frequent in our history. The reports made pursuant to them have been of various merit. But it is matter of melancholy observation that there are few of them which have satisfied the expectations of the public, or accomplished the purposes of their appointment. In modern times committees of enquiry have been of more frequent occurrence. Their reports have, in ge neral, been more useful than those of commissioners. This difference can have arisen only from the difference of their composition, and the difference of their composition can have arisen only from the difference in the manner of their appointment. Commissioners are named in secret, members of committees are named in open Parliament. Publicity in the nomination of their members then, is the cause of superiority in the composition of committees, and the excellence of reports, whether of commissioners or of committees, will, in general, be found to have been in proportion to the fewness of their members. Their acts are thus brought to approach to those of individuals. If men can be made to act in public situations as they act in private life; what they will then do is all that can be expected of them. Men who do not act well and ably in private life, ought not

to be appointed to such trusts, and when proper men are appointed, then, and then only, can proper results be expected from their labours.

But even fit men must be put under the controul of responsibility. Perhaps the first appointment of every commission, as well as every committee of enquiry, should be limited to investigation merely. Their report perhaps should be a report of facts without sugges tions, digesting and accompanied with the evidence, whether oral or documentary, upon which it proceeds; and another commission, or another committee of review, should be appointed to consider whether all the facts necessary have been ascertained, to supply any deficiency that may be found, and then to report what may be fit to be done. Though many things in the way of legislation have been done badly, and though many of our institutions, most of which are admirable, require to be adapted to the changes which time has produced, yet no alteration should take place without due consideration, and any expense that may be incurred, or trouble that may be occasioned at the outset, will be amply compensated by the maturity which any new measure will thus receive before it is put in operation.

The propelling force of circumstances will ere long constrain the Government to direct, or to permit enquiries of a much more extensive description than probably has yet been contemplated. Even the inferior classes of the community are acquiring useful knowledge in a manner and to an extent unknown in former periods of our history. Let not the higher orders be alarmed at the strides making by the lower. Such occurrences rouse our prejudices, but if the matter be examined with considerate judgment, their tendency will be found to be to excite sentiments of self-respect among the working classes, which cannot fail to improve them, and distinguish the good from the bad: while by raising the standard of excellence among them, it must also be raised among those above them. A counterpoise to danger may thus spring from the very means by which it is supposed to be created. But be this as it may, let not the higher orders despise the attainments of the humble*. This country pre

* The Merchants of Liverpool have been withdrawn from clubs and coffee-houses by their Atheneum, and have thus become readers in place of continuing smokers and tipplers. If mechanics' institutions shall have no other effect than to entice the working classes from alehouses, they will produce

sents a description of persons in the middling ranks, unknown among any other people. Before many years pass away, perhaps there will be exhibited among the lower ranks, such a class of persons as the world has not yet seen in that gradation of society. Let it be remembered that twelve fishermen were chosen to teach the great truths of the Gospel: and when im

incalculable good. But when it is considered, that the greatest practical improvement which the steam-engine has received, was the discovery of a boy, who shall venture to assign limits to the useful discoveries which may be made when even the working classes give their leisure hours to such pursuits?

Of those who object to the education of the lower orders, it may be asked, has a labourer been found to be less industrious in Scotland, because he has been taught to read, or even to write and cast accounts? The success of Scotchmen in all parts of the world, is a practical proof of the advantages of opening the gates of education to all ranks of the people.

To those who see politics in every thing, I would say, that artizans are more safely and innocently occupied in hearing lectures on the principles of their art, than in hearing newspapers read in pot-houses. The publicity of such institutions, is the surest means of producing good, and preventing evil from them. They are confounded with the combinations among the working classes now unhappily prevailing, not only in this country but in other countries in Europe. They however are altogether separate and distinct, and if any of these Institutions shall lend themselves to such combinations, they will destroy their character and usefulness for ever.

provements begin to spring upwards, who can foretel the results? The Government of this country is called upon to attend to a new order of things. Men in authority cannot stem the tide, and will only bring mischief on them. selves by attempting to resist the inevitable course of events: but they may powerfully assist in giving them a proper direction. The duty of the Government at the present conjuncture is watchfulness and superintendance, not opposi tion to the pressure of the times. The removal of restraints and prohibitions which repress or give a wrong direction to industry and enterprise is their peculiar province.

If the above suggestions shall not serve to shew how the commissions, or the committees of enquiry that may be appointed for this purpose may be improved, they may at least excite attention to the subject. But though in order to escape from responsibility, the Government may often resort to the expedient of such commissions and committees of its own accord, or yield to their appointment when desired by others; yet in most cases enquiries can take place with most advantage under the direction and superintendance of Government itself, and every remedial act can best be