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boys, from eight to ten years old, running in and out of the burning stoves" (small drying rooms, within or near the workshops, heated by a stove), "till the sweat literally pours down their bodies, and the poor things become emaciated and enfeebled for life."

We leave the question of the physical condition of the potters to those who are well able to deal with it; but we have heard from persons acquainted with the subject, that the above statements must be received with caution; as the case of the boys is quite exceptional, and the appearance of the population in general gives a decided contradiction to the others; and the potters, as a class, can well compare, in stature, in form, and in health, with the operatives of any other manufacture in England. And Mr. Longe states, with much frankness, (Report, p. 4,)—“ I have myself observed a great many of them (boys) at their work, and questioned them upon the subject, but I found very few who had suffered from any ailment which seemed attributable to their work. They generally appeared brisk and happy, notwithstanding their dirty and ragged appearance."

As to the employment of very young children interfering "injuriously with their education," there can be no doubt. It appears from the Report, that there are in the PotteriesFactories

180

In them, total number of persons employed 30,000
Of whom, Adults.....

Young persons
Children

19,000

6,500

4,500

Of the children, many begin to work at six, seven, and eight years old. As a matter of course, the education of such young children is neglected. The assistant commissioner states that, among those youngest children examined in Stoke, 37 per cent. could not read; in Hanley, Shelton, and Etruria, 43.5 could not read; and in Fenton and Longton the average rose to 63.7 per cent.

The Rev. H. Sandford, Assistant Inspector of Schools, in the course of a long statement, says that he visited certain evening schools. There were present 256, of whom 138 could not read the Testament, and 127 could not write their names. Most of them were "mould runners, "jigger turners," and "paper cutters." Again he says,-"In one of the most favoured districts, in a well-conducted night-school of fifty, I found only nine who could work a sum in compound multiplication. Out of about 120 young potters belonging to some other evening classes, not more than seven could work a sum in compound multiplication."

The state of education is certainly at a low standard; and if only for the sake of the moral condition of the people, re

medial measures ought to be applied. But what is the remedy proposed?

The Commissioners propose, in the first place, the appointment of a Medical Inspector by the Secretary of State for a limited time, with power of entry into, and inspection of, the potteries; with certain notices to owners, in case he found places of work deficient in ventilation, or otherwise injurious to health. And, secondly, the half-time system of the Factory Act.

At an influential meeting of the clergy of the district, held to consider the question in all its bearings, it was almost unanimously resolved-That, though legislation, for obvious reasons, was required, yet that the application of the Factory Act to this district would not be advisable; because, in the first place, from a knowledge of the work, they considered it would be difficult for the men (who engage the services of the boys and girls, and are really their masters, while the manufacturers are the masters of the men themselves) to train two sets of boys to the special and often delicate work which they have to do in many cases, the boy-worker being almost a part of the man-worker-watching his eye, and obeying a look or a nod. Secondly, because the result of the Factory Act, in places where the above objection did not exist, was, "that two-thirds at least of all half-timers appear not to be sent to school previous to employment (Report, p. xxxiv.), which seemed as if the parents knew that the children must go to school when employed, and therefore were careless about sending them to school under eight years old; thus losing some of the best years for elementary instruction. And thirdly, because, in order to find a supply for second gangs of children, (about 4000 additional children would be required,) the manufacturers must come to the schools, and take away, for half-timers, a sufficient number of children between eight and twelve years old, who are now altogether in the schools; or it would cause a large additional number of girls to be employed as assistants to men of all ages-a practice to be discountenanced for every reason. The general opinion of the clergy seemed to be, that a limit as to age and hours, and an educational test, would meet the case so far as the employment of young children was concerned. But it was decided to hold another meeting on the subject early in 1864, when fuller information might be brought to bear upon it.

Since the meeting alluded to, the committee of "the Staffordshire Potteries Chamber of Commerce" have agreed to a report upon this subject. The Committee call attention to the facts, that as to "the employment of children in the manufactories at too early an age," the manufacturers themselves were the first to appreciate and to seek to remedy the evil; that many have made it a rule not to allow a child under

ten years of age to enter their works; some having extended the minimum age to eleven, and some to twelve or more. The committee then discuss the merits of the two systems at present at work in other places. The commissioners recommend the Factory Acts, which allow children from eight to thirteen years old to be employed "half-time;" providing for their education the other half. The committee prefer the Mines Regulation Acts, which prohibit altogether the employment of children under ten years of age; and requiring for boys between ten and twelve a certificate either of their having learnt to read and write, or that they are still attending school for a specified number of hours per week. The committee then proceed to state strong reasons, from the peculiarity of the potter's work, why the Factory Acts would not be suitable to this district. And they express surprise at the proposal to legalize working from so early an age as eight years, as a backward step; and they remark that the commissioners really give no reason why that course is preferable to the plan adopted in the Mines Regulation Act.

