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Poor Laws, and the wretched mode of executing them. These were evils of a dangerous tendency, and were known to be increasing daily.-It seemed, therefore, necessary for obtaining a redress of grievances complained of, to form a Committee to consider the subject at large, and to point out such a Plan for the purpose, as they should think best.1

These suggestions appear to have been thrown out, in the hope that they might call forth the attention of Gentlemen of the most distinguished characters and abilities, however discordant in their political principles, since, in order to effect so arduous a work, as a reformation of the complicated system of the Poor Laws presented, would require the greatest exertions and the most perfect harmony.

As the spirit of Inquiry had then been awakened, it did not seem possible to allay the public anxiety, without a free and extensive investigation.

'The Parliamentary History of England. vol. xxvi. p. 1279.

And, on the 20th of June 1816, a Select Committee who had been appointed to inquire into the Education of the Lower Orders in The Metropolis, and to report their Observations thereupon,-together with the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them, from time to time, to The House,—and who were instructed to consider what might be fit to be done, with respect to the Children of Paupers who should be found begging in the Streets in and near the Metropolis, or who should be carried about by persons asking Charity, and whose parents, or other persons whom they accompanied, had not sent such children to any of the Schools provided for the Education of poor Children,—made the following Report,

That they had examined a great body of Evidence, which had been reported and ordered to be printed, * respecting the state of Education among the Lower Orders in The Metropolis, -and they had found reason to conclude, that a very large number of poor children were wholly without the means of Instruction, although their Parents appeared to be generally very desirous of obtaining that advantage for them:

That they had also observed with much satisfaction, the highly beneficial effects produced upon all those parts of the Population which, assisted in whole or in part by various Charitable Institutions, had enjoyed the benefits of Education :

That they had not had time that Session fully to report their opinion upon the different branches of their Inquiry, but they felt persuaded that the greatest advantages would result to this Country from Parliament taking proper measures, in concurrence with the prevailing disposition in the Community, for supplying the deficiency of the means of Instruction which then existed, and for extending this Blessing to the Poor of all descriptions :

That although The Committee had not been instructed to examine the state of Education beyond the Metropolis, they had, in addition to what had appeared in Evidence, received communications, which showed the necessity of Parliament as speedily as possible insti tuting an inquiry into the management of Charitable Donations and other Funds for the Instruction of the Poor of this Country, and into the state of their Education generally, especially in the larger towns,-And The Committee were of opinion, that the most effectual as well as least expensive mode of conducting such an Inquiry, would be by means of a Parliamentary Commission.

On the 22d of May, 1817, Mr. BROUGHAM moved the revival of The Committee which

sat in the last Session, to inquire into the Education of the Lower Orders in the Metropolis. A great deal of Evidence was taken before the former Committee, much of which Evidence was necessarily ex parte. It appeared to him that a considerable portion of it, therefore, was susceptible of correction and revision, and it was in order to afford an opportunity for obtaining that correction, on the part of the Witnesses, by another investigation, that he now moved the revival of The Committee,which was agreed to.2

On the 7th of July, 1817, The Committee reported, that they had been prevented, by accidental circumstances, from making further progress in the Inquiry which had been referred to them,-but being impressed with a deep sense of the importance of the subject, they recommended that it should be taken up at an early period of the next Session :—

That having considered the information communicated to them during the last

2 The Parliamentary Debates, vol. xxxvi. p. 822.

Session, from various parts of the Country, touching the state of Education, and more particularly the misapplication of Funds destined, by Gift, Bequest, or Devise, to that purpose, they were of Opinion, that it would be expedient to extend the instructions under which they acted, so as to embrace an Inquiry into the Education of the Lower Orders generally throughout England and Wales.

No immediate Legislative measure was proposed by The Committee, and the reason assigned for the omission was, that it appeared to them that the objects of their Inquiry would be best intrusted to a PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION, composed of persons whose abilities fitted them for the undertaking, and who would be enabled to visit different parts of the Country. The expense of this Commission need be but small, and might be defrayed by a small per centage on the money recovered by their exertions.

Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW bore testimony to the zeal, knowledge, and indefatig

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