The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

institution and governess members are admitted gratui-
tously—are of a special character. In ordinary popular
lectures there is a tendency to be superficial, because, if
the subject take too high a range, it is above the compre-
hension of a large portion of the auditory. There is also
an avoidance of details, as if these were only fitted for the
class room ; so that many important propositions are
enunciated without proof or illustration. But where the
audience consists in a great degree of professional
teachers, the subjects of instruction naturally become
adapted to their wants: there is more depth and exact-
ness, and even casual hearers, if attentive, are more bene-
fited. But apart from the style of treatment, there are
peculiar subjects that require to be dwelt upon. The
subjectn e 39
es ; ofa nmental scienceitis
oft e ins
oentirely
eni
re
iwc tl ol y ma on sdt
gthoveerer.-
fore ineffectually, that they MI teach the mind in
difficult eases, The scientific principles concerned in
education, find in their corresponding art, require to be
embodied in a systematic treatise; but there are many
whose practice approaches very near to perfection, from
their silent perception and adaptation of what is right.
It is mainly in the matter of theory that governesses
are deficient ; they often manage the details admirably.
Of those who teach music, how few understand its simple
principles : every one knows arithmetic, but who thinks
of the reasons of the operations ; and the knowledge of
one, two, or even ten languages, is no guarantee that a
single thought will be entertained respecting the great laws
of language. We repeat, therefore, that the lectures
here ought to be of a special, and, therefore, of a very
improving kind • and the names of those who have given
their services hitherto, are a guarantee that they are so.
We have dwelt so long on the various features of the
Residence, that we have but a few words to spare for the
other two primary objects; but happily they require little
illustration.
The Annuity Fund is a branch of the general subject of
Life Insurance, the general principles of which are suffi-
ciently understood. The mode of providing for the future
here adopted is that of " Deferred Annuities," according
to which the individual makes certain payments during
the years of youth and health, to secure a fixed annual
income at an advanced period of life, when it is time to
retire from active duties. This income is greater or less
according to the value of the previous annual payments,
or according to the length of time over which they may
have extended ; but it is always calculated upon fixed
principles, and there are tables to which any one may
refer. Thus, a lady of 30 years of age, finding herself
able to save something, but dreading contingencies, such
as had investments, temptations to displays or dishonest
debtors, may secure an annual income for so long as she
lives after 55, or 60, according to her arrangement. But
should she never reach the age at which her annuity falls
due, the entire of her payments are returned to her re-
presentatives ; the interest which accrued being all that
is paid, for the management of her property and this gua-
rantee of security. Farther, this is not a mercantile spe-
culation by some bubble company ; it is in reality an in-
vestment on government security, similar to that which
gives such stability to the Savings Bank system. It is
not generally known that at the Savings Bank in Bold-
street there is a " Government Annuity Society," formed
to grant annuities varying from £4 to £3O, the payments
of which may be made weekly, monthly, or annually. To
secure the highest sum, at 55 years of age, the lady of 30,
whom we have supposed to take advantage of it, would
require to make an annual payment of £8 Is. 3d. ; and to
secure it at 60, a payment of £5 7s. 3d.

The third of the primary objects—viz., the Provident
and Benevolent Fund—is so well explained in Rule
xxviii., that we cannot do better than quote it :
" This fund ought to be especially formed, as the next
best thing to the securing of a deferred annuity. Its ob-
jects are to incite governesses to lay by, and afford them
security for small savings, and to encourage the fore-
thought of the less affluent governess, by offering her
assistance in case of need, in making her annual pay-
ments. It should be borne in mind, that the principal
object of the Committee, in establishing the first part of
their original scheme, is more of a prudential than of an
eleemosynary character. They wish to encourage the go-
vernesses who are willing to help themselves, rather than
to provide for those who shew no inclination to do so,
and thus to raise the character of the whole class ; and
though the Committee will be ready to relieve cases of
emtreine distress, when their funds will admit, still they
are unwilling to destroy the feeling of independence which
it is so advisable to maintain for the future comfort and
happiness of the governess."

The Committee of Management consists partly of gen-
tlemen and partly of ladies ; and it is one of the most in-
teresting sights that can be imagined, to see the latter
taking an active and useful part in the business of a meet-
ing. This, however, is just as it should be. There are a
thousand little matters of which ladies are the best judges,
and there are several points committed exclusively to
them. While the women of the New World are invading
the province of their husbands and brothers, in much
more than the externals of costume, it is refreshing to
contrast such acts of female kindness and benevolence as
those which we have been contemplat;ng. And to whom
could they he so appropriately shewn as to those who are
prciiminently their sisters in intelligence, refinement, and
not unfrequently in the accidents of birth and suffering.
It is superfluous to say, may all such exertions meet with
a due reward, for when rightly undertaken they always do
meet with it. They are like mercy " twice blessed," i❑
the active and the passive, in those who give and those
who receive the benefits.