Then, after describing the complications of the various parts of the pottery trade, and the difficulty of remedying the evils complained of by the application of mere science, and concurring with the commissioners in regard to prohibiting children under thirteen years of age from working "overtime;" and expressing their readiness to adopt, at "any reasonable expense and inconvenience," any means of remedying the evils; they conclude an able report in the following words:

"Having thus gone through the different proposals contained in the Commissioners' report, we shall now conclude with the following summary of the principal points to which we think attention should be directed in any legislation that may take place on the subject:

"1.-Prohibition of employment in the manufactories of all children under ten years of age. (Every child to be entitled to receive a certificate of age from the registrar of births without charge.)

"2.-Requirement of a proper course of education in the case of children between ten and thirteen, who have not learned to read and write.

"3.-Prohibition of working overtime, or during meal times, by children under thirteen.

"4.-Ascertaining the best practical means for improving those departments of the work in the manufactories which are found injurious to the health of the work-people."

Considering the importance of the question, the great population concerned-thirty thousand work-people; probably an equal number depending upon them for support; in addition to thousands employed as miners, diggers, flint burners, carriers, sailors, boatmen on canals, crate-makers, papermakers, colour-makers, builders, carpenters, shop-keepers,

salesmen, and others--and considering the great principle of religious education in so many national and other scriptural schools which is involved, we trust that there may be wise legislation upon the subject.

Then we may expect that the rising generation, freed from those impediments which "interfere injuriously with their education," may be brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," and that, saved by grace through faith in God our Saviour, they may be steadfast in well-doing, to the glory of their Lord: so that it may be said of them spiritually, as it was said literally of the pilgrim potters of whom we read in 1 Chronicles iv. 23, "These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: THERE THEY DWELT WITH THE KING FOR HIS WORK."

W.

THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES IN CONNEXION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. DEFICIENCY OF CANDIDATES FOR HOLY

ORDERS.

ALL our readers are aware that, within the present generation, a considerable number of Theological Colleges have sprung up in various places in connexion with the Church of England. The oldest of these, St. Bee's, or Begh's, in Cumberland, dates no further back than 1816. It was followed, in 1822, by St. David's, Lampeter, for the education of Welsh candidates. Then came the University of Durham, in 1833; and King's College, London, about the same time. There followed in succession six or seven others of inferior note; of these, St. Aidan's, Birkenhead, may perhaps claim to be the chief. Chichester, Cuddesdon, Exeter, Lichfield, Salisbury, and Wells, have their theological colleges, and the list is closed with Queen's College, Birmingham, St. Augustine's Missionary College, Canterbury, and last of all, though by no means least of all, the Missionary College at Islington, under the care of the Church Missionary Society. The last two we mention only to complete the list; they do not profess to educate candidates for the Church at home, and the remarks which follow are not meant to apply to them.

Except King's College, London, the modern University of Durham, and Queen's College, Birmingham, all these colleges confine themselves exclusively to the education of candidates for the ministry in the Church of England. We also receive considerable reinforcements, in the northern counties, from the

University of Dublin; and as our two ancient Universities still flourish, it might be supposed that the supply of candidates for Holy Orders would be far greater than the demand for their services; that we should have a plethora rather than a deficiency; that bishops and incumbents would be besieged by applicants anxious for employment, but unable to meet with cures, and willing to accept the slightest emolument for the sake of gaining admission into Holy Orders.

Nothing of this kind has taken place, but just the reverse. During the last thirty years, the population and the wealth of England have nearly doubled; but neither of the old Universities educate more students than they did thirty years ago, and the number of those who take Orders is even less. At Oxford the falling off is considerable; at Cambridge it is not quite so great; but in neither of the two does there seem to be the slightest tendency to improve in this respect. If affection to the National Church be measured, on these national barometers, by the number of candidates for the sacred ministry, the indications are gloomy. If we turn to the theological colleges, the prospect does not brighten. Whatever the causes may be, the facts lie beyond dispute. Young men, even thoso of zeal and piety, hesitate to come forward. Those who are only cleverly ambitious have almost ceased to present themselves for a profession for which indeed they are totally unfit. Thus the Church of England is in a fair way, if no remedy can be found for a state of things becoming daily worse, to sink into premature decay from the want of ministers to officiate in her churches. Two questions confront us, and both of them must have an answer, for the consideration of the subject has been too long delayed. First, how is this deficiency to be explained? and next, what steps can be taken for its removal?

As to the first, it is easy to lose ourselves in what have been termed barren generalities. We might run through a score or two of plausible reasons, and support one and all of them by particular instances; and yet say nothing, or but little, to the purpose. Parents deserve some share of blame; since they might have done much, could they have been induced to place the ministry of the Gospel before their children in its true light, even as the noblest employment for the noblest intellect. But parents, with a few rare exceptions, never have done this. Colleges and tutors might have thrown their influence into the scale, and, for a time at least, with great effect; but we doubt whether their own sense of honour would have permitted them to do so, or whether it would have become their office. So far as we have had an opportunity of judging, the objection lies, not to the work itself, but to the conditions under which the work must be performed. Some of the advocates of liturgical revision have maintained, that the terms of subscription, and

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