74 



JOUENAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



A Paper will be read on the 2It-th March on 



NATIONAL EDUCATION. 



By Mr. W. Adams. 



PROGRAMME. 



Impoetance of the subject at the present time — Evils apparent in 

 society — Education as a remedy — Mode of carrying it out — Sphere 

 and duty of the State — Law and freedom — Proposals of Education 

 League, of Education Union, and of the Government — Prospect of 

 results and opportunities. 



NATIONAL EDUCATION. 



ABSTRACT OF MR. W. ADAMS'S PAPER. 



The lecturer first directed attention to the importance of the sub- 

 ject, and the desirability of people generally inquiring into and 

 forming intelligent opinions respecting it. He also mentioned thjit 

 its consideration was especially appropriate for the members of the 

 Institution, and pointed out that it was not a party matter. 



He next spoke of the reasons which attracted public attention 

 to it. The state of society is unhealthy, the condition of large 

 towns shocking, and the position of farm labourers very unsatis- 

 factory. These evils cause an alarming increase of pauperism, 

 and unless some remedy is brought into operation they are likely to 

 spread, and press more and more heavily on the energy of the 

 people. In these matters, although the wealthiest nation in the 

 world, we do not compare favourably with some others, the fact 

 being that an increase of wealth is in the long run of no benefit 

 to a nation, unless acccompanied by an advance of character. 

 This we Englishmen forget, and wealth being the great object 

 of desire for itself, it is common not to be content with sufficient 

 to meet our needs, but to try to get as much as can be laid hold 

 of in any way conventionally considered not disreputable. This 

 upsets the regularity of true commerce and induces reckless specu- 

 lation, which produces a general restlessness and fluctuation in 



