The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-03 00:00:00

OPENING LECTURE.

The autumn session foe the year 1853-4 of the
51,-tropaatm Sehad of .s,senee applied to sets and industry,
having commenced on SAturdsy, the duty of delivering the
opening lecture devolved on Piefo,o•Of 1.".4 hos, president of
the Geologie4l Society, and use of the 1.-cturers is the
Museum. Toe outliving, which was a large out, included
many persons distiogaished fur their scieotific attainments,
amongst whom were Sir lt. 1. Murehiaon, Sir H, Dela.
beche, Sir C. Lyall, Professor Powell of Ozfued, Mr.
Rennie, itc. The subject of the ',cure was " Educational
Imes of Must um."

Dr. ',unions commenced by saying that the third
asesion el the Deological School of Science hewing com-
menced, and the duty of opening the courses being assigned
to him, he should rived himself of the opportunity to offer
some remark. upon the leading and charactericic teatures
of the institution considered as an educational museum, sod
to nuke home observation on the iuhtruction.*l uses to which

But this was to regeni museums in their scientific aspect
only. With regard to the British Museum, which might
be viewen Js a g 1 index and eyeloi wile of scientific re-
ferent*, such on opinion might be correct, but with regard
to other., he was convinced, after much consideration
of the sulject, that museums, unleis connected with
a system a public ',Aching, were of little use.
The leaned lecturer then referred to the provincial mu-
seums, and uttered seine sharp obs ions on the male of
their getting up and the detects of titer arrangement, from
which ha excluded those of Ipswich, Belfast, Maochester,
York, and Newcastle. Local museums ought principally
to aim at the illustration of the districts by which they were
surrounded. But they all contributed to instruct and to
interest, and every shilling contributed by the state to pub-
lic libraries and museums contributed to generate a crop of
good citizens. (Cheers.) The learned doctor then con-
cluded with a few speculations on the bee. ticial results that
would follow from any extensive improvement in the state
of public education.

THE CHOLERA.

([rota the the Bo.srd of health.)
_ LONDON.

museums might be advantageously applied. The school of
applied science here established was the only instance in
Britain of an organised instructional institution arising
out ot a museum, arid tieing maintained in that connexion
and relation with its origin. This was nut en
accident, but an event contemplated from the beginning
of the geological survey. It was an experiment ot. a consi-
derable scale with a greater purpose—for with is limited
though rapidly improving machinery, it was intended to
advance educational aims, having a vital importance in
their bearing on the future prospects of this country. It
was ones-tiresome, by a state usechaisisni. to cast the seeds of
science over the broad fields of British industry—nut indi•-

A fatal ease of cholerah:tus...oecurred in Martin-
street, Friar-street, St. George's, Southwark. The
death took place on the 27th, but the body 's not yet
buried, although there are four more inmates in the
same house.

A great amount of diarrheca, in many eases of a
choleraic character. prevails in the neighbourhood.
A severe case of this nature has just occurred in
Great Tower-street.

Dr. Mello., the Commissioner from the French
government, accompanied by Dr. Sutherland, one of
the medical inspectors of the General Board of
Health, examined the inkcted districts of Newcastle.
He accompanied the medical officers in the house-to-
house examination in the system introduced by the
Board, and stated that he was thoroughly satisfied
with it. But he expressed his extreme surprise at
witnessing the condition of the population in the
lowest districts of the town. He had been called
upon to visit some of the worst conditioned of the
French towns, but he had never seen anything so bad
in structure as the houses and arrangements of the
worst and most severely visited portions of New-
castle, or as the state of filth in which the popula-
tion there existed.

