The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-12 00:00:00

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.-THIIRSDAT.

Messrs. Wilson were on the spot immediately after the
alarm was given, superintending and giVing the necessary di-
rections to the firemen, workmen, and police, who had re-
paired to the premises to render their assistance. The
works are insured in the York and London. Fire Insurance
Offees, and the estimated damage is under £12,000. There
are about 600 hands employed in the mills, but we are happy
to state that very few of these will be thrown out of employ,
as Messrs. Gisborne and Wilson can find employment for
them, at their other establishments. The origin of the fire
is entirely unknown. When the hands left off their work at
11 o'clock on Tuesday night all was safe, and when the over-
looker went round the works all the lights and fires were
carefully extinguished. There is a flue in the room where
the fire was supposed to have originated, which, it is conjec-
tured, must have been over-heated. The works are very
extensive; and have been in operation about 12 or 14 years.

SPLENDID COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS.—We were yes-
terdayilermitted to view the splendid collection of paintings,
at the Exhibition Rooms, Post Office Place; the property of
the late William Earle, Esq., which will be sold by Messrs.
T. Winstanley and Sons, on Wednesday and Thursday next.
The collection is unique in its character, most of the paint-
ings being by the great masters. We shall give a more de-
tailed notice on Tuesday next.
SALFORD ELECTION.—Wc are happy to learn that Mr.
Garnett's return as representative for the borough of Salford
at the next election is now plaeed beyond all doubt. It will
be remembered the honorable gentleman only lost his election
by one, since which period the conservrtives have been using
the most praiseworthy exertions which will be attended with
the gratifying result we have just announced.

THE LATE MURDEROUS ATTACK AT MANCHESTER.—
Whittaker, who recently committed the brutal outrage on
his wife, was again brought up at the New Bailey on Wed-
nesday ast, when the surgeon stated that the prisoner's wife
was still in a very precarious condition, nor could he venture
to give any opinion as to the result—she was much worse
than last week. Mr. Maude said the prisoner must be
again remanded until next Wednesday. The court was crowded
to excess, and the prisoner seemed the most unconcerned
person in the assembly. On enquiring at the infirmary last
night we learned that the poor unfortunate woman remained
in the same state. The greatest and most humane attention
is paid to the case but we believe her ultimate recovery is
evtremely doubtful,

NATIONAL EDUCATION
IN CONNEXION WITH THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH.

