in the bank and in the hands of their treasurers at £105,000. It must be added that the strong recommendations given at York to employ co-operation in agriculture, and the signal success of Mr. Gurdon's experiment in Suffolk, have had their effect in Ireland, where, on the Vandaleur property, there is every probability that the same success would have followed but for the unfortunate insolvency of the landlord. As far as it went, nothing could be more satisfactory. Mr. Craig, its able superintendent, states that when the co-operation had been continued some time the greatest improvement had taken place, both in the comfort and moral condition of the inhabitants, although they at first had taken against it hostile proceedings, which they carried even to the length of a breach of the peace. The cause of co-operation in all its branches owes almost everything to Mr. Pitman, whose constant exertions and self-sacrifice cannot be too gratefully acknowledged by all co-operative societies, and their efforts are justly required to aid him in his work, the conduct of the "Co-operator." t

Nothing can be more gratifying in all respects than the spread and success of co-operation, both as regards the comfort and improvement of the people; and if the middle classes have gained much, the working classes have had a larger share in the benefit. The question then naturally occurs, and it was occasionally asked in the course of the general election, are these classes, preponderant for their labours as well as their numbers, to remain for ever excluded from a direct share in the choice of our representatives? And this question has been received by some with indifference, by others with contempt, and by not a few with proposals, the cause of alarm to most persons. But there is one view which does not appear to have been taken by any of the reasoners on the subject, and it is peculiarly addressed to the promoters of Social Science, because it applies to the great cause of progress in all its branches. The working classes generally, and even a large proportion of the middle order are prone to be too carnest and even impatient for the adoption of measures which they deem necessary or expedient. They do not give them due consideration; they do not perceive the checks which experience has shown to be required for securing safety and conformity with other institutions. lesson is slowly learned-which these classes have never well understood, or only apprehended to make it an object of ridicule or clamour-how much of the best of laws may be the result of compromise or mutual concession, and how often in carrying

The

*The proceeding in Ireland was several years before Mr. Gurdon's. †The able work of Dr. Blaikie, of Edinburgh, "Heads and Hands in the World of Labour," contains much useful and valuable matter.

through any measure, the most important and beneficial, such compromise has been not only expedient but necessary; nay, how much the whole of our social system has been a succession of compromises. In considering any of the proposals for extending the Parliamentary suffrage, this circumstance of prevailing importance is to be well weighed, and we of the National Association are fully aware of its great influence over our supporters in the community.

It must ever be kept in mind that the primary object of co-operation is self-help, the enabling the working man to obtain his goods of the best quality and at the lowest price, to gain his fair wages, and to secure his share in the profits arising from his labour. His gains are as far as possible employed in the education of his children and his own improvement. In this he may be assisted by his wealthier neighbours, and in providing for his relaxation and social intercourse during the hours of his rest. The want of room in his house often obliges him to attend a club, and therefore the best assistance that can be rendered him is to facilitate the forming of clubs, which, among other advantages, have the great merit of coming in competition with the alehouse. Accordingly, three years ago, there was formed in connection with our Association the Working Men's Club Institute, and its operations have been very successful in enabling working men all over the country to form clubs. In all cases the object has been the relaxation and social intercourse of the day labourers. Our colleague, Lord Lyttelton, and others have strenuously supported the institute, whose able and diligent secretary, Mr. Solly, attended our York Congress. It must be added that nothing can be more erroneous than the notion prevailing in some quarters that the object of these clubs is for education and other matters of use to the working classes. These may arise out of them, but the main object is to give the labourers that amusement and relaxation which they require after their work. In all my addresses as President of the Institute, what has been dwelt upon is relaxation and amusement as the primary objects. This has been the fundamental doctrine, admitting the necessity of harmless amusement to men after their day's work.

"These are the swains, who, daily labour done,

With rural games play down the setting sun."-CRABBE.

It is most satisfactory to find that our colleague, Lord Stanley, has lately inculcated this at the Birkenhead Co-operative Meeting, and it is only to be regretted that he had not attended at York, where the same subject was more than once under

the consideration of the Congress, and a paper read upon the subject by the secretary of the Institute.

In our Congress at York, the subject which had occupied us the year before at Edinburgh, of female education as connected with the University examinations, was resumed, and a most able paper read by Miss Emily Davies. Some difference of opinion was occasioned by the mistake that the proposal concerned degrees for females, whereas it was certain that this could not be the case, the examination conferring no degrees at all, as had been fully stated by Mr. Hastings at a preliminary meeting. But, fortunately, the University of Cambridge received most favourably the memorial signed by above a thousand persons connected with education, as well as many others, including some of the most prominent and active members of our own Association. The memorial was presented towards the end of last year, and the question was referred to a special syndicate, who, after a careful consideration, made a report recommending the proposed extension. In accordance with this, a grace of the Senate was passed, giving effect to the recommendation of the syndicate. The scheme is to continue in force as a tentative measure for three years, at the expiration of which there is every reason to believe that it will be made permanent. In the meantime ladies' committees are arranged for the superintendence of the examinations at several of the local centres, and the promise of candidates is already very considerable. Of the complete success of the movement, it is scarcely possible to entertain a doubt. The direct result of examinations cannot fail to be most beneficial, and the moral value of such a recognition by one of our old universities of the importance of female education is likely to be still more widely and deeply felt.

