be wished that the clergy would for their own honour, as well as for the sake or public order and decency, lend themselves roundly to this part, from the bishops downward; but I despair of this and am apprehensive it might endanger the scheme, if it was so much as hinted; I conceive there can be no great difficulty nor expense, from the calculations I have made in my own neighbourhood, to effect it perhaps better without them.[1]
"What I most desire is that no half measures may be pursued. If ale houses are only in part abolished, if the seeds of the old system are let remain, if a faint establishment is made for education, &c., it will only make things worse, and add expense to experiment. I find what is wanting among us on almost all plans is an honest executive, and I would rather see any one of these heads fairly tried, than the whole faintly attempted."
In order to assist the spread of correct views on this and other economic subjects, especially among the middle and manufacturing classes, which he said were sure to govern England in the long run, Lord Lansdowne at this period interested himself in the publication of an English translation of Condorcet's Life of Turgot. He considered Turgot a great character, even if not a great statesman as he was generally thought to be, and was especially captivated with his idea of establishing certain fixed and fundamental principles of Law, Commerce, Morality, and Politics, comprehensive enough to embrace all religions and countries. He could not how-
- ↑ The following extract from the books of the Baptist chapel in Calne is interesting in connection with the above passage:—"1785. August 20th.—William, Marquis of Lansdowne, intending to encourage the clothworkers' club in this town, sent for me on the subject. At his request I drew up a new set of articles, which his Lordship approved. He subscribed £20 to their stock, and commenced a subscriber of £20 a year, besides an annual present of a fat ox to be divided among the members at Christmas. He also gave a club-room to hold their meetings in. The articles being accepted, the club was removed from the 'White Hart' Inn to the room (thus newly) appointed; their yearly feast, a great occasion of idleness and drunkenness, was abolished, and all needless parade at funerals was suppressed. His Lordship also proposed instituting certain charity schools in the town and neighbourhood, and desired me [the minister of the congregation] to engage teachers and superintend the schools. But the clergy opposed his Lordship's intentions, lest the children should become Dissenters, although it was engaged that the children of Church people should go to Church with their parents." Compare the remarks of Bentham on the opposition of the clergy of the Established Church to Education and the ideas of Lancaster, Works, ii. 420, 468.
