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Untitled Article
thorough reformation . Yet so powerful is the influence of education , that in the county of Lancaster there took place last year 448 commitments less than in the preceding year . The mention of a few facts—facts drawn from authentic documents—will serve to shew that every effort should be made not to diminish , but to augment , the actual amount of education . In Scotland , the average of those
who are able to read is about the highest in the world , being one in nine . Yet , in this country , we must remember there is another language , and the average in our Highlands and Islands is but as one to sixteen or seventeen . Remarks of a similar character might be made in reference to Wales ; and in England not more than one-half of those who require gratuitous instruction are actually in the possession of it . But the condition of Ireland chiefly solicits our attention . By the majority it has , we fear , been forgotten , that
there is in Ireland a part of the population , amounting to three millions of people , who speak the Irish language , and for whose enlightenment scarcely any thing has been done . The Irish Bible complete , has only just left the press . No provision has been made for preaching to this vast population in their native language , and the few who know any thing of the Bible owe it
to persons here and there engaged in reading the Scriptures to this much neglected people . True , there are Irish schools ; but only for about one soul in two hundred , or fifteen thousand out of a population of more than three millions . Of children from five to fifteen years of age , there are , it has been calculated , in the whole of Ireland , 1 , 300 , 000 destitute of education .
The prevalence of such deplorable ignorance is owing to no inaptitude of nature , but to untowardness of circumstances . The native Irish are as eager to acquire the means of knowledge as they are prompt to learn . Children have been known to acquire the first elements of reading , writing , and arithmetic , without a book , without a pen , and without a slate , the place of instruction being no other than a grave-yard . The long flat stones with
their inscriptions were used instead of books , while a bit of chalk and the grave-stones together served for all the rest . Evening scholars might be mentioned who endeavoured to go on by the help of moonlight , for want of a candle ; and men and women have acquired the ability to read in so short a period , that until the facts of the case are examined , the statement might seem incredible ; and of the native Irish pupils at this moment , by far the largest proportion consists of men and women , many of whom have arrived
at mature age . The Reviewer , towards the termination of his remarks , uses language which , more than any thing yet adduced , justifies the expectation we have expressed , that the times of Reformation are at hand . ** If we are to keep our place , it is indispensably necessary that every incumbrance should be removed which clogs the activity and energy of individuals and the government . Every part of the machine of society must be adapted to the increased exertion it is called upon to make . If this be so , every branch of our
public and private economy , the administration of the affairs of parishes arid counties , the state of charities , corporations , public schools , colleges , the law , the church , and the whole management of our foreign dependencies , must necessarily submit to examination and amendment . Wealthy as the country is , and attached to ancient institutions as it has always wisely been , it can no longer support the burden of plans or p roceedings which can be simplified or dispensed with . It is utterly impossible that every thing established by our ancestors should remain for ever untouched either in form or substance . ' * " A variety of concurring circumstances seems to shew that formi-
Untitled Article
The Watchman . 389
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1829, page 389, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2573/page/21/
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