importance of the subject, may justify me in requesting a few moments of your attention. The committee deserve praise for the information they have collected, and for the interesting, and, it may be, accurate details they have published. Had they confined their statements to deductions naturally resulting from the facts, their labours might have been productive of general usefulness. But they have so intermingled their own theories and preconceived notions and so disparaged the principles and doings of others, and have pursued the investigation itself with such an uncharitable spirit, with such efforts at low criticism, and with such a predetermination to view everything in the least favourable light, that their accounts can serve for little else but to furnish matter for declamation and uncalled-for calumny. If full justice be not done, either to the masters, or the managers, or the children, or the regulations of the great body of existing institutions, how can the committee expect their reports to be received with unreserved confidence, or to be regarded as presenting an unexceptionable foundation for general measures?

The committee enlarge on the obstacles they have encountered in their inquiries from the mistrust and jealousy of the heads of schools. And certainly their reports do anything but prove that the masters and mistresses were unreasonable. It might be desirable to obtain details as to the internal state of schools, and their conduct; but the committee should bear in mind, that they had no right to indiscriminate admittance, and a freedom of scrutiny into private houses, and into private modes of obtaining subsistence. They would not relish, I am sure, the intrusion of prying, and not well-affected, visitors into their mercantile or professional establishments, ransacking all their private affairs, interrogating into all the minutiæ of their business, calculating their loss or gain, impertinently ridiculing the management of their concerns, exposing their weaknesses, and holding up them and their establishments to the reprobation of the world. This interference and encroachment upon the liberties of society would not be tolerated in any other trade or profession. If the legislature were to take up the question, an inquisition of this kind might, or might not, be considered necessary; but surely no individuals ought to make the attempt, unless they should conduct their proceedings with a more considerate and benevolent industry-with a more entire exemption from all feelings or expressions savouring of unkindliness or ridicule-than have characterized the published reports of this statistical society.

But I wish now to confine my observations to the following statement of the committee respecting the borough of Liverpool (noticed in your last Magazine)-viz., "that there are no less than 30,000 children [being more than one-half of the whole number] between the ages of five and fifteen receiving no education, either really or nominally." This conclusion is thus deduced the population is taken at 230,000; one quarter of the population (i. e., 57,500) is reckoned as betwen five and fifteen years old: the number of children" attending schools of one kind or another, as 33,183: from this sum deduct 6000 as under five and above fifteen, and the number of scholars within that age will be 27,183; and, therefore, the committee infer, that, as there are 30,000 children short of the complement, all these are, of course, without any "education, real or nominal.' But the committee arbitrarily, and without due practical consideration, assume, as a fact, (the basis of their calculations,) that every child between five and fifteen years old ought, at any given time, to be in actual attendance at school. And having taken one quarter as the proportion of the population between those years (which may be nearly correct,) they consider the number making the difference between that proportion and the amount of scholars as the "humiliating" and "painful" deficiency which the "active agency of government" is required to supply.

The following observations will, however, incontestably prove that all the children of any town between five and fifteen are never at one time, neither can be expected to be, at school-that it would be useless to provide places of instruction for that number, and, therefore, that the criterion of the com

mittee is not correct, but that their deduction is erroneous to a prodigious

extent.

1. In the first place, the committee have included in their deficiency, as "receiving no education, really or nominally," a large body of children, who, in fact, have passed through and finished their course of instruction. The committee need not that I should remind them, that in all schools for the poor, the children, with very few exceptions, leave before they reach the age of fourteen years; at least, scarcely any remain so long as that age, which is the limit almost universally appointed by the regulations for participating in the benefits of the charity. Even if the rules permitted, and if education, with other advantages, were gratuitously offered to the poor, they could not maintain their children at school beyond that period. So rapid is the fluctuation in large schools, that one-third or one-half are annually discharged-a very considerable proportion of whom go, from the age of ten to fourteen, to various employments. What number, then, will the committee allow for children, who thus go to work, or are taken home, before they reach fifteen years of age? None but a few girls, and those who are in superior schools, remain after they are fourteen; the greater number leave at twelve, and, in manufacturing and other districts, where work for children can be obtained, at a much earlier date. It seems to me, therefore, very unreasonable to reckon all these children in the "deficiency." Whether it would be desirable that they should continue longer at school is another question, but as long as society exists, some will always be poor, and require the labour or services of their older children as soon as they can be available to any profit; and this, in many instances, may be justifiable and necessary.

