The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-11-27 00:00:00

v
Ldfliplause.] It bad teen. said Stud the British System
of Education only taught to read and write, without
teaching any religion ; but t was false—they
guided their minds, and instructia them how to judge
. for themselves, and having done so, they had per-
foamed their duty, which no one could deny except
the most bigoted and prejudiced. [Applause.; For
himself, he had been brought up to the principles of
the Church of England, and he trusted he would not
be suspected of using any arguments injurious to the
. principles of that creed, which, he contended, re-
cognised universal and general toleration. [Ap-
platitc.] His Royal Highness then reed the Resolu-
tion, " That the Report now read be received and
adopted, and that• it be printed at the diction of
the Committee."
His. Excellency Count LIEVEN, the Russian Am-
bassador, seconded the Resolution ; and, through
the Duke of Kent, communicated to the meeting
how gratified he felt at the honourable mention
which had been made of his Imperial Master in the
Report. He ktieWthat it was the intention of the
Emperor of Russia' to introduce the British System
of Education into . his dominions; and that he felt,
end should always feel, gratitude towards this coun-
try for having established and brought to perfection
so beneficial a system.
Mr. BantIGIIAM rose an&snia, that though it was
Impossible for him to add t 6 the impressive speech of
the eloquent and illustrious person who had last
addressed them, in favour of the great principles ,
which the Society acknowledged and maintained—an
ardent desire to promote universal instruction, and a
fixed acrd rooted determination to support religious
toleration.— His object in rising was to propose a
*vote of thanks to the illustrious persons high on
their lists, one of whom was then present. The Sri-
• cloy had much reason to congratulate themselves that
thilp had still the support of these illustrious per-
sons ; for since the last meeting a blank had been
made in it which never could be filled up again.
[Appian:el—Ms name it was unnecessary to men.
tin,,, all that assembly, more or less, but those most
ho knew him most, and therefare loved him best,
shared in feelings which requlred consolation which it
inn: not possible to administer. Ile was no more
amongst them whose co-operation was never wanting
when it,might be of service to mankind—that heart
wasstill which beat always with bye to his fellow-
creatures—that voice was silent which was always
exalted in the cause of humanity and truth.-
- [Applause.]—lt was some comfort that the Society
still possessed those illustrious persons who were the
objects of the resolution he should propose, ;aid it
watanother consolation that they now saw the: e for
the first time, he hoped the first of many times, an.
:other noble person, he meant Lord
plane],—whesc. name was a pledge that he w °plc!
never be wanting to promote the great interests of
mankind, and who, with his name, inherited virtues
and•talents worthy of it.. They had also now at last
seen the cOntlusion of a general peace, of the hies.
sings of which they had heard much from the highest
official quarters; but these blessing( would be of small
account if they were not accompanied with a reduc-
tion of these burdens, of which, as nothing but ne.
cessity could have justlfiedtheimposition, so nothing
but necessity could justify the continuance. The
• telief from these burthens he alluded to, as the means
would thus be afforded which would enable them to
make additional efforts in behalf. of that and other
charitable Societies.• Additional facilities were also
afforded' of communication with foreign countries,
especially to the neighbouring kingdom, which should
be taken advantage of to extend the inestimable bs:-
siesta of general education. As communication was
more easy, so the duty was doubly imperative of
making use of that facility to extend to our neigh-
bours the blessings we enjoyed. They hail seen
that the neighbouring country he had alluded to, af.
ter 25 years of .struqtle, had not obtained liberty—
after 25 years of adversity had not learned wisdom.
That great principle of religious toleration which
formed one of the ground-works of that Society had
been trampled under foot. That people had not, not
one moment, ceased to carry war abroad, but they
kindled a religious war among themselves. They had
drawn down on themselves a curse worse than the
hostile and exasperated armies which filled their
country. They had profaned the hallowed name of
liberty by destruction ;—they now polluted the more
sacred name• of religion by slaughter. The priest
was murdered at the altar—the Captain who re-
pressed their enormities met the same fate; hundreds
and thousands of victims had fallen,-on the pretence
that they were enemies of human tyranny ; but in
reality because they worshipped God in the manner
of their forefathers. In the same manner was the
ancestor of his Noble Friend uho filled the Chair,
Lotd litussell, murdered for his attachment to his
religion, and his faith to the 'Constitution ;—in the
same manner did Sidney bleed. But could the in•
habitairts of this Christian, tolerant, and Protestaitt
country look on without wishing, ttad with their
wishes attempting to put an end to the darkness of
ignorance which overspread their neighbours, cause
the light of instruction to dawn on that night in which
alone men of blond cote(' walk abroad—[Applause.]
If this old hail but been extended to Fiance, '25
years earlier, it would have been as impossible that
such NCPIIP4 of blood could have taken place, as that
the eons mities of Charles 11. and his Judges should
IA reacted in this country.—[..lppkase.]—Agninst
the recurrence of those scenes here, we had a se-
curity in the virtues of the Illustzious Wiese which
lio long and so happily reigned ht this couittly, and
to two of the brightest ornaments of which he should
propose the thanks of the ntectitic. But they had
also another pledge, if any other was necessary, in
the gers,ral instruction of the community. „Mr. B.
concluded by moving a vote of thanks to thn Prince
Regent and the Dukes of Kent and Sussex for their
continued patronage of tie Society.
Lord llotrAN6 that although he had never
before had the gratification of meeting the numerous
assembly then present, his warmest wishes had always
been in fasnur of its object. The diffusion of know.
ledge was, in other words, the diffusion of virtue and
happiness. To the diffusion of knowledge .no man
could he'inimical, except those whose conduct and
opinions • 'mold not bear the test of enquiry. [Ap- '
plaitti.]. Woes consequently most satisfactory that
persons of the highest-rank and the greatest abilities
bad employed their aothdrity to promote its diffu-
sion. It was n proud distinction thaw in this coutt7..

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