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    and that it is better to give men education than keep them without it . "If there is a cause for apprehension in regard to education at the present day , it is rather that we may perhaps be laying too much stress upon what may be called the purely utilitarian and material part of education . I . dp not mean to deny that every invention and every discovery by which a man increases the power of mankind over mature , is a great result not only to the individual but to the

    world , but the number of such discoveries is comparatively small , and to each man , I believe , the great end of education should be , not the vague and uncertain prospect of obtaining future results for the world at large , but that certain . reward which he himself will reap , in the increase of the intellectual powers , and consequently the augmentation of happiness . I don't believe that any man has ever obtained great results in literature or in science who did not love literature and science for their own sakes .

    ( Applause . ) I believe it has occasionally been urged against institutions like the present , that those who promote them attach , in the scheme of life , too great and exorbitant a value to these as compared with other matters . I think we must all feel that to any man knowledge cannot be everything ; that knowledge is power , but that power may be dangerous . Knowledge brings responsibility ; and for him who errs with the power conferred by knov ? ledge it liad been better that he had remained in ignorance . But

    these results are not in our hands , and all that wo say is this—that the desire for knowledge is natural to man —that it is one of the strongest instincts implanted in him by the Author of his being ; and that , being so , it is an impulse which he is bound to follow , and that we are bound , so far as in . our power lies , to aid him in following it . That is the object we propose to ourselves , —to remove out of the path of the student , especially the poor student , all those material obstacles which would encumber and retard his

    progress . The results must be left to the efforts of the individual himself , and you may be content to leave them contentedly and cheerfully in the hands of an overruling Providence . ( Loud applause . )" The Rev . Mr . Thorburn then read a report , giving a history of the origin of the institution . The site of the present building had been gratuitously granted them by the late Earl of Derby , who had enhanced the gift by a donation of 100 guineas . Might such liberality ever distingush that illustrious house , and bring down upon it , to the latest posterity , the compensations of Providence and the benedictions of society . The building hail been erected at a cost of 48751 ., and this had been met by subscriptions up to 4481 Z . leaving a balance due to the treasury of about 3932 ., which it was hoped would soon be supplied by further public contributions .

    The Bishop of Manchester liere rose , and observed that , while he did not wish to depart in the slightest degree from acknowledging the liberality of the house of Derby , and was perfectly willing to hope and pray that the blessings of Providence might rest upon them , he could never consent to adopt the form that the " compensations" of Providence may do so ; and he trusted , therefore , that he might not be called upon to move an amendment to substitute the word '' blessings" for " compensations . " The Rev . Mr . Thorburn said , as far as he was concerned , the alteration might be made at once ; he believed the word '' compensations" had simply been adopted from Rome of Bishop Butler ' s arrangements .

    The Bishop of Manchester , Dr . Vaughan , Mr . Cheetham , M . P ., and others , also addressed the company . The building hag been erected at a cost of 5000 / . ; of that , nearly 1200 Z . was subscribed by twelve persons , and a little Iosr than one-half the whole was furnished in sums exceeding SSL

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    "MR WASHINGTON . " In the New York correspondence of the Times this week occurred the following paragraph : — " Sovoro strictures liavo been passed upon Mr . Thackeray for Haying , in speaking of a certain evont thai , occurred , 'When Mr . Washington was hoading the American rebels with a courage , it must bo confessed , worthy of a better cause . ' It was hoped that a man of so much perception and sagacity as Mr . Thackeray Ivas had credit for , would have avoided any of thoso ofleiiBivo flings which have too often appeared in the works of foroign writers when speaking of tho Unitod States . That single paBsago lost Mr . Th mends in Amorica

    ackeray a great many , and they wore friends who admired his genius , but . who lovo thoir country a groat deal botlior than him , or any other writer . Nor in it supposed that Ruch expressions fall gratefully upon tho mrs of intelligent Knglislunen . Those things may noem very trivial to tin author who writes voliuninouHly , but no lHugliBumiuv who is looking for lasting fame among the An ^ lo Saxon race , nhould forget , | , hat , already tlie majority of liis readers an ; found on linn side of tho ' Atlantic '; mid writers who have their eye fixed upon the future should , nbovi . ' nil others , ivmeinlter that , in a humane ami an enlightened age like this , nny disrespectful or malignant word dropped against an entire iintii . iu will ' ret urn to plague its inventor . ' "

