The Principality

THE NORMAL COLLEGE FOR WALES. TO J. H. VIVIAN, ESQ., M.P., F.R.S. BEAR SIR,-I feel great reluctance in addressing a person of your rank and position in life, and did not the peculiar circumstances, under which I address you, imperatively de- mand such a step to be taken, I should not, upon any consi- deration, intrude myself upon your notice. In the local papers of last week there appeared a long letter addressed to you by my friend and brother, the Rev. D. Davies, Bethesda. Thatletter, I am sorry to say, contains some misrepresentations of facts and evasions of truths and the object of the present communication is to disabuse your tuind, as well as that of the public in general, of the unfavour- able and wrong impressions which such a document was calculated to produce. Without enlarging upon the pernicious tendency of the letter in question, or upon the superabundant charity which it manifests in describing the N ormal College as haying on its front the mark of the beast, &c., [ shall immediately sub- mit to your notice some of those false statements, unwarrant- able assumptions, and sophistical reasonings, by which it is extraordinarily characterised. Mr. Davies assumes that the resolution of Sept. 23rd, 1847, which repudiated all State aid, and decided that the institu- tion should be supported by voluntary contribution, 1, was I. passed by less than one-third of the then subscribers to the College." Were this assumption true, I for one would have nothing to do with an institution whose affairs were con- ducted so irregularly and unrighteously; but so far from this being the case, it is happily quite the contrary. In the ahnu <1 meeting of June, 1816, he qlie,,tioii of State aid was introduced, but in consequence of the feeling of the meeting being so decidedly averse to all Government grants for educational purposes, the discussion of it was adjourned. It was at this meeting settled by universal consent, that in the meeting of Spternber, 1847, the question should be finally decided. Fifteen months were allowed to roll away from the adjourn- ment of the debate to the final settlement of the question, daring which time the subject was thrust with unusual force upon the public attention, in consequence of events which Were then transpiring, and ably discussed in nearly all the Welsh periodicals. When the long-expected meeting was held, of which timely notice had been given, there was not a single individual pre- sent who uttered a solitary word in favour of Government aid, or who held up his hand against the resolution which was then passed, pledging the institution to the voluntary prin- ciple exclusively and irrevocably. If two-thirds of the sub- scribers were opposed to such a resolution, where were they when it was discussed and passed? If absent, after having been duly informed of the meeting, it shows how little inter- est they took in the subject; if present, why not speak? Surely they were not ashamed of their principles, nor could they despair of success in carrying them out, if they had such & majority as you are desired to believe. Again, in the third annual meetiug, held at Llandovery, on the 12th of January, 1848, when it was decided that the Normal College should be removed at the expiration of the present year to Swansea, in order to prevent any misapprehension, the original resolution pledging the institution to the voluntary principle exclusively, was re-adopted with the most perfect unanimity. How was it that there was no voice lifted up against it on this occasion ? If Mr. Davies's statement be true, the two-thirds alluded to t have acted a most unaccountable pai-t. Mr. Davies next assumes that the Welsh Dissenters will be c.'died upon to contribute the sum of £ 2,000 per annum for the support of the students. Whence has he derived this information ? The annual cost for 50 students, as proposed at the outset, will be no more than f 1,200, of which F,600 will be contri- buted by the students themselves. And if, at any time, the advantages of the College should be rendered available to 100 f-t-idetits, even then there would be no more than L- 1,100 or £ 1,200 required from the public, the very necessity of which would itself be a sufficient guarantee for its future support. This was fully shown in the public meeting held in this town on the 26th of March last, and has since appeared in a cir- cular widely circulated by the committee. Why then call £600 per annum to be raised by voluntary contributions £ 2,000 ? But admitting that the sum specified by Mr. Davies will be necessary for the support of an institution which will be one of the fountain-heads of education in Wales, should We despair of realising that sum? I trow not. There are at present in W no less than 2,700 Dissenting congregations. Were these to make an annual collection, averagiii- taii shil- eaelk, we should have ample resources to meet all our demands apart from our private subscriptions. To say that the Welsh Dissenters are unable to raise this paltry sum—I say paltry, for so