The general turmoil about the Government Education scheme waxes rather
than wanes. The opponents have been busy in Crosby Hall and in Exeter Hall, in metropolis and province ; and they muster large numbers in their hostile demonstrations. But they do not seem absolutely unanimous. On the contrary, great differences of opinion prevail among them as to the efficacy of the Voluntary principle and the necessity of State intervention. What they are agreed upon is, to defeat the present measure. The positions actually taken up by the dissidents are these,—that Government ought not to give any such preference to the Church as is implied in recognizing the Establishment, but ought to as- sist all equally ; that Government ought neither to assist nor Interfere; that Government ought not to propound any plan of education apart from religious instruction ; and that Government ought not to meddle with religious instruction. The worst of it is, that the opponents are not to be classed severally under these beads; but that each set joins some others on one or more of the points, in such manner that whatever is done or left undone is pretty sure to have a majority of the Dissenters against it. The supporters of the measure, however, are coming out in greater strength. There has been a large meeting, with Lord Ash- ley and divers Bishops at its head, in Freemasons Hall ; and about the country the same party is neither idle nor scanty in numbers. Among the inimical manceuvres, is a rumour that Government has been carrying on secret negotiations with the Wesleyans for a discreditable compromise ; the Wesleyans to waive their oppo- sition, and Ministers so to arrange the regulations touching the use of the Scriptures in schools as to exclude Roman Catholics from the benefits of the measure. We thought this rumour be- neath notice until we saw that a leading Whig journal deemed it worth a contradiction. That journal assumed that Ministers could not contemplate any compromise so inconsistent and so mean. It appears, however, that, whereas the actual regulations practically exclude Roman Catholics, the Ministers are hesitating about extending the benefit : the extension, says Lord John Rus- sell, demands " mature consideration."
We regard these doubts, indeed, as only one among many traits which affix upon this agitation its true character. Under the pretext of discussing education, divers parties are trying to get up a show of activity,and to rouse the public feeling with a view to the expected general election. There is no other subject handy, except the sanatory measure ; which is also coming into use for a similar purpose. The leading agitators think they have the public ear : the election-agent sneers while he sees the enthu- siasts stir up their fellow-citizens, and profits by the trotting out to count the flock and register its probable divisions in his book. Ministers do ?tot despise such displays: they, too, are looking to the next election, and the cramping chill of fear is on all their actionk
