OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 3 April 1868)

§ EARL GRANVILLE
said, that since he had given notice of his Question on that subject—namely, whether Mr. Witworth had offered to Her Majesty's Government to endow some Scholarships for the promotion of Education in Technical Science—he found that the Question had been asked and answered in a satisfactory manner yesterday in the House of Commons, and he had that morning read in The Times the Minute of Privy Council, together with an article explaining the whole transaction. It appeared from that Minute that Mr. Whitworth had offered last month— To found thirty scholarships of the annual value of £100 each to be applied for the further instruction of young men, natives of the United Kingdom, selected by open competition for their intelligence and proficiency in the theory and practice of mechanics and its cognate sciences, with a view to the promotion of engineering and mechanical industry in this country, and expresses his hopes that means may be found to bring science and industry into closer relation with each other than at present obtains here. The sum required for that purpose was nearly £100,000, which would be applied to the purpose above stated under a trust deed; Mr. Whitworth himself taking a part in the management of the trust until his death, after which it would devolve on the President of the Council or Minister of Education for the time being. Considering the largeness of the sum involved, considering also that it was given during the life of the donor, who moreover was willing to devote his invaluable time and labour to carry out the scheme, and considering likewise the results which would no doubt follow from this gift, he believed that that was, without exception, one of the most magnificent presents ever made to this nation. Much had been said lately about technical education, as to whether it ought to be extended, and the best means of doing so. Now, Mr. Whitworth was certainly one of the greatest—better judges than himself said he was the greatest—mechanical engineers of the day; and he believed that his discoveries had almost produced a revolution in the application of scientific principles to objects of civil life as well as to implements of warfare. That splendid benefaction also proved that he had accumulated a large fortune, and that he therefore possessed that knowledge and 821 those habits of business by which alone great manufactories could be successfully carried on. Now, Mr. Whitworth had come to the conclusion that in this country science and industry were not sufficiently connected; that while we had great scientific men, and some of the best workmen in the world, there was a want of the proper diffusion of scientific knowledge, and there was not a due bringing together of theoretical and practical knowledge. What Mr. Whitworth proposed would not only give an impetus to instruction in science afforded in our primary and secondary schools, but would cause the workmen to be taught the theory of that which he was doing. On the other hand, the man of higher station and greater cultivation would be required to gain a practical knowledge of mechanical industry. Now that, he thought, indicated to the Government and the country the true course which should be adopted on that subject. In the Minute to which he had referred, an opinion was expressed that much might be done by private and local efforts towards providing for all classes in our several large centres of manufacturing industry the means of acquiring instruction in the sciences applicable to productive industry; and the Committee of Council also added that they would be glad to receive from Mr. Whitworth any further suggestions which he might wish to make, and likewise to assist him in carrying out his object. Now, at a time when he was afraid that our revenue was decreasing and our expenditure increasing, he did not, for himself, desire to recommend any additional public outlay; but there were purposes for which a moderate expenditure would be perfectly justified, and, he believed, that at the cost of a very small sum of money indeed, probably a few hundred pounds, the Government could offer very material assistance in that respect. A very infinitesimal sum would suffice to defray the cost of conducting, directly or indirectly, the examinations for the proposed thirty scholarships. He had no doubt that Mr. Whitworth's example would be followed. At present there were Professors of Civil Engineering at London University and King's College, as also in Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester. What had been done by the Government in respect to the teachers in art might be extended with advantage to the professors of science. There was a time when the Government gave a fixed salary to those art teachers, and the result 822 had been most unsatisfactory; but afterwards a different system was adopted, under which guarantees were held out to competent teachers. The effect of that change had been that, in almost all those schools of art, the teachers were earning at least the full amount of the sum guaranteed to them, and in some instances twice and even thrice that amount. He knew not how the case stood now; but when he was himself in office the Government were not asked for a single shilling to carry out the guarantee. That was a matter well worthy the attention of the noble Duke (the Duke of Marlborough), and therefore, instead of the Question of which he had given notice, he would ask him, Whether the Government had communicated with Mr. Whitworth on the subject, or whether they would themselves consider how the State could, in the most efficient and practical manner, do that which the Government would, he was sure, most willingly do—namely, assist that distinguished gentleman in carrying out his magnificent project?

§ THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH
said, he was sure their Lordships would all feel that the noble Earl (Earl Granville) had not taken up their time unnecessarily in bringing that subject before them; for a gift of that nature, so munificent in its character, and reflecting such credit on the donor, was one deserving public notice in that House, and he was glad the noble Earl had brought it under their consideration. The noble Earl had accurately stated the facts as they had appeared in the public prints, although the notice of the Minute of the Privy Council had not been inserted in the newspapers officially. He himself, therefore, need not occupy their Lordships' time by narrating what had been already made public. But, for his own part, he must express his satisfaction that Mr. Whitworth had taken the course which was the true and correct course for the manufacturing interest to adopt in this country on the subject of technical education. Great pressure had of late been brought to bear upon the Government from various quarters, to induce them to take the initiative in any steps which might be requisite for promoting the general diffusion of technical education throughout the country. It was not to be lost sight of that the subject of technical education had a special and important bearing and interest upon the manufacturing prosperity of the country, and therefore he thought 823 that, although it was desirable that assistance should be given for the promotion of this object, it would not be sound policy for the Government to step in and initiate very expensive measures on the subject. Those who sought to originate such measures were those who were interested in the manufacturing prosperity of the country. Mr. Whitworth's gift was a step in the right direction, and showed the value he attached to correct instruction in science connected with the industry of the manufacturing population. The noble Earl had stated—and the Minute of Council which had been made public had shown—the action of the Department in regard to Mr. Whitworth's munificent gift. At present the Department had only received an intimation of Mr. Whitworth's intention; and they had at present no knowledge of how he wished the gift to be administered and the exact manner of its practical application. A communication had been made to Mr. Whitworth requesting him to furnish the Department with information on this subject, and the Committee of Council had expressed their willingness to assist him so far as was practicable. They were now awaiting his reply. In all probability Mr. Whitworth would wish to retain the general management of this fund in his own hands during his life-time; but he would, no doubt, be desirous that the Government should assist him by some mode of examination by which the comparative merits of the candidates for the scholarships should be tested. As soon as the Government were in possession of the precise terms of Mr. Whitworth's gift they would give the matter their best consideration, with the desire of aiding him as far as they could. As to the general question of how far the Government could assist the progress of technical education, he believed that the suggestions of the noble Earl were well worthy of attention. He thought that at a very small expense, and without going the length advocated in some quarters and by some of the deputations that had waited upon the Government on the subject, very considerable assistance and great encouragement might be given to the progress of technical education generally, following out the great principle that local exertions should be set on foot in the first instance. By giving some assistance to professors or to Colleges either now existing or which might hereafter be called into existence, he thought that considerable encouragement might be given to technical 824 education at a very small expense; and he did not think that the public would grudge the expense. It would, however, be premature to form any decision on a subject which was now under the consideration of a Committee of the other House. That Committee would, no doubt, throw a light on the subject, and make practical suggestions which the Government would, he hoped, be able to adopt. It would, perhaps, be for the convenience of their Lordships, that he should lay the Minute of Council on Mr. Whitworth's gift upon the table.

§ LORD TAUNTON
said, that there could be only one sentiment in the minds of the public—especially that portion of it which was connected with manufactures—as to Mr. Whitworth's gift. That very noble gift came at a most opportune time, when public attention was specially directed to the application of science to manufacturing and industrial processes. One of the advantages of the Paris Exhibition had been that English manufacturers and the most intelligent artizans had returned to this country deeply impressed with the feeling that they could not afford to throw away any advantages they could obtain, and that we were bound to educate our people as highly as those of other nations. It appeared to be admitted that many important branches of our manufactures were beginning to feel the effects of a closer competition than they had ever before experienced. It was singularly appropriate, therefore, that, at the present moment, this movement in favour of technical education should have originated from so eminent a mechanician as Mr. Whitworth. He hoped that his example would be followed, as there was every reason to suppose it would, by others, and he had no doubt it would stimulate not only the munificence of individuals, but also that of commercial bodies. It had been supposed that much might be done in ordinary schools of instruction to teach the elements and rudiments of technical education. Having been engaged in an inquiry into the present state of educacation of the country, he must express his opinion that the education of the children of the middle classes ought not to be of a technical, but of a general character. The general elements of science applicable to all arts ought to be taught; and a boy who had learnt these would be much better prepared to receive a technical education such as had been pointed out, than he was at present. He heartily concurred in 825 thinking that the country was under great obligations to Mr. Whitworth for his splendid donation. The result would be much greater than the mere gift of money; because it gave the country an example to be followed, and which would in the end produce the most important benefits.

§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSET
said, he wished to bear his testimony to the great value of the gift. He had known Mr. Whitworth pretty intimately for the last twenty years, and had had the pleasure of going down and seeing his establishment in Manchester. It was most interesting to see there the union of science with practical knowledge by which Mr. Whitworth had risen to the great eminence he now enjoyed. There were plenty of good workmen and scientific men; the difficulty was to find a good foreman, who, with the skill of the workman, united a superior scientific education. Mr. Whitworth was himself the very example of the man possessing the knowledge most wanted in this country, as he combined in the highest degree the two qualities. He admitted that it was difficult to give technical education in many branches, but an important step had been already taken by the Government in this direction. A few years ago, with the concurrence of noble Lords opposite, he commenced a system of teaching at Kensington by which shipwrights in the dockyards had an opportunity of acquiring scientific knowledge, so as to combine this with manual skill, and the plan had worked very satisfactorily. He believed an analogous system might be adopted by the introduction of scientific education in combination with manufacturing skill, though he was not an advocate for the Government undertaking technical education in all its branches.