Star.
London, England, 1816-06-21 00:00:00

EDCCATION OF 7111 POOR.

Mr. BROUGHAM, on the subject of the Educe.
ton of the Poor of the Metropolis, stated, that there
was 100,000 children in London destitute of educa-
tion, and it became the House to determine, whether
this unhappy state of ignorance should be permitted
to continue, or whether some efforts should be made
to remove it ? He then entered into a detail of the
manner in which the Commi:tee had proceeded, to
ascertain the state of the different schools in London,
and was happy to say, that they were much better
than public report had led them to expect. The
revenue of Christ's Hospital amounted to the sum of
£44,000, and the expenditure was almost equal to
the revenue. The management was highly respect.
able, and there was scarcely any foundation for the
imputations which were circulated upon its integrity.
The Committee had received information of several
abuses, as might be expected, but, on inquiry, it was
discovered that they were untrue, and that the Insti-
tution was much more free from every spt cies of
irregularity than was generally to be found in insti-
tutions of such long standing. The Charter House
School was equally well conducted, though some
might think it improper that its advantages should
not be exclusively dispensed to the lower orders ;
but he did not think that there was any fair cause of
complaint on this account, as the pupils generally
were the children and relatives of poor Noblemen
mid Gentlemen. The Westminster School, however,
was even free from a suspicion of this kind. There
was no undue preference on behalf of the more
wealthy, for the most rigid test of qualifications
was instituted upon the admissions, without any
regard to rank whatever ; and St. Paul's School
was entitled to approbation, though it had been
thought that the salaries were rather too high.—
He had felt it his duty to make this representa-
tion, with respect to the great Schools, though the
principal object of the Committee was to collect
an accurate account of the condition of minor Se-
minaries for the education of the poor classes.—
With this view they had sent letters to various parts
of the kingdom, which were promptly answered. In
one instance they had received information, t!)at for
£lB,OOO only WOO children had been educated,
whereas on the new system of education 90,000 might
have been taught to the same extent with the same
means.—(Hear, hear.)—This was a statement for one
year, and the funds were raised by voluntary contri.
butions. He was anxious that the attention of the
public should be called to this subject, became in
some schools of an old foundation, the trustees were
unwilling to make the reforms, which modern inge-
nuity had invented, and if they saw that next Session
of Parliament; some enactment would take place,
they would be prompted to do what was evidently
53 very desirable, without any iplerferetice of the

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Legislature being necessary. There Iva% s,oveve.
another class of schools which the Hiaite 11„11
right to interfere with. and most Jo s, , iv.
funds were left to the public, an:l the 1.-;
the guardians of the public, should see to 6;1,4
appropriation of them.—(Hear, hear, r +,174.2
peered from the returns under Mr. Gilb-,e„.41:
that in 178(5 three were funds t.) the au,
£150,000 a year in town, and £7:l,ouu riL;
try, for Ilse purposes of charitable educitian—(
hear )—With these means what might not he
He thought by an attention to the rec0ni0,,,,4.-
of the Committee to send a parliamentary cor,r;;.•
sion through the country, immense sums would
saved, which might be applied to the extee.ion
means of education. 'Notwithstanding the obj.-e,i„-
which migbt be urged against it, he would rIco:
mind that it should be a paid coannivina, as tav 14
hours would be great, and the tesponsibLy ver- os
siderable. The Committee "ere satisfied, el it
the country there were funds large enough 10. t,1,11.1
purposes, it was by no means the cue t!) 1,.,;11,t
and he was afraid that Os difficulty could 1,1
b.
surmounted without paiiiementary eid• fi, xys
sensible of the delicacy of this part of the
as the people might express an unwillinniA a:
.!
list by subscriptions, whets calk,' upon f".: u,is or.
i pose, from a notion that t was pulec::ss ~;;e public purse was open fix :he cervic2s
tional underta king ; it was, t:.eret,,re,
success. that the aid of twent should
cede the necessity of prtvate benevolence,
the best species of support i s tnea,ur:s of ,
solipcioe. Perhaps, then, it would be theugl.t bas.,
as it seemed the House must do something, to tee.
tribute the means of building schrtileociins,
i was always the great olistacle, n the way
ble projects, for the dissemination of knowiedge
among the indigent. But, at present, he shouiday;
make any definite proposal on this branch of tite
question. He had merely thrown this idea out for
the consideration of Honourable Members, and lie
should be happy to adopt any plan which might 35.
prove itself to the judgment of the Houle, as best
calculated to answer the end proposed. Ileee sed
one other point, upon which he should slightly fw.%
before he sat down, which was the necessity of steer.
ing clear of all sectarian feelings or partialities, in the
prosecution of this great cause ; but he saw but litik
to apprehend on this part of the subject, as bogs
Churchmen and Dissenters were become mare lihrd
and were daily associating in schemes of general
nevolence. Of course, in any plan of extensive
operation, there would be an attention to the gentral
claims of all cllsses, with a due regard to the Opts
and interests of the National Church—(N,ear, hetr.)....
The House would feel it a duty to support and c't.
risk the Established Religion, which might be dote
without injustice to the other denominations of Cbris.
flans. He concluded by moving, " That the I.lepore
do lie on the table."