it is, compared with the magnitude of the object contemplated—is preposterous; to say that they are indisposed, is degrading. But why put the whole support of the institu- tion to rest upon the D ssenters ? Are there not many en- lightened and liberal Churchme ) prepared to come forward to its assistance ? Are they not already found amongst its most anxious friends and liberal contributors? And does not their past and present conduct warrant us in the assumption that they will continue to co operate with us in this noble work of moral and mental enlightenment, until the very last vestige of that ignorance which now rests upon our country will have for ever disappeared. True, the Episcopalians have a Normal Institution of their own recently buit at Carmarthen, at an expense of L8,000 but unhappily its beauty is so marred by sectarianism, and its Advantages so restricted by creeds, that it will be immedi- ately discovered by any observant mind, that such an institu- tion is utterly destitute of all that adaptation which can render it either attractive, acceptable, or beneficial to the great mass of-the Welsh population. It is not formed for the nation. ltcontemplates not the welfare of the many, but that of the few; and while this is the case, are we not justified in enter- taining the expectation, that all those Episcopalians who are the enlightened friends of sound patriotism and national edu- cation will rally round an institution which looks with a be- nignant eye upon all classes of the community, in preference to that which smiles upon the few. To s:ty, then, that the inhabitants of Wales, in consequence of their poverty, the many calls made upon them for other objects, &c., are not likely to support the Normal College, can be regarded in no other light than that of a subtle method of persuading them not to support it. i Flatter a man's indolence—furnish him with excuses for his Want of exertion—render the attainment'of the object of his pursuit improbable, by investing it with imaginary difficulties, -and you have adopted the most efficient plan to deaden his energies, and to make him a slave to the most indomitable sluggishness that can seize a human spirit, from the grasp of which he cannot be easily rescued. Let the people be convinced of the value of education, and inspired with a sense of moral elevatiort, and they wiil find sufficient means to do what is now proposed a hundred-fold. Mr. Davies would have you next believe that it is a noto- rious fact that there exists no such thing as union among tne various religious denominations in Wales in the support of the College. I am exceedingly sorry that such a rash state- ment should be made-a statement which is not only untrue in itself, but which is most insinuating in its character, and mischievous in its tendency. No means could be adopted, however artful, better calculated to create suspicion and dis- trust than those resorted to in this paragraph. We Lankly confess that we are not so united as we would wish to be. We do not pretend perfect union; such an element has never pervaded any movement prosecuted upon earth per- fect union, unruffled harmony, are things which we have HO ground to expect while among mortals—these are charac- teristics of a higher sphere than the one which, we occupy. *13ut still we maintain that we have as much union as we can eaiua ibi, expect under present circuniitances.. True, "the Wesleyans have withdrawn their opposition to the Government grant," but are we to infer from that, that they have also withdrawn their support from the Normal College ? Does this imply that as soon as the public purse is opened, the private one is immediately closed? Are we to believe that the Wesleyans will henceforth abandon, in toto, that principle, to the energy of which they owe all their past triumphs and almost unparalleled success ? It appears to me incredible. The withdrawal alluded to was far from being unanimous. There are some noble, uncompromising spirits still moving among them, and these are daily increasing in number, who are determined (as expressed by one of them- selves) to be no longer misguided by the dim light of a Watchman's lantern;" but who will cling to enlightened views and righteous principles until they have ultimately in- fluenced the whole body to retrace their steps, and offer their recovered allegiance at the foot of that altar which they had so ungratefully and recklessly forsaken. The Wesleyans, I am happy to say, have not withdrawn their support from the Normal College, although the ma- jority of them would prefer its being made a recipient of State aid. The Wesleyan Board of Education has supported it from its beginning until now. Members of that connexion are on the committee, both executive and general. One of their most distinguished ministers in Wales—an individual of whose amiable disposition, extensive knowledge, and high sense of honour, I cannot speak too highly, still retains the office of secretary; neither are their names found vnaiititig amongst those who subscribe. But