powerless to combat effectually against the mass of ignorance. The consequence was that the Education Aid Society developed into the Bill Committee, under whose auspices the National Bill of Mr. Bruce was brought forward in 1867. The Bill Committee was a purely local body, and although it attracted much attention amongst educationists, it did not seek to extend its organisation or influence by combining with other kindred centres. The relation which it held to the League at a short time later, is explained in a letter addressed by Mr. Dixon to the Editor of the Manchester Examiner. A proposal had been made for joint action by the two bodies, and, in a circular issued by the Bill Committee, and signed by their Chairman, Mr. Francis Taylor, an opinion had been expressed that it would be wiser for the League to join in urging upon the Government the adoption of the bill proposed by the Committee, rather than to waste valuable time in discussing a new one. To this Mr. Dixon replied, "that not only was the bill of the League a more complete measure than that of the Education Bill Committee, but, also, that the operations of the League extended far beyond the enforcement of certain views upon a Minister." added, "The work we have set our hands to, is to arouse the whole country to a sense of the extent and dangers of our present educational destitution; to create and guide a strong public opinion: and thus to make possible a bold and comprehensive measure. However desirous the five members of the present Government, alluded to by Mr. Taylor, may be to pass such a measure, they will be utterly unable to do so, unless they are backed by the determined attitude of an active, powerful, and growing party in the country. The Education Bill Committee is composed of gentlemen to whom the friends of education owe much, but their numbers. are insignificant, and, as a body, they are scarcely known beyond their own locality. It was my desire that they He should extend their organisation, so as to become national instead of local, but I was informed that this could not be done. Had my suggestions been favourably received by the gentlemen to whom they were made, Birmingham would not have originated the League, but would have followed Manchester, which in my opinion, ought to have headed, and was entitled to lead a national movement." It has been already explained that the first bill supported by the Bill Committee was for permissive rating, but such a measure was behind public opinion. This was made evident at the Conference of 1868, where a much more decisive course was advocated, and adopted in the new draft which was prepared. The Education Bill Committee was appointed at this Conference and was not dissolved until after the passing of the Act of 1870. (1) The movement in Birmingham, which led up to the formation of the League, began during the mayoralty of Mr. George Dixon. In the first instance it took the form, as in Manchester, of an effort to remedy a local evil. Mr. Dixon had long taken a great interest in the subject, and when on the death of Mr. Scholefield, Member for the Borough, he consented to become a candidate for the vacant seat, it was understood that he was largely influenced by the hope of being able to make some effectual effort for the establishment of a general system. During his mayoralty he had called several private meetings to consider the state of education in Birmingham. Eventually it was determined to form an Education Aid Society for the town, on the model of that at 1 Amongst the Manchester men who took part in the movement were Sir Thomas Bazley, Mr. Jacob Bright, Mr. R. N. Philips, Mr. Cheetham, Professor Christie, Rev. Canon Richson, Rev. F. W. Davies, Mr. O. Heywood, Mr. Alderman Bennett, Dr. John Watts, Mr. W. R. Callender, Professor Jack, Mr. Francis Taylor, Dr. Pankhurst, Mr. W. L. Blacklock, Mr. A. Aspland, Mr. A. Milne, Mr. B. Armitage, Professor Greenwood, Mr. R. Fowler, Mr. S. Robinson, Mr. E. R. Le Mare, Mr. Herbert Philips, Mr. John S. Mayson, and Mr. J. A. Bremner. powerless to combat effectually against the mass of ignorance. The consequence was that the Education Aid Society developed into the Bill Committee, under whose auspices the National Bill of Mr. Bruce was brought forward in 1867. The Bill Committee was a purely local body, and although it attracted much attention amongst educationists, it did not seek to extend its organisation or influence by combining with other kindred centres. The relation which it held to the League at a short time later, is explained in a letter addressed by Mr. Dixon to the Editor of the Manchester Examiner. A proposal had been made for joint action by the two bodies, and, in a circular issued by the Bill Committee, and signed