Originally published in Howitt's Journal (William Lovett) vol.1 #3 (16 Jan 1847).
The Elevation of the People, Moral, Instructional, and Social. By Rev. Tomas Mitner. London: Snow.
This is an excellent and useful work, written in an earnest and liberal spirit, and with great knowledge of the important subject on which it treats. No pains or research have been spared in collecting material from which to present a clear view of the present state of the people, and the means for their social and moral improvement and elevation. One only regret we find in going through its eloquent and able pages, which is, that the author does not faithfully record and acknowledge the sources whence he draws so much valuable matter. We can recommend the book nevertheless as a storehouse of knowledge and facts, inestimable to all those who wish to assist in improving and elevating the people. In order to give an idea of the style of the work and the author's mode of reasoning, we select the following passages:—
"More than two millions added to the stated number of home-dwellers in the space of ten years! This is a fact involving fiscal and moral considerations, which equally demand the attention of the civil government and the Church of Christ. The accession, too, in process, year after year, challenges the serious notice of political economists and the friends of religion. The laws of Providence, in obedience to which the nation multiplies, are not evil in themselves. It is vicious legislation, human improvidence, or popular degeneracy, that renders their operation disastrous. Not as a curse did the decree of heaven announce to the patriarch a people sprung from his loins, plentiful as the sand and numerous as the stars. It was the promise of a blessing, at the prospect of which his mind expanded with satisfaction and swelled into triumph. *** But there is room to speak of an overgrown population with nervous anxiety, to mourn over its increase, and apprehend danger from the masses, when legislation provides no adequate outlet, places unjust restriction upon the food of a cooped-up nation, and no commensurate provision is made for the attainment of mental culture and of the bread of life. We have, then, an ill-fed, ill-clad, wretchedly-housed, and wrongly-directed population—as much a pest as the reverse is an honour. This is not, however, with us at least, a necessary evil. Whatever measure of it we have must be regarded as a penalty self-provoked and not arbitrarily inflicted. The resources possessed by the nation, to provide for its own physical, mental, and moral wants, have been restrained by partial enactments, or kept inactive by voluntary indifference; and hence we have no reason to murmur at Providence, but to accuse ourselves. To aim at retrieving the consequences of past neglect and injustice, to endeavour to keep pace with the need of the community, is now the special duty of society; and to be stimulated to its discharge, too much prominence cannot be given to the fact, that with the revolution of every year there are hundreds of thousands added to the general aggregate of the dwellers on our soil."
There is sound wisdom in the following remarks.
"Generally speaking, it is one of our national misfortunes at present, if it be not a national disgrace, that those to whom the country commits its childhood occupy a low social status. The village schoolmaster ranks with the parish clerk and constable; and the intelligent teacher in towns lags far behind the thriving shopkeeper and prosperous merchant in public estimation. The incompetency of such officials has undoubtedly contributed to this effect, and the effect helps to perpetuate the cause; for an inferior standing in society and a scanty remuneration will operate to repel from the office those who are best adapted to fulfil its functions, unless stern necessity compels it. But independently of all deficiency in the class of instructors, it is plain that the national mind has imbibed loose and grovelling views in relation to the office, however unexceptionably conducted. Who are treated with less consideration than the tribe of governesses by the aristocracy of wealth? *** The vice—for it deserves no better name—is extensively prevalent and of long standing. When Boswell wrote to his father, Lord Auchinleck, to inform him that he was coming down to Scotland with Dr. Johnson, the old Scotch judge lifted up his hands in profound astonishment, exclaiming, 'Our Jamie’s clean aff the howks now. Would ony body believe it? he’s bringing down a dominie wi' him--an auld dominie!' It is time for such views, betraying ignorance and folly, to be abandoned. The circumstances around us demand that we judge righteous judgment. Doing so, the mature—whether heads of families, or simple members of society—will warmly appreciate the service that aims to frame aright the intellectual and moral character of the rising race, will adequately remunerate it, and will hold those in reputation who competently engage in it, second, indeed, to none in their status in the social scale. In proportion as this is done, an inducement will be afforded to well-qualified labourers to appear in the field, working for the nation's advance, averting household disaster, diminishing the public burdens, and promoting a more general prosperity. Let us learn a lesson from the Athenians their greatest men were schoolmasters."