The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 12, 1851.

THE OPENING OF THE PLYMOUTH

M ECHAN I 6S-' L' STITGTE.

LORD EBRINOTON AND MR. ROINDELL

PALMER IN PLYMOUTH.
A largo lecture-hall having been built by the Ply-
mouth Mechanic? Institute, it was formally opened tor ,
public use on Wednesday evening last. The new hall
stands on the site of the old hall in Princess-aquare, and it
has been built after designs by George Wightwick, Esq.,
architect, who, for many years during his residence in Ply-
mouth, was one of the most active and able supporters oftbe
institution. On the basement floor are four rooms, two of
which are suitable for classes, and the others are fitted for
sundry purposes ; on the ground floor accommodation is
provided for the librarian, to whose use two rooms are ap-
propriated ; beside two others of equal size for class-rooms.
fhe library and reading-room are also situated on this flour.
Above all these is the lecture-hall ; its entire length is iu
feet, greatest width '37 feet, and height ad feet, and it ac •
commodates 3,30 on the main floor, besides a committee-
room which can be thrown open in addition, and in which
are 93 sittings. The gallery affords accomm.nla6on for 350,
and on crowded occasions ab-ut one-seventh additional
sitters may find places, and, independently of this large
number, standing moons is provided for 250.
The ball was well filled, and there could not have been
less than 1,009 persona present. Lord Ebrington and
Mr. Roundel' Palmer were much cheered on coining into
the hall. On the motion of George Pridhom, Esq., se-
conded by A. Rooker, Esq., the worshiptul the Mayor of
Plymouth, D. Derry, Eaq., was called to the chair.
the MAYOR, on taking the chair, was received with
loud cheers. lie remarked that ho hail great pleasure in
accepting the honour of presiding over the present meeting.
Ho should have had much hesitation in doing so, did he
not find that he was surrounded by gentlemen who in
the course of the business of the evening would occupy
their attention with details which would atfird them much
pleasure. (Cheers.) He would State, in conclusion,
that the committee had received letters from the Earl
of Carlisle, Lord Droughtm, Lord Morley, Mr. Charles
Dickens, Sir Edward flulwer Lytton, Mr. 'Thomas Wooll-
combo, and Mr. Robert l'orrett Culiier, who, in answer to
invitations sent them, regretted, front various causes, that
they were unable to attend.
Rev. W. 'LODGERS then gave some account of the early
history of the society, and baring given a statement of the
objects of the institution—pointed out the importance of
scientific research and the blessings conferred on all classes
of the community—vindicated Science from the stinposition '
°fits being unfavourable to religion—and concluded by giving
an earnest iuvitatimi to all, without distinction of sex, age,
or condition, to participate in the benefits which such an
institution offers.

Viscount EBILINGTON, M.P., then rose to move the
first resolution, and wus welcomed with a burst of cheer-
ing. Ile said it was with peculiar satisfaction that,
thanks to the powers of etea:u by land and water, he was
able to be present on this auspicious occasion, when, what-
ever might be their politics, there were so many points
upon which they might combine. They had met to cele-
brate a most encouraging epoch in the history of the
Plymouth Mechanics' Institute, which had pursued its career
of usefulness fur nearly a quarter of a century on this spot,
and in the building in which it first assembled. (Cheers.)
Ile must be allowed to say that he had ever felt deeply the
value of such institutions as the present, and he had always
recommended the rich liberally to support them, and the
pour eagerly to avail themselves of the advantages that
were by theta affitrtled. It was but the night before last
that he left their unhappy sister country, Ireland, where he
fuuud everything that had been stated in the public libra-
ries committee of the Mouse of Commons, of which ho was
a member, canfirmed by the unquestionable testimony of
catholic and protestant elergyllloll anti various other par-
ties, with regard to the almost total deficiency of institutions
of this sort. Indeed, the only one with which he was con-
nected in any degree was very near his father's pro-
perty in Ireland, to the vicinity of Waterford, with its
thirty thousand inhabitants, to which, unfortunately, he
contributed, and was made a life member, instead of his
becoming an annual subscriber. That institution was
now closed, and the secretary had most characteristically
impounded the library until his accounts with the members
were completely settled. (Laughter and cheers.) They were
aware that for several years very great numbers of children
were receiving education in Ireland ; latterly there were
40,000 children, a much larger proportion than there was in
this country, or in this western county, receis ing the benefits
of educatiou. But mechanics' institutes were very rare there.
Ile would say that that class fur whose benefit these insti-
tutions were more especially intended, and from whom it
had taken its name, were the persons who ought to seek
its advantages ; and notwithstanding it had been stated,
that iu endeavouring to promote the physical and sanitary
well-being of the labouriug classes, by the establishment of
such institutions as the preent, the founders were actuated
only by a desire to raise theta to the intellectual level of
the classes above, who wished to keep them in slavery,
and also wished to keep them more completely under their
own dominion. (Prolonged cheers.) In demonstrating
the fact that education was the stepping stone to liberty,
his lordship alluded to the penaltiA and punishments
that were inflicted upon parties who taught the negroes in
America to read or write, which punishments and severities
of the laws, were outstripped by the frantic indignation and
prompt violence of the white mobs of masters. Ito was
quite' ure that it was perfectly unnecessary- to say a word
more to them; ho gave them all credit for feeling a sym-
pathy, each with his brother, for de-iriug the britteing about
of the great command, that alt the nations of the world
might be united in the bonds of mutual esteem, good will,
and good works. (Loud cheers) The resolution he held
in his hand was to the effect, that the institution had great
claims upon the community, on account of its tendency to
promote the great work of human improvement. Lord Eb-
rington then resumed his scat, amidst renewed cheering.
G. W. SOLTALT, Esq., had much pleasure in seconding the
resolution which had been read ; and, conceiving that it was
the duty of all who took an interest in the welfare of their
fellow men, he bad consented to assist, however humble his
eudeavours, in promoting so valuable an institution as
the one which they were that evening assembled to comme-
morate.

