had justified the establishment of schools in which all classes mixed for the purpose of education; and the High School of Edinburgh might be pointed at as a worthy example, where the high and the low, the son of the peer and the son of the artizan, studied under the same roof, to the advantage of both. The mixture of the various orders of society in a common school, while it did not deteriorate the morals and manners of the pupils, induced the cultivation of kind and social feelings. The experiment had been tried at King's Somborne, in Hampshire, where for 8s. or 10s. a quarter the sons of farmers and labourers were taught geography, natural philosophy, history, arithmetic, and every branch of education, more especially those connected with agriculture. The noble chairman then observed that it was a remarkable fact, that without any preconcerted arrangement similar modes of promoting education amongst the middle classes had been propounded in various parts of the country. Since his arrival at Stafford he found that a plan upon the same principle had been adopted by Sir R. Peel, at Tamworth, and he believed similar measures were already acted upon in Herefordshire. Earl Talbot next addressed the meeting, and expressed his satisfaction that the farmers were awakening to a knowledge of the fact, that education among them had been much neglected. The Noble Earl moved a resolution to the effect, that in the opinion of the meeting, it was of individual and national importance that the children of farmers and the middle classes generally should be educated in a liberal manner, appropriate to their occupations and pursuits, and at a moderate cost. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Ford, and carried unanimously. The Bishop of Lichfield was anxious, as bishop of the diocese, to express his approval of the general principle of the measure. It was manifest that in these days of competition, the farmers should be able to apply all the discoveries of science to the improvement of agriculture. The Right Rev. Prelate moved a resolution to

the effect" that it was expedient to provide from the training schools or institution at Battersea fit and proper masters for the national schools, and that those masters should be qualified to communicate religious instruction and teach arithmetic, geography, the lower mathematics, and the sciences applicable to agriculture." He did not anticipate any evil result from the mixture of the different classes of society; but, on the contrary, he believed that under the influence of the masters and the careful superintendence of a pious and vigilant clergy, it would promote kindly feelings among the pupils, and a knowledge of the duties imposed upon them as members of the same community and church. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Carrington, and carried unanimously. Mr. Adderley, M.P., moved the appointment of a committee, and referred in terms of eulogy to the speech delivered by Sir R. Peel the previous day at Tamworth. He considered the plan of adopting separate schools hopeless, and thought that of improving the character of the national schools by far the most feasible. He should object, however, to any plan which gave a boon to the farmers and middle classes at the expense of the labouring classes. The resolution was seconded and adopted; and after an address from Archdeacon Allen, and passing some formal resolutions, the meeting separated.—

Times.

SIR ROBERT PEEL AND MIDDLE-CLASS EDUCATION.-[The following important remarks on education, were made by Sir R. Peel, on Friday last, Jan. 26th, in the course of a speech, acknowledging a vote of thanks for his services as President of the Tamworth Reading Room. It may be interesting to our readers to learn, that the new master of Sir Robert's school is Mr. Vaughan, who was recently a student at the Training College at Battersea, and afterwards held an appointment at Christ Church, Macclesfield. We are glad to see that the great services which Mr. Mozeley has rendered to the cause of education, as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of schools, have secured

the notice of the Ex-Premier.]— "I shall shortly have to make a proposal for the purpose of widening the foundation of education within this town. I hope to frame some modification of the school endowed by father, which, if it should meet with support from what is called the "middle class," will greatly conduce to its welfare, and to the benefits which this institution will subsequently be capable of affording. My arrangements so approach completion, that I think I may as well take this opportunity of explaining what are the modifications I shall propose in that school which was very liberally endowed by my father. He left an endowment, the annual produce of which is about 170l. I consider that is especially applicable to the education of the poor. Although ample power was left the tenant for life to make any modification in the institution, or even to discontinue it altogether, yet I think it was the clear intention of my father, in making that endowment, to afford the advantage of very extended education to the poorest class in this town and neighbourhood. I therefore propose to do nothing that will at all interfere with their claims, but rather to increase the means of giving them a moral and religious education. It has always appeared to me, however, that while we were providing the means of extended education to the poorest, the class above the poorest are really placed in a most unfortunate situation. The expence of education for them is very great. If a respectable tradesman sends his son to a boarding-school ten or twenty miles off, I believe the cost of his education will not be less than 201. or 30l. a-year. The boy is not only withdrawn from his parents' roof, but a very considerable expence is incurred for such an education as you supply almost gratuitously to the poor. The ultimate effect will unfortunately be, that you will have the education of the poor much more perfect and complete than the education of the middle class. You are, therefore, laying the foundation for an inversion of the orders of society.

