Vtottiurts.

Wo understand that Mr: Hope, the :respected Member for Maidstone, does not intend again. to offer, himself for the representation of the bo- rough ;' and that at an influential meeting of the supporters of Mr.,. Hope, a strong desire has been expressed that the seat, when vacant, should be • offered to John Minet Fector Laurie, Esq., our former excellent Mein- bet, who has taken the name of Laurie upon succeeding to the estates of his late uncle.—Ifaidstone Journal.

The sometime heralded "Educational Conference at Manchester" took place on Wednesday, in the Mechanics Institution of that place. The Morning Chronicle says that there was " a more numerous attendance than at any of the previous conferences of the Association, [the Lanca- shire Public School Association,] but not more than three hundred per- sons were present?' Mr. Alexander Henry, M.P., presided ; Mr. Cob- den, Mr. Brotherton, and Mr. J. B. Smith, with him completing the representation of the Legislature ; and most of the prominent friends of the movement in London, Liverpool, and Leeds, and in Scotland and Ire- land, and the Reverend Dr. Bacon, a gentleman of learning and personal weight from Newhaven in the American State of Connecticut, were pre- sent. Letters of regretful excuse were read from Mr. C. P. Villiers, Mr. Hume, Mr. Ewart, Colonel Thompson, and some other Members of Par- liament, and from the Archbishop of Dublin, Mr. John Stuart Mill, Mr. Carlyle, and the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, and others on the ge- neral list of friends to the movement.

Business was opened by an historical sketch from Mr. Samuel Lucas, of London, of the circumstances under which the Lancashire Public School Association sprung into existence. Shortly previous to the autumn of 1847, the Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education were published, which excited so much attention throughout the kingdom and ldndled such contending fires of support and opposition. The Dissenters thought their position and interests sacrificed in the Minutes to the position and interests of the Established Church. It seemed that the plan proposed by the Government met with very much ob- struction ; and many gentlemen of Manchester, feeling also that they could not conscientiously support it, and yet unwilling to oppose it without some- thing of their own to substitute, met together in order to see how far they could agree upon any general system of education to propose to the country. First of all, they set to work upon the principles upon which they could agree. They found that the only basis on which they could all unite, was that the education must be what was called secular and unsechuian. They felt that the system must be national and open to all ; that there should be no division into sects, into creeds; that every man wishing to have his child educated should have the opportunity. That the great want of education was not among the middle and upper classes, but among the poor; and that therefore it was necessary that their schools should be free; for the establishment of free schools in any locality had always been followed by an immense in- crease in the number of those receiving instruction. And they felt it would not do to intrust the system to the care of the central Government. The power of controlling the school must remain in the hands of the people. There must be popular control in every locality ; and to make those schools efficient there must be some central authority ; but, in order to prevent it being exercised by Government, they made a plan by which it should be made elective, from the different local authorities established for the control of the schools. These were the main principles of their plan, which was published in July 1847. It immediately received so warm a welcome from various parties in this country, that the originators of the scheme felt justi- fied, on the 25th of August in the same year, in calling a meeting in that room to make it known. The Lancashire Public School Association was formed ; its operations were commenced,- and these operations had been con- tinued with unremitting assiduity to the present time. Within the last twelve months they had found, that in the important towns of Leicester, Coventry, Leeds, Derby, Hull, Halifax, Sheffield, Huddersfield, and Liver- pool, and other places in various parts of the country, public meetings had passed, with very little opposition, resolutions in favour of the plan proposed by the Association. They had therefore felt themselves justified in calling together this conference, to decide whether the Association should not be made a national organization, whose operations should have a national scope. Mr. Absalom Watkin moved the first resolution, with a laudatory cen- sure of Mr. Lucas for his too great modesty in veiling the fact that he himself was the undoubted parent of the Association ; and Alderman Weston of Birmingham seconded it, with congratulations to the men of Manchester on their proud foremost position in the educational movement, and a promise that the men of Birmingham will give a cordial support to the scheme which Lancashire has been the first to carry out in practice. The resolution was thus couched—

"That the Lancashire Public School Association be resolved into a society to be called the 'National Secular School Association,' for the establishment by law, in England and Wales, of a general system of secular instruction, to be maintained by local rates, and under the management of local authorities, specially elected by the ratepayers." Mr. Solly of Sheffield, Mr. H. Gaskell of Warrington, and Mr. Foster of Bowdon, near Bradford, supported the motion. Councillor Barker of Leeds, with Mr. Heaton from the same centre of opposition to what Mr. Baines's party there calls the "compulsory system" of education, de- clared that the citizens of Leeds are now generally prepared to adopt and support the scheme of the Association.