were they to desert us, their deser- tion of us would be no accession to Mr. Davies's ranks. I'here is nothing fur her from their mind than the adoption of a purely secular system of education. Were they called upon to give up one or the other, they would infinitely prefer giving up State aid than those truths and principles by which the mind is to be moulded and the character formed. That the most influential portions of the Calvinistic Me- thodists are in its favour," in connexion with a Normal Col- lege, I cannot admit. in fact, I know it to be otherwise but a few days before the appearance of Mr. Davies's letter I had an interview with a gentleman of high standing among them—a gentleman whose talents, sagacity, integrity, and uprightness, have justly merited for him that influential and honourable position which he now occupies among his bre- thren—the presidency of one of their principal colleges; I mean the Rev. D. Charles, of Trevecca. During this inter- view he expressed himself thus:—" My advice to my country- men would be this-receive Government aid towards tue support of your day schools where you cannot do without it, but never accept a farthing towards your Normal School maintain that on the voluntary principle exclusively; keep it entirely in your own hands." There is at this moment lying before me a letter which I re- ceived yesterday, from another minister of high standing and extensive influence connected with the same denomination, in which he says, Many of the Calvinistic Methodists are, it is true, in favour of Government grants for local schools, but they are, almost without exception, decidedly opposed to any grants for Normal Colleges." The Calvinistic Metho- dists, I am happy to say, are coming out nobly upon this subject. Sone of the most intelligent and influential among them have already expressed their unab.iting love to the in s Lution as well as their intention to do all in their power for its support. That the Baptists, with some few exceptions, are mere spectators," I boldly deny; neither would I have you, sir, to believe such a false accusation upon any consideration. To be mere spectators at such a time, when all besides are actively engaged, and when ten thousand voices—voices the most doleful and urgent, arising alike from the haunts of ig- norance and the enlightened views of duty—from the lurking places of crime and the claims of justice, address themselves to every feeling of our nature, summoning us to eater the field of action, and to put forth the most undivided and un- compromising energy of which we are capable, in order to banish ignorance and all its concomitant evils from our sphere, and elevate the human mind to its dignified and des- tined position, in my opinion involves a crime as black and as foul as that which caused Meroz of old to be branded by the malediction of Jehovah, and surrounded with the shadows of his coming wrath. Such a charge has not been merited by the Baptist deno- mination it bears no analogy to the annals of the p ist, neither does it accord with the doings of the present. My love to that denomination, combined with the consciousness that its members are misrepresented and wronged, compels me to repudiate that charge in language the Z, most distinct and emphatic. In confirmation of the fact that they are actors, and not spectators, I would appeal to the list of the institution's committees, both executive and general; to the hst of sub- scribers already announced towards the proposed new build- ing, as well as to all the public meetings held on behalf of the college, in all of which Baptist ministers took an active part. I can state most positively, without any fear of con- tradiction, that in South Wales (of North Wales I am igno- rant) the great majority, if not all, our most distinguished ministers and influential laymen are unanimous in their re- jeetion of State aid—in their determination to render the Normal College all the aid which they can command. There have but few weeks transpired since I had the gratification of visiting one whole county in South Wales on behalf of the institution during that month numerous meetings were held, some of them in Baptist chapels, where no neutral place was to be found, but in no solitary instance was there the slightest objection made to the principles upon which the college was based, to the object which it contemplated, nor any solicited assistance withheld. On the contrary, thev were generally with the first to proffer us their aid, and in some instances they nobly took the lead. I might also, in proof of the same fact, allude to a resolu- tion passed at a meeting of ministers held at Llanelly on Monday last, and inserted in nearly all the local papers of the week, which reads thus That this meeting feels highly displeased and grieved with the letter which appeared in the local papers of last week, written by the Rev. D. Davies, Bethesda, Swansea, addressed to J. II. Vi- vian, Esq., M. Pi, and wishes to utter its most distinct and em- phatic dissent from the