The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-16 00:00:00

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do_ whatever. It was gratifying, however, to't public examinations, that *e iheat• be laying to great a
t,,",a1, this national disgrace was being gradually wiped stress upon mere teahnical examination. (Hear:, hear.). I
t 4-'‘u that some progress was being made in the cause am for a sort of free scope being given to the nand, which
ea-htu?dtlon. He expressed a hope that no difficulties would enable people to form themselves by a free and
arise ne placed in the way of its progress', but that rodteopendent development: and not to impose upon them
iese'tiTsnlof all denominations would unite in ado tin rienaattiaond.egree, the shackles of a government, system
g of examination. (Hear.) It is truly said by the illustrious
es
of me eto educate the poorer classes of the popula- Gibbon, in his account of his own life, that society stimu.
lai,tiel:te csuutry. (Hear, hear.) Having dwelt upon totes the intellect, but solitude is the nurse of genius ; and
tretioJ et in some further remarks, he eulogised the it is my belief that more may be done by a free and public
taci„us made by Sir John Pakington in the cause of instruction than by any bureaucratie rule borrowed from
tight ;14)°, and concluded by proposing the health of the foreign countries, although we might borroiv some things
I,,:tee. baronet. - from them with great benefit mid good effect. Another
ti`iu toast was drank with full honours, and amid PanciPle laid down by the committee upon pliblic libraries,
petal applause.
er John '' of which I had the honour to be chairman, was, that the
144 Pakington, on rising to respond, was received institution and establishment of such libraries would
tearenewed applause. He said—Mr Mayor, my Lords encourage the donations of private individuals ; and here
a .Gentlemen I deeply grateful for the kindandcordial the principleexemplified in the illustrious example
alio_ . , am
one
0.4 which you have done me the honour to extend to of our illustrious townsman. (Eieea bear, and cheers.)
tatl is personally a stranger among you. I should he Gentlemen, I can cenceive, at has been truly said by the
/440, ,affectation if I were to deny that I am both noble lord who has hoboured us with bis presence, and
I,llle ah end gratified by the manner in which my honour.. delighted us, as he always does, with his observations this
trear'entlcl, the member for Liverpool, has so kindly; and day, that there is no situation more enviable to a citizen of
eel 1,!1‘. partially, referred to my exertions in the great this country than that of Mr. Brown at the present
lee, ,[,_ the edncation of the people. But, gentlemen, moment. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But, gentlemen,. Mr.
feel thankful as I feel for the kindneas on your art Brown stands not only before the present generation He
fr,C,i jet more grateful for the compliment which has been stands also before posterity, (Cheers.) I hope that he
al to rite in inviting me to attend here upon this occasion, will enj y that purest of all pleasures, the sense of knowing
15ht,sue a witness of what I cannot but call—with a mind that his good acts will be felt when he Can be ho longer
Ith "ler free from any local bias or local pestiality-oone with them. It is perhaps a sort of divine pleasure to
flhier.ecrnost atrikine—one of the most gratifying -scenes feel that, when we are no longer sensible of what passes
tataaln ttlY life it has been my lot to witness. (Cheers.) in this world here, there are others fr na whom we
'titt.,;9l, it is true that lam one of those who think that are banished on whom our deed* are still conferring
,t!I ki;,gie between light and darkness, between ignorance benefit. (Uheera) That source of superior and almost
;!11 eon "ledge, is not vet satisfactorily settled in divine pleasure may be Nhared by those who do such deeds
Ns aatry. (Cheers.) It is true that T am one of as have been dole to-d ay by my hon Aired fellow tow ns-
'hs" who do very deeply feel that the condition of man, Mr. brown. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Gentleman,
111 ranee ' high large' • till in aa portion of the population of I shall detain you only fir one mo neat longer. There
,lari:untrY, both in our crowded towns and in oar rural are others who have dune good service in this great
lit I tO, yet remains, is not only, as my honourable friend act. There are those in your Town Council who ha"e
(114'0, a national disgrace, but it is a national danger, formed your Library Committee. They have toiled in
'a tp.and cheers.) Acting upon that conviction, it is silence, but they have toiled to good effect ; and at their
htii,.lat I have endeavoured to arouse the feeling of head is the chairman of the committee, a gentleman with
V,Tilamt and the feeling of the country to the belief Whom I had the honour to communicate upon that
Sip: time had arrived when prejudices should be important subject. I, mean Mr.'Picton. (Loud cheers )
ke d.d, and when difficulties should be trampled under I propose to you, gentlemen, the health of the promoter,
llitiPiear and echeers)—and that Thus by the etertion the advocate, and the friend of your local free library
t '• Strong energetic will,which Angle'
Salons' know the " healthof Mr. Picton " (Cheers.)
it,
ktii° ernPloy when a fitting occasion calls it forth, some The toast was drunk with all the honours.
Nq
ee should be adopted to bring a sound education to Mr. Picton rose to return thanks, and was loudly applauded.
feeillans door. (Renewed cheers.) But, gentlethen, He said—Mr. Chairman, I feel it difficult, if not impossible,
that no' less deeply that any exertion( of mine to express myself adequately on the present occasion. To have
us. dire3tion, or of those who act with me
ti "It bad my name thus publicly brought forw..rd and recognised in
h great cause, are really as nothing compared
I, e connection with the proceedings of this day—a day ever to be
ktti Magnificent benevolence and generosity, the honourably remembered in the annals of Liverpool—will bo
!brace)e rfl d • •
, oe of giving what we are only struggling to to the latest of my asu
.1 , recollection.
`till; a Which the munificence of my honourable friend has It is about seven years since the subject of a free 'public
a"cl. (ehCouncil
eo_ . eers.) lam glad to find that you thus library was first brought under the notice.of the Town
eattee tins sentiment, as, I assure you, I utter it with of Liverpool. The want of such an institution hid long been
vi th.e''t sincerity ; and that if anything could have added felt; there needed but a voice to give utterance to the
b .'tn,,satisfaction and the pleasure with which I, as an feeling.' I only did what any one else might have done
'toal;'rtnais living in this country, hail an act which does equally well, or better. The result has been such, as far
it- kar, °my country, it is to see. as I have seen* to day, to surpass the most sanguine expectations of all con-
et