Lord CASTLE REA GH comp:imented the Leg.
ned Gentleman on the able view which he had Edon
of this subject, and was satisfied that hisl..bours would
be eminently serviceable to the country, if a d.ie re-
gard were paid to those important considerations,
which he had not lost sight of. He e:Trev.scil his
satisfaction, too, at the testimony which had beta
given to the reputation of the Chartered Schools f.t
the Metropolis.
Mr. ROSE joined in the tr;bute of praise et!? tr,
the exertions of the Learned Gentleman, and 17'f :UM
chat the morals of the lower orders would be greatly
benefited by the extension of education.
Mr. PEEL entered into several statement 3 with re.
,pect to the mode of conducting public educatirn is
Leland, and was able to assure the House from ins
own knowledge, that the greatest benefits had se•
stilted from the labours of a Commistion in that curie.
try, similar to the one which the Learned Gentlania
had sugersted for England.
Mr. WROTTESLEY remarked, that the Bill far
regulating charitable donations, which he had had
the houour of introducing to the House, would very
much facilitate the exertions which had been pi;,.
posed to he made in behalf of public education.
Mr. WI LB El( FO RC E urged the propriety of ap-
pointing an Officer, whose business it should be ta
scrutinise into the management of Public Sa.ioq
throughout the country, and report thereon to for
House every Session of Parliament.
Mr. CANNING had heard of the Committee but
very recently, and was disposed, trim what had hero
reported to him, to look upon it with some degre..4,l
alarm. However, what had passed this eveniog had
completely dissipated those fears. The found,ai.ii
of good order was laid in the foundations of 1110r:di; y,
and morality was only to be reared on the basi. i.l
education. He concurred in the sentiments of &-
light which had liven expressed at hearing, that th
large Schools of London were free from the ropio.r.ll
which prejudice an.l envy might cast upon them.
Sir W. GA RIXO '44/ expressed his approliation of
the Report, and hcped it would be pri.,ted and cir-
culated through the country at the ensuing As.ize;.
After a brief conversation between Mr. lintiet.Av,
Mr. W. SaIITH, General THORN:TONI and Dlr.
HINOTON, Mr. &tour:mass shm.ly Lae
Report was ordered to lie on the Tante.
Mr. BROUGHAM then gave notice, thtt
should bring the subject matter of the Report
the House early next Session.
The Report was then ordered to be printed.
VINICIIASE CE CLE:tNILINT.
Mr. HUSKISSON felt it unnecessary to tr,,a:;••
the House at any length on this
propriety of proving a
country residence for the Prince of Cobourg and the
Princess Charlotte. He then detailed the prot,res: of
the negociation for the purchase of the Ciernoir.
Estate, :hewing that the utmost care hid {wen take:t
to make a good and satisfactory bargain. The estar.!
was valued at re.36,2t10, and consisted of three tut -
dred and fifty acres of land. The mansion, farm, and
outbuildings, were reckoned at i1t19,000, aid th-
manor was eonsid :red to be worth about £5OOO rnor. •
It was not intended that there should be any further
expense to the public, after the whole was passed into
the hands of the Prince of Saxe Cobourg and her
Royal Highness. The estimate upon the whole lvd
been a trifle above 861,000, but 460,000 was to be
given for it. In addition to this, there was furniture
to the amtrunt of six thousand pounds, which would
render it fit for the immediate reception of the
Royal tenants. Now, as to *the way in which this
sum WU to be provided, it was intended to tak4

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the 60 thousand pounds out bE the money nestled in
the ‘3 per cents. from the redemption of the land tax.
Belt this would not be wanted all at once, as it was
stirtatod that 5e12,000 should be paid down, and
the remainder at equal instalmefits an the four suc-
ceeding years, so that no injury wonld accrue to that
AO, especially as the money was to be returned by
the sale of crown lands, sufficient for that purpose, as
sleedily as it ould be effected. With respect to the
ji,,:it and possession of the estate, it would belong to
the Royal Pair so long as they continued to live in it,
and if the Prince should live longer than the Prin.
sees, Iris interest would continue till he was no mere.
Oa the other hand, if he should die first, the est Ate
would belong. to the Crown, if she should then be
called to the Throne, wherein, at all events, it was
ti:tiniately to lie vested. He was sure, in every point
of view, the purchase would be considered highly ad-
vantageous, and he war persuaded that no one would
e,ta) It improper to provide a country residence of
this extent for their Royal Highnesses. lie concluded
by moving--" That leave be given to bring in a Bill
for completing the purchase of the estate of Cler.
vent, as a residence for the Princes., Charlotte and
Prince Cobourg."
Mr. BARING stated as a singular fact, though
without at all meaning to say, that the price of
‘61),000, which it was now proposed to give was ex-
orbitant, that the same estate was actually sold a
great many years agoa for £lO,OOO. What his Ho.
worable Friend had stated to-night of the trifling
pittance of some of the Crown Lands afforded a
wad of the waste that took place with respect to
'them, and he thought his Honourable Friend could
sit better employ his talents than by devising a plan
tor disposing of such parts of the Crown Lands, as
were not available to the maintenance of the dignity
of the Crown.
Mr. HUSKISSON replied, that the course ream-
Divided by his Honourable Friend was precisely that
which had Wren pursuing for some years. He had
sever heard that Clermont had been sold for £10,000;
but he knew th it three or four years ago it had been
put up for sale, and bought in at a sum exceeding
that for which the present contract was made.
Leave was then granted, and Mr. HUSKZSSON
kought in the Bill, %ilk's was read a first time, and
orderA to be read a second time toonorrow„