The Press. — London, England, 1857-04-18 00:00:00

380 THE LIVERPOOL FREE LIBRARY. THE foundation-stone of a free library and mu seum at Liverpool was laid with great ceremony on Wednesday last, by Mr. W. Brown, M.P. for South Lancashire. Among the distinguished per sons present were Sir John Pakington, M.P., Lord Stanley, Sir Harry Smith, Sir Edward Cust, Mr. Monckton Mines, &c. &c. Mr. Alderman S. Holmes, in opening the proceedings, addressed Mr. Brown, and called attention to the hon. gentleman's distinguished munificence : Sir, you did me the honour, during the. period when I filled the office of chief magistrate of this town, to authorise me, when we were reflecting what was best to be dene, to state to the town council on your lit half your intention to present 6,0001. towards the fund for building the proposed new free library. Sir, your munificence stopped not there. You subsequently proposed to double that amount, and recently you went still further in the path of generous munificence, and signified your intention of taking the ertire cost. And, sir, I well remember the words which you uttered on that occasion, as you did not place me in a position which renders it necessary that I should keep them secret. You stated, sir, that Providence having blessed your exertions in viving to you consider. able property, you felt it your duty, while life was yet spared to you, to devote a portion of that property for the present and future benefit of those among whom that property had been earned. Sir, it is a noble thought, a noble idea, and one well worthy imitation. You have learned a lesson which a position of immense wealth, however anomalous it may appear, very rarely teaches. The stone having been duly laid, the Bishop of Chester offered up an impressive prayer. Mi. Brown then delivered a brief address, in the course of which, alluding to the progress of the age and the desire for information among all classes, be referred to the decimal question as one of some importance in con nection with education.— I view this d. Muni question as exceedingly important in facilitating education, and the mote we forward it the more we shall be in a position to avail ourselves of the advantages of libraries. It is only the want of time and of opportunity in baying access to those sileut friends— well-chosen books and museums—which prevent, in many cases, valuable talent being developed that lies dormant and lost fur ever to the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to men of science and of letters when we consider the time and treasure they have spent in solving problems, trying experiments, making discoveries, and perfecting machinery. We ought to hold them in the highest esti mation as the benefactors of mankind, and must regret that for want of access to public libraries to ascertain what was done by others they had sometimes to go over the same ground to arrive at the same result, and lost both their time and their labour, which was a great dis couragement to further advances. Hence, the more we cin facilitate the researches of such men, the more we o.ntribute to the general good in Great Britain and thrmigheut the world. Look at the history of many of o it great and distinguished men, who have become so in ifiite of the difficulties they had to encounter. Let us r move those difficulties as fur as we possibly can, and aid the work of progress. It will not be questioned that knowledge makes us more reflecting beings—enables us bs.ter to appreciate the value of the Constitution under which we live and the many advantages that we enjoy, and b.! less liable to those unfortunate and ill•judged Omni tions of public opinion which generally add to that distress which it was intended to alleviate. I have great faith in free libraries, freedom of discussion, and a free press, which we pre-eminently enjoy, being the best guarantees for our liberty, and for our onward progress as a nation in virtue and in knowledge. So long as we maintain those elements of instruction we add to the happiness of the people, the power of the State, the permanency of the Con- stitution, and secure the stability of the Throne. Lord Stanley, Sir John Pakington, and Sir Harry Smith each delivered a brief address, and the pro ceedings terminated. igy At the banquet which followed in the evening, upwards of WO persons were present, the principal table being occupied by Lord Stanley, M.P., Sir J. Pakington, M.P., Sir Harry Smith, the Bishop of Chester. &c. A letter of regret at inability to attend tits read from the Earl of Derby. The usual loyal toasts and a good wish for her Majesty's speedy recovery having been drunk with great enthusiasm, "The Army and Navy" were proposed, to which Sir H wry Smith and Lord Talbot replied in spirited speeches. Sir li.AniY SMITH, alluding to the progress of education in the army, said : As this is an occasion upon which education is the principal subject, I will mention that upon a recent inspection of the 25th Regiment there were 340 of that r giment voluntarily attending the school, and progressing in the higher branches of architecture and in practical k iowledge. Since the days of old, when our army was ever successful and considered highly honourable, the archers of those days were thought the best soldiers in the world, so now may I say are our infantry considered. We are advancing rapidly in the improvement of the arm exiled the Millie rifle, and the distant fire is more exact than I can well describe; but I trust that the old system of gaining victories by the bayonet, which, in other words, is a rush of gallant men upon a given point, keeping before theta their enemies, will not be lost sight of, and that English soldiers will still learn to grapple with their enemies. THE PRESS. The chairman, Mr. W. HOLME, then proposed the toast of the evening, " The Health of Mr. William