There is a general expectation, founded chiefly on a passage
in Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S address to his constituents, that Ministers Will in the next session introduce a measure for the Education of the People. Whether they will make the attempt, and if they should, how far they are prepared to go, are points on which they hat..e not condescended to enlighten the public. But, in the an- ticipation of some plan bearing the semblance of liberality, the Hugh Churchmen are putting on their armour and threatening deadly resistance. Some persons seem to imagine that the ques- tions involved in that of national education have little connexion with party polities: they will soon discover their mistake. The Church question is involved in it; and never was the Church party more suspicious, or in worse temper, than at present. They will sanction no scheme of national education except in harmony with the sectarian views of the Establishment : and here the Dissenters fly off. Ministers cannot afford either to exasperate the Churchmen or to offend the Dissenters. What then can they do? Nothing effectual, we fear. It has been suggested that the mere introduction of a measure having popular edu- cation for its object, would be useful. To the public it would, as sure to excite discussion; but not to Ministers,— unless their scheme should be of that comprehensive nature which would inlist the feelings and command the sup- port of the masses, anxious for really useful knowledge, and careless about that species of schooling which goes by the name of education. If Ministers, disregarding sectarian prejudice, could courageously appeal to the good sense of the country at large, and strive honestly to carry a measure suited to the wants and wishes of the great body of those elle are unable to pro- cure instruction for themselves, then indeed they might depend upon immunity for many transgressions, and acquire the sup- port of multitudes, now hostile and angry. A plan whose scope falls short of this, will fail to secure the assistance of any class sufficiently strong and numerous to enable them to resist the attacks of the Church party, or of the Dissenters ; by either or both of whom any scheme they may propoEe will inevitably be assailed. This, it will be perceived, would not even serve them as a diversion from polities.
