The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-14 00:00:00

OCT. 14, 1.8.36,

circle of his sphere with the evanescent refulgzoce of meteoric
light rather than benefit mankind by the steady and cams Mu_
urination of the planet—the light of deeply- reflected reason,
certain in its course and useful in its application. We are not
insensible of the merits of lord Braugharn, nor blind to his in-
discretions; he presents a splendid exhibition of the imperfecti-
bility of the human character. We have known him as an
advocate, a member of parliament, and a reforming chancellor;
and have never shrunk from the declaration of our opinions,
whether he figured as the pamphleteer assailant of the peers,
under a note of interrogation (?)—as Mr. " Tornkins Jenkins,"
or as Lord Brougham. We know that he allied himself to the
whigs from policy, as to a party, likely at one time or other to
hold.the reins of gOvernment—with the utter radicals there is
no such prospect before him, and his reply to the Edinburgh in-
vitation shows that he would rather preserve his independence to
serve his future personal interests or his ambition with the
conservatives, than irretrievably stamp himself, by a marked
association, as the leader of radicalism in the state ! It is one
of the most discreet acts of his political life, and will be a bitter
Pill of disappointment to the Edinburgh worthies.

EXAMINATION of, INFANTS BY MR. WILDERSPIN.

Yesterday, in the ball-room at the Town-hall, the infants
belonging to the corporation schools underwent a public exa-
mination• under the guidance of a gentleman of the name of
Wilderspin. The object of this examination was stated in the
advertisements to be " to remove prejudice, to prove that chil-
dren are never too young to learn, and that they are complete
creatures of imitation." It mav be recollected that Mr. Rath-
bone some short time ago moved, in the council-chamber, that
the use of the ball-room in the Town-hall should be granted
for this purpose, and became himself a guarantee against any
injury which might happen to the room. It was generally
thought at the time that the object of this was a ruse to act as a
set off to the reputation of the new schools, recently erected by
the friends of the established church, to bring the corporation
schools again into favourable notice, and as a means of filling
their now vacant benches.
Though decidedly opposed to infant mental exertion, as based,
in our opinion, on a wrong principle, and calculated rather to
weaken than to strengthen the adult mind, yet, as the object
has been dictated by praiseworthy motives and for a benevolent
'object, and has created sonic public interest, we give a literal
report, so far as possible, of a part of the examination, and
leave our readers to judge whether the infant efforts exhibited
wete not of the description of a parrot's loquacity, and a were
effort of memory which left reason asleep—such an effort as it
is possible to obtain from a bullfinch by repeated trainings,
which, when the first bar of a tune which it has been taught is
whistled, will repeat the whole. Against one side of the room
e. platform was erected, with raised seats facing the other part
of the room, on which were three or four hundred children of
from three to five yeats of age. The remainder of the room was
excessively crowded, principally by ladies. The scene now pre-
sented a very ridiculous appearance, parties who were pushing
and squeezing against one another, after looking at the chil-
dren, seemed to think they had come on a foolish errand, and
smiled at each other at their own more than suspected folly.
Mr. hathbone was conspicuously placed on the platform, and
appeared to act as fugleman-general. Over the children,
In the recess appropriated to the orchestra, sat the Mayor, Mr.
Brown, Mr. Coglau, Mr. Hope, &c., end a party of ladies, look-
ing down with the greatest gravity on the infant rare-show.
The squeezing now, at eleven o'clock, amounted to hot pressure,
when Mr. Rathbone announced that, as there was a very great
"pressure front without," Mr. Wilderspin had kindly consented
to give another exhibition at eleven o'clock on Saturday, and
any ladies or gentlemen who could not get in, or who chose to
retire, would have their tickets returned, and might come again
with them on Saturday. This announcement produced a slight
relief. One of the children here, much to the amusement of
the audience, putting its thumb in its mouth, began to squeal
out lustily for its "mammy," and was only quietened by a judi-
cious application of " Did 'urn vex it, den—that's a pretty,"
from Mr. Wilderspin, whose qualifications for "nurse" were
evidently first rate.
Mr. WILDERSPIN then spoke as follows, as nearly as we,
could collect, in the midst of pushing, and squeezing, and tip-
tr.e jostlings of short ladies : I have stated in my advertise-
ment respecting this exhibition of children that the end, and
design of it was to remove prejudice, to prove that children
were never too young to learn, and that they were complete
creatures of imitation. All these three propositions, I trust, I
shall be able to prove to your entire satisfaction. We have
been too long, as a Christian people, given to the devil, rend
left to chance. When the young mind has become poisoned,
and when sin has taken deep root, than we have begun to teach.
I Hear.) Ido not stand before you as a theorist; I never yet
found any one too young to learn. It is our duty as a Christian
leople to see that the precious souls of these children are not
ost. I will not detain you with a long speech, but will preface
with all the remarks I have to make, because, when I turn
round to address these precious babies, I shall not be able to
speak much. I must be excused, for I have been so much ac-
customed to address little babies that I cannot address men.
(Hear.) I must be permitted to add, that you must not judge
of their performances as of those of men, but as the perform-
ances of children, and, however rediculous their motions may
be, although they may appear silly to adults, they are perfectly
sensible to young children. We are willing to relieve, but I
am sorry to say, we are not at all times willing to instruct. I
shall first of all prove that little children can be taught to sing.
How I blush when 1 get into some of the country churches to
find a hired choir, and persons too, hired to sing tunes to the
Almighty, when children might be taught to do it so much
'better. If they will take, children to sing, I will engage that I
will teach them to keep good time, and tune too. These children
shall sing you a hymn the first. We think it quite necessary
that these precious babes should be taught to sing hymns. I
have thought it prudent to give these children "the milk of the
world," and I will take the liberty of saying, that to give them
mental food above their digestive powers, however good our
intentions, must be abortive; but, if we were contented to give
'them simple mental food, such as was to be found in the bible,
we should have inure genuine religion in the world, and not so
much talk about it. We have had talk enough, we want actions.
How often have l seen a child master of a whole house, and
a perfect nuisaneo in it. But, here you see they are not too
young to learn, and my acquaintance with them has not been
more than five or six week, and you will recollect that all these
children have learned has been done in five or six •vVeeks. You
will give the credit of their attainments to their teachers, who
have been kind enough to follow my directions."
Mr. WILDERSPIN then addressed the children. "Now, my
. dears, would you like to sing a hymn ?" " lss," responded a
hundred chirpings. "Now I will tell you what we will do; we
will give it out my dears, and the ladies and gentlemen may
judge if we can sing. I will give it out first myself and then
you will know what we are doing ; must 1?" " iss," answered
the children.
" When morning comes, the birds arise," &c.