The success of the new system of education in Ireland is a just subject of congratulation, and the rather because an attempt was made by clerical and other bigotry to represent it as a failure. The principle, at all times strongly urged by our Association, of combined secular and separate religious teaching, has been applied, and the result is given in the papers before Parliament. In the year 1849-50, when the Queen's Colleges were established in Belfast, Cork, and Galway, the number of pupils was 395, and last year they were 837. But in Cork and Galway the increase has been much greater than in Belfast, because there education had begun sooner. Notwithstanding the population of Galway has fallen one-half in the time, the number of pupils has nearly doubled. The number belonging to the Established Church is only onefourth of the whole in the three colleges. It must be added that

Mr. Whiteside, the representative of Dublin University (Trinity College), with distinguished candour and consummate ability opposed those who argued that the measure had been a failure. Mention has been made of the great step taken by the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh in favour of female education. What has been done by certain benevolent persons belongs rather to the head of charity than education. Yet it is very important. A hall has been set up for poor sempstresses, who may work there instead of in those wretched garrets to which they are generally confined, and the addition of a cooking apparatus is a great improvement. There is no more praiseworthy employment of the funds which charitable individuals allot to that unhappy class of their fellow-citizens, and the suggestion of Mrs. Wynne is very important-that teaching the use of the sewing-machine is greatly wanted for the class of sempstresses. But the greatest benefit rendered to these poor women is from the companies that have been formed by the principal ladies in London for the dressmakers, with limited liability, for homes under strict regulations, and which have succeeded in an extraordinary manner. One of these companies is in Clifford Street, Bond Street, the other in Grosvenor Street, Grosvenor Square, and these divide upon their profits. In Edinburgh, the society for the employment of women is doing great good in extending the resources of their labour. In the branch of photography the success has been perfect.*

The Commission upon schools issued on the recommendation of our Council has not yet made its report, but it has been actively engaged in the important work. It is much to be regretted that Mr. Chadwick was not named among the commissioners, as his acquaintance with the whole subject exceeds that of most men, and he is the founder of that valuable improvement, the half-time plan. The Commissioners have appointed ten assistants, who examine the schools and their method of teaching, in the different districts of this country as well as in America, and on the continent of Europe. In this country circulars of questions have been issued to 843 endowed, and 152 proprietary schools; and witnesses have been fully examined. The commissioners have sat thirty-five days, and are to resume their sittings for further examination of witnesses in November. It is impossible to doubt that a great body of information, both as to this and to other countries, will be collected, and many useful suggestions made. Mr. H. Roby is their able and diligent secretary.

Mrs. Millar's works, "Voice from the Fireside," and "The Right Thing at the Right Time," are full of interesting matter.

We have great reason to be thankful for the acceptance of one most important plan of law amendment. The Act giving equitable jurisdiction to County Courts had been for many years strongly urged by us. Indeed, that jurisdiction was part of the original Local Courts Bill, and the committee to whom it was referred in 1830, partially approved of that provision. But in 1852 an elaborately prepared Bill was introduced by our Council. This equitable extension had been year after year attempted by us, and is at length carried, at least to a certain extent. The great subject of a Law Digest was handled by Sir James Wilde, in his most admirable address at York, and has been subsequently discussed at our meetings, and an able paper upon it was read by Mr. Reilly. It cannot be said that no progress has been made towards the attainment of this object, for the House of Commons has voted £5,000 to the expense of it, and constant and active work has been bestowed upon the kindred task of selecting for repeal all the statutory provisions which are in fact inoperative, but still continue upon the "Statute Book." It must be added that the work of digesting and consolidating the laws has been undertaken at New York, and is working under the superintendence of our corresponding member, Mr. Dudley Field.

At our last Congress, Mr. G. Denman undertook to bring in a Bill for removing the anomaly in our procedure of counsel not being allowed in criminal the privilege given in civil cases, of summing up the evidence adduced. He did so, and the Act being passed last Session the anomaly no longer exists. The failure of Sir F. Kelly to amend the law of evidence has been mentioned. That amendment, which the Judge Ordinary of the Divorce Court strongly recommended, the enabling parties to be examined, which had been omitted in my Act of 1849, was part of Sir Fitzroy's Bill. The chief objections to that and to the examination of defendants in criminal cases were the same that had been urged against the greatest amendment of the law in modern times, the examination of parties in civil cases; and it may fairly be expected that those objections will no longer be allowed to prevail. Another important clause in Sir Fitzroy Kelly's Bill provided for the granting of a jury in all cases in which questions of marriage or legitimacy are concerned, and it is to be hoped that the measure will, next Session, pass into law.

One great improvement has, however, taken place in this branch of the law, the natural extension of limited liability at all times strongly supported by us. An Act passed last Session excluding from the responsibility of partnership those who lend money to traders and men who receive payment for