2. It is notorious that a very large proportion of girls, and some boys, from eight years old and upwards, are compelled, for longer or shorter periods, to attend upon their younger brothers and sisters, and to assist in other domestic concerns. Many of these may be much interrupted in their course of instruction; still it cannot be said that they "receive no education, really or nominally." They are useful in their generation, and accomplish that work which must be done by somebody, at as little sacrifice as, under the circumstances, is possible. In large towns, the case of this class of children may, it is hoped, be improved by the establishment of infant schools in connexion with charity schools. This would afford them, in future, greater opportunities than they have hitherto enjoyed of carrying on their own learning, while their parents would, at the same time, be relieved from the personal charge of their "little ones. At the present moment, if schools were built on purpose for these older children, they could not attend them. We may regret that they are compelled to engage so early in the duties of life; but this must and will be the case in every community, whatever provision may be made for education.

The Statistical Committee are, therefore, far from being correct in declaring that all between five and fifteen who are not in school are destitute of all ́education, real or nominal;" or that there is an absolute want of education exactly to such an extent. I do not propose any definite proportion, which ought on the above accounts to be deducted. Having drawn the attention of the committee to the point, I leave them to make the necessary deduction. We know that the extensive limit of charity schools is fourteen, and that very few continue to that age. Out of 28,916 day scholars in Liverpool, there are but 521 above fifteen years old, more than half of whom are in superior* schools, and the others most likely are in schools of industry, &c.

3. It may be right also to mention, that the committee ought not to have

In fourteen charity schools there are 118 above fifteen years of age, of whom eighty-nine are in the blind asylum, and twenty-two in the poorhouse. In thirtyfour charity schools there are but four above that age out of 8,323, and most probably they are employed as ushers, &c. In fact, I doubt whether there be one scholar in all the charity schools whose age reaches fifteen.

included the offspring of families who keep governesses or tutors; or those who educate their own children, with assistance from private teachers of both

sexes.

4. They ought also to have excluded those who, from large towns, are sent for education into various country places, and who constitute no insignificant portion of the young children of the more opulent.

5. And, to have been still more exact, allowance should have been made for those in the middle classes of society, as well as amongst the poor, who do not send their infants to school before they are six or seven years old. Many national and other charity schools do not admit earlier than seven. Besides, how many are detained from school by infirmities, sickness, &c. &c.

Whoever will thus practically consider the deductions which ought to have been made from the "deficiency" of 30,000, will readily acknowledge that no confidence can be placed in this statement of the committee. I am far from saying that there is no "deficiency," or that more extended measures are not desirable; there will always, in our large towns especially, where there are colonies of an "alien" population, exist grounds for exciting the sympathy of the benevolent. But much injustice and no good can arise from such preposterous conclusions as this society has adopted, however pure the designs, or careful the inquiries, of the agents. Accurate knowledge cannot be so summarily attained; neither can the results of an investigation in one place warrant the construction of a rule by which other places are to be peremptorily judged. The nature of the employment in the town or district, its situation as a maritime, coal, or factory neighbourhood—even the state of the times as to the demand of labour, and other important peculiarities, present so many formidable barriers against the application of the same rule to any given place. In the instance which has called forth these remarks, I conceive that Liverpool has not received justice at the hands of the committee. They should have more distinctly noticed that there are above 10,000 DAY scholars in Liverpool more than in Manchester; and that there are in the latter place but "twenty-one endowed and charity schools," containing 2,173 scholars, while in Liverpool there are fifty, with 11,295 scholars.

I would not deprive the committee of any credit to which they are entitled for their laudable industry in ascertaining the present means of instruction; and I trust that, however ridiculous their inferences may be, a stimulus will be given to the wealthy inhabitants of the manufacturing districts and large towns to diminish the amount of "popular ignorance" which may actually exist. If these gentlemen of Manchester will be as diligent in supplying the remedy, as they have been in proclaiming the want, the result cannot but be beneficial. But with respect to the 30,000 children in Liverpool without any "education, real or nominal," I am afraid the committee, by their sweeping calculations, will prevent the possibility of effecting any good. For, supposing their statement to be true, they do not inform us whether the children who attend no schools belong to the poor or to the more wealthy—whether more means of education are required, or greater readiness to use them—in short, whether compulsion (query the active agency of government or money) be wanting.

November 14, 1836.

R. W. B.

SCHOOLMASTERS' SOCIETY.

THE annual general meeting of this society was held at the Literary Fund Chambers, 4, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on Saturday, the 17th of December. The usual rontine of business was gone through, and the officers for the ensuing year elected.

A committee meeting was held previously, at which relief was awarded to the most deserving objects of the charity, in various sums, amounting to VOL. XI.-March, 1837. 2 U

nearly 1001. The members of the committee and their friends afterwards dined at the Freemasons' Tavern, when the chair was taken by the Rev. Dr. Burney.

In the course of the evening, much regret was expressed that the existence and merits of this society still appear to be too little known, especially among the profession at large. Although it enjoys the highest patronage, being honoured by an annual donation of fifty guineas from his Majesty, and reckoning amongst its officers his Grace the Lord Primate as president, and several members of the bench of bishops as vice-presidents; and although it is supported by the late and present head and other masters of the principal public schools, the number of proprietary and private schoolmasters who contribute to its funds is comparatively small. This can be attributed only to its not being generally known that such a society exists, as it can hardly be supposed that the more successful members of such a profession would withhold assistance from their needy brethren, if they knew that by such a channel as this they could secure its being administered with judgment and great benefit to the parties relieved.