    11 in not Htrnuge that tho Nnw York eomjHpondent of t . ho T ' nm'a nhowld nee an " olfensive flint * - " in then * : wordn . Jin generally mien tiling that do not exist . Mr . Thackeray liriH , however , condescended to notice , tho absurd interpretation put upon the p ; inn : iyo alluded toin tho following letter to the Thui'it : ¦ - "ttru , Allow mo a word of explanation in answer to u strange charge wliieh Jiiim Iteen brought against , me in the United States , and whieli your New York correspondent ; him made public in this country . "in the lira ) , mimbcrof < i periodical wlory whieh I . urn now

    publishing , appears a sentence , in which I should never have thought of finding any harm until it had been discovered by some critics over the water . The fatal words are these : — " ' When pigtails grew on the backs of the British gentry , and their wives wore cushions on their heads , over which they tied then * own hair , and disguised it with powder and pomatum ; when Ministers went in , their stars and orders to the House of Commons , and the orators of the Opposition attacked nightly the noble lord in the blue riband ; when Mr . Washington was heading the American rebels with a courage , it must be confessed , worthy of a better cause—there came to London , out of a northern country , Mr ., ' &c . " This paragraph has been interpreted in America as an insult to Washington and the whole Union ; and , from the sadness and gravity with which your correspondent quotes certain of my words , it is evident he , too , thinks they have an insolent and malicious meaning .

    " Having published the American critic ' comment , permit the author of a faulty sentence to say what he did mean , and to add the obvious moral of the apologue which has been so oddly construed . I am speaking of a young apprentice coming up to London between the years 1770-80 , and want to depict a few figures of the last century . ( The illustrated head-letter of the chapter was intended to represent Hogarth ' s industrious apprentice . ) I fancy the old society with its hoops and powder—Barre or Fox thundering at Lord North asleep on the Treasury-bench—the news readers at the coffee-room talking over the paper , and owning that this Mr . Washington , who was leading the rebels , was a very courageous soldier , and worthy of a better cause than fighting against King George . The images |

    are at least natural and pretty consecutive . 1776—the people in London in ' 76—the Lords and House of Commons in ' 76—Lord North—Washington—what the people thought about Washington—I am thinking about ' 76 . Where , in the name of common sense , is the insult to 1853 ? The satire , if satire there be , applies to us at home , who called Washington ' Mr . Washington ; ' as we called Frederick the Great ' the Protestant Hero / or Napoleon ' the Corsican tyrant , ' ' General Bonaparte . ' Need I say that our officers were instructed ( until they were taught better manners ) to call Washington ' Mr . Washington ?' and that the Americans were called rebels during the whole of that contest ? Rebels!—of course they were rebels ; and I should like to know what native American would not have been a rebel in that cause ? " As irony is dangerous , and has hurt the feelings of kind friends whom I would not wish to offend , let me say , in perfect faith and gravity , that I think the cause for which Washington fought entirely just and right , and the champion the very noblest , purest , bravest , best of God ' s men . " I am , sir , your very faithful servant , " W . M . Thackeray . " Athenjeum , Nov . 22 . "