The Reverend R. Thorp, Rector of Burton Overy in Leicestershire, had come to the meeting only after a considerable struggle with brethren who told him he would be like a fish out of water, and be lost in a cotton snow-storm. Expressing pleasure at seeing Mr. Cobden present, and a hope that he will apply his powerful practical mind to carrying this scheme through the House of Commons, Mr. Th-orp claimed for Dr. Hook, Vicar of Leeds, the merit of having originated the plan ; and he grounded a practical suggestion on the absence from the meeting of that divine—

Why was ho not present ? He had been invited ; and his answer was, "You do not allow for the principle of religion, although you allow the pro- priety of its being taught." Mr. Thorp suggested, that as a means of getting rid of a great deal of powerful opposition, the Association should put upon the face of their plan a provision that certain hours in every week should be set apart, wherein the children, agreeably to the wishes of the parents, should be made to attend the schools belonging to the religious sects with which they were severally connected, there to receive the religious instruction which could not be gives in the secular schools. Mr. Cobden, who was received with general acclamation, commenced with a disclaimer of credit ascribed to himself, in what he deemed unjust derogation of the superior claims of Mr. Fox ; who brought forward the question of education in the House of Commons with such ability, temper, and discretion, with such conciliatory eloquence, that Mr. Cobden had very much doubted whether he was not going to succeed in his mo- tion : but on the second reading of his bill, he had been overwhelmed by an astonishing explosion of affected bigotry and fanaticism.

" And do not," said Mr. Cobden, " let gentlemen suppose that if I had brought forward a similar measure, I should have been better treated : for it is the uniform custom of the House thus to receive such motions—either with a burst of laughter or a vehement expression of scorn, or to assail those who bring them forward with some such-, epithets as Infidels and Socialists." But if they united together in different parts of the country—if two hun-

dred or three hundred associations united with that of Manchester—they would " see this question treated in a very different manner by the House of Commons ; which would than respond very speedily to the opinions and advice of the people out of doors."

Some allusion had been made to his position as representative of the West Riding. " I hope," he said in reference to this allusion, "you will give me sufficient credit for sincerity, and for a somewhat old conviction, as to believe that I would never allow for a moment the question of my in- terest in the representation of West Yorkshire to weitht against a sense of duty in reference to a paramount necessity. I say t ' because I must be allowed to say that I do not think, with my friend on e left, that I am making political capital here by appearing on this educational ques- tion. For I am sorry to say, that amongst those who have been my warmest friends in political questions, I have found a very considerable number (and those amongst the most influential of the party to which I belong) who are opposed, and I believe conscientiously opposed, to the move- ment in which we are embarked. I don't disguise from you, or from myself, that the party to which Mr. Edward Baines of Leeds belongs is a very power- ful party ; and it is a party acting from the highest and purest convictions, which consequently makes the party formidable in any views they may take up. But I think—by allowing time, and full and fair discussion, and by taking up this question in the candid spirit in which I am happy to see it has been dealt with today—I don't despair of seeing my friends in the West Riding, those who have taken the most prominent part amongst the Dissent- ing body, joining with us in this measure, when they are satisfied that the voluntary principle, upon which they have relied, cannot be successful to carry out, to the extent we ought to carry out, the education of the people."

Ridiculing the idea of the expense of the thing, he declared that there could not be, in an economical point of view, a more profitable outlay in the world than that for a system of education. " Why, how is it that in the United States you have a city like New York without a barracks—with no horse, foot, and artillery—which you have, to your shame and ignominy, in the neighbourhood of all your large towns ? They are not kept up for the defence of this country against Frenchmen or Americans ; but you have a systematic network of barracks to keep the peace, because we are afraid of the dense mass of ignorance that lies beneath. Then, I say, tax the pro- perty of the country to give us common schools ; and you will save your money fivefold in the expense which you incur for gaols and barracks, and the rest of the paraphernalia by which you must rule an ignorant people when you deny them the instruction which they ought to possess." In conclusion, he congratulated them that they had all the principle and all the logic on their side; for no one denies the want of education, or as- serts that the present system is anything but a failure : they only want young men like the Horace Maims of America to canvass for money,—for canvassing for money is the very best way of diffusing information and making converts. In return for good logical arguments, they would get sound replies from the pocket; and when once an Englishman is convinced so far that he will invest money in your cause, be sure that he will remain your firm friend till your agitation secures its end and fruit.

At an earlier period in the evening, Mr. Cobden had suggested that the word " Secular ' should be changed for the word "Public" in the title of the new national organization proposed by the first resolution; that the title of the new body should be the National Public Schools Associa- tion; thus reverting to the original name with the mere change of its nominal sphere from a Lancastrian to a national extension.

He found that Dr. Samuel Johnson defines "secular" to be not merely non-sectarian, but a great deal more—"not spiritual—relating to the affairs of the present world—not holy—worldly." Now Mr. Cobden did not think that this School Association was unspintual ; he did not think it deserved the name of irreligious. There was no greater foe to religion than vice, and no greater support to vice than ignorance. In fact, ignorance was the great parent of vice. The Association sought to promote knowledge. They were promoting religion by promoting knowledge in its highest form, and that form of religion, too, which when understood must have the support of all classes.

The suggestion caused a considerable expenditure of verbal criticism ; in the course of which, the logical accuracy and the impartiality of the great lexicographer's definitions were irreverentially contested : but in the end Mr. Cobden's suggestion was adopted, and the title of the new organiza- tion will be the National Public School Association.

