The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-07 00:00:00

WORKING URNS COLLBGES.

The first annual meeting
_of the members of the
Working Men's Colleges in Manchester mid Belford was
held in the Corn Exchange, Manchester, on Wednesday
sight. Mr. 0. HEY WOOD occupied the chair, and amongst
the gentlemen present ware the Rev. E. D. Maurice and
Thames Hughes, Esq. (author of " Tom Brown's School
Dap").
Mr. THOMAS HOOMFA, who wits received with great
cheering, said he had now been working with /tr. Maurice
and others for ten years, and he had never been so wailed
teak say work ea with what he had done he outhenien with
the Waling Men's College. No work had ever done bins
se much good. It had made him folly understand hie rela-
tion to every other Englishman, had given him hopes for
hie country which he did not entertain before, had made
him realise many truths of which previously he had osly a
glimmering, and had made him feel what England might
become when these and kindred institutions had bean in hill
bearing during this and the next generation. (Hear, hear.)
His attempts at giving instruction in the 'College
did not meet with good wooer. His occupation was
that of a Chancery banister ; and, on the estab-
lishment of the College, he undertook to give a
course of lectures upon law. His class was never verylarge ; at
first it numbered six. They started with the laws of moo-
nations and clubs, and then went to the law of mechanic,/
institutions and joint-stock companies. Bet the law of
joint-stock companies seemed to be too much for the
working man and the class dwindled to two. (Laughter.)
Then he discontinued hie lectures on law, and the council
cast about as to what should be done with the loose hand.
They saw that there was • feature in the life at the
universities for which there was no equivalent at the
Working Men's College. At Oxford and Cambridge there
were common rooms, a common hall, and • groat deal of
racial Ide. So they opened a room where every evening
tea we. provided tor the members who liked to avail
themselves of it; and it was decreed that once a week
be (Mr. Hughes) should attend in that room and hold
• eon at amid lea meeting. It had been very successful.
Now the membees met in considerable numbers; some
brought botanical and some geological specimens which they
had Mend during the previous week, and they disowned
every question under the sun. (Laughter.) The men of
many different claws met one another, and the general effect
bed been very much to bind the members together and to
make them feel the truth and meaning of the work they were
about. He bad spent some time that day in wit-
' neselner various protegees connected with the umeulac-
tuxes of this great city, and he was seurnithed at the
' marvellous way in which order was produced from seem-
ing confusion. The people of Manchester had shown what
orgeniaation would do. They had succeeded in pro-
ducing wonderfully beautiful articles from the raw material
of other climes. That was the work of the lam generation.
The work of this was not to perfect raw material, to pro-
duce wealth, but to perfect men. To some (awn our Where
had forgotten this. The people were behindhand in recog-
nising the relations between clue and clean To make on
realise the bond which hinds all together was the work of
ours and the next generation. It was • harder but a greater
work then any that had been given to the previous ages, and
one way of scoomplishing it was by establishing and sup-
porting Working Men's Colleges. He earnestly urged hie
audience to apply themselves to the work with all their hearts
and all their mends. Then the time would amoredly come
when all divisions between classes would disappear.
The 1t.,. Canon Mimeos moved a vote of thanks to the
gentlemen from London, which was emended by the Rev. W.
Glass m.L, and wield with acclamation.
The Rev. Mr. Maumee acknowledged the vote.
A vote of thanks we. then given to the chairman, and the
poomillsare tionMeted.

FAILURE or THE PUBLIC PARK PROJECT IN
HVUDISILIMIILD.—At the monthly ineettuis Haddam
field Improvement Coniniesioners, Wednesday, the com-
mittee appointed to make the necessary preliminary Investi-
gations respecting the purchsae of the Sprlngwood estate,
for • public park, presented their report. They had examined
the estate, which contained 32 acres of land, valued at
22,4351.; but, while satisfied sate its eligibility for the pur-
pose of a public park, they were not In a position to recom-
mend its purchase. Sir Edward and Lady Loclimers, the
proprietors of the estate, had offered 2,0001. towards its pur-
chase, and Sir John Ramsden, proprietor of the town, bad
offered to subscribe 3,0001., on condition that the entire pur-
chase money should be raised by subscription, and also that
all parts of the estate should be exchuiively devoted to the
purposes of • public park ; but, after due consideration, the
committee had oome to the conclusion that the purclase-
money was much more than they could recommend the com-
missioners to Invest for the required purpose, inasmuch as
they had no reasonable ground for believing that the amount
required could be raised. Votes of thmks were poised to
Sir Edward and Lady Lechneere and Sir John Ramaden for
their liberal offers. It wee also suggested that the teasnt-
right question should be definitively settled before again
taking up the park project, which should be postponed for
the present. The report wee ad2pied.7lloneliester Guardian,