Brown":— ' For nearly fifty years as a Liverpool merchant his name has been among us a household term, and he is yet spared to crown a long and active life by a princely act, which is au example to others, and will perpetuate his name to future ages. I claim Mr. Brown as one who sprung from the middle classes of life—as one who was early cast upon the ocean of business, and most manfully, most success fully, and most honourably has he played his part. He is a proof of what may be effected with individual enterprise, with individual honesty, with individual integrity, in a country which is blessed with free institutions, where every man is permitted to reap the fruit of his own indus try, and to employ the fruit of that industry for the pur pose of blessing his fellow-men and extending the benefits of education, and in proposing those numerous institu tions which. blessed be God unile' . the Christian princi ples of England, are scattered like bright gems over the face of our land. Mr. BROWN, in reply, spoke of educational ad vantages with reference to the extension of commerce and the scientific progress of the age : - - It is clear we livo in an age of progress. The Times announced the oth:r day that it is probable we shall not be dependent on raising silkworms for the production of that valuable raw material, as it has been discovered that it is in the leaves of the mulberry tree, and can, by a chemical process, be obtained from them to any ex tent. if this discovery can be carried out with economy, it may make a complete revolution in the use of cotton by the substitution of silk ; and we may see our females clothed in robes that added to the dignity of a Roman emperor. Discoveries of this kind till us with wonder and amazement. They are due to advancing science, and I think clearly point out that there is yet an im mense field of enterprise open to the world. The long peace we had from 1815 to the commencement of the late Russian war was no doubt extremely favourable to human prooTess. Let us hope that our difficulties with China maybe of short duration, and end in an honour. able adjustment of our differences, and that peaceful commerce will continue to extend, and carry Chris. tianity and civilisation to every part of the habitable globe. We cannot but feel ourselves in an enviable position that it has been our good fortune and our destiny to plant the Saxon race, with our language, our laws, our literature, and our religion, in some of the most rising countries in the world, who feel an h Driest pride in acknowledging our paternity, where family clic• ferences never should arise to disturb that good under standing and harmony which now happily everywhere exist, and which it is the duty of all to cultivate and perpetuate. - - The " Health of the House of Stanley " was then proposed, and drunk amidst much enthusiasm. Lord STANLEY, M.P., rose to reply. He said : Gentlemen, it is with more than common pleasure that I rise upon such an occasion to respond to such a toast. Between the family which I stand here to represent and the town whose guest I have the honour to be there has existed for several centuries an intimate and unbroken connection. If we are to go back to those old times, I believe it is now something more than ZOO years ago— nearly one twelfth of the whole recorded annuls of the human race—since an ancestor of mine obtained a licence from the Crown to embattle and fortify a house, the site of which lies somewhere—l know not exactly where — buried among the crowded streets and buildiuga of this vast commercial capital. There may be some vanity in such reminiscences of past times; but, standing here, 1 may be permitted to say that none can more rejoice, none can more exult in the present greatness and the glory of the town of Liverpool than those to whose fore- fathers were committed the charge of watching over its earlier and still undeveloped infancy. Gentletoen, we are told that society in the present day has changed, and in some respects it is so. Our improved means of commu nication everywhere, the rapidity with which transit is effected from one part of the country to another, have done much to dispel local prejudices and to destroy provincial peculiarities. Rut, though they may have destroyed pre. judice, though they may have destroyed provincial peculi arities, though they may have fused as it were the various elements of these peculiarities into one similar whole, I do not believe that those characteristics of the present time have destroyed—l do not believe that they have materially weakened those ties of local attachment and local sympathy which are founded upon common interests with the present —upon common reminiscences of the past—when a mutual repository of friendship and good offices plays so important and valuable a part in our social system. (Cheers.) At least I know this, that in that political arena—the House of Commons—where my lot is chiefly cast, we who come from Lancashire, notwithstanding many diversities of public opinion and conduct—whatever may be the political ranks in which we serve—are apt to look upon one another with feelings of mutual friendship and good will. (" Hear," and cheers.) We are proud, and jastly proud, of the intelligence and activity of that section of the population among which we are called ; we are f itroud, and we may well be proud, of the vast influence which this country exercises over the counsels of the State—( cheers )—we are proud, and it is a reasonable pride, of the more than common proportion of eminent men whom Lancashire in the present century has con tributed to the national service. The noble lord then alluded to the patriotism exhi bited in the late war by our great commercial classes. They had never hesitated to declare their respon sibility. In time of peace, also, they used the ad vantages of wealth nobly. The munificence