criminately, but especially in those places where there was
• good soil thirsting for their germination. Those who were
appointed to be cultivatun hail a responsible duty and a noble
task. They had a firm faith in the dignity of their work, and
the certainty of good results canting from it. That must
he their reward, and with it they were content to labour
patiently and tly to the best of their endeavour, hope-
ful of the approbation and co-operation not only of their
fellow labourers in science, but also of all intelligent and
patriotic Britons. The results so far of the teaching in this
institution had been in the main highly satisfactory. With
the close of last session terminated the t wo years' curriculum
of the students who entered the government school of
mines in 1841. Since their studies were now completed,
he might speak of them not in the language of
compliment, for of that there was nu necessity,
but of unmixed erste.. Ile could say this not only for
himself, but fur all his colleagues, and the delightful satis-
faction • distinguished scientific and practical Career fur
those who were lately their pupils, and whom they now
numbered among their esteemed friends. He was happy to
say that their services were appreciate.! and sought for, and
they congratulated some on having already obtained
honourable and lucrative poets, for which they had become
qualified within thew walls. The result vas equally satis-
factory as regarded the working men, lor the intelligent
artisans of London had responded to the opportunity which
was offered them by this institution, and it was a privilege
and a pleasure to all who witnessed the unmistakeable
tuess and intelligence with which they attended
bore on Monday evenings. The school also held
out advantages to the officers of the public ser-
vice, both in the army and navy. This opportunity
was not neglected by those for whose benefit it was in-
tended. At the same time it was repented th .t more use
would have been made of it. The officers who attended
mostly belonged to the medical and engineering depart-
ments of the East India Company's service. Gentlemen of
the military and naval processions were often is a position
Isenteibuteto the g I advancement of science, which
an attendance at the occasional courses of lectures in this
aueeum would enable them to make the most of. It was
also supposed that the opportunities for scientific instruction
here held out would be duly appreciated by persons in the
middle and higher tanks of life. That anticipation proved
Cillacidus. The occult science of table-turning, which now
occupied the place that astrology did in former times, was
regarded by them in so serious a light as to prevent them
from turning their attention to tne cultivation of the
5a logical, mineralogical, chemical or biological sciences.
When they considered the large class of so-called eoucated
persons who, instead of being the supporters of true science
ran after such things, need they wonder at the success of
public follies? Yet if they applied .fn them tne term unen-
lightened they would give mortal offence. Nothing mart
clearly indicated the necessity of the State taking the lois
dative in the general diffusion of scientific knowledge than
this fact. The present session commenced under favour-
able auspices as far as the most important class ofstudeets,
viz., the matriculated, were concerned. Their resources
though still limited, were increased, and much benefit
would be derived from the institution of a new lectureship,
that of applied mechanics. The accession of so eminent a
man as Professor Willis, who was to direct that course of
lectures, was deeply appreciated by them all, and
would be a new source of strength to thu institution.
Of the merits of Dr. Hoffmann, who was appointed to the
chair of chemistry, he would not speak in his presence, the
mo-e especially, as he served with them for some time, and
had au opportunity of appreciating his talents. His prede-
cessor, Dr. Lyon Playfair, now filled mother port of great
trustend responsibility, on the eonduct of which would de-
pend in a great measure, the value of government constituted
institutions. But though separated from this institution
as a lecturer, it would still have the benefit of his advice
and counsel, as he still remained a member of their ?du-
oatiinal committee. (Hear, hear). The chief object of this
institution was, the illustration of the mineral constitution
and products of the British Islands and their colonies. This
&jun, whether they cluidered the great benefit de-
rived by their nation from mineral wealth, or the vast
capital invested in the search after and applica-
tion of metals, or the light threwn thereby on science,
could not but be regarded as an estimable one by every
enlightened men. To carry it out perfectly and completely
would require far more space and means than they had at
their command. The application of mineral products to
the useful arts were so numerous thst no attempt could
balsas to illustrate them fully within these confined
boundaries. However, some departments were adequately
represented, but in others their display was only sketchy
and partial. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the
museum was, that it was the visible evidence of the bearings
and purposes of the geological survey of the United King-
' dom. After the government surveyors had done their
duty as typographers, then the government gee
logists went over the ground with the object
of delineating its mineral structure. They traced
new lines on the original ordnance plates and new
maps were thus constructed, and issued to the public at an
expense corresponding to the cost of the fresh work and
colouring. The men who superintend this work required to
be men of skill and training, and high scientific sequin-
ments. Hers there was no off duty, for the head had to
work as as the eyes were open. There was one de-
partment in this building represented by three or four
saws to which be could sag Behr without deep interest—be
meant the illustration, of neisnial geology. In this
metropolis of its world-wide state there ought to be PIM
adequate illustration of their structure and gounid peter
ducts. Such • display woad be an object of andonity end
interest to all, but it mold be a mama of saleable
information to the istaudlng sed gbengligal emiggent, and
all men were thouglithil an hot Were they emigrated.
It was with feedings olds In dune that free *sir shabbys
bat not worthless, aleph, of esiesial products, he es.
&avowed to impart ioatreollen to several emigrants who
teas to seek information fee the material contained In
this INIIIesm. All that was wanted for such a display was
epees, bemuse there would be plenty of contributors if they
bad only ram to keep the specimens. Mr Msleolosson had
an excellent and judicious collection of Indian products,
which might be had ; and others had other specimens which
might be got for the asking. With regard to the educe-
*nal value of museums they could not alone and of them-
selves educate, but they could instruct the educated, and ex-
cite a desire for knowledge amongst the ignorant. The labourer
who visited the British Museum was not so much struck
by the extent and variety of what he saw so much as by the
order and harmony in which the different groups were ar-
ranged. He thus saw that all objects, however small, had
their value and meaning ; and instead of regarding objects
as useful, useless, or curious—the three terms to which his
classification was confined—he began to view them in • new
light, and the fields and, the flowers, and the stones that
surrounded him began to excite a new interest within him.
Ha acquired a new sense in the thirst for natural know-
kalig•—whilst he lost that for beer, which tortured him of
old ; he became • better citizen and a bettor
cane, and, if he had the requisite gifts from nature,
be might become a Watt, a Stephenson, or a Miller.
Ono of the great values of museums was, that they stuns-
bled the observing powers, a part of education which had
bees too long neglected. The education of the observing
gowns was quite • different thing from scientific and in-
dustrial instruction. The taste and reasoning powers were
heretofore exclusively attended to. This was necessarily
the case in the absence of any schools for the education of
the observing fatuities. There was no reason why instruc-
tion in the sciences and education of the observing powers
should not be carried on together. Museums afforded the
best text books for this united education; but they required
to be explained by competent teachers. This was the groat
difficulty heretofore, but now it was happily in course of
removal by means of the Metropolitan School of Scions*.
Museums were too often regarded in their scientific septet
alone. But they had an educational use, also, the value sit
which must greatly depend on the perfection with whist
its contents were arranged. An educated youth ought
be able to instruct himself in a well arranged noweeth Is
those branches of which,its contents were illustrations, with
facility and advantage. Consequently the officers who
presided over these establishments bad a responsible duty
to perform in this respect. The noble invention of the
Great Exhibition, which would trove a glory to the end of
time round the name of one of the most enlightened of
princes, proved to the people of this country the high im-
portance and interest of an industrial col.
lection. It was strange th.t amongst • people so
industrious in their habits, and so practical
in their modes of thought as the English, such a collection
was not formed long ago. But this defect was now in course
of being removed, and libraries and museums, of which all
sensible men now understood the importance, began to be
formed in many placer. It was a question of discussion
whether instruction by means of lectures should be con-
nected with museums. Some thought that it should not.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.

