LORD BROUGHAM, in presenting a petition from Robert Owen, Esq., said, 125 that Mr. Owen was well known to many of their Lordships as a very benevolent person, who had passed a long life and spent a large fortune in the promotion of philanthropic designs. They might differ with him in his opinion on religious subjects, and might not agree in the views he took of society and the means of improving it; but all must allow that he was one of the greatest benefactors to society as the founder of infant schools, which he (Lord Brougham), with his noble Friend the Marquess of Lansdowne, Mr. J. Smith, Lord Ducie, and others, had only imported to London from New Lanark, whence they had also brought the original teacher, J. Buchannan, by Mr. Owen's kind permission. The inestimable service which he had thus rendered, entitled his opinions upon the condition of the poor, and the means of relieving it, to respectful attention. Some of his adherents adopted the appellation of Socialists; but be (Lord Brougham) conceived that Mr. Owen did not in any way support the wild opinions inconsistent with the institution of property, which often went under this name. Some years ago His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent (father of Her present Majesty) had warmly recommended the plans of Mr. Owen to the attention of the community, declaring that at least they were worthy of the most respectful consideration. His Royal Highness presided at a public meeting on the subject in 1819, two years after the proceeding of Mr. Owen by which he bad declared his peculiar opinions on religious subjects; and it was well known that there never was a more firm and decided member of the Church of England than His Royal Highness. But Mr. Owen's present petition referred entirely to his views of society, and the means of improving it. He (Lord Brougham) had never known a man more amiable in his feelings and more entirely tolerant of all who differed with him; he might add, that he never had seen any inventor or projector more entirely free from the failings to which such men are generally subject.
§ The petition was then read by the Clerk at the table.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEbore testimony to Mr. Owen's merits and services in the great cause of education. With respect to his present petition, it applied for a Committee to investigate his views and plans for the general improvement of society. His noble and learned 126 Friend had not moved for such a Committee, and he (the Marquess of Lansdowne) did not conceive that any practical benefit could result from undertaking such an inquiry at so late a period of the Session as the month of July.