LIMNS' Nlicts.—The following letter hes been
addressed to the editor of the .elyr Observer. by Mr. Thomas
Carlyle Chelsea, Jan. 2 1869. Dear Sir,—l very much
approve your sad Mr. Manse's notion about the Mimes
Begg, and I hope you will not fail to get it executed with all
the energy and skill that are possible, and with comeepond-
big success. Could ell the eloquence that will he uttered
over the world on the 25th next, er even all the tavern-bills
that will be incurred, but convert themselves into solid cash
fur those two interesting persona, what a ewe were there of
benefit received and of lose avoided to all the parties con.
moved! I think at leant the question ought to be everywhere
put, pointedly yet with due politeness, whenever in Scotland
or elsewhere there is au assemblage of men met to express
their admiration, tragic pity, &c., for Burn,, what amount
of money they will give to save from indigence these two
nieces of Burns? The answer, virtual answer, which this
question got in 1842, threw a rather dismal light to me on
such asesteblage.; but they ought to be tried again with
more direct emphasis ; and very shame will perhaps force
them to do something towards saving indigent merit on the
one bend, and saving on the other whet is ton truly a fright-
ful (though eloquent) expenditure of pavement to • certain
kostity we have ell heard of.—ln much haste, I remain,
yours truly, T. Carlyle."
CELEBRATION OF THE BURNS CENTENARY IN
LIVTEPOOL.—The arrangements for the soirde musicale and
ball in the fit. Georges-hall have been completed by the
committee, The soirie is to commence with en oration coin-
mei:coronet of the great Ayrshire bard, to be succeeded by a
concert of Scottish music, chiefly Detected from the songs of
Burns. '1 he premeds, if any, are to be devoted to the Cale-
donian Schoch', tagged school., and Liverpool Infirmary.
THE SCOTTISH HOSPITAL. A special general
court of the governors and member. of this oorporation was
held on Wedneeday, at the hell, in Crane-court, Fleet-street,
Dr. John Webster, F.R.S., in the chair. 'The object of
the meeting was to take into consideration • plan proposed
by Probesor Donsidein, the architect and surveyor to the
institution, for the erection, under the name of the " Scot-
tish Corporation Buildings, ' of a new establishment, on a
plot of ground at the corner of Chancery-lane and Carey-
sheet, the price of the freehold land in question being
end the out of the erection of the proposed Main-
top, 12,0001., giving a total of 23,000/. ; providing for that
eau a hall, chapel, public offices, mates of chambers, mid
other convenience',' in the Scottish style of architecture. A
long dimuseion ensued se to the expediency of appropriating
so large• sum out of the total mock of 38,0001, now standing
is the name of the corporation, and ultimately the report of
the committee, dralaring that it would be inexpedient, was
adopted. A resolution wee also adopted appointing a com-
mittee to consider the charter and bye-lawe, with the view of
seceetaining whether the mode of relief should not be so
shared sad improved as to suit the requirements of the pee-
seet Green It is proposed, we understand, at the Bugger
don of Major Adair, the hon. meretary of the corporation, to
eatablish a "Burns Benevolent Fund," in 0011D111i011 with
the foundation.

• ••••-.
ASYLUM FOR FEMALE ORPBANS.—The quarterly
general court of this iwututinn we* held yesterday in the
board-room of the Aeylutn, Weeiraineter-nted, Lambeth ;
Charles Evans, Esq., in the chair. After the confirmation
of the minutes, which referred to the reception of the
children elected on the 13th ulk, and the generally favourable
results of the centenary commemoration, it was stated that
the it... C. B. Dalton, late Rector of Lambeth, who closed
the commemoration by an appropriste sermon in the chapel
of the institution on Sunday the 111th ult., had very kindly
seceded to the wishes of the committee in allowing the sermon
to be printed. This in • tew days will be ready for delivery,
and it is then intended that It shall be sold for the reseal of
this deserving charity. The remaining business having been
disposed of, thanks were voted to the chairman, and the
court broke up.
RAILWAY RATING.—At the Lewes quarter ses-
sion., held on Tuesday lest, an appeal by the I:south-Boater's
Railway Company against • poor'. rata, made for the parish
of Battle on the let of July, 18i8, was heard before the ma-
iterates, after which the rate was quashed, and the parish
'ma adiestpd to pay the come of the company.