of Mr. Brown was a case in point SATII4DAY, The town of Liverpool may thank him for contributing what will be hereafter and in future always one of the principal ornaments of its streets ; the friends of educa tion may thank him for having given an impulse to the cause which puts to shame the comparative apathy both of individuals and of public bodies elsewhere—(cheers) —but public men may thank him, and England may thank him—and it is to this that I attach the greatest import ance—for giving to those who are not possessors of wealth —to the poor and to the labouring classes of this country —a signal proof that wealth is viewed by those who possess it, not as a means of pleasure, not as an enjoy ment of luxury, but as one means among many of obtain ing the respect and the gratitude of our fellow-citizens— (" Hear, hear," and cheers)—as one means among many of alleviating those hard thoughts and that envy which, in a country of occasional distress and unequal fortunes, will inevitably arise—as one means among many of doing good and permanent service to England, and of promoting the progressive improvement of mankind. ( Cheers.) Gentle men, if a gift like that which we are this day celebrating had been obviously dictated by any motives of ambition, you would accept it with thanks, but you would feel that the giver had had his reward. (Hear, hear.) If, also, it were a posthumous benefaction, you would think the donor entitled to your thanks, but you would feel that the gift had been made at no sacrifice of present en joyment. ( Hear, bear.) But, as it is, you are well aware that Mr. Brown can have no personal object or interest to serve, except, indeed, the wish that I apprehend is felt in all generous minds—the wish of honourably connecting his name with the history of the community among whom his life has been passed. (Cheers.) He will see, we trust, the completion of his own liberality. (Hear.) He will live to witness the enjoyment which many thousands derive from the gift which we are celebrating this day. (Cheers.) Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, in replying to his health, in eloquent terms alluded to Mr. Brown's princely liberality. Mr. Ewart, ➢I.P., Mr. Picton, Monckton Milnes, and ➢lr. Hawthorne, the United States' consul, having each addressed the guests, the proceedings shortly terminated. LORD ROBERT CECIL ON EDUCATION. LORD ROBERT CECIL in addressing an influential meeting at Stamford last Wednesday upon the sub ject of education, alluding to the common observation that we were educating the people too highly, observed that if any organic change took place in the electoral system it could not possibly be deemed safe until the people were educated to meet it : The other day he saw a speech of a gallant major ad. dressed to a metropolitan constituency. Major Reed said he thought every man in England perfectly competent to educate himself. (Laughter.) Those who had read the Times newspaper—and he supposed that included all pre sent—must know that within a very few weeks there had been a frightful exposure of the abyss of ignorance upon which we were standing. Everybody must have read the extraordinary details of a belief in w:teheratl, furnished by magistrates from different parts of the country, which showed that that most ludicrous of all superstitions still clung with unyielding tenacity to our rural population. Most of these people were strict believers in witchcraft. They selieved that whenever a cow fell ill or a pig died some old woman ought to be tried for it ; and that if any. body was out late at night they had been carried off by some spiteful neighbour, and whirled 100 miles an hour through the air. The very people who believed these things would be the people who, by the organic changes alluded to, would be intrusted with the choice of their representatives in Parliament. Now, remember what the choice of a representative meant. It meant the choice of the person who made the laws, who imposed the taxes wo were to pay, and who devised measures for the security of our lives and property. Now, if we wished to extend the franchise to the people in question, it would be absolute madness to do so unless the educated classes made " a strong pull, and a pull altogether," to educate them up to the duties which they would have to perform. But that was not the only light in which the ques tion of education should be viewed. We were entering upon one of the greatest social changes that any nation ever ventured upon in attempting the abolition of transportztion : Now, for the first time in the history of the world, pos sessing a crowded population with every temptation to crime, and without any of those resources which were at the command of arbitrary Governments, we were turning a stream of the most hardened criminals upon the social system of this country, to go back into their own neigh bourhood and be the centres from which crime might radiate. From all he saw and beard he feared this state of things would be unchanged, and that that was the system we should have to pursue ; and the only chance we had to mitigate these evils and to remedy the dangers that threat ened us was to stop the source of crime ; and that was in a great measure ignorance. He did not say that education would absolutely abolish crime. There must be a very different and higher machinery brought to bear upon it. But lie did say that knowledge was a powerful agent in the repression of crime; the two were antagonistic one to the other. Education again had higher aims ; it was part of the " great scheme of evangelisation ": There was now around us heathens as degraded as could be found in any nation in the world; and what was a stronger fact still, not only were there such heathens, but he would venture to say there was nowhere in the world that stolid, invincible, insuperable ignorance, which