The committee meet four times in the year, at 4, Lincoln's-inn-fields, where every information will readily be given by Mr. Rooney, the secretary to the society.

NUMBER OF DISSENTING MINISTERS,

SIR,-The number of persons set apart by the Independents as dissenting teachers, in the years 1834, 5, 6, were respectively 34, 18, 20. The number of preachers received into full connexion among the Wesleyans, for the same years, 39, 30, 41. The annual average of the two is 61. Judging from the comparative number of dissenting chapels returned in 1829, (to parliament, I believe,) the teachers of the two bodies of dissenters just named are to the rest of the nonconformist teachers as four to three nearly. In that case, their annual supply of teachers would be 46, which gives 105 for all denominations. The ordinations in the church are above 400; and the fair inference seems to be, that the clergy are to the dissenting teachers in the ratio nearly of four I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. I.

to one.

REGISTRATION COMMISSION.

A CIRCULAR, of which the following is an abridgment, has been issued by Mr. J. S. Burn, with a view of obtaining the use of non-parochial registers for the commission:

22, Downing Street, 2nd December, 1836.

SIR,-The commissioners have instructed me to state the principal subjects to which their attention will be directed. They will be as follows:-1st. To inquire into the state, custody, and authenticity of such records. 2nd. To inquire what measures can be most beneficially adopted for collecting, arranging, depositing, and preserving them, for giving full force and effect to them as evidence, and for facilitating the production and reception of them in courts of justice.

The proposed inquiry will extend to the registers or records, of the description above mentioned, belonging to all nonconformist churches or congregations, such as the Roman catholics, the Quakers, the Jews, the Scotch churches in England, and also the churches of foreign protestants in England; but I am directed to observe, that this circular letter is more particularly intended for the ministers, officers, and trustees, or other leading members, of protestant nonconformist churches in England and Wales.

The commissioners are very desirous, for the purpose of obtaining the best information by actual and minute inspection and examination, that all existing

original register-books of births, baptisms, deaths, and burials, and of marriages before the passing of the Marriage Act in 1753, should be transmitted to them.

[After suggesting that, if allowed, it would be desirable that the registers should remain with the commissioners, Mr. Burn proceeds to add :-]

To those who may feel objections to the depositing of the dissenting registers in a central public office, I am instructed to observe, that when the general system of registration appointed by the recent act shall come into operation, after the 1st of March, 1837, the necessity for keeping registers at the dissenting chapels will cease, and there will, consequently, be danger of their being lost; at all events there will be great and increasing difficulty in proving, for legal purposes, that the document produced in a court as a register-book comes from what such court will consider as the proper custody. There appears to be no adequate provision against these inconveniences, except the plan of depositing and arranging the documents in a public office, when the object of their continuance in private custody shall be at an end.

You will greatly promote the speedy and effectual discharge of the duty entrusted to the commissioners by doing all in your power to make this communication known to your congregation, and also in any quarter from which you think information may be obtained. For this purpose, duplicates of the questions and of the certificate are enclosed, and additional copies may be obtained from this office. I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

JNO. S. BURN. [N.B. The technical directions about sending the register-books have been omitted here.]

QUESTIONS REFERRED TO IN THE CIRCULAR.

1. Are you, or have you been, minister, trustee, or member, or representative of any minister, trustee, or member, of any and what chapel, respecting the register of which you can give any information; or in what way have you been connected with any such? State the name, denomination, and situation of such chapel.

2. Is the chapel or the congregation subsisting? or, if dissolved, when dissolved?

3. Has any register book or books of births, baptisms, deaths, or burials, or of marriages before the Marriage Act of 1753, been kept by the minister or trustee, or other church officer, of such chapel, or in connexion with it?

4. State over what period such register or registers extend. How many are there?

5. Who is the minister, who the principal acting trustees, deacons, or other church officers, of the chapel with which you are connected?

6. In whose custody is such register book or books; and where is it deposited? In whose custody has it usually been kept, and where has it been usually deposited?

7. If you know of any register being lost, state the time and occasion of the loss to the best of your information.

8. Will you, or will the party having the custody of any register, produce it or send it to the commissioners? By what mode of conveyance will it be sent ? If you do not produce or send it, state the reason.

9. If you know of any register which is not in your possession, give an account of it, as far as you are able, where it is, and what is the name and address of the person who has it.

10. May any register sent by you to the office of the commissioners remain in the custody of the board for the purposes mentioned in the circular letter? If you have any objection to its being so deposited, state it.

11. Have you in your custody or power the register-book (not parochial) of any other chapel or burial-ground?