ItOUNDELL PALMER, Esq., M.P., was received with
loud cheers. Ile rust to move a resolution to this eff,:et,
that it was a subject for sincere congratulation that while
the population of Plymouth and its commerce were rapidly
increasing, the literary and scientific institutions were more
prosperous than at any former period. It would not become
him, he said, to stand before that meeting and attempt to
demonstrate that the population was increasing, or that the
commercial importance of Plymouth was rapidly increas-
ing. Ile should assume that to be the fact in the observa-
tions that lie made to that aFsembly, and he thought that
it wawa subject fur congratulation, that the literary and
scientific societies were more prosperous than ever. It
would be a mutter of great surprise if that were not
the case—and if circumstances were as they ought
to be, they ought not to be very much sur-
prised at them. (Laughter.) If the literary and
scientific institutions were in a state of advance-
ment, co-incident with that of the population, it was not
likely the commercial prosperity of Plymouth would be
either very progressive or very permanent. If the com-
mercial importance of Plymouth was extending, it was
owing to those causes which were in operation throughout
this great country ; and which had for many years been
extending the dignity, and wealth, and power, and the im-
por°anco of all the interests of this country. The learned
, gentleman then noticed the causes of the inereas, of iutelli-
, genre, and their application to commerce and art, to agri-
I culture, and to manufactures. lle remarked upon the re-
volutions which the steam-engine had produced in the con-
dition ot this country. But it was not the single discovery
of the steam-engine alone ; that single principle once 1
dis-
covered had been multiplied and re-produced—by the pro-
' coss of the mind in cultivated man it has been applied in
every direction—now to the art of navigation, now to travel-
, ling by railway, so that places which were at a great dis-
tance were brought into almost a fabulous proximity. The
effects of that were, that they were become so fully accus-
tomed to a state of extraordinary speed, that his noble friend
and himself, when they were enabled to travel only 200
miles yesterday, considered the train extremely slow, and
themselves very much ill-used. (Laughter.) lie would
not multiply these examples, but would refer at once to the
latest discovery—the electric telegraph—which was in itself
one of the greatest triumphs that had ever been achieved ;
but he would not refer to examples for the vain purpose of
magnifying themselves in their own eyes, but would ask
them to recognise the wondrous gilts of God, and to take
' them as a proof of what they might achieve, if they used
the faculties he had given to them ; if they neglected to
cultivate their intellects, they could not expect to benefit
locally or personally by those advantages which the Author
of the world had given to his creatures. These institu-
tions supplied in part the elements of that improvement of
intellect. It would be taking a very extravagant view of
the value of such instituticus as this it it were supposed
that all the education required could be obtained in them ;
but persons meeting in suck a society as this, where
they could learn things that they could not learn
elsewhere, added much to their stores of knowledge. A
stimulus would often be given in such an institution, which
might not be obtained in the solitary working hours of the
student. Ile thought there were also great national ad-
vantages in these institutions, in which all classes might
meet on a common ground to study and communicate the
knowledge of the truth which God had enabled them to
learn and to know. (Cheers.) There would always exist
a certain amount of separation between the classes which
composed society, and he hailed with delight every legiti-
mate means of bringing those classes together. With res-
pect to the prejudices which some had thought sometimes
existed against these institutions he hail long since thought
that they re‘ted on no solid foundation, but that they might
be disputed by the results of experience, and if not entirely
they might be said to be practically extinct. They did
not raise themselves in the form of an obstacle to the exist-
ence of such societies. The notion which Pope wrote at 19,
and which was probably written because ho was only 19, that
"a little knowledge is • dangerous thing" had been super-
seded in these days by a recognition of the principle that
total ignorance was much more dangerous. (Cheers.) And
what reason was there that a person should stop at • little
knowledge ? Let him go on and make it more. With
respect to religion, bethought that there could be no greater
mistakes in the world than to suppose that the pursuit of
knowledge could be otherwise than friendly to religion.
He thought it a libel to religion tohold otherwise. (Cheers)
A. ROOKER, Esq., seconded the motion. The kernel
wtahnn d
theownstrop r otherongmlyotr
gt
ehesffou
intellec-
tualrp a t
Lis
audience the necessity of their cultivating persona
t, and of endeavouring to communicate as well
f
provemen
weregentleman
culture being
remarked
atk inhabitants,edatthletnog
as
to receive knowledge.
ISA AC NICHOLS, Esq., moved a resolution, recommend-
ing to the generous consideration of all persons desirous of
promoting the objects of the institution, that the debt would

bt speedily liquidated. The speaker, after some preliminary
observations, proceeded to state that they had a property,
the value of which they estimated at 3,000/., and on that
their debt did not exceed 1,40)'. IVhat they wanted was
to raise 4001. by proprietary shares of 2041. and loans for
300/. Mr. Nichols urged those who were friendly to the
objects of the institution to do something towards relieving
the committee of this difficulty.

WILLIAM COLLIER, Es q., seconded the motion, which
was of course carried.

Other resolutions were brought forward, and supported
by appropriate addresses, and, they having been carried,
The Mayor declared the business terminated; but to
this Mr. Palmer put in an objection, till he hod pro-
posed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his excellent con-
duct in the chair. This was seconded by Lord Ebeington,
and met with a cordial resp•inse from all present. The
Mayor briefly relion,led, and then told the company that
they would Fve allowcd ten minutes fur refreshment, after
which Mr. Henry Phillips, of London, gave a musical
entertainment, and the company separated.