Star.
London, England, 1818-05-09 00:00:00

LONDON.

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1818.
THY 1711 MDS.
PRICK OS STOCKS THIS DAY AT TWELVE O'CLOCK :
Reduced 796;—Consols 80H—for Acc. SOH
4 per Cent. 963 97—Navi, Anns. 107 H
India Bonds 97 99 pr.—Exch. Bills 17 20 pr.
Omnium 294 prem.

A most interesting topic, the proper application of
Bequests and Endowments to the purposes of Edu-
cation, occupied the attention of the House of Com-
mons last night. It appeared, by the statement of
Mr. BROUGHAM, that from the evidence before the
Committee which had been appointed to inquire into
this subject, there was every reason to believe that
the funds which had been appropriated to this use,
however little they may have been attended to, how-
ever much they may have been abused, if duly col-
lected and applied, might be estimated at from one
million and a half to two millions a-year ! In the
House there seemed to be a general feeling of the ab-
solute necessity that exists for adopting some mea-
sure calculated to ascertain effectually the amount of
these funds—to render their collection efficient—and

to insure their due application. It is proposed, for
these purposes, that Commissioners, with proper
powers, be appointed, and with salaries, that any
new law which may be passed upon the subject may
not be left to execute itself, but be enforced by those
who would, from time to time, bring the matter
under the review of Parliament.

The whole subject, in every view that can be taken
of it, is of the greatest importance. It is no longer
a question whether the wellbeing of society depends
in a great measure on the state of Education, and the
facilities with which its benefits may be extended
throughout the Empire? However painful it may be
to contemplate the constant robberies (for crimes
ought to have their proper epithets) which have been
practised on these funds, it is consoling to the friends
of mankind to learn that such ample revenues have
been provided in different parts of the Empire, for
furnishing the blessings of Education to the Poor;
and that means are at length about so be adopted, to
ensure their due application.
But, as such abuses in this one branch have, before
the Committee, been proved to exist, may we not
hail the present measure as the forerunner of the ap-
pointment of other Commissioners to enquire into
the state of all the funds that have been bequeathed
for charitable purposes of any description what-
ever? It is shocking to think of the depredations
that are constantly made upon this species of public
property; and it is high time that some law were
passed making it compulsory on all Trustees of such
funds (and even upon the tenants of the property) to
make a yearly return to an Office to be appointed
for the purpose, of all matters and things within
their knowledge respecting such bequests. In this
way knowledge would, in the first instance, be oh.
rained of the existence of the fund—no matter how
properly or improperly applied hitherto : and all fu-
ture bequests for such purposes should be duly re-
gistered in the same Office, to prevent their getting
opt of sight.
The friends of humanity will see with pleasure that
the Bill for regulating the Labour of Children in Ma-
nufactories, is likely to pass through the House of
Lords, notwithstanding the opposition given to it.—
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, with just and manly
feeling, that if the College of Physicians, and all the
Surgeons in England, were to come to the Bar and
say that fifteen hours labour per day was not injurious
to the health of children, he would not believe them.

The Paris Papers of Tuesday and Wednesday are
among the arrivals since yesterday, but neither the
domestic nor foreign intelligence which they contain
is of much public interest.
The Court of Assizes at Albi has been occupied
during two more days in hearing the defences of
Bastide, Jaussion, Madame Manson, and the woman
Baud. The defence of Bastide, which he read him-
self from a written paper, was particularly marked
for the embarrassing acuteness of its deductions, and
the bold severity of its animadversions on the conduct
of the prosecutors and witnesses. The Court, at the
instance of the PROCUREUR-GENERAL, ordered it to
be entered on the record, for the purpose of subse-
quently taking cognizance of the person who has
been guilty of these freedoms, for so they are termed,
Bastide having admitted that it is not his own com-
position, although he declines stating by whom it
was written.

The Catholics of Palestine have been thrown into
a state of consternation in consequence of the Orien-

tal Greeks having taken exclusive possession Qf the
Holy Sepulchre. A Deputation has been sent to
Constantinople to remonstrate against the seizure.
In no City are fires more frequent than at Con-
stantinople. Not less than seventy-five are reckoned
to have taken place there in the course of four months.
On the night of the 21st of March there were three
at one time, one of which consumed the hotel of the
Swedish Ambassador, M. PALIN, with a fine cabinet
of antiquities, which he had been many years collect-
ing and at a great expense.
The following is an account of another dreadful
conflagration, at Gran, in Hungary :