PUBLIC MEETING AT WIGAN.
Pursant to advertisement, a meeting of the friends of the
system of national education in connexion with the Estab-
lished Church, as propounded by the diocesan boards, was
held yesterday in the Assembly-room of the Royal Hotel,
Wigan. One o'clock was the hour axed upon for the com-
mencement of the proceedings, but previous to that time the
spacious room was densely filled by the ladies and gentlemen
of the town and neighbourhood. On the platform there
were the Earl of Balcarres, the Hon. and Rev. H. Powys,
the Rev. J. J. Hornby (rector of Winwick), the Rev. Thos.
Bayne, the Rev. Augustus Campbell, the Rev. Roger Carus
Wilson, the Rev. J. Paley, the Rev. H. J. Gunning (rector
of Wigan), the Rev. J. H. Brown, A.M., T.C.D., (Haigh,)
the Rev.J. Glazebrook, John Whitley, Esq., Alexander Ha-
liburton, Esq., &c. &c.
About half-past one o'clock, on the motion of the Earl of
Balcarres, seconded bv the Rev. S. Glazebrook, the Rev. H.
J. GUNNING was called to the chair.
The meeting having been opened with prayer,
The Rev. CHAIRMAN rose and said—Ladies and Gentle-
men—l have frequently had the honour conferred upon me
of being called upon by you to preSide over your public meet-
ings, but I do not remember, at any time to have occupied
the position on so important an occasion as the present, for I
will confidently ask you what subject of greater importance
can we be called upon to discuss than that which relates to
the right education of the people—not the education which is
desired, and given to fit men for the purposes of life—an
education which is given without any regard to God, but an
education which refers, and directs the mind to eternity, and
makes men true, and faithful servants of the Lord. Jesus.
The necessity of improving, and extending the present sys-
tem of education is too evident to require proof, for it is,
alas ! too true, that the vast majority of the people, are devoid
of the least religious or moral culture, and when we consider
the increasing population of the manufacturing districts—
when we remember, the gross and lamentable state of igno-
rance in which they are placed—when we call to mind the
want of commercial schools in the country—when we consider
the spirit of inquiry that is abroad—the march of intelligence,
and the aspect 6f the times, we must be convinced of the ne-
cessity that exists for meeting the wants of the people. As
far as its means admitted, the National Society has done it's
part, and I am sure we are under great obligations to it for
the benefits it has been the means of conferring upon the
country, but great as was its usefulness, and well as its
merits are appreciated by the country, yet we must all be
aware, that the systeni under which it is conducted is capa-
ble of great improvement, and that the range of instruction
it professed to communicate, is also capable of extension.
The National Society was not unmindful of the duties it owed
to the people, and without any unfriendly feeling, but being
aware that it had resources entrusted to it for the purpose of
diffusing education amongst the people, a correspondence on
the subject was opened between it and the heads of the church,
the result of which was the proposal of a plan to improve and
extend the system of education. Hence arose the necessity
for calling publicmeetings lathe different dioceses throughout
the country. In our own diocese the first meeting was, as a
matter of course, held in Chester, and it was followed
by a meeting at Warrington. Resolutions, in recommen-
dation of the system were proposed, and a committee,
was appointed to carry the resolutions into effect; and
it was therefore considered desirable to call meetings in
the large towns of the diocese, with a view to induce the
laity to co-operate with the clergy in forwarding their ob-
jects. One of the means suggested for the improvement and
extension of education, is the establishment of training-
schools in each diocese, from which well-educated, well-
principled, pious young men could be procured as occasion
might require, and be sent to different parts of the diocese,
to undertake the important duties of schoolmasters in the
commercial schools of the count ry. This is a matter of great
importance, for the services of schoolmasters and school-
mistresses, it must be arinttted, are most essential for• the
proper carrying out of the system of education we propose
to adopt. They must, therefore, undergo a course of in-
struction and study that will fit them for the important duties
they will be called upon to undertake: Another feature,
and a very important one, in the system, is, the appointment
of clerical inspedtots. These gentlernen will periodically
inspect the schools in the country; for the purpose of bring-
ing them into union with the National Society ; but not, as
has been alleged, with a view of curiously prying into the
system they choose to adopt—not with the intention of med-
dling or interfering with them, but to give the managers of
them the benefit of our experience and knowledge, with such
advice and suggestions as their establishments may call far.
If they unite with the national schools, the introduction of
them will be hailed with satisfaction by all, and the result
will be the diffusion of a right education among the working
classes of the country. No pains are spared for the educa-
tion of the higher orders of society; they have the advan-
tages of the many public schools in which the nation
abounds ; they have the universities to resort to ;—but it is a
remarkable circumstance, that while these opportunities are
afforded to these two extreme classes—the poor on one hand
and the rich in the other, no provision has been made for the
education of the middle classes. (Loud cheers.) I say that
Christianity requires that we should look to the proper edu-
cation of all classes, and not confine our exertions to one
class alone. It has, therefore, been proposed to establish
commercial schools in the diocese, so that the sons of far-
mers, and tradesmen may receive a sound, and useful educa-
tion, in order to qualify them for the performance of the
important duties they may in after life be called upon to
fulfil. I believe, I have laid before you the leading features
of the system of education we propose, and will now leave it
to other gentlemen who are better acquainted with the details
of the plan, to plead the cause of the society before you ; but,
before I sit down, I may be permitted to observe, that as we
know full well, our enemies are on the alert, and it is the
duty of all friends of the Established Church to come for-
ward, and join heartily, and cordially to proinote her interests.
While I profess with sincerity, a feeling of the most perfect
charity to all, yet I feel myself compelled to say, that I can-
not give my sanction to any system of education, that is not
connected with, and based on, the principles and formidaries
of the Established Church. The rev. gentleman then called
upon the honorary secretary of the society to propose the
first resolution.

The Hon. and Rev. H. POWYS accordingly rose and pro-
ceeded to .say, that in proposing the yesolution confided to
him, he would, as the official organ of the society, be obliged
to entet into many an interesting detail, but, before he pro-
ceeded, he begged permission to indulge for a moment in
some personal feelings. He appeared before them on the
present occasion with feeling of at once a pleasing and me-
lancholy interest. In coming to Wigan as the official organ
of the Association, he felt much pleasure in rendering assis-
tance to his Reverend friend in the chair, the rector of the
parish, because he well knew that his personal character, and
active exertions in this district to promote at all times the
cause of christian education, met with their cordial approba-
tion. Yet he felt another interest of rather a melancholy
caste, for none felt more deeply than he did, the loss of a
friend of his, who was one of the most ardent advocates in
the cause of education, (the Rev. Mr. Jones.) The resolution
which he had to propose, comprized many topics, so many
that he hardly dare venture to make a promise, as to the
time he should occupy them, lest he should be tempted to
'exceed it ; for, if he were to speak on all the questions it
suggested, he could not say where he was likely to stop.
The resolution was as follows :

" That this meeting, acknowledging the necessity of a
more comprehensive system of education connected with the
established church, to meet the pressing wants of the work-
ing and middle classes of society, approves of the scheme
now proposed by the diocesan board of education, as a most
wise, liberal, and enlightened plan, based as is upon the
Holy Scriptures."

