are engaged in the prosecution of a worthy end, by just and wise means, difficulties and obstacles disappear as we proceed; and the phantoms, not to call them bugbears, of ignorance and error melt away before the light of truth." This is a principle of which the philanthropist should never lose sight. The effects of perseverance in a good cause are proved by very remarkable instances. Every step which is made in the diffusion of knowledge paves the way for improvement; and "the bugbears of ignorance and error," the prejudices by which improvement is opposed, gradually cease to be cherished," and lose ground upon every attack.

66

Proceedings of the Glasgow Lancasterian Schools Society, at a Meeting held on the 31st of January 1814; with Illustrations and Remarks. Dedicated to the Lord Provost of Glasgow. By JOSEPH FOX, Secretary of the Institution for promoting the British System for the Education of the labouring and manufacturing Classes of every religious Persuasion.

THIS

HIS publication contains a detail of proceedings so interesting, that, though it pressed upon the day of our publication, and our pages were already provided for when it reached our hands, we cannot forbear making room for a short account of its occasion and contents.

The accidental presence of Mr. Fox in Scotland, on a business of a different import, suggested itself to the friends of education in that country, as a favourable opportunity for making fresh exertions to animate the cause. The name of that gentleman is well entitled to operate as a signal in the great work of extending instruction to the uninstructed; and we cannot but envy the feelings he must have experienced in finding his exertions so well prized, and so well seconded, by such men as those who have taken up the subject in Scotland."

"At a numerous and respectable Meeting of Gentlemen, held on the 31st January, in the Ball-Room of the Black Bull Inn, Glasgow,

KIRKMAN FINLAY, Esq. M.P. Lord Provost of the City, was called to the Chair.

"The Chairman having requested Mr. R. Wardlaw, one of the Secretaries of the Glasgow Lancasterian Schools Society, to state the purpose for which the meeting had been convened, Mr. Ward

law referred his Lordship and the gentlemen present to Mr. Joseph Fox, Secretary to the Institution in London for promoting the British System of Education. The meeting, Mr. Wardlaw stated, originated in a desire expressed by Mr. Fox, to have an opportunity, while in town, of conferring with the gentlemen of the Lancasterian Society, and others friendly to the education of the children of the poor, with a view to obtain their judgement on certain propositions connected with the more effectual advancement of this object in Scotland; and Mr. Fox, with his Lordship's permission, would now speak for himself."

Mr. Fox, being thus called upon, addressed the meeting; and while he congratulated them upon the exertions which they had made, and pointed out the mistakes they had committed, which, having impeded the prosperity of the work, had damped considerably the ardour of its supporters, he presented to their view the means of securing success, which were placed in their hands; and by a warm appeal to the importance of the object, and to the philanthropy of his hearers, endeavoured to animate them to still higher exertions. It appears that his exhortations were addressed to congenial minds; and that there is no danger of the intellects and morals, and along with these the usefulness and felicity, of the more numerous orders of our countrymen being abandoned to accident and ruin in the great city and district of Glasgow.

The following passage of the speech of Mr. Fox contains the account of the principal object which he endeavoured to effect for improving the state of the system in Scotland.

"Whilst I was detained in Edinburgh I took the opportunity of visiting the Lancasterian Schools, and several of the directors of the society by which those schools are supported. It was with great satisfaction I found those gentlemen most zealously affected to the cause of general instruction, and particularly desirous to keep their schools on the best possible footing. To this end, they requested me to leave for their guidance any suggestions which might occur to me. In regard to the schools themselves I had nothing to offer they are in an excellent state of discipline. But, as I have ever felt anxious that the Lancasterian Schools should be open to the most neglected class of the community, I conceived it to be my duty to recommend a particular attention to the state of education amongst the poor.

"Some of the gentlemen with whom I conversed, expressed strong desires to have the British system introduced into other places, and were anxious to be informed concerning the best mode of proceeding. To accomplish this, I remarked that two things were requisite; the adaptation of the school-room to the plan of instruction, and the training of the schoolmaster in the practice of the system. Here difficulties presented themselves: first, the schoolmasters could

not leave their present charge to come to Edinburgh to be instructed; and, secondly, they were in want of information as to the proper mode of arranging the desks, &c. in fitting up the schools. To ob viate these difficulties, and attain the object desired, it appeared to me only necessary that the society should have an officer to act as superintendent of schools;-not to be a local master of any school, but to be employed in inspecting and improving the discipline of the schools already formed, and be otherwise employed in the training of schoolmasters, and fitting up of school-rooms.-He might discharge many of these duties on the spot where the introduction of the system should be wanted. Thus, while observing the progress of the mechanical arrangements, and the organization of the scholars, the actual schoolmaster could be trained in his own school; and, as every change would be effected under his own eye, he would be made master of the theory and practice of the system in a better way than by any other method.