The report. received on Saturday byelectric tele-
graph, by the General Board of Health, from their
medical superintending inspectors at Newcastle,
state that " the disease is passing away" in that
district.

DIATIIII.—SIPT. 30
Cholera
Diarrhces

The total number of deaths from cholera and
diarrhea in Newcastle during the present outbreak
has been 1,386. In the same period (viz., the first
30 days), during the prevalence of epidemic cholera
there in 1831.2 the number of deaths was 217.

OATESIIEAD.
No return.
ANNADALE BATHOATE, N.B.—Sari. 28.
Cholera
LEITH.—Sorr. 29.
Cholera
HENDON.—SarT. 27.
..... .

Diarrhoea
On Thursday, the 29th instant, Dr. Wallen Lewis
and William Lee, Esq., medical and engineering in-
spectors of the General Board of Health, visited'
Heeham, and were received by a deputation from
the magistrates, from the several local authorities,
and from the resident medical practitioners.
It appears that a very efficient preventive system
had been very early organised, especially that means,
had been taken to carry rate effect the house-to-house
visitation before the disease had become epidemic.
The first case of cholera showed itself on the 3rd of
September, and was said to have come from New-
castle. There have been from the Ist of September
to the present day about 1,200 cases of diarrhoea and
cholera under treatment. At the present time there
are about 150 still under treatment.

The following statement shows the entire number
of deaths from cholera and diarrhma (1) since the
commencement to this day :—September 4, one ; Sep-
tember 10, one; September 13, one; September 14,
one; September 16, two; September 17, one; Sep-
tember 18, two: September 20, three ; September 21,
two; September 22, two; September 23, three; Sep-
tember 24, two; September 25, one; September 26,
one ; total, 23.

THE EXPRESS. MONDAY EVENING. OCTOBER 3, 1853.