§ Sir R. Peelpresented a petition from the pupils who have attended the classes established at Exeter-hall, under the sanction of the Committee of Privy Council, for instruction in certain methods of Elementary education. Having been applied to by those parties, he had yielded to their wish that he should present their petition. He, however, in presenting it, could do no more, according to the rules of the House, than read the heads of the statements contained in it. The petitioners stated, that they were connected with various elementary schools in the metropolis, and that they, and the children intrusted to their care, had derived great improvement in consequence of the classes established at Exeter-hall. In February, 1841, classes had been first opened there, for instruction in singing, and the formation of masters and mistresses, to conduct elementary schools, under the direction of Mr. Hullah; that the plan had succeeded even beyond expectation; and that not less than 2,500 children of the working classes of London were now receiving instruction from masters and mistresses who had attended the classes at Exeter-hall. The petitioners were of opinion, that instruction in music tended to refine the manners of the children; and they found, that it improved order in the schools, and thus promoted the facility of acquiring other branches of education. They wished the plan to be further extended, and that instruction should be given in arithmetic, drawing, &c. The petitioners stated that! the system had been supported by contributions raised by private individuals, and by the subscriptions of those who received instruction; but these resources were found insufficient for the purpose of extending the system. The petitioners, therefore, prayed, that the House would make such an alteration in the appropriation of the annual grant for education, as would enable the Committee of Privy Council to defray the expense of carrying 19 out the plan to its fullest extent. So far as the application of part of the funds annually granted for educational purposes to the encouragement of the praiseworthy object described by the petitioners was concerned, he was prepared to announce the consent of the Crown. He could not, however, give a similar consent to any plan for the erection of a building to be devoted to that object. At the same time, he readily admitted, that it was of very great importance to extend education to the children of the poor; and he believed that the classes established at Exeter-hall had been productive of very great benefit.
Petition laid on the Table.