by their Chairman, Mr. Francis Taylor, an opinion had been expressed that it would be wiser for the League to join in urging upon the Government the adoption of the bill proposed by the Committee, rather than to waste valuable time in discussing a new one. To this Mr. Dixon replied, "that not only was the bill of the League a more complete measure than that of the Education Bill Committee, but, also, that the operations of the League extended far beyond the enforcement of certain views upon a Minister." added, "The work we have set our hands to, is to arouse the whole country to a sense of the extent and dangers of our present educational destitution; to create and guide a strong public opinion: and thus to make possible a bold and comprehensive measure. However desirous the five members of the present Government, alluded to by Mr. Taylor, may be to pass such a measure, they will be utterly unable to do so, unless they are backed by the determined attitude of an active, powerful, and growing party in the country. The Education Bill Committee is composed of gentlemen to whom the friends of education owe much, but their numbers are insignificant, and, as a body, they are scarcely known beyond their own locality. It was my desire that they He should extend their organisation, so as to become national instead of local, but I was informed that this could not be done. Had my suggestions been favourably received by the gentlemen to whom they were made, Birmingham would not have originated the League, but would have followed Manchester, which in my opinion, ought to have headed, and was entitled to lead a national movement." It has been already explained that the first bill supported by the Bill Committee was for permissive rating, but such a measure was behind public opinion. This was made evident at the Conference of 1868, where a much more decisive course was advocated, and adopted in the new draft which was prepared. The Education Bill Committee was appointed at this Conference and was not dissolved until after the passing of the Act of 1870. (1) The movement in Birmingham, which led up to the formation of the League, began during the mayoralty of Mr. George Dixon. In the first instance it took the form, as in Manchester, of an effort to remedy a local evil. Mr. Dixon had long taken a great interest in the subject, and when on the death of Mr. Scholefield, Member for the Borough, he consented to become a candidate for the vacant seat, it was understood that he was largely influenced by the hope of being able to make some effectual effort for the establishment of a general system. During his mayoralty he had called several private meetings to consider the state of education in Birmingham. Eventually it was determined to form an Education Aid Society for the town, on the model of that at 1 Amongst the Manchester men who took part in the movement were Sir Thomas Bazley, Mr. Jacob Bright, Mr. R. N. Philips, Mr. Cheetham, Professor Christie, Rev. Canon Richson, Rev. F. W. Davies, Mr. O. Heywood, Mr. Alderman Bennett, Dr. John Watts, Mr. W. R. Callender, Professor Jack, Mr. Francis Taylor, Dr. Pankhurst, Mr. W. L. Blacklock, Mr. A. Aspland, Mr. A. Milne, Mr. B. Armitage, Professor Greenwood, Mr. R. Fowler, Mr. S. Robinson, Mr. E. R. Le Mare, Mr. Herbert Philips, Mr. John S. Mayson, and Mr. J. A. Bremner. CHAPTER V. PERIOD. FROM THE FORMATION OF THE LEAGUE, 1869, To THE PASSING OF THE EDUCATION ACT, 1870. In the new political movement which began upon the death of Lord Palmerston, it became at once apparent that the education question would take a foremost place. In the discussions upon the reform of the representation, Mr. Bright had predicted that the inevitable consequence of an extension of the franchise would be, that the people would at once demand an education system worthy of the country, and adequate to its needs. The strong current of feeling in favour of a comprehensive law was beginning to be manifested on all occasions throughout society. It was impossible to take up a newspap or magazine, or to follow the public life of any large tow without discovering how deeply the attention of a part of community was engaged upon the subject. It was e also that public opinion was taking a much more in and comprehensive grasp of the question. The pec tired of the tinkering process, and of half measure ». sive legislation which was so fashionable in Pa in disrepute in the country, and there was an a measure based on the two principles of co and compulsory attendance. At the conference held in Manchester on 16th of January, 1868, strong expression w views. This meeting was called by the Bill Committee, and was attended not Lancashire men who had led the we subject for thirty years, but by educ |