300 THE ANNIVERSARY DINNER of the Friends and Subscribers to the LANCASTERIAN INSTITUTION took place on May 16, 1812, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street. His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex took the Chair about six o'clock, amidst the applauses of the company, supported on the right hand by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent and His Grace the Duke of Bedford, who sat between the two royal brothers; Lord Fingall and the Marquis of Tavistock were on the left of the Duke of Sussex; at the upper table were the Earls of Rosslyn and Selkirk; Lord Carrington, the Hon. Mr. Elphinston, Sir T. Baring, Bart. M. P.; the Rev. Doctors Maltby, Walls, and Crombie; Reverend Messrs. Malthus, Humphreys, Evans, and Hughes; Messrs. Whitbread, Brougham Parnell, Lyttleton, Hume, Jackson, Wm. Smith, G. Smith, M. Fitzgerald (Knight of Kerry), H. Grattan, M. Burgoyne, Mr. Alderman Wood, Mr. Sheriff Heygate, Col. O'Kelly, Sir Francis Goold, Mr. Burke, with a large party of Catholic deputies, and a number of other highly distinguished patrons of the Institution. After the cloth was removed His Royal Highness took the opportunity of reminding the company of the presence of several Quakers, and requested that they should be left to the observance of their own customs, while the other guests might indulge in the usual festivities. Non nobis was then sung, and His Royal Highness gave "The King, the Patron of the Lancasterian Institution and the Friend of the Poor;" which was drunk with three times three. His Royal Highness then said, that Mr. Braham was obliged immediately to leave the company, and therefore in consequence of that circumstance he wished to call upon him for a song before "God save the King." Mr. Braham then delivered, in a sort of musical recitative, with a sublime effect, the following ode, written for the Anniversary by Mr. Montgomery.. "Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get Wisdom; and with all thy getting, get Understanding PROVERBS, ch. iv. ver. 7, Of all that live, and move, and breathe, Man only rises o'er his birth; He looks above, around, beneath, At ouce the heir of heaven and earth: Force, cunning, speed, which nature gave -These are the lowest powers of man. He soars a disembodied mind: What guides him in his high pursuit, The joys of knowledge shall increase. New spirit breathed into the clod, Man, know thyself, and fear thy God!" His Royal Highness then prefaced the toast of "The Prince Regent," by saying that he had testified his desire to continue his support to the Institution by a donation of one hundred guineas. The health of the Prince Regent was drunk, with three times three. "God save the King" was then sung. "The Queen and Princesses, who are Patronesses of this Institution," with three times three. The Duke of Sussex then observed upon the support given by his illustrious relative the Duke of Kent to the principles of the Institution, by being the first to introduce its system of education into the army, thereby tending to render the soldiers the harbingers of peace and good will to their fellow citizens, and concluded by giving "The Duke of Kent," whose health was drunk with three times three and great applause. The Duke of Kent expressed his acknowledgements for the very flattering manner in which his health had been received, and in an eloquent address observed, that nothing could be a greater satisfaction to him, than to find that the company present were determined to support, by their subscriptions, the very excellent system of education which Mr. Lancaster had matured, and conduce to the extension of its benefits. His Royal Highness stated, that by means of this system a school of 1000 children could be supported for 2171. per annum, and that there were then present toys, who after only two years education had themselves become the masters of schools of 1000 children. It was the education of these schoolmasters that was most essentially requisite, inasmuch as upon them depended the extension of the benefits of the system. The committee who managed the Institution, and which consisted only of six or seven members, had advanced out of their own pockets to the amount of 6000l. for its support; and His Royal Highness again expressed his hope that new subscriptions would flow in, that the Committee might be enabled to extend the benefits of the Institution. His Royal Highness took the opportunity of adverting to the National Society, observing that there was no hostility between the two Institutions, at least on the part of that whose friends and supporters were now assembled, but merely a rivalry in the good work of extending the benefits of education. The Duke of Bedford gave " The Duke of Sussex," whose health was drunk with loud and reiterated applause. The Duke of Sussex returned thanks, and declared his determination to give every support to the Institution, which he considered as calculated to produce the most essential be nefits to the country. A man might act from ambitious or other motives; but some time or other the inward monitor, conscience, would teach him his duty, and show him the real nature of his acts. It was from the most conscientious motives that he gave his support to this Institution, satisfied, that whilst it cxtended its benefits equally to the children of members of the Established Church, of Presbyterians, and of all descriptions of Sects, it did no violence to the feelings, nor did it trench upon the scruples of any of them. The religion and morality taught under this system were derived from that pure source, the Bible, and which might be afterwards applied, according to the peculiar tenets of each class, as