The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-07-22 00:00:00

" That compensation be granted to those apprentices, for-
merly in the corporation schools, who were bound under
regulations which showed respect to their religious opinions
and promised them valuable instruction, and who were turned
out of the schools when they refused to be bound to a master
whose orders they could not conscientiously obey, and who
refused to give, or was incompetent to give the instruction
promised.
" That a time-book be kept in each school, in which the
superintendent and all the masters of that school shall enter
the hour and minute when they arrive, and the hour and
minute when they leave the school."
Mr. YATES said he would confine himself to the first of
these motions for the present; and he should in moving it be
as brief as possible. The subject was a most painful one to
him. How, indeed, could it be otherwise, when it called 1
forth such remarkable hostility from gentlemen, from many
of whom in private life he had received acts of kindness ?
Instead of the motion the Mayor had read, he (Mr. Yates)
would propose another; shorter and more conciliatory.
omitting the words " religious persecution." (No, no, from
Mr. Harbord and others.) Oh, if any gentlemen objected he
would stick to the first. (Yes, yes.) Very well, he would
stick to the original motion. He would gladly have spared
himself this task, and have spared the time of the council in
entering on this matter; but he had no alternative. On the
ISth of April he wrote a letter to the committee of the North
Corporation School begging them to make, quietly among
themselves, this investigation, pointing out to them who it
would be proper, in his opinion, to examine. In writing
that letter he wished to be just ; but as they had not thought
proper to adopt this plan he was compelled to bring forward
this motion.
Mr. SANDS expressed his belief that such a letter had not
been received by the Education Committee.
Mr. A. SMITH said, the letter was upon the file of the
Education Committee.
Mr. HODGSON described the letter.
Mr. MoLYNEUX stated, that it was in the Clerk of the
Committee's office.
Mr. YATES said, this was the letter he meant.
Mr. LLOYD asked whether this letter had been before the
Council.

Mr. BIRKETT.—Yes ; six weeks ago.
Mr. YATES then proceeded to detail the evidence, on
which he relied for proof of the accusations implied in his
motion. These were, first, the letter of Mr. Stone, touching
the attendance of the apprentices, whether they were Roman
Catholics or not, and Mr. Taafe's letters and communications
on the subject of Mr. Stone's conduct, both as regarded the
exaction of certain rules, in respect to the Catholic appren-
tices and children, and his own attendance. He concluded
by moving (instead of the first motion as above) " That a
special committee be appointed to inquire whether Mr. Stone
did or did not order the children of the Roman Catholics or
Dissenters, in the Corporation Schools, to learn or teach the
church catechism, or to go to church ; and, if he be found to
have done so, to inquire further whether he was instructed
by any person or persons to do so; and also to inquire
whether he has or has not neglected his duty by attending
the North School, in particular, very irregularly—and that
the evidence taken be laid before the Council."
Mr. BRIGHT seconded the motion.
Mr. Alderman Nzcot. said, Mr. Yates had asked for a
special committee to inquire into those matters which he
had opened. He (Mr. Nicol) was sure that no gentleman
ho had heard Mr. Yates' speech but must be aware that
a 1 those matters, or nearly all, had been before the council
er and over again. He abstained from entering on the
nserits of the question, because the council had already de-
e'.!ed repeatedly that it would not entertain proposals ad-
.a.se to the proceedings of the Education Committee. The
council had over and over again confirmed the acts of that
committee; therefore it was a complete waste of time to
discuss those matters which Mr. Yates had charged upon
it. He therefore begged to move as an amendment—" That
the council having repeatedly approved of the proceedings of
the present Education Committee, it be resolved that any
proceedings on the subject proposed by Mr. Yates are un-
called for and unnecessary."
Mr. A. SMITH, jun., seconded the amendment. He had
had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Yates for many years, and
he knew the kindness of his disposition ; and therefore he
regretted to find, that, in lecturing the council upon its want
of Christian sympathy, charity, and forbearance, he should
have lent himself to carry on a persecution—for he could
call it nothing else—against Mr. Stone. Mr. Stone had
been recommended to the Education Committee by Mr.
M`Neile, and he (Mr. Smith) believed that that circumstance
was the cause of all the storm raised against Mr. Stone.
Indeed it had been avowed by one member of council, that
he would offer to all the proceedings of the Education Com-
mittee all the opposition in his power. Now he (Mr. Smith)
could not see what good would result from Mr. Yates's mo-
tion. Mr. Smith then went through the charges against
Mr. Stone, and stated that there was no foundation for
them. He concluded by stating, that the rule in the corpo-
ration schools was, that all the children were to read the
Bible, and those who did not object to it were taught the
Church Catechism. He seconded the amendment.
Mr. BOLTON said Mr. Yates had made distinct charges,
and they ought to be inquired into. In the first place, he
stated that he had sent a letter to the Education Committee,
and had not received any reply to it.
Mr. SMITH said, reply was given openly in the Council.
Mr. BOLTON, in continuation, said, Mr. Yates stated that
the Dissenters and Roman Catholics were taught the church
catechism forcibly.
Mr. SANDS.—And we say they have not.
Mr. BOLTON.—Mr. Yates says they have; therefore there
is a necessity for having a committee to ascertain the truth.
He believed Mr. Yates would not have made the assertion
unless he had got good grounds for it.