sentiments therein contained, as well as its full conviction that the charges preferred against the Baptists of heing 'mere spectators,' is utterly unfounded. and. criminallw fiUso." -oigtrc.i James Spencer, Chairman. That" the Independents are much divided on the ques- tion," I greatly doubt. There are a few among them, J. am aware, who are favourable to Government aid towards purely secular education, but those are few and far be- tween." They are merely isolated instances, standing forth in attestation of the truth of the old adage, tlm. where there is diversity of minds there must be some diversity of opinions;" but these instances are less numerous than we might expect to find amid such a numerous body of thought- ful and reflecting men. Those who some time ago took a prominent part in the advocacy of State aid towards secular education have subsequently recanted, and have avowed their adhesion to voluntary education indeed, so unani- mous are they upon this subject as a body that the Congre- gational Board of Education has passed a resolution reject- ing all State grants, and pledging the board to extend the 11 1!5 means of knowledge on the voluntary principle exclusively. I hope, sir, that I have proved to you satisfactorily that the various religious denominations are not so disunited upon this point as you were led to believe; that the picture is not quite so dark as it was first represented to you; that there are some gleams of light shedding their lustre upon it, and that those shades which may still appear to linger over it are only those which render the seeue the more lovely, and the artist's skill the more complete. Mr. Davies wishes you to accompany your subscription by a request that the question of Government aid should be left open, and to influence others to (ldopt. a similar plan. As to yourself, sir, all that have the pleasure of knowing you know also that you have too high a sense of honour to do any such thing. Did not Mr. Davies know that that matter had been already settled f that most of the money subscribed has been given on the faith of that settlement? that yqll q well as other gentlemen "of the class to wheh you belong," a luded to by Mr, Davies, contributed oa the di-tinct, under- staiding that the institution was to be carried on on the voluntary principle. The committee used no deception; they resorted to no ambiguity they employed no improper means. They made known to all, without any reserve or equivocation, the foundation upon which the college was to rest. Now it is impossible to deviate a step from the fun- damental principles already settled upon without violating every principle of honour and good faith. And why should it be left an open question ? What good will arise from such an indecisive, hesitating course of pro- cedure ? Is it desirable to withhold a step, the withholding of which may prove for years a constant source of annual agitation ? Or is it probable that any future event, new measures, or political combinations, can make that right which is now morally wron- ? I imagine not, then why falter ? One of the chief elements which enters into the constitu- tion of this college, and which will be embodied in the deed of trust, is the impartation of religious education and in no future time, under any imaginable circumstances, can a Nonconformist receive a fraction of State money towards the diffusion of such knowledge, without shamefully com- promising his own principles, and involving hiself in the grossest inconsistency. Neither will the State grant any aid but upon the condi- tion that religious education be given. How Mr. Davies can state in the face of this that Government is willing to sup- ply money on such terms as cannot possibly interfere with the consciences of the most scrupulous," I cannot conceive. As to principles, we openly adopt the system of finality," nor can we regard such a course as in any way clashing with the dictates of wisdom nor with the common usages of society. To adopt such a system in relation to certain measures unfolding, or certain means developing a principle, is highly objectionable and absurd but to fix unwaveringly and irrevocably upon the principle itself is wise, philosophic, scriptural, and constantly acted upon. Principles are in themselvesfinal. No future event; no change of empires no fall of dynasties no lapse of ages, can touch them they are as immortal as the minds in which they dwell, and as unal- terable as the sources of truth from which they proceed. Did we, like Mr. Davies, temper with expediency or truckle to worldly policy, to fix upon anything definitively and permanently, would be foolish in the extreme; but since we proceed upon principles which we can in no in- stance abandon without offering violence to our consciences, z!1 and acting in direct opposition to every notion we have formed of pure rectitude; principles which admit of no change, but which will stand as imperishable when the blast of the archangel's trump will rend the skies as they do now; it appears to me that we are