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    CORPORATION REFORM . In his evidence on Tuesday before the Commission , Mr . Bennoch went through the accounts . I have gone over the corporation accounts with great care , and I think it right to say I have not discovered any instance of malversation or peculation on the part of any member of the corporation . The expense of administering the affairs of the corporation id , however , reckless and extravagant to a degree . The whole income of the corporation in 1852 , as shown by the blue book , is close to 400 , 0002 ., and the expenses of administering the fund is 107 , 8742 ., which includes salaries , 38 , 072 / . ; le g al ditto , 14 , 7002 . ; law costs , 4000 ? . ; pensions to retired officers , & , c , 3 t > 442 . ; pensions to relations of Aldermen , 5802 . ; Parliamentary expenses , 14 G 72 . ; committees , 29002 . ; expenses by doorkeeper , 40002 . ; &c . The result of tho whole appears to be that the corporation paya 107 , 8742 . for administering the balance of 255 , 327 / . The disbursements l ) y the hall-keeper include a sum of 133 ? . for cloth supplied to her Majesty ' s Ministers , 1261 . for writing and emblazoning a vote of thanks to Alderman Sidney , a further sum of 2622 . for emblazoning an address presented to tho city of Paris , and various other very largo sums for ap . parently small services . I have prepared an account , showing in detail tho varioua heads of expenditure and the sources of income . I find in the account a sum of 10 , 0002 . for lodging-houses for the labouring poor in Finsbury ; but tho foundations of the buildings have not yet been laid . Tho money , I suppose , is roaorved for tho

    purpose . Mr . Labouchere . —Has tho City expended anything in baths and waeli-housos ? Mr . Bennoeh . —Not a penny , except an occasional subsoription of 502 . to institutions of tho kind in the neighbourhood of tho City . Mr . Labouehero . —Have they taken any moons to improve the dwellings of tho poor ? Mr . JJennoah . — By no moans ; and in casea wlioro they have pulled down tho houses of tho poor to inako new slreelH , they have dono nothing to supply them with better dwellings . Mr . Bennoch advocaton n , ^ reat reduction of HalarieH and oiliee . M , and on thin head , aluo , his evidence in valuable .

    " 1 havo got a Ht . nt , emu » t showing 1 ho population , niiinl ) cr ol houses , and municipal charges of London , Liverpool , Manchester , Kdinlnirgh , and ( Glasgow , and I have eoinparrd them , will * a view of whoring the relative positions ot all towards each oilior . 1 find that , the City ot Komlon Uixh n nwidont , population <>< ' 127 , 000 persons ; rV ^' . T ,, "' ' Atk } > > i M ' anH ««> Hlor of 31 ( t , 2 l ; i ; Kdinburgh "V . " ( l (; i " * K <» w of ; i 2 l ) , O !) 7 . Tho iiL'tjroKiUo ot M . ilanes tor u . mlo ^ . ns „« . ; ,.,, „ in jjOIM | ou ; H ;} 1 , 7 H $ 7 . ; in . Liverpool , 5 ) 8 ( 1 ,- , / . ; j n MuneheHter , r > 7717 . ; Kdinlmrgli , I 7 HW . ; and lor ( Jlasfrow , i <) 7 r , / . , ( ill (| ( hu ( , , | , ( . „* ,, „„„< , „ of Hiilanes n . London , taken in proportion with the population oi Liverpool , should be ; K ) f > 17 . ; with tho population