The children then, with certainly not much time, repeated
the words after Mr. Wilderspin in a semi shout, whilst one was
gaping in silent wonder at the gilt ornamented ceiling, one
looking this way and another that, their attention evidently en-
gaged with the novel scene around them, as the lips of the
little artless creatures repeated the words which had been drilled
into them by frequent lessons. "Now, my dears," continued
Mr. Wilderspin, " will you stand up when I whistle ?" " Iss."
"Now then," (blowing a whistle). The children all stood up.
" Now there are three things," said Mr. Wilderspin, "to re-
member; not to open the mouth too" " wide," shouted the
children. "Not to sing too " "loud," and not to sing through
the " " nose," said the children, finishing the sentences. The
children then again sung a hymn. " Well,-my dears, that will do
for the present. Now, my dears, you must sit down when I whis-
tle." his." (Whistling.) Down sat the children. " There, you
are all down, and a flue set of pretty faces you are. This is the
instrument by which we teach aritemetic," placing an instru-
inent ou the platform, such as is used in many places on the
contirient•for the purpose of counting. " Now, my dears, two
ones are two." "Two ones are two," sung out the children.
Two twos .are four." "Two twos are four," repeated the
i‘thildreia'np.to twelve. The children were tben cross-questioned
-in these, titenbersvand generally answered with readiness. The
question's were'evidently, however, got by rote, and the child-
ren answeredmeChinically from the association of sounds in
their niiiids*Which 'hid often been repeated whilst their little
'heads were whirling round in every direction, their lips only re-
peating the stated task. The Mayor, and great numbers of the
assembled crowd, looking on with the most stolid gravity the
While, rendered this scene inexpressibly ridiculous. "Now, my
little children," said Mr. Wilderspin, laying the calculating in-
strument on the floor of the'platform, " long stories and long
faces don't do for little children, do they?" "No." " Now, I
Must mind and not tre"—" tread on it," shouted the children.
Or I shall perhaps bre"—" break it," " and shall find the
nearest way to the fl"—" floor,":finished the children. " I will
whistle a tune, little children, perhaps you can tell what it is;
40 you think you can ?" " Iss." " Because there are some
persons who think you have not got hearing. Now, what tune
is this? (Whistling an incomprehensible sound.) “There is
nee luck about the house," immediately responded all the child:
" Now, my dears." The children then all begun singing
Le their leader's whistling, and imitating him by clapping their
,hands in time.