(Hear, hear.) Now, if I can make the endowment of my father at the same time more conducive to the education of the poorest class, and yet give great facilities for the education of the children of the middle class, I shall be conferring, it appears to me, very great benefit on the town. (Cheers.) I will tell you what I have done. I conceive the first inducement to a respectable man to send his children to be educated at a school, would be his perfect assurance of the moral character and qualifications of the master. I have therefore written to Mr. Mozeley, one of the inspectors under the Privy Council, and told him I am ready to apply a very large portion of the annual income of the school as a salary for a master, who shall have been educated in one of the training schools, according to the best system of instruction, and who shall have no temptation, after having entered on his duties here, to quit this place in order to be employed elsewhere. I have had a great deal of communication, written and personal, with the Privy Council on the subject. I had an interview, when last in town, with Mr. Chester, Mr. Mozeley, and the head of the training school in the neighbourhood of London. I know how deceitful all certificates are. I might have advertized, and would, no doubt, have had plenty of candidates. But I said, "I have confidence in you, Mr. Mozeley; find me the best master you can. I should like him to have had some experience in education. There may be some who would prefer a quiet town, with a rural population, to a manufacturing district. I will give a very liberal salary, and offer other inducements to insure the appointment of a very first-rate master." He said he would do his best; but the demand for schoolmasters was great, in consequence of the impetus given to the cause of education; their qualifications were so high, their system of instruction was so perfect, and there was so much anxiety among merchants and manufacturers to withdraw them from educational pursuits, that good teachers had become most valuable.

of the third class have a salary of from 10l. to 157. a year. They, of course, have a less degree of acquirement than the others. The second class of masters have a salary varying from 157. to 207.; and the first-class certificated masters have a salary of from 251. to 30l. This is in addition to the allowance made to masters in respect of pupil-teachers or assistants. A first-class certificated teacher, therefore, having in addition to the 251. or 301. salary an allowance of 10l. a year for one pupil-teacher, 167. for two, and 207. for three, might, besides the emolument derived from other sources, have from the Privy Council about 477. per annum. Now, a few pounds applied in the procurement of a first-rate master is really good economy. (Hear, hear.) I therefore told Mr. Mozeley that from the funds of the school I was ready, to ensure a master of first-rate attainments, to give, in addition to all the other advantages mentioned, a salary of 707. and an allowance of 107. for a house while no house was provided. Yesterday's post brought me a letter from Mr. Mozeley, in which he states that he has found a first-rate master, from a school at Macclesfield, who has been tempted by the inducement to which I referred, of a quiet town and a rural population. From the high testimonials I have received of him I shall by this post intimate my acceptance of that master. (Hear, hear.) He will be in connexion with the Privy Council; there will be an annual inspection. If the sons of persons in this town are sent to the school, as I anticipate, he will have the opportunity of taking pupilteachers, and I may say he will commence his labours in the month of

March. (Cheers.) Bearing in mind his long service I have also made a retiring allowance for the present master. (Hear, hear.) What I propose, then, is that there shall be two classes of scholars in the school, first the children of the poor to be on the foundation. In order to prevent the entrance of children to whom there might be objection on account of dirty clothes or appearance, I propose that there shall be provided gratuitously for those on the foundation a suitable dress, which they shall wear in the school; and in making my selection of scholars on the foundation I shall try as far as possible to encourage morality among their parents by making appointment to the foundation a reward for good behaviour, either on the part of the parent or child. You may say the profligate character of a parent is a good reason why a well-disposed child should be withdrawn from the influence of bad example at home. All I can say is, by way of satisfaction to those who send their children for education to this school, that the selection to the foundation shall be on the principle of rewarding merit either on the part of the parent or child-there shall be well-conducted children there. That is one class whose interest I am bound in the first instance to secure-the children on the foundation. Then I propose to have another class, namely, of children who shall pay for their education. I shall invite the middle class who reside here or in the neighbourhood, including farmers, shopkeepers, retail dealers of all descriptions, to send their sons to the school, where they will receive a first-rate education-I won't say classical education, but including all those departments of knowledge useful to such persons-geography, natural philosophy, history, science in its different branches. I shall then propose that a sum far below what would be required for a good education at a boarding-school shall be paid in advance. I am inclined to make it exceedingly moderate, not more than 27. a year, or 10s. quarterly. The whole of the sum derived

only charge will be 10s. a quarter, and the expense of books; and, considering that we shall have them from the Privy Council at first cost, that charge will not be more than 5s. or 6s. a-year. The success of the scheme will depend very much on the number of paying scholars, and as they increase so will the means of extending the gratuitous education of the poor. A system has prevailed in the school liable to some abuse, which partook much more of charity than religion-of giving a weekly distribution of bread. I shall put a stop to that altogether; the poor children shall receive a decent dress, and every security will be taken to have them well conducted. This principle has been acted upon

in some parts of the country with the greatest success-particularly in a parish of Hampshire-King's Somborne. If it be carried out, as I hope it will, future subscribers will be supplied to this institution. I am bound to say, as the school is in connexion with the established church, it shall continue so; but I shall not object to receive the children of any who may dissent from the church of England. As my duties frequently call me away, I shall ask four or five gentlemen-the vicar and other ministers of the town to take the local inspection of the school, in order to secure ample justice being done to all the scholars, I shall also appoint a treasurer, to whom the fees shall be paid; the master will have nothing to do with those payments. I will guaranty the master a certain sum, and he shall have no inducement to neglect the education of the poor in order to attend to that of the rich. (Cheers.) I may add, that I shall extend the scheme beyond the parish of Tamworth if a sufficient number of paying scholars should not offer within it." (Cheers.)— Times.

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