religious habits, and those might be formed in a national school which did not impose any dogmata upon the minds of the pupils? -I should say so certainly; at the same time I wish it to be understood that by dogmata I mean the peculiar tenets of any particular sect: the leading and distinctive doctrines of Christianity ought not to be omitted. It is these only, I conceive, that are within the province of the schoolmaster, his vocation being more of a literary than of an ecclesiastical character.

Assuming that there is a general coincidence in all Christian sects, those truths might be taught in a national school, without trenching upon any religious differences that might exist between them?-I think they might.

And, therefore, if there were a spirit of forbearance among the Christian sects at this time existing in England, there would, in reality, be no objection on this score to the institution of a national education?-Not the least, I should think. There is in the present day, as far as I have observed, less of excitement and mutual hostility between the different sects in Germany and France than in England; and, accordingly, in the ministerial and official instructions sent out to the prefect of the circle or department, as well as to the teachers themselves, they are strongly enjoined to encourage mixed schools, where the children may practically learn the principle of toleration and mutual forbearance, and where that cannot be done, the authorities are invited to take every means to provide such religious instruction apart as shall be thought necessary, or even to form separate schools. The last, however, they consider as a resource not to be resorted to, unless all means of uniting the two persuasions shall be found unavailing.

"Do you not suppose that the teaching of various sects in one school, under that system of Catholic faith, if it may be so called, would very much tend to promote general kindliness amongst the whole population?-I think so desirable an object most likely to be attained by such a joint and mixed system. Judging both from reason and experience, I should say it is a result that could scarcely fail to take place.

"Do you not think a true Christian feeling would be created by such a system of National Education?—I do.

"Do you consider that, in any way, the interests of religion would be injured by such a system?—On the contrary, it appears to me that the amount of religious feeling, and true Christianity wonld be increased very considerably by such an arrangement, inasmuch as we are all taught to believe, and cannot help believing, who are familiar with the Scriptures and the New Testament, that brotherly love is the first of Christian virtues."

The religious instruction of the candidate teachers in the normal school was, by the regulations of the Committee of Privy Council, to be in strict conformity with the tolerant principles which have characterised our modern legislation. The regulation contained in the Minute of the 14th April was as follows, The religious instruction of all candidate. teachers, connected with the Established Church to be committed to the chaplain, and the special religious instruction to be committed (in any case in which a wish to that effect is expressed) to the licensed Minister of the religious persuasion of the candidate teacher, who is to attend the school at stated periods, to assist and examine the candidate teachers in their reading on religious subjects, and to afford them spiritual advice."

Let us inquire whether the Dissenters of England are entitled to so much respect in the regulations of a normal school. We may ascertain their title to consideration by examining the degree in which they have spontaneously assumed the charge of the primary education of the people of this country. If we find them in charge of a considerable amount of the primary education at present provided for the people, those who will not listen to right may perhaps be inclined to bend to necessity; or those who refuse to admit the principle must contrive to dispose of the fact. And here, we again find ourselves greatly indebted to the labours of the London and Manchester Statistical Societies. In the towns of Manchester, Salford, Liverpool,

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Bury, York, and Birmingham, comprising an estimated population of 713,000 inhabitants, the following table exhibits the number of children receiving instruction in the Sunday schools of different religious classes, and also affords similar information respecting the three divisions of Westminster, comprising 215,000 inhabitants.

NOTE. In the case of Birmingham, the average attendance is not specified, it is therefore presumed to be the same as the number of scholars on books.

The number of Sunday schools in these towns under the Church Establishment was 107, under Dissenters 197, under Catholics 16, unconnected with any religious body 4. The average attendance of scholars at the Church schools was 22,841, at those of Dissenters 42,206, at Catholic schools 4,563, and at schools unconnected with any religious body 513.

The table referred to in the note contains these facts in detail for the five northern towns.*

The religious profession of the teachers of the various classes of day and evening schools in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Bury and York, and in Westminster, is shewn in the following summary, proving to what extent Dissenters have charge of the common daily instruction of the children of the middle and lower classes, in the great towns of this country.

* See Appendix, Table No. IV.

In the above classes of schools, out of 2159 teachers, 1185 were members of the Established Church; 170 were Catholics; and 730 Dissenters; while the religious profession of 74 teachers was not ascertained.

We are indebted to the Reports of the Commissioners of Inquiry into the condition of the Hand-loom weavers for the following statement of the condition of popular education in the city of Coventry, and the contiguous weaving districts of the ribbon manufacture, as collected by their secretary, Joseph Fletcher, Esq.

Remarks Explanatory of the Accompanying Table.
SEE APPENDIX.

"From the accompanying table it will be seen,

"Ist. That the population of the City and Weaving District of Coventry in 1831, was somewhat more than 55,000, and must now, therefore, reckoning on an increase of 15 per cent. which that of the previous period more than justifies, be no less than 63,000.

"2nd. That the number of healthy children, from two to fourteen years of age, which the modern prevalence of Dame and Infant Schools in our manufacturing districts, marks as the

limits of the school ages, is therefore about 15,000, or nearly one-fourth of the population; the proportion of those from 5 to 15 in the City and County of the City in 1821, being between one-fifth and one-fourth, according to the Census.

"3rd. That besides the children of the richer classes at the City Free Grammar School, and about twenty-five private schools, there are 9,369 children receiving instruction of some kind, so that the total number of children receiving instruction will be about two-thirds of those from two to fourteen years of age, while the other third are under no school discipline whatever, even on the Sabbath.

4th. That of the total number receiving instruction, only 2,957, or scarcely one-third, receive any whatever in private schools, at the cost of their parents; and of this number, excepting the children who attend the very few pay schools which give an instruction similar that of the ordinary Lancasterian Schools, nearly the whole are in Dame Schools, or subscription nurseries, of the most wretched description, in which little attempt at religious instruction is made, (though sometimes the Catechisms of different creeds are found in the same schools;) and which are best described by their usual name of "out-of-the-way Schools," from the children being sent to them chiefly to be out of the way of their parents or of harm.

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'5th. That 6,412, or more than two-thirds of the children receiving any instruction, RECEIVE ONLY PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, which is already, therefore, a permanent institution, though on the voluntary system.

"6th. That of this public instruction, nearly two-thirds is, at the present moment, in the hands of Dissenters, with some few Roman Catholics, under whose management 4,123 of these children are receiving all the schooling which they obtain; leaving only 2,289 under the management of the Church.

"7th. That of the children receiving public instruction, 4,150, or nearly two-thirds, are under only Sunday School teaching, which is chiefly religious, and, as a means of secular instruc tion, almost beneath notice; and of the total number of chil