fully justified in adopting a decisive course. Neither is Mr. Davies in a position to blame us for taking those steps. He has himself acted upon this very principle in connexion with his own chapel and school room. He has been guiity (if guilt it be) of legislating for future generations." Whether Mr. Davies at that time looked forward in his imagination to the dark future, and beheld a stately building built partly by the fruit of his own liberality, and partly by the hard earn- ings of hundreds of honest workmen, capable of containing eleven or twelve hundred people occupied by less than one half of that number, with ill-qualified, because ill-paid teachers, without any means of redress, because of his own legislative enactments—I am not able to state but if he did, it is evident that in that case his faith conquered his fancy, and his aversion to finality and infallibility, which, accord- ing to his own showing, are the characteristic marks of the beast, inimical to all civil and religious freedom," triumphed over his love, to indecision and latitudinarian catholicity, for that building is invested in trust for ever to those who hold the doctrines and the peculiarities of the Baptist denomina- tion. As far as I am concerned, I cannot see that the committee of the Normal College would run the slightest risk by leav- ing the matter open, for such is my faith in the principles in question, yiz., that religious education should be joined to secular, and that such education should be imparted by the people, and not by the State, that I feel fully confident that in proportion as the public mind will be informed and just views disseminated, those principles will become more and more recognised, admired, and acted upon and should this conciliate those who now stand aloof from us, the assistance and the co-operation of whom might be of great value, I see no reason of great importance in the thing itself against their request being complied with; yet the apprehension created ppr by the rescinding of the resolution of September, 1847, may produce a most withering influence on the minds of many of the friends of the institution who have ceased putting their trust in man. They might be induced to regard it as an n z) approximation to surrender and a preparation for flight. Against producing such an impression we should be exceed- ingly careful. Mr. Davies professes to feel great interest in the Normal College just now, and of course it was this interest that induced him to address you on the subject. But where has all this solicitude concealed itself until now ? The Normal College is not a new institution. It has been in existence these last three years, during the whole of which time Mr. Davies, as far as my knowledge goes, did actually nothing on its behalf, in any shape or form. Annual and public meetings have been held for the promotion of its interest, and matters of importance, such as those now in question, introduced and discussed, but Mr. Davies's voice was heard in neither of them. He was asked to allow his name to be put on the committee, but he peremptorily refused. Pecu- niary aid was solicited of him, but his name does not appear on the list of subscribers. Now his interference, in the face of all this, appears to me, I must confess, rather anomalous and out of place. Such an interference can do neither him nor his cause any good, while it is calculated to do the col- lege considerable harm. His misrepresentation of facts, his attempt to create in the public mind a want of trust and confidence, must necessarily operate prejudicially upon the people. It furnishes those who generally give from form rather than from principle, with pretexts for not giving at all. Mr. Davies professes his love to the voluntary princi- ple as well as his desire that the college should succeed upon that principle. Should he be sincere, instead of writing against it, let him do something for it—that is the most efficient way of exemplifying attachment and proving sincerity. I must now conclude, sir, by expressing my hope that I have somewhat *o inm i m; public that Mr. Davies's letter is not to be relied upon; that the committee and the friends of the college have not acted irregularly; that the annual sum required for the support of the institution is not so unreasonable; that the various religious denominations are not so disunited as you were told that there is no reason why the question of receiving a Government grant should be left open and that Mr. Davies's past apathy renders the sincerity of his present interference exceedingly questionable. The Normal College, sir, has its enemies. They assail it in various ways. What has made them so indignant is its integrity and uprightness, its determination never to succumb to State power, never to assume the character of a political mendicant. Yet I cannot believe that the warfare will be of long continuance. Opposers will become supporters. Enemies will become friends. We fear not the issue. Ghosts and phantoms conjured up from the dark future shall not