The proposition for making this office, if a person competent to the task could be found, met with general approbation. And as the operations of such a superintendent would be applicable to Scotland generally, it became a measure of expediency that the Lancasterian Society in Glasgow should be consulted, in order that, by an union of design, the plan should be more completely carried into effect. A day having been appointed for the meeting of the Edinburgh Lancasterian School Society, and, in the interim, having occasion to visit Glasgow, I judged that I had an excellent opportunity of taking the sense of the society here on this proposition In consequence, I took the liberty of requesting Mr. Wardlaw, one of your secretaries, to convene a meeting; which having received the assent of one of your vice-presidents, Mr. Newbiggin, I appear before you now, in order to take your opinion on certain measures, calculated, I hope, to establish and promote in this country a sy stem of instruction, which only requires to be examined and understood, in order to insure its universal adoption."

Numerous are the points in the speech, as well as in the notes by which it is illustrated, which we should have desired to offer to the notice of our readers. But this our limits prevent; and we pass immediately to what is of greatest importance, the resolutions which, upon the conclusion of his speech, the respectable assembly whom he addressed immediately and unanimously passed.

"I. That in common with the friends of the British System of Education residing in Edinburgh, this Meeting is of opinion, that every exertion should be made to increase the utility of the Lancasterian Schools established in this city, and render them fully applicable to the necessities of the poor and labouring classes of the community.

"II. That the Committee of the Glasgow Lancasterian Schools

Society be requested to take prompt measures for the improvement of the funds of the society, and also to make such inquiries throughout Glasgow and its vicinity, as shall serve most effectually to discover the number of children that are still in want of education.

"III. That it appears to this Meeting, that the Lancasterian System of Education would be greatly promoted in Scotland, by the appointment of an officer, whose duty should be, to train schoolmasters, to organize new schools, and to act generally as an inspector of schools already established;-and that, with this view, the Edinburgh Lancasterian Schools Society is hereby invited to unite with the Society in Glasgow, in providing the requisite salary for such superintendent, and defraying the necessary expenses.

"On the motion of A. Newbiggin, Esq. one of the magistrates of the city, and vice-president of the Committee of the Glasgow Society, the thanks of the Meeting were unanimously given to Mr. Fox, for the zealous interest taken by him in the advancement of this good cause in general, and the prosperity of the Glasgow Schools in particular; and for the animating address, and very interesting detail of facts delivered by him on this occasion.

"On the motion of Mr. Fox, the cordial thanks of the Meeting were given to the Lord Provost for having honoured it by his presence, and by his acceptance of the chair; and for the propriety and ability with which he had directed its deliberations."

How much soever we applaud the adoption of this measure, and with what delight soever we contemplate its adoption, we cannot be surprised that an assembly of the leading gentlemen, who in such a city as Glasgow stand forward in the great work of beneficence, and in the most exquisite of all the works of beneficence, beneficence to the mind and to the character, should immediately see the importance of so obvious and so useful an expedient; and should not hesitate a moment in the benevolent resolution of carrying it into effect. In truth, there was nothing about which there was room for debate and procrastination. If there was, desire sincere for the end, there could he no doubt about either the utility or the practicability of the suggested means. Nothing remained, therefore, but to adopt them immediately. And the gentlemen of Glasgow acted at once like friends, and like enlightened and decided friends of the cause, when they passed the three resolutions which we have just perused.

We observe, by an advertisement prefixed, that " any profit arising from the sale of this pamphlet will be applied to the fund for the support of the superintendent of schools." And as its contents are so well calculated to interest the friends of education, we trust that the proceeds will add considerably to the means for effecting so important an improvement.

174

Facts interesting to Humanity.

A Society for the Protection of the Asiatic Sailors employed in the East India Trade, while in this Country. Instituted the 14th of February 1814.

ADDRESS.

THE general interest which had been excited in the early part of

the year 1813, for ameliorating the condition of the aboriginal inhabitants of the British possessions in the East, subsequently drew the attention of several persons in London, to the condition of the natives of that country (who assist in navigating the ships employed in the East India trade) during their stay in this kingdom.

The emaciated appearance of many of these people, together with their general want of sufficient clothing, more particularly in the winter season, first excited apprehensions that there was a want of proper attention to their comfort. Inquiry therefore was made to ascertain the true state of the case, first in the neighbourhood where they usually reside. But after the most diligent investigation in this way, very little satisfactory information could be obtained, so that it was deemed expedient to hear what the Asiatics themselves had to say on the subject; when it was found that they uniformly agreed in stating several weighty and important grievances which they laboured under, but to whom to apply for relief they knew not; insomuch that it became a common expression among them, "There is justice in our own country, but there is none in England."

At length circumstances combined to prove that something highly improper was practised towards them by some of their countrymen in authority among them. Two decent and exemplary Lascars having given information, tending to a full disclosure of their general treatment, to which they had also affixed their names, immediately on their return to the barracks spontaneously informed their Serang, or Boatswain, of the transaction, hoping thereby to please him; but he instantly ordered them to be stripped to their waists, their hands tied together to one end of a rope (the other being thrown over a beam in the room), by which their arms were extended over their heads, and they were beaten with a stick or cane on their bare bodies for a considerable time; they were then prohibited from quitting their barracks without leave. The next day the Serang ordered them to go and erase their names from the papers they had signed (which however they were not permitted to do); and he told them that unless this was done he would have them flogged to death. The following morning the Serang gave orders to his men to seize these two Lascars the moment they entered the premises, they having, through fear, absented themselves