The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-08 00:00:00

The LORD MAYOR, Wiriaresided, was, OD rising, enthusi-
astically received. He • —Ladies and gentlemen, I need
hardly_ tell you what the object of our meeting here to-night
is. We have a twofold object, the one is to confer ou those
who have exhibited great merit during the past season the
rewards to which they are entitled—(hear, hear)—the other
is to annomme a transition from the title of " Metropolitan
Evening Classes" to that of the "City of London College."
) It is a mtifying thing to me to be here, and to
Lave any kind of in each of these capacities. It is
always a gratifying thing to be the medium of bestowing
rewards on merit, and it is a gratifying thing to he the
means of inaugurating an epoch in which an institution
like ethis rose to • class of • higher denomination.
!Cheers.) Those who have worked as pupils iu the
institution of a humbler denomination have done as much
as those who have worked under the new title of the City
of London College—(hear, hear)—but it is a gratifying thin
to do that even under the new denomination.(Hear, hear.)
The members will not be able to do more than those who
have worked under the old denomination, but I hope that
a greater number will be able to avail themselves of its
advantages under the new title and the augmented funds
that it will bring with it. If we can have a permanent
local establishment, irrespective of the fees and contribu-
time of those who are supporting it, then, indeed, we may
look forward to a long and, I hope, a continued sucomdes
of sage WAS kw may a Tim is name. The City of Leedom
*regains ita limits, I may say, thensaed. of young
moo. It can, therefore, hardly be an object of indiffer-
ence troths great metropolis, but also to the whole empire,
that the leisure hours of the young men who are
herd at work all day should be thought of, in order that
those young men may employ those leisure hours so that '
they may improve their mental, their moral, and may my
their religious position. (Cheers.) These are the view, of
the gentleman who assists on my right hand, and all them
who have taken an active part in this institution and the
name under which up to this time it has existed. Let us
hope that these views may be promoted, that their object
may be obtained, and that their wishes may be gratified.
(Cheers.) I will now commence the first part of my
pleasing duty, and that is of giving to those whose merits
have distinguished them the rewards which the institution
is about to bestow. (Loud and prolonged cheering.)
His lordship then proceeded to distribute the prizes to
the pupils, offering them appropriate remarks of advice and
encouragementj in their future career : Mr. George Noble
Withall, first-clam certificate and first prim of 51.. for
arithmetic ; Mr. George Warrington, first-class certificate
and first prize (5/.) in German, and also first-clam certificate
in magnetism and electrical heat ; Mr. William Vaughan,
first-class certificate and first prise (51.) in geometry ; Mr.
Thomas Smith. first-class certificate and first prize (51.) foe
bookkeeping ; Mr. Joseph Harvey, first-class certificate and
second prize (3/.) for German. The following gentlemen
obtained first-class certificates : Mr. Thomas Frederick Wil-
liams. for bookkeeping and French • Mr. J. Troughton, jun.,
Mr. Henry James Garai& and ler. Benjamin Fisher, for
bookkeeping ; Mr. Joseph Hiam Levy, for arithmetic ; Mr.
Henry Hoskins, for algebra ; and Mr. James Rigby Smith
and Mr. William Allen, for English history.
Second-class certificates were given to the following gen-
tlemen__ . .—Mr. Walter Robert Clark and Mr. Thomas
Frederick Williams, for arithmetic; Mr. George Noble
Withal, for arithmetic ; Mr. Joseph Marriott, for music ;
Mr. James Staughton Harding, for French ; Megan. James
Evans and James Cannon, for bookkeeping ; Mr. George
Benson, for English history ; and Mr. Charles Questel, for
Latin and Roman history.
Third-class certificates were given to Messrs. Thos. John
Lloyd and James Troughton,for arithmetic ; and Mr. James
CADDO°, for Latin and Roman history.
Each student as he came up to receive the reward of merit
was greeted with loud applause. At the conclusion of the
ceremony,
The Rev. R. WnrrnworoN, is proposing "That the best
thanks of the meeting be given to the teachers who had so
largely contributed to the success of the Metropolitan Even-
ing CLmes—a success practically shown by the certificates
and prizes just presented," said that although they were
there to inaugurate a new society, he yet felt that he was in
the presence of old friends determined to carry out the great
work of education with renewed vigour and on a
larger scale. Looking around the room, however,
he saw a great many faces which were new
to him, and be looked upon their presence as a happy
augury of the institution they were met to initiate, and
which would depend for its success upon the great prin.
ciple of self-government. (Hear, bear.) He wished the
young men of the City of London to remember that since
the great meeting at the Maneon.house, the procngs of
which had gone forth to the world, the eyes of the whole
community would be upon them, and they should show
themselves worthy of the appeal on that occasion made on
their behalf by the Bishop of London. If they
took that course it was certain that success must
&Used the college, and that it would be distinguished in
the great work of education. The Metropolitan Evening
Clams achieved a high position, and he hoped that the
college as their successor would not forfeit that position.
The certificates which had been presented by the Lord
Mayor were, it should be recollected, awarded by a body of
independent examiners, selected for that office solely on
account of their well-known acquirements, and not know.
jug anything whatever of the candidates except
through the papers submitted for examination. There
were altogether is the United Kingdom MG institutions
competent to send up young men to compete for those cer-
tificates and prizes, and it was agreeable to think that on
the last, ea on former occasions the alumni of the cretin
classes carried off the lion's share. Not to boast, he would
slay that they had on moat occasions equalled, and on
several occasioas exceeded, them in the number
of prises they carried off. It had been doubted,'
until the working of the Metropolitan Evening
Classes proved the contrary,whether the young men would
avail themselves of such educational advantages, but within
the lest twelve years 6,000 students passed through those
classes, and 700 young men bad signed a document binding
themselves to attend the classes under the new collegiate
ceastitutioo. He did not wish to put the advantages they
might thereby obtain upon a selfish ground, but they obtained
this quid pro quo,that their services became more marketable
and they were able to demand a higher rate of pay, but
nevertheless it was a strong reason why they should express
their gratitude to those who had so kindly given them such
additional qualifications.
Mr. MARSHALL CARPER.= seconded the resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
M. Rem, on behalf of the teachers, briefly expressed
his, and their, acknowledgments. of the vote.
Rev. Mr. MACIECNRJR, WI moving a vote of thanks to the
chairman, referred to the state of the hall to show that the
committee hod fulfilled their promise, in having the col-
legiate building ready for the use of the college classes by
the first week in October, and called epee the young men
of London to fulfil their portion of the compact, by sup-
porting the Dew institution.
Mr. CLARKE seconded the resolution, which was unani-
mously approved of, and the proceedings terminated.