The first resolution having been passed unanimously, it was secondly resolved, "That the branches of the Lancashire Public School Association, the London Working Men's Association for National Secular Education, and the Associations and Committees which have been formed to promote the same object in Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Coventry, and other places, be invited to resolve themselVes into branches of the National Public School Association."

And it was finally resolved, that certain gentlemen named, . . . . "together with the Executive Committee of the Lancashire Public School Association, be a General Committee for taking the measures rendered necessary by this change ; and that the Executive Committee of the Lanca- shire Public School Association be requested to continue their functions as the Executive of the National Public School Association, with power to add to their numbers."

At the Norfolk Quarter-Sessions, on Wednesday sennight, it was deter- mined to reduce the wages paid to the Rural Police, so as to effect a saving of 9251., or 2-16ths of a penny in the pound upon the assessment of the county.

At the West Riding Sessions, last week, six persons were tried for being present at a prize-fight—two of them being the fighters : they were convicted, and were respectively imprisoned for various periods less than three months, and fined in sums under 5/.

The men accused of the Frimley atrocity were reexamined by the Guild- ford Magistrates on Saturday last. The reporter says of the prisoners—" Smith (who desires to become approver) was first brought in he looked much better than when first incarcerated, and carried himself jauntily. Samuel Harwood came next, looking much worse for the confinement. Levi Har- wood followed ; looking anxious, but not worse than on the occasion of his last appearance. Jones was the last brought in ; he had undergone some change of dress since his last hearing, and wore a prison-jacket, but on the whole looked well. All the prisoners, but especially Levi Harwood, glanced savagely at Smith ; and, as a necessary precaution, a turnkey was placed between each." Mr. Neale, a solicitor' attended for Samuel Harwood. The evidence taken was not very important or new. Harriet Seabrook, Levi Ilarwood's landlady, was reexamined. Harwood returned home, she said, about seven or eight o'clock on the Saturday evening, and only went out again for a minute or two to speak to Jones. Seeing that Harwood had not his jacket, she asked him if he had been in a row and lost it ? he made no reply. It appears that this woman had given a very different account to a Mr. Adsett of the conversation with Harwood—an account very criminatory of him : she now denied that she had done so, and gave her evidence with ready-

witted impudence, and an obvious endeavour to screen the prisoners. While the Magistrates consulted together for a few moments, Jones and Levi Harwood, watching an opportunity, directed fierce glances towards Smith : Jones doubled his fist, clenched his teeth, and raised his hand, to indicate the revenge he evidently desired to inflict on his approving accomplice. The whole were again remanded, till Friday. The Coroner's inquest was concluded on Tuesday. A number of witnesses were examined; whose testimony was similar to that already given before the Magistrates. The Jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against Hiram Smith, Levi Harwood, and James Jones" : they desired to express their opinion that the evidence laid before them was not sufficient to justify a verdict of wilful murder against Samuel Harwood, and declared that there had been no evidence adduced before them to show by which of the three other prisoners the fatal shot had been fired.

There seems to be little doubt that Hiram Smith and Levi Harwood were the burglars who robbed the Reverend Mr. Vidal at Arlington ; though no legal steps have been taken against them while the prosecution for the more serious case at Frimley is proceeding.

The Jury that sat on the body of Mrs. Ann Jones, who died at a place near Aberystwith, returned this verdict—" That the deceased died from inflam- mation of the bowels caused by arsenic or poison ; but how it was adminis- tered, and by whom, we have no evidence to prove." The Magistrates were dissatisfied with this conclusion of the matter, and took it up as against Mrs. -Elizabeth Jones, the daughter-in-law of the deceased, who was in custody on suspicion. ihe affair is very mysterious. John Jones has made a state- ment of buying arsenic for Elizabeth ; and has detailed admissions and re- marks made by her to him that, if he can be believed, clearly prove the

J woman's guilt. But John ones has given several other narratives, some of them so contradictory to this as to make his testimony almost worthless.

A Coroner's inquest has been held at Southampton on the body of Dor- gayah, a Lascar who was found dead on board the ship New Liverpool, when the vessel arrived in thatport. It appeared from the evidence that the man died of sea scurvy. The food provided for a number of Lascars was of very bad quality, and divers articles which should have been supplied to them, including the indispensable one of lime-juice, they never received. The Jury gave a verdict of "Manslaughter" Manslaughter" against Mr. Rowles, the master of the ship.

Mr. Samuel Marder, haberdasher, of Harmer Street, Gravesend, was ex- amined by the Gravesend Magistrates on Monday and Wednesday, on a charge of arson. On Sunday, after he had quitted his house, a Policeman saw a glare through the cellar-window ; and on entering the house, found that a box was on fire with a candlestick fixed at the bottom. He extin- guished the fire with several buckets of water. It is found that Mr. Marder had a few days before insured his furniture and stock for 5001., a sum far beyond the value of what was in the house on Sunday. Mr. Marder has been remanded again.