frighten us. Scenes of desolation. and dreariness pictured by mistaken fancy shall not alarm us. Nothing shall cause us to despond. We carry on our work with heart and hope. Success gleams in the distance, and triumph invites us onward. Should our numbers be small, our princi- ples are powerful. Should we be poor, we have the con- sciousness of being free. We look onward with confidence to the period when all "our present sincere but mistaken friends" will see alike with us and join us heart and soul. Time, discussion, and above all, experience, will add to our numbers. The true friends of education will not long be enamoured of State grants, and, as the necessary result, State control. They will see "That education must be free in a free land. That if we will be a free people we must be freely trained. Thatcso far as education is. a secular interest"it should'be free—like trade; so far as it is an intel- lectual process, it should be free—like science, speech, and the press so far as it is blended with religion, it should be free-like its divine associatc That the same laws and principles equally apply to all such departments of the great social system." Thanking jou, sir, for your past ggijgrous assistance, con fiding in your co-operation and support, and praying that you may be spared to witness within a few minutes' walk of Singleton," a flourishing Normal College in active and efficient operation, proving itself a boon of incalculable value to the sons and daughters of Gwalia, maintained and sup- ported on those principles that are equitable in their charac- ter and imperishable in their nature, I remain, your most faithful servant, Swansea, Sept 1, 1848. D. EVANS (York-place).

THE NORMAL COLLEGE AND EDUCATION IN WALES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY. SIR,—In taking leave for the present of the subject to which I have been the means of exciting so much attention within the last few weeks, I beg to be permitted to address a word or two to some of the parties who have distinguished themselves for their prowess, and to others who may have been marshalled without their consent during this brief but important campaign. To the Rev. Mr. Rees, of Llanelly, I beg to say that if he will take the trouble to look again into his notes, he will find that so far from sitting mute through- out the proceedings of the Llandovery conference, I ex- pressed my views so fully and decidedly as to call for the interference of a gentleman from Haverfordwest, who re- quested the conference not to regard my views as represent- ing the sentiments of the denomination of which we were both members. Mr. R. may remember without reference to his notes, that he said on the 17th ult., "I am still of the same opinion that a general plan of secular education is the best and most effectual, provided it could be obtained; bat that is impossible." Why impossible ? Has not the Rev. D. R. Stephen told us that we should consider nothing im- possible that we have not attempted with all our might ?" and I appeal to that gentleman whether Mr. R. and his fellow-Dissenters, both in England and Wales, have at- tempted with all their might to obtain for the country this best and most effectual plan ?" Have they not rather too literally followed the advice of Mr. Chambers quoted by Mr. R., viz., to make the most of an existing prejudice," instead of applying themselves to free the education of the people from all sectarian trammels" and party prejudices P It is necessary that I should farther remind Mr. R. that, subse- quent to the Llandovery conference, a public meeting has been held in Swansea town hall, presided over by D. Nicol, Esq., at which a vote recording the sentiments of the inha- bitants in favour of State aid for secular school instruction was triumphantly carried. While I have to acknowledge my obligation to you, sir, for your kindness in inserting my letters, I beg to express my surprise at your. having adopted the article which, ap- peared in the Cambrian OIL the Normal College, in which it is openly avowed, and strenuously maintained, that that institution was originally framed, and is still intended for the purpose of teaching the peculiar and distinctive princi- ples of Dissenters. But as that article refers to the doctrine of the Lollards, the Puritans, &c., I would ask what species of Dissent will be selected,—the Lollards, the Puritans, the Wesleyan Methodists, or the Anti-State Church Association ? To determine this-point to the satisfaction of all-parties con- cerned, will, I apprehend, form no easy task. While I admire the straightforward conduct of the Rev. D. Lloyd, and the lucid manner in which he has advocated the claims of the poor to be educated, and the justice of the principle that the rich should be taxed for that purpose, I could have wished that the other able correspondents had imitated his example, by appending their names to their productions, as I have no doubt that this would have ren- dered their services much more effective. I also regret that the authors of