"And we clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap away,
This is the way we exercise and pass our little day."
Now, my dears, there is another exercise," (imitating the
Motion of walking.) The children struck up—

" And we will walk altogether, walk, walk away ;
This is the way we exercise and pass our time away."
"Now, my dears," rubbing his face, and giving the signal; the
children went on imitating him, and rubbing their faces :

"And we will wash altogether, wash, wash away, • -
Till we have washed and scrubbed all the dirt away."
: lioud laughter followed this feat. Several other similar per-
..ftrmances were gone through. " Now, my dears, let me see
11 You can't think; automatons cant think, you know. How
.I,lineh is twenty pence ?" " One shilling and eightpence."
, Howe much is twice two and one over?'' " Three," replied
? Yutg urchin in a corner, and was of course followed by
Three"therenow.from half the number of children. "'Think, you
now, try a,
.You don't think. You shall have time to rest a bit :
two ?.. 4FPn.ii"w much is three times one and a half of
answered a hundred
much is' Twelve."r " Think, my dears. Now then, how
don't Twelve, nine seven, sixteen," immediately
think. How
much
isfferent voicee, " No, my dears, you don't
my dears, you
think; times two ?" " Twelve. " No,
six, ten." " Very well.'pk ; try again?'' "Seven, thirteen,
tion the children got Then repeating the lesson in rota-
readily. " Now, my into the beaten track and answered
" London." "Of dears. Franc what is the capital of England ?"
" Berne." " I have a r,4al'. " Paris." "Of Switzerland ?"
you like buns?" :, Isa.„
“t‘itlrai rge, big basket of buns. Do
pick the currants off?" " Iss."11 ,you eat 'em fair, and not
of Germany ?" " Scotland." ' Now, what is the capital
Don't you think you ought to have Some boy says Scotland.
sir." " Now, my dears, what
iset:llvso buns for that ?" " Iss,
.a go_i* " A bone." (Loud laughter.l have in my pocket ?
a bone. is it not a gonograph Mr. " No, my dears, not
" Iss." He then commenced questionin irbers has called
,Inatical and geometrical figures, to which theethildren on mathe-
ch.ildren answered
readily, answering with the glibness of a well trained parrot ques-
tions of what was a rhomboid, a spheroid, an eralateral triangle,
an acute angle, an obtuse angle, a triangle &c. Some of
which questions Euclid has deemed worth' - of'
prob-
lems to explain. From this, Mr. wadyersin rocelaborate
Put questions relating to music, and to the alphabet
proceeded to
'which were answered with equal off-hand readiness.
,ge., all of
child-
"ten had evidently had great pains taken with them
their proficiency in their tricks reflected much credit on, ale
Perseverance of Mr. Wilderspin in tutoring them. We wille
leave our readers, however, to form their opinion of its utility.

J 61.1 D'ESPRlT.—Written by William Bigelow, more than
thirty years ago, when the First Consul of France had turned
his attention to the cultivation of sugar from beets :
I've a substitute found," says Bony ; " no more
. • Of your sugar will I taste the sweet ;"
" Very well," says John Bull—" while I use the cane,
You're welcome enough to get beet."