LORD BROUGHAMpresented a petition from a gentleman of great philanthropy, and whose merits were of a high order, though most of their Lordships differed in opinion with him on certain subjects—he meant Mr. R. Owen. This gentleman had devoted a long life, and Spent the bulk of a large fortune—the acquisition of his honest and skilful industry—in benefiting his fellow-creatures. He was the real and first author of Infant Schools, having formed the earliest establishment of this kind at New Lanark, in the year 1802. The only step which he (Lord Brougham), in concert with his noble Friend opposite (the Marquess of Lansdowne), Mr. J. Smith, Mr. Mill, Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Wilberforce, Lord Dacre, and others who joined him, had made, was this—that Mr. Owen's, in 1802, was connected with his manufactory; and Mr. Fellenberg's, in 1810, was connected with his farm; so that the children belonged in each case to the establishment; consequently, this could not become an institution of a general nature; and then he (Lord Brougham) and his associates took the simple and easy, though important step, of separating the school from any establishment, either manufacturing or agricultural, and planted it in Westminster, near the House. His noble Friend (the Marquess of Lansdowne) and himself sat for several mornings early there to receive the poor children—nearly 200 in number— and this school flourishing, was the parent of all the others now established; among the rest, of Mr. Wilderspin's, which was a year after planted in Spitalfields by Mr. Wilson—one of their (Lord Brougham's and the Marquess of Lansdowne's) associates in the Westminster school of 1819. But they had all merely taken Mr. Owen's plan; and he had lent them the schoolmaster and mistress for half a year; but 508 they remained for six years. Therefore, Mr. Owen it was who alone had the unspeakable merit of being the author of this most important system. His other opinions and principles belonged to a different class; but humanity and perfect tolerance presided over them all. Differing with others widely, he never objected to the most vehement attacks on his very peculiar opinions. He had many years ago examined the state of Ireland, and felt confident at that time, as he did now, that his economical system was pecularly adapted to meet and relieve the distresses of that country. As soon as he heard of those distresses he had started over from America to tender his help. His petition described his principles, and prayed that either a Committee or a Commission might be appointed to examine his plans fully. This petition his Lordship now presented.