154 PROCEEDINGS OP PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



Lordship passed some well-merited encomiums on the very superior 

 excellence of this Institution, as compared with many others which 

 he had visited ; and declared that the proficiency of the boys was 

 superior to any similar establishment, excepting, of course, the great 

 London Borough Road School. His Lordship observed — 



" There are two systems which ought always to be set in view in teaching ; 

 shunniiiff the one, setting it up as a beacon to be avoided, and placing the 

 other before you as a light to direct your course into the harbour of know- 

 ledge ; the parrot system to be avoided as the rock, the beacon, and the shoal ; 

 and the intellectual system, the reasonable, rational system, to be steadily 

 pursued and substituted for the former. And there is no greater error com- 

 mitted than that of those teachers who make a great display of boys' memo- 

 ries, exercising that faculty only, by means of which they may make very 

 accomplished parrots with a great deal of trouble and waste of time ; but 

 ** quiclcly come, lightly go ;'' that which they learn so easily they lose shortly, 

 and even while they retain it, find it of no use whatever , for it does not im- 

 bue their mind or penetrate their faculties. * * * • Who can doubt 

 that it would be of the utmost possible practical use to mechanics in their 

 several trades, to know the principles upon which those engines are con- 

 structed, by becoming acquainted with so much chemistry, for example, as 

 may teach them the nature and properties of steam, of refrigeration and ex- 

 pansion, of the manner in which heat works and cold operates, and learning 

 as much mechanical science as may explain the grounds of the various me- 

 chanical contrivances whiith that engine exhibits. I say it is of positive use 

 and actual profit to them to know these things. At present they put up the 

 cylinder, they fit the piston into its place, and adjust that exquisite contriv- 

 ance of Watt, the parallel motion ; but they do these things mechanically, 

 by rote, and according to the parrot system, which I have lately said a word 

 about in reference to boys. * * * * I am sure I should do a very use- 

 less thing, if 1 were here to enlarge upon the benefits of education. They 

 are admitted by all, even by those who formerly sneered at them. Some 

 people tell us that " education won't fill people's bellies," and trash of that 

 sort. Why, they might just as well complain of the baker or the butcher, 

 because with their beef or bread they do not fill people's minds — (Laughter.) 

 But every one knows that " man lives not by bread alone," — that knowledge 

 leads to skill, that skill leads to useful and lucrative occupation, and that the 

 gain derived fi-om lucrative occupation enables men to get the staff" of this 

 mortal life, after getting the staff" of that immortal life which improves and 

 strengthens his better part — his mind. Therefore it is not true to say that 

 learning does not fill people's bellies, as some grossly and stupidly say ; for it 

 puts the staff" of common animal life within our reach : so the bread and 

 beef got through its means ultimately tend to support the mind, inasmuch 

 as without the support of the animal part, the incorporeal portion of our na- 

 ture would have but a small chance of surviving. — (liaughter.) But now, 

 whatever improves men's minds tends to give them sober and virtuous 

 habits ; and with the knowledge of the community, clear I am that virtue is 

 assuredly certain to be promoted ; and I am quite confident, that, with the 

 knowledge of men, the rights of men, — I mean their indefeasible rights of 

 every kind, the rights which they have to civil liberty and to religious liberty, 

 the greatest of earthly and social blessings, — are sure to be infinitely pro- 

 moted ; nor do I know of any more certain mode of reformhig a country — any 

 better way of redressing her grievances — than giving education to her 

 people." 



At the conclusion of this address the noble Lord was enthusiasti- 

 cally cheered by the members and friends of the Institution. His 

 Lordship was subsequently conducted, by the Directors and Com- 