taught by their respective pastors. His Royal Highness, in a powerful appeal to the company, on the grand principle of this Institution, said, that a man, when he became the member of a civilized community, surrendered a part of his natural rights for the sake of that common security which was derived from human laws-but he surrendered no part of the right of conscience of the right of the worship of the eternal Author of his being, to whom alone he was to address the grateful homage of his heart, in the way which his conscience, from the interpretation of the sacred Scriptures, dictated to his prac tice. With his form of worship, therefore, no earthly institution had a right to interfere; and he rejoiced to see that a just and universal sentiment of the liberal indulgence of the mind's free lom in the great dutics that existed between man and his Maker, now pe. vaded every part of the United Kingdom. To the fostering and perfecting of this most desirable sentiment, which was fraught with good will and benevolence, and whose first fruits would be union, b oth: rhood, and peace, the Lancasterian system of education was above all others the most favourable, both from its cheapness and its celerity. May we cherish the comfortable hope that its auspicious influence, like a new planet, shall speedily pervade not merely the British isles and empire, but the extended territory of the earth for knowledge which led to peace was not a question of party, or even of land, but a question of man ;-it flowed from the source of religious feeling, and had for its object the happiness of the human race. His Royal Highness strongly illustrated the advantages of the Lancasterian system over other modes of education, by instancing the grant of 40,000l. a year by Parliament for the purpose of educating the poor in Ireland; and yet but 2000 children were educated for that sum. Now, by the estimate that the sum of 2177. only was required for the education of 1000 children on Joseph Lancaster's plan, how extensive would be the comparative benefits to the sister kingdom, if the national grant were thus applied! The Duke of Kent, after a very handsome introduction, gave "The Duke of Bedford," with three times three-a toast which was received with such sympathy of approbation, that the applause continued for several minutes. The Duke of Bedford returned thanks, and observed, that be considered his first acquaintance with Mr. Lancaster as a highly fortunate circumstance, in its having induced him to do ali in his power to contribute to the support of this Institution in its earliest stage. Was he aware that there was any danger in it to the Church Establishment, he would have withdrawn his support; but, on the contrary, he was firmly convinced that it tended essentially to promote the interests of true religion, and that nothing could be a higher tribute to their exertions than to see the Dignitaries of the Church now occupied in the same work of education.-With their establishment this Institution had no hostility, and, he trustel, none was felt by them but that it was merely a rivalry and emulation in a great work, the utility of which all must feel. The Noble Duke stated to the company several instances of the progress and success of schools at Tavistock, Exeter, and other places, and announced the intention of establishing one in a great town near his own residence. His Grace concluded his speech by saying, "I assure you I will ever be the first, on every occasion, to support the system of Mr. Lancaster. He has done more than I expected. He has aroused the slumbering members of the Church, and awakened them from their supineness and apathy; he bas educated the poor; he has given instruction to the ignorant, and hope to the doubtful. I feel unwilling to occupy your time any longer, because my two illustrious friends have so ably enforced the subject. I thank you, gentlemen, for your kindness and attention."-His Grace was frequently interrupted by the cheering of the company, and sat down amidst their universal acclamations. The Duke of Sussex then rose; and, in mentioning the name of Lord Fingail, and drinking his health, he was confident not an Englishman would refuse his sanction and approval. "Lord Fingall," continued his Royal Highness, “is indeed a true friend to the Constitution. His conduct was noble, firm, and independent. The manner in which he ventured to express his sentiments on a question which had engaged so much public notice on the other side of the water, must call forth the thanks and the gratitude of the people. To his lordship, indeed, the public owe much; for he has not only advocated the cause of the unfortunate Irish, but bas ventured his personal safety in their behalf. These, indeed, gentlemen, are not common occurrences; and how must the noble lord feel gratified, while receiving the unanimous approbation of a numerous and respectable assemblage in this mother country!-These are not only my sentiments, but those of every man who wishes well to the people. They are not only those of the noble lord, whom I have the honour and pride to call my friend, but those of the nation." Lord Fingall-was drunk with three times three. His Lordship then rose and declared himself almost overpowered by the feelings he then possessed. There was no person whatever more sincerely and faithfully attached to the cause than the Royal Duke in the chair. How pleasant, gentlemen, is it to us to see royalty thus publicly engaged in advocating our cause! For myself I thank his Royal Highness, and I may venture to thank him in the name of my country. With respect to Mr. Lancaster, the best return I can make, is to endeavour to promote and further that system |