their exertions. The
system of education adopted by them, was rapidly
diffusing itself, not only in this country, but abroad,
and particularly in France, where it was powerfully
Countenanced by the Government. The Emperor
Alexander, also, who when in this country paid par-
ticular attention to the Lancasterian system of edu-
cation, was zealously employed in endeavouring to
introduce it into his own dominions and had sent over
tbur kussian youths, to London, who were now re-
ceiving the necessary instructions at the Borough ,
School, to qualify them for communicating the I
know:edge and the blessings of education to the peo-
ple of that vast empire. From America, the last
accounts which the Society had received, were of the
most gratifying description, and even Africa would
now become a participator in the beneficial effects of
the system, for Missionaries had gone out to Senegal,
to lay the foundations of instruction in that portion
of dee globe. They, therefore, who by their liberal
encouragement of the parent institution, had been the
=ails of diffusing this widely extended blessing,
might now reflect with pious joy and consolation
upon the rapidly increasing progress which it was
Making in every quarter of the world. In alluding
to the funds of the Institution, it was stated that
£l4OO were yet wanting to complete the sum neces-
sary to be invested for the inirpose of erecting the
Schuol-honse, and which according to the terms of
t):e subszrip;imi, must be raised before the approach.
ing Chi ISIIIIAS Day.
The reading of the Report being concluded,
Mr. Wo.ezams Wieetaits came forward to move
the first Resolution. The object of the present So-
ciety was the universal education of mankind ; and
therefore they were willing to engraft upon it any and
every other system which could add to its utility or
ex:end its influence. They did not wish to discuss
or question the respective merits of different systems;
they all had their advsntages ; but they were entitled'
to say, that theirs was the only one which exclusively
professed to bestow education upon all (alatlamse).—
They acted too upon that profession. They exacted
no test—they required no peculiar qualification;
they embraced in their comprehensive scheme all
mankind t Europe. Asia, Africa. America ; what.
aver was their colour, whatever their clime, whatever
their religiOn, they were our brethren, and we offered
them our best gift, the means of education (oft/nee.)
By educating the ignoranr, we improved their na-
me, we elevated their moral character, we bestowed
upon them new capacities of pleasure, new powers of
Utility. and enabled them better to fulfil the purposes
fire whielt their CRLATOR had placed them in this
world. Another point upon which be wished to
dwell a little, was the facility afforded by this Insti.
nation for the diffusion of education—a facility
• wising, in some measure, from its cheapness. An
individual paying but a small subscription was ena-
bled to do snore pod, than he could possibly accom-
plish by subscribing to any other Society, Nay, the
poorest man in the kingdom could not be considered
as excluded from this advantage ; for, by paying only
ow penny a week, he might thus be instrumental in
affording education to his own children. The most
gratifying consequences resulted from that part of the
plan. Every writer who had considered the subject,
every moralist, every divine, admitted that we find men
to be useful members of society in proportion as they
cultivate a proper degree of self-respect. If, then, by
the present system, they enabled the poor man,
through his own agency, to obtain instruction, or to
communicate it to his offspring, they raised him in
4s own estimation, improved his moral character,
and cultivated that decent sense of propriety and dig.l
sky which was the surest foundation of virtue and
decortrm—(Applinue.) He had always been of opi-
nion, that the pre-emiaent excellence of the present
Institution, consisted in those two points which he
bad touched upon. But it was also attended with
other advantages. In consequence of large portions
uf the community being associated together for the
promotion of such benevolent purposes, it generated
those feelings of humanity and kindness which made
us more ready, on all occasions, to assist our fellow.
creatures, not merely in affording pecuniary relief,
but in ;Wing advice and instruction when required.
It deprives us of all selfish and party feelings, and
includes us in that universal system of benevolence
which ought to actuate every man in every.part of
the world. The truth of what he 'had said was ma-
nifestly proved by the Report they had that day head
read; and, above all, it was pleasing to observe its
confirmation in thi progress which education was
making an Africa. that unfortunate country upon
which we, in common with the rest of Europe. had
inflicted the deepest wounds, and the heaviest vice
des. But. if it were possible to proSideany as.
tidate fee such afilictions, it would -be found in . the
aysteln of instruttiun which was mow being prompt-
gated in thatcostotry. through the means of this So-
ciety $ be hoped sad trusted hi Con that in would net
in long beime they had the infested& of Seeing iv
catriatto pedsilos.s aid diiirtbst would