The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-02-24 00:00:00

MR. BROUGHAM'S EDUCATIONAL BILL.

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As various meetings of Dissenters appear to have
been held for taking into consideration the operation of
)it. Brougham's Educational Bill against the Dissenting
interest, it may be proper to present a brief statement
of the objections to it which many of the Dissenter
I"ave expressed. The leading feature of the bill, they
lege, is the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under which
the schools are to be placed, a jarisdittion irresponsible
and uncontrolled. Is there, they ask, no reason to ap-
prehend that such a power lodged in such hands, may
he too often exercised in a way, humiliating, vexatious,
owl oppressive to Dissenting parents and their children ?
Tisere are strong objections to confiding a discretionary
power of this nature to religious teachers, whether ix or
era of the Establishment, because, from a common fed-
i-, of human nature, they are apt to be biassed against
those who reject their distinctive doctrines and decline
attendance upon their ministrations. It is a temptation
to intolerance and partiality, which perhaps a few, of
iperior minds, might have the magnanimity to sur-
reount, but, in all probability, its influence would be far
too general; and it is matter of astonishment that in a
crmenre, comprehending so many important interests,
Air. Brougham should ever think of entrusting a
power. the abase of which would cramp, if not totally
obstruct its beneficial operation, to an order of men, of
whose prejudices as a body, he has had no little cause to
complain.
As uncontrolled Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction is the lead-
ing feature of the Bill, so it will be seen pervading
every clause to which it is at all applicable. For in-
stance, having provided that no Dissenter shall be eligi-
hia as a shoot-master (au exclusion invidious in itself and
possibly also injurious to the school, since for the pur-
pose of general education, a dissenter may, of all the
candidates, he the best qualified for the office) it vests
the choice of a master in the parishioners or those who
are' to remunerate his services. 'l'o this part of the
clause no reasonable objection could be made—but un-
fortunately the power here given is immediately nullified
by being subjected tothe veto of the resident officiating
minister. He can, without assigning his reasons, re-
ject the person so chosen and compel them to another
election. Thus in fact the choice rests solely with him.
It is remarkable that Mr. Brougham, in commenting
ripen this clause, congratulated himself upon its wis-
dom in preventing a canvas for the office and precluding
the majority from electing an improper person. A
blow at popnlar rights from such a quarter was cer-
tainly not expected ; and it might have been as well
perhaps and to the full as consistent, had the clause left
the choice with the people, nnincumbered with a clerical
veto, and provided against the no less probable danger
of an improper person being forced by the minister upon
the majority or those who are most interested in the
qualifications of the master.
In the same spirit of concession to clerical influence,
the officiating minister of the place, where a school is
established, has the power of fixing the sum to be paid
ter instruction and recommending or naming those who
are to be taught gratuitously. The Bill indeed says this
must be done with the advice of the churchwardens ; but
should their advice be in opposition to his wishes, the
x:1-powerful veto again leaves the decision finally with
tWis Minister. It has bees pertinently asked, what is
this but giving him the power of sliming a preference
for his own dependents and favorites, and, in reality,
of providing an education, free of expense, for the chit-
tiren of poor Churchmen, and withholding it from the
children of poor Dissenters? It is no sufficient answer
to say, that the power may not he thus partially ever-
because a power so liable to abuse ought not to
be given. Many of the Clergy, it will be granted, would
disdain such glaring partiality : but others, it is certain
svould find little difficulty in reconciling it to their con-
sciences ; and it is neither wise nor just in the Legisla-
ture, out of compliment to the former, to leave Dissen-
ters to the mercy of the latter.
n other parts cf the Bill, after assigning to the Mi-
rieter the selection of those parts of Scripture, and other
books of religious instruction, which shall be read in the
school, there is an appearance of liberality in permitting
the Dissenters to withdraw their children from such
religious instructions as they may conscientiously dis-
approve, and, on the Lord's day to conduct them to their
owls places of worship; but with a Minister of the
Establishment, as visitor and superintenilant of the
school, and with a master of the same religion, it was
perhaps felt that the privilege might not be often claimed.
Poor Dissenters would be afraid of offending those upon
whom depended the instruction of their children—inter-
est would be opposed to a sense of ditty. and, in many
instances, the result would be a sacrifice of principle.
Should, however, a sense of duty prevail over every
other consideration, many are the hardships they might
have to endure—the sneers of the less scrupulous
amongst those of their own class—the neglect and the
contempt of the rich, and the displeasure of all who
snake no allowance for a conscientious adherence to re-
ligious convictions. These, again, might operate to
weir disadvantage' n various ways—they might occasion
the loss of employment—intercept the oblations of chari tv
--and even exclude them from that relief to which the poo'r
have a legal title. Such consequences are not imaginary
-.they have been known and felt. The recognition
of religious liberty, therefore, which appears in the
elempuons to this clause, will be of little service to the
Llissenter t thns circumstanced, he will be surrounded
with two many discouragemeuts to be forward in avail-
ing himself of them, and feel himself too poor to
hate a conscience."

Sir Matthew Bloimm's determination to re.ign.bis
gown, as Alderman of Bridge Ward, will be pre-
-3,1)&4 to the Court of Alderman on the 6th of next
month.

Thursday the dispatches for Bombay, by the ship
Kent, Certain H. Cobb, were closed at the East India
Ouse, and delivered to the purser of that ship.
New YORK, JAN.
. 16.—Our risers are now nearly
cleared of ice, ape the numerous vessels ready for sea
otobahly aali this nsurninc. Nothing material
°scuttled in either Houses of Congress on Thursday
last. In the Neese of Representatives it was re-
solved, that adassinittee be appointed to enqnire into
Om expedient! jai revising the law regulating. the
, rencyof Keg coins of ()teat Britain, France, Pot-
and Spain, and French crowns.

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