Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming01lang).pdf/38

 The voice of Birmingham was in favour of the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, the repeal of the Corn Laws, the Roman Catholic Emancipation Act, the admission of Jews into Parliament, and the policy of Free Trade. For many years now no Church Rate has been levied in the parish of Birmingham, and in the agitation for Reform, which has resulted in the passing of the bill of 1867, the energy and pertinacity of the inhabitants, especially of the working classes, have revived the memory of the scenes which preceded the great victory of 1832. The influence of the town in obtaining this bill, and in making it worthy of the acceptance of the nation, has been at least equal to that of any other town in the kingdom. As the crowning glory of this series of good works, it should be mentioned that the people are almost unanimous in their demand for a system of National Education, which we trust and believe will be one of the earliest labours of the Reformed Parliament.

It is generally stated, and as generally believed by those who find it easier to accept an opinion than to make enquiries, that Birmingham has not been sufficiently alive to the advantages of education. This, like so many charges, will, upon examination, be found to be utterly groundless. That we have not yet produced any great author, poet, or painter is, perhaps, true; but it we have been earnestly employed in giving is also true that instruction to the people ever since the nation began to understand its duty on this important question. The Blue Coat School was founded as early as 1724; and for nearly one hundred and fifty years has been engaged in the noble work of giving a good, sound education to orhpansorphans [sic], or the children of parents whose poverty and misfortunes render it almost impossible that they should be able to discharge this, the most important of parental duties. Sunday Schools were opened at Gloucester, at the end of 1781 or the beginning of 1782; and in 1784 they were opened in Birmingham. Mechanics' Institutes were founded in 1823; and one was opened