There never was such a text to take a sermon from, and, in
approaching it he knew not how to set about commenting upon
it in as concise a manner as he, and he was sure they, would de-
sire. The first leading propositions of it was that the meeting
acknowledged the necessity of a more comprehensive system
of national education—many old heads, he was well aware,
thought that they had gone too far in diffusing education.
In order to induce them to adopt the resolution, which the
meeting would do, not because the chairman submitted it to
them, but from their own personal conviction, he would
endeavour to show them the mode they proposed for the ex-
tension and improvement of the national system of educa-
tion. He would first place the question before them on the
ground of christian obligation, of christian duty. For his part,
he could not forget that it was his duty as a christian minister
to exert himself in the cause of education, and he felt bound
to call upon all professing christians to aid him in extending
education in proportion to the numbers of the christian flock,
by which he meant the members of the Catholic Church,
which comprehended the whole christian world. He could
not forget that the head of that church has preached to all
the world—permit little children to come unto me, and that
he not only desired to feed his sheep, but also his lambs, by
which was meant the younger members of the Christian
Church. As the flock extends, so did their and his duty ex-
tend, and as their duties extended, and their means limited in
proportion to such extent, he was, in consequence, forced
to call upon them to assist him in bringing home, and
restoring to the fold, the lost lambs of Christ's Church,
so that all the children of every professing sect of Christians
might be brought into the one fold, under the one shepherd,
Jesus Christ the Lord. While, however, he thus enforced
the obligation, they were all under to co-operate with him
in this undertaking, he was prepared to stoop from that
high ground he maintained, and to accommodate him-
self to the spirit of the times—he was ready to take a lower
ground, and to convince them of the imperative necessity
they were placed under of advancing the education of the
people. He held in his hand a work entitled—" A Report on
the State of Public Instruction in Prussia," by Miss Austin.
In the excellent preface to that work, enforcing the necessity
of havihg a system of national education, the writer used some
eloquent arguments which he adopted to the fullest extent.
The hon. and rev. gentleman here read a long extract from
the book, and then proceeded to observe,—that at the present
time it wag impossible to arrest the progress of education,
and lie who would endeavour to throw obstacles in its way,
would assist rather than impede its onward course—a man
might as well now rush into the midst of a torrent, and
desire it to cease flowing. The current of education is now
irresistible—it bears with it, no doubt, masses of filth and
corruption, but it was their duty—it was the duty of every
sincere Christian, to endeavour to remove this filth and cor-
ruption,'and purify the streams at its fountain head. There was
auotherground upon which he contended for a more compre-
hensive system of education, and that was the palpable defici-
ency that existed in the present system. From considerations of
philosophy they should support the association, on this ground
—be again referred to the work already quoted by him—in order
to show the social disadvantages that followed an imperfect
and vicious system of education. He next adverted to the
evils that resulted from having men employed to communi-
cate instruction to youth, who were totally unqualified for
the duties, both as regards mental culture, and a facility, or
rather dexterity, in imparting knowledge. He censured the
conduct of those politicians, and theorists, and philosophers,
who under-rated the advantages of education, by holding out
to the people no higher objects of intellectual acquirements
than what would tend merely to their temporal benefit, and
thereby inducing them to step out of the situations they were
destined to fill, allured by specious and delusive promises of
advantage, rather than remain good and obedient citizens, in,
their proper spheres of life. A few days ago, he was addres-
sing a meeting on the subject of education, and having stated
that, as limited educatiOn prevailed crime extended; an in-
dividual contradicted him, and said he could not prove the
assertion. He (Mr. P.) had not the 'documents about
him, at the present moment, but he said he would take
the first opportunity of giving the person a conclusive
answer, for he felt bound to do so, as his conduct in reference
to this question was pretty closely canvassed. Since he arrived
in Wigan, he requested his friend the chairman to procure
for him Blackwood's Magaine for February last, in which the
question of secular edncation was comprehensively discussed.
The writer of the article went at length into many minute
statistical details on the subject of crime, from which it ap-
peared that during the last 30 years the progress of crime in
England has increased five fold—in Ireland five and a half
fold, and in Scotland it had increased thirty fold. Thus it
appeared that Scotland—owing perhaps to the increase of her
manufactures during that period—had increased thirty fold.
Of the 3,053 criminals which the said writer states were con-
fined in Scotland in the year 1836, there were 639 uneducated,
and 2,360 educated. A result of a similar description appears
in the English criminal returns—of criminals unable to read at
all, there were 7,083, able to read imperfectly 10,983, able to
read well 2,215, of superior instruction 191, of instruction of
an ordinary description 562.—With respect to London the
same proportion of educated and uneducated criminals pre-
vailed ; The criminals educated, amounted in 1836, to 5,194,
whereas the uneducated were only 2383. If then, these state-
ments be correct, and they were from parliamentary returns,
they prove that the amount of crime increases in proportion
to the increase of manufactures, which congregate together
large numbers of people, who are, generally speaking, taught.