the paper which some of us are charged with clandestinely circulating, have not favoured the public with their names. They may have their reasons for concealment, but the cause is worthy of making some personal sacrifice for its advancement. They may have been terrified for the mo- ment at the awful explosion which my first letter occasioned but no doubt they will appear presently to the dismay, if not to the chagrin, of some parties, who may not be aware of their intellectual and moral eminence. To the Wesleyan and Calvinistic. Methodists I beg to say, that the introduction or non-introduction of the Bible and, religion into their respective schools is no business of mine, and forms no part of my plan. Like the Government, I would leave it to the management of their local committees. All I am concerned for is, that State aid may be sought and ob- tained for the purpose of securing for our children such edu- cation as is necessary to form their moral habits, to develope their mental powers, and to open before them the paths of science, with every means of future advancement. Notwith- standing my sectarian trammels," I can cordially unite with you, provided you take the whole charge and responsi- bility of the religions education of your schools, for which, I have no doubt, you are fully prepared. To my friends of the Baptist persuasion (whom, strangely enough, I am accused of calumniating) allow me to say, it is no disgrace to be such spectators as Addison, tOlwatch, nar- rowly all the movements ttiai may affect your own interest, and not to rush into any action without previous deliberation. Nor would it be amiss for you to consider, at the present crisis, the strong objections which have been urged by some en- lightened gentlemen in England, against uniting with you in a certain educational;movement.. It may; not also be amiss to remind the Independents that they have some cause to fear a tendency, to,centralization" much nearer home than that on the continent or in the British Government. To Mr. Nevill, who, I am informed, has coupled another con- dition to his subscription than that of which we are informed by Mr. Rees, and which may account for certain correspon- dence from Llanelly in your last number, I beg most re- spectfully to say that I am no advocate for IIIKELIGIOU# education, and that I have no objection, for the Bible to be introduced into a school whenever it is thought proper to do so for the purpose of general instruction which, in my opinion, may be done without interfering with the secular character of the school, just as the Scriptures are introduced iiiitoour courts of judicature, and their principles appealed to and enforced by our judges and magistrates without core- verting such courts into religious institutions. I cannot ^Y^ui^ii^rttllSnV^xclu^c^Trom the schools; on the.: trary, I should be most anxious that it, should pervade every school and regulate the heart and conduct of every schoolmaster. My only anxiety is to free education from the trammels of sects and parties, and to prevent religion from being desecrated, and brought into contempt by its being made a barrier toa healthful system of general and liberal education. And this, I conceive, can only be secured by disconnecting education as much as possible from all sectarian dogmas, and Shibboleth" of parties, whether in or out of the establish- ment. To educate in harmony with the principles of Divine Revelation, is, in my apprehension, a very different thing from teaching religion systematically. My objection lies only against the latter, as it cannot fail to render nugatory 0 ID every attempt to. educate on a comprehensive scale. For since the wealthy, whose assistance is indispensable for the erection and the maintenance of efficient schools, and the classes whose children are required to supply the school* with pupils, differ, with respect to their faith, religious teaching inustr always impede the progress of education, unless the wealthy will consent to contribute liberally in aid of schools, of the tendency of which to subvert their own, principles they cannot be ignorant, or the masses be induced to; abandon their religious convictions for such scholastic advantages which wealth alone can provide. While I enter- tain some doubts respecting the former of. these alternatives, I may be permitted to express my dfeciUed conviction that the latter will never be acceded to hence my anxiety to get riifc of both, and to meet on neutral ground where all may unite without any sacrifice of religious principles. III conclusion, let me thank my fellow townsmen and others who have not credited all the bad things that have, been said and written concerning me during the last thn" weeks, and from whom I continue, to. receive assurances oM their confidence and approbation^ In retiring for the present*, to the more immediate discharge, of my pastoral duties, iQ. peace and quietness, with perfect; good will to all, I beg tQ"- subscribe myself the friend of education, and 1" Your oi^dient servant, DANIEL DAVIES Z