The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-26

prevail The standard books among the poor
woul,, not encourage Justification, but the coutra
ry Seditious pamphlets would sometimes get
among the poor but they would meet with
hrmer body of opinion than they do now /; and
the common average books would be of a very
different description. What is read by the elias
ses immediately above the poor, is neither trea-
son nor imprety. With them, the notions in or
binary circulation, about government and rcliri-
on, though trite, are, in general, useful Just and
respectable. In the Torment of political opinion.
through which we have recently passed, the
Scotch, and the people of London and Westmin-
ster, were not endangered by their education.
ror the Irish protected by their ignorance. The
English, rank for rank, are governed with great
er justice, and live with greater happiness, than
any other people in the world. If this is as true
rs we believe 1t to be, why will not such n wei.
come and important truth be at length tiifused bv
the diffusion acknowledge What is the dread
Iul secret the poor are to find oct, when they
have learned to read and write : We have of
ten seen guzzling. semi incl riatcd country gen
tiemen, nod and wink with very pregnant wis.
dom, when the education of the poor was men
toned.
We bear them no malice for their stupid pre-
JndIces, but wish on the contrary. with the ut
most sincerity, that the accomplishments ofrea-
ding, writing, and cyphering, were more general.
y difiused among these gentlemen; and that
they Were taught, by enjoying these blessings
Tiers.
There are now, perhaps, one million more of
persons who can read and write, than there were
before the revolution. Has this increase of
knowledge produced any increase of disafiecti-
on III ignorance is useful to n state, to what de-
gree rs 1t useful Or, where has the argument
any limit?
The expense of education is not to be mention.
ed. boy learns reading, writing & accounts for
fourteen shilimgs, who would in hedge. breaking,
or picking pockets, cost the country double the
money in the same time
The investigation might be pushed on to a
great length. These are few Of the principaI
advantages which appear to us to result from e.
ducation from which we do not expect mira
cles, or believe that it would put an end to yner
deity, and render the executioner's place a 81.
mcclure But we do most firmly believe, that il
may he made the means of rescu;ng thousands of
human beings from vice and misery of teacbipo,
the blessings of rational religion, of improving
the character, and INCREASING the happiness Of
the lower orders of mankind. And for tbese
reasons, the cause of education shall never want
cur feeble aid, nor the friends oft our good word
from the poor quaker, whose system we have
described, to the king who has conducted him
self towards this deserving man with so much
goodness and feeling and for which thousands
OF ragged children will pray for him and remem
Der HIM, long after his majesty is forgotten by
very lord OF the chamber, and by every clerk of
the closet.
Thus much for education itself The manner
OF introducing 1t INTO, and encouraging it in
country, are totally separate questions How
TAR 1t may be eNpedient TO provide nationally for
the education OF the poor against the preiuiices
OF the upper classes, and without any cordial
wish to that purpose on the part ofthe poor them
selves, is doubtful, if it be possible. At all e.
vents, we must express our most sincere regret.
that the late plan was ever connected with so
many doubtful and so many complicated mea
sures ; and that its worthy author appeared to
be so moderately informed on the general ssb
Ject of the poor, and so little aware of the now.
eriul preJudces which exist against their instruc.
uon for ignorant we must conceive him to have
neen upon this point, if he supposed it possible
10 force down so extensive plan of education
over the whole community
In the year 1877, Dr. Bell, clergyman of the
church OF England, published an account of an
institution for educating at Madras, to which Mr.
Lancaster IS certainly indebted for some very ma
serlai parts OF his improvements--as, in the early
eitlons OF his book, he very honestly and plainly
owned hmsclf1o be. TO this valuable informant
on, received from DR.. Bell, Mr.. Lancaster has
made important additions of his own quite o.
hough to entitie him to very high character for
originality and invention.
we sincerely hope DR.. Bell will not attribute
to us the most distant intention of depreciatine
ms labors, when we say that he has bv ne
means taught Mr.. Lancaster all, though he has
taught him much. We are so far from yyishino
to uhdervaue the iabors of Dir. Bell that il riyes
us great pleasure to express our warmest admi
ration at what he has done for educat;on He rs
unquesuonably the beginner i'm an art which we
trust will be carried 10 still greater perfection
and we hope he will reap from his present pat
ron those rewards for which he never could have
looked, to which he is eminently entitled. and
which, II ever they are bestowed, will honor the
giver as well as the receiver
Ii has pleased the present arcbbshs, of Can
terbury to establish large school, for the insruc-
ton OF the poor of the established church, under
the care OF DIR. Bell. If the thing is done at all
III the education of the poor goes on-we are
content We only interfered in the cause to say.
educa !0n is great good and to shelter from
caiumhy a frlendless man, who sat himself dawn
(lke drop of healing oil in an ulcer) in the
worat parts OF tire metropolis to difiuse the word
OF Cod, and the rudiments of knowledge among
the lowest of mankind. If, in so doing we have
oeeh compelled to treat with severity a ladv of
real piety and OF estnabe character let that lady
remember, that had we found her in her own
proper department of an nstructress of youth
WINCH she has so long and so respectfully filed
we could not but have mentioned her with Gre
DIT, II 1t had fallen within the plan of our work
10 mention her at all. But we found her actino
the part OF Judge and critic, and, above ALL Of
aFetgionS dccnser-a part never to be taken I'D
Out with extreme reluctance, and exposing him.
ana still more her who assumes it. TO the most sc
we're responsibility part which, of late wears
mas been played SO often, and paid so we'll that
IL Is not respectable even in the hands of so no.
nest ana conscientious person as Mrs Trim
mer. I'M
We have been little alarmed bv observno.
that Dr. Bell, after all he has wrote and done
calls question the. r,rnrr;at,, ,C a.,