ON

MR. BROUGHAM'S BILL'

EDUCATION

“FOR BETTER PROVIDING THE MEANS OF EDUCATION FOR HIS MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS;"

SHEWING ITS

INADEQUACY TO THE END PROPOSED,

AND THE

DANGER WHICH WILL ARISE FROM IT

TO THE

CAUSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

London:

PRINTED BY T. BENSLEY,

4, Crane Court, Fleet Street.

PUBLISHED BY BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY, PATERNOSTER-ROW;

T. HAMILTON, PATERNOSTER-ROW;

AND JOHN AND ARTHUR ARCH, CORNHILL.

OBSERVATIONS,

&c.

Ir is generally understood to be Mr. Brougham's intention immediately to proceed with his Bill for the Education of the Poor. A numerous body in this country-the Protestant Dissenters-feel very warmly interested in favour of the professed object of this measure, yet view the means by which it is to be accomplished, with considerable alarm; they are persuaded, on calm and deliberate reflection, that the proposed plan is essentially defective, and if adopted will retard rather than accelerate the progress of education; that it will be highly injurious to the interests of religious freedom; and, in its practical operation, prove to thousands of our fellow countrymen, a source of bitter persecution.

Unquestionably, the exertions of private individuals, and of public associations, to promote the education of the poor, unaided by parliamentary support, must to a certain degree be defective, and the Protestant Dissenters would unfeignedly rejoice at the adoption of any legislative act, that would pro

vide the means of obtaining knowledge for the great mass of the labouring population; but a measure, intended for universal operation, ought to be founded on enlarged and liberal views; with reference to the general feelings of society, and the habits of the poor; without violating the rights of any part of the community, or furnishing to the powerful the means of oppressing the weak.

It is the intention of these observations to show, that the proposed enactment is greatly defective in these important features:

First-It has not sufficient regard to the advantages which result from the co-operation of the public, or to the habits of those classes whom the measure is intended to benefit, while it cannot fail materially to injure the schools for the education of the poor which are already in existence, and have been productive of such important benefits to the country at large.

There are throughout the kingdom numerous individuals, who, from motives of disinterested benevolence, are actively associated in committees for the management of schools for children of the labouring classes. These persons, who are well acquainted with the habits of the poor, well know that it is not the mere establishment of schools, however unobjectionable they may be in their nature, that will ensure the full attendance of scholars. The poor at large, as they respect this question, may be divided into two classes:-Those parents who, justly appreciating the