    of Manchester , 2335 Z . ; with the population of Edinburgh 14282 . ; and with the population of Glasgow , 4182 . The aggregate expenditure of tho corporation in connexio n with their offices exceeds that of the whole Federal Government of the United States . " But the most striking part of his evidence is an original scheme for the government of Xondon by municipalities . It has already attracted a good deal of notice , and we append it in full . " scheme . " 1 , That tho representative system be maintained in its full integrity . " 2 . That the metropolis be divided into nine municipalities . " 3 . That each municipality be divided into wards . " 4 . That each ward have one alderman and six councillors . " Taking the City of London as an example , which contains : — Houses . Males ; Females . T ° tal Within the walls ... 7174 ... 26 , 550 ... 28 , 152 ... 54 ^ 702 Without , the-walls , "" ! including Inner Temple , Middle do . ££ S £ d £ 7406 - * W - W *> ... 75 , 167 Clifford ' s do . Thavies' do . part of . Furnival ' s do . 14 , 580 62 , 697 65 , 172 127 , 869 The number of persons rated at and above 102 . ig 16 , 761 , Which , when divided into twelve wards , gives an average of nearly 1400 constituents in each ward ; these would return 12 aldermen and 72 councillors—in all , 84 representatives . Although about 130 , 000 appears to be the number of inhabitants who reside in the City of London , it is estimated that , during the day , at least 250 , 000 more pursue their avocations within its limits ; it is therefore clear that the larger portion of its population is contributed by the surrounding districts ; thus , it differs from all others , and cannot , in this respect , be taken as an example . In this scheme 300 , 000 is taken as the average of the City . " 5 . The municipalities into which it is proposed to divide the metropolis are : —1 . City Proper ; 2 . Tower Hamlets ; 3 . Finsbury ; 4 . Marylebone ; 5 . Westminster ; 6 . Kensington ; 7 . Lambeth ; 8 . South wark ; 9 . Greenwich and Deptford . " 6 . Each municipality to have 12 wards , 12 aldermen ,, and 72 councillors , as proposed for the City Proper . " 7 . All councillors to be elected on the same day ; onethird to retire annually , but qualified for re-election . " 8 . All aldermen to be elected on the same day ; onethird to retire triennially , but qualified for re-election . " 9 . That the aldermen and councillors be elected by theregistered ratepayers . " 10 . That the mayor be elected annually by the Aldermen and councillors , and have an hllowance of 5002 . per ' annum . " 11 . That each municipality appoint four aldermen and 12 councillors to form a central council , which would thus : consist of 144 members , viz ., 36 aldermen and 108 councillors . " 12 . That each municipality in rotation have the right of nominating the Lord Mayor , and that he be elected by the whole constituency of his municipality , but not neceasarily from the body of aldermen . " 13 . That the Lord Mayor preside over all meetings of tho central council , and reside at tho Mansion-house , witlian allowance of 50002 . per annum . " 14 . That each municipality in rotation have the rightf of nominating the Sheriff of London ; that he be elected by the whole constituency of his municipality , have an allowance of 10 O 02 . per annum , and be ex ojficio a member of tho central council . " 15 . That tho Sheriff of Middlesex be nominated by tho Crown ; the two sheriffs to have tho earo of prisoners , &c .,. as at present . " 16 . That should any municipality decline to nominato or elect tho Lord Mayor or Sheriff , the right shall fall totho next municipality in rotation on tho fist ; such Matin the first instance to be determined by lot . " 17 . That tho central council have tho general management of all lighting and police , water and sewers , river und bridges , improvements and Btroets , finance , rates , and rents , general purposes , education and charities , under tho immediate superintendence of committees , which mig ht boar names analogous to the duties to bo performed . " 18 . That each municipality carry out tho various works to bo executed within its own limits which mayhavoreceived the sanction of the central council . " 19 . That for tho more perfect sanitary condition of tho metropoli s the whole dintrict of London , within a radius ot ten mdea i'rom St . Paul ' s , bo survived , and no streets bo laid out or houses built unless approved of by tho central council , and certified by the surveyor ns capable ol being thoroughly drained . " tiO . Tlmt , the construction of all bridges or steam f « rn » 'Kacross the Tluunes be under the control of the river ami bridge committee of Uw central couueil , and paid for by a general rate ; all bridges to be free , but on all l ' errie .-ia to " be charged , just suflidont to defray « x | iejiHf > H and ensure their proper maintenance . " 21 . That , all pernoiiH occupy ing premises and p « y » ' £ rates have tho rifjf lit ; of voting , and none other . . . " 22 . That , the expenses of the loeid eouiicil or ihii » h' »" polity be rained by a rato levied on the inhabitants ot !•«• own district . , ' ' 2 : » . That ; the expenses of the central council , im < l Miw cost , of nil works of a general nature executed Um > n tf' / ' ¦' be met by a general ralo levied on iho inhabitants ol til * tin 1 municiixilitjeH .

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    1134 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 26, 1853, page 1134, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2014/page/6/