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

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1852.

THE GOVERNESSES' INSTITUTION.

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NEAR the middle of Rodney-street, in a locality that has
long been the favourite residence of the members of the
medical profession, stands a respectable-looking mansion,
to which we purpose to make an intellectual visit, in the
company of our readers. It is unobtrusive in its appear-
ance. It has no zinc plate on the door, of the size of a
small tea-tray; no brass with curious rubric letters in
church-text ; nor venerable wooden sign-hoard, with its
announcement nearly obliterated by the rains of half a
century :—it is numbered, in due rotation, 31. Yet this
is the GOVERNESSES' INSTITUTION of Liverpool. The
house was formerly tenanted by a worthy knight, who
once occupied the civic chair; but its ample size and con-
venient arrangements are such, that it might have been
designed for its present purpose.
In the establishment of societies and institutions, it is
generally found that there are one or two individuals who
practically do the work, others assenting and assisting ;
and it is well known that where there is one determined
individual, it is difficult for any good cause to miscarry.
As we like the honest principle of giving to Caesar what-
ever properly belongs to him, we may state at once that
the gentleman who is preeminently the father and foun-
der of this institution is W. H. Bainbrigge, Esq., surgeon.
Impressed with the excellence of the cause, and knowing
at the same time the success which had attended similar
efforts in London, he delivered a lecture on the subject
in the Collegiate Institution, April 23, 1849, which was
afterwards published* ; and on the Ist of May in the
same year, the Institution was formally founded, at a
meeting held in the Medical Institution. It was seen,
however, that two things were necessary in the first in-
stance, the confusing of which has been the ruin of many
a society of great value, viz., a proper amount of machi-
nen', and the materials for keeping it permanently in
healthful action. Accordingly, it was wisely resolved that
no important step should be taken till the committee had
in hands at least £5OO of donations, and an annual sub-
scription list of about £3OO. This, with furnishing and
other arrangements, caused a delay of about twelve
months ; for it was in May, 1850, that the residence was
formally opened, and on the 21st of the same month the
Inaugural Lecture was delivered by Mr. Bainbrigge,
in the theatre of the Royal Institution. This is, in
reality, the point at which the Governesses' Institution
commences; it has since been in active and useful opera-
tion. There is one fact connected with it, which tells at
once the energy and interest of the ladies who acted on
its behalf, as well as their success ; and that is, that the
donations far exceeded the stipulated sum, while the
annual subscriptions, by the last report, exceed £4OO.
It must not be forgotten, however, that an older insti-
tution had been in existence for four or five years, called
the " Governesses' Benevolent Institution" of Liverpool.
It was confined, as its name denotes, to a small part of
the objects of the present one ; and it was so little known,
that we have looked in vain for any account of it in the
Directory for 1849. The foundation of a second institu-
tion, of a more public and general character, naturally
suggested the idea of an amalgamation ; and after a few
necessary preliminaries, in which due care was taken of
vested interests, the elder was merged in the younger.
We mention this not only as a fact, but as an example.
There are other rival institutions in the town which re-
quire unity, but preserve division.
The Institution comprehends three great objects, viz.
I. a Residence ; 11. an Annuity Fund ; and 111. a Bene.
volent Fund. There are two other objects, which cannot
be said to be in abeyance, inasmuch as they have never
yet existed, but they are in prospect, viz. a Training Col-
lege, and an Asylum for Aged Governesses. The Resi-
dence, or Home, as it is elsewhere called, is the most
prominent, and on the whole the most important ; it is,
therefore, that feature which we shall endeavour most
fully to explain.
Few of our readers require to be told that the labours
of a governess are, in a large number of instances, a con-
tinuance of toil and anxiety ; valuable, but unappreciated
and unrewarded. While, on the one hand, she is expected
to be possessed of a degree of intelligence and accom-
plishments that would rival those of the Admirable
Crichton, on the other she is offered such a pittance as
would scarce pay the interest of the sums which her edu-
ducation has cost, and is frequently kept a distance by the
family, who thus demonstrate their inherent vulgarity.
The facts are of such frequent occurrence, that they have
often furnished materials for the novelist, and have been
satirised in song : but this is not enough—it is more than
a subject of ridicule, it is one of criminality. A young
man in similar circumstances generally looks forward to
professional life as the scene of his future career ; he,
therefore, insensibly secures respect, and always maintains
hope. He does not look upon his task as a lane without
a turning, as possibly of life-long monotony ; and he pos-
sesses, besides, numerous resources, as well as a stronger
physical frame. Those who continue to wrong the go
verness in position, feelings, and remuneration, are unfor-
tunately not confined to any one class in life ; but there
are those with whom it is most common, and at the same
time most galling. There is the pride—good or evil, ac-
cording to circumstances—arising from illustrious descent,
there is that of rank, of profession, of talent, of office, and
of mere wealth. They are all in some degree internal but
the last—it is wholly external; and its downfall is hailed
with a louder peal of gratulation than that of any or all
the others. Now whenever this most vulgar and intole-
rable species of pride is found, the governess's situation
is worst : she has literally nothing with which she can
sympathise ; and in not a few instances she is subject to
the double mortification of being conscious of intrinsic su-
periority and practical inferiority. In remote country dis-
tricts, Shoe. cvils are fu, the time irremediable; but in a
great town, where residence is required only in a small
number of instances, the value of an institution of this
kind is at once seen

The following passages are so appropriate, that we
gladly avail ourselves of the author's permission, to take
them from Mr. Bainbrigge's MS Inaugural Lecture :
" The institution has risen up among us, to meet the
requirements which an enlightened age recognizes and
acknowledges. We trust that it is worthy of its object.
The governess requires a home in the intervals which

arise between engagements ; it is here for her reception.
She whose engagements carry her daily to the residence
of her pupils, requires a home of rest and peace and
honourable protection, after the labours of the day are
ended. It is here We have a proud satisfaction in ap-
pealing to personal inspection. We have undertaken the
task of providing a home for a class whose habits are all
marked by refinement, whose tastes are cultivated, whose

perceptions are acute. Well, it is here ! There is
nothing that we desire more than investigation ; because
from that would spring suggestions of amendment, or
entire approbation, either of which would be most grate-
ful to our feelings.
" Hitherto, the governess whose engagement has not
included a residence, has been compelled to content her-
self with a home compatible with her finances. We grieve
to think how lonely, and how restricted in comforts, such
a home must be. Even in the mere consideration of ex-
penditure, and its comparative returns, what an argument

must be found against a solitary existence. Not only
does solitude narrow the heart, contract the intellect, and

nurse every species of morbid affection, but in every other
sense it cramps the measure of personal comforts and

enjoyments. 'The sums expended on a scanty lodging,
meagre table, and a mere apology for a fire, in a life spent
in solitary self-denial ; when thrown into one common
fund, produce lofty chambers, a plentiful and well-
appointed table, cheerful fires, and pleasant light, and,
above all, a congenial society, whose smallest element is
a kind companionship, affording scope for opportunities
of forming the warmest and most lasting attachments.
Who can hesitate, between all that is to be avoided and
all that is to be desired ; between that contracting of the
heart into its shell of loneliness, and that expansion of
every feeling and every faculty which springs from their
development, in the atmosphere of a generous and genial
home."

The principle upon which this part of the Institution is
founded, is similar to that of a club house, which gentle-
men, especially those of limited incomes, find to be so
great a convenience. Some of the most luxurious esta-

blishments in London, as well as in the great towns of
the provinces, are reared and supported by the aggrega-
tion of small contributions. In the present instance, all
the arrangements are in excellent taste. There is a judi-
cious avoidance of the two extremes, of needless expendi-
ture and niggardly curtailment ; which speaks more praise
of the committee to the eye, than words can do to the ear.

The principle, therefore,lsthe self-supporting one; and
the most perfect system is maintained by a useful set of

rules, as well as by the constant presence of a Lady Super-
intendent, who is a gentlewwoman of the highest educa-
tion and qualifications. The use of a library and of

musical instruments may be mentioned incidentally
among the advantages.
An interesting feature of the Institution is its system of
registration. By means of this any governess, whether
resident in the Institution or not, can have her class of
qualifications fairly stated, so that when parents or other
relatives make application, they are put in communica-
tion at once with those who are most likely to suit them.
In these arrangements, the committee very properly ab-
stain from all interference ; it is sufficient for them to
bring together those who are likely to be useful to each
other, and to do it in the simplest and most effectual
manner. When any governess succeeds in obtaining an
appointment by means of this system of registration she is
expected to inform the Lady Superintendent immediately,
that her name may be, for the time, erased.
Perhaps this is the proper place to notice an arrange.
went, which, though practically in existence from the first,
was only formally adopted at the last annual meeting. It
is, that a physician and a surgeon of high standing in the
town have undertaken the duties of honorary medical
officers, and give their gratuitous attendance, not only at the
Institution when required, but at the residences of
_

governess members,whether in the Institution or not. It is

impossible to over-estimate the humanityor the importance
of thisarrangement. It is well known that the dread of ill-

ness, or anxiety under it, tends greatly to produce or to in-
crease it ; while, on the other band, the consciousness that

assistance is in store, when required, inspires a degree of
cheerfulness and confidence which is superior to all medi-
cine. 'We can understand how some would be influenced
by this arrangement mainly, to seek a connexion with
the Institution.

The weekly lectures—to which those resident in the

* A Lecture delivered by W. H. Bainbrig7e, F.R.C.S., for
the purpose of promoting the establishment of a Governesses'
Institution in Liverpool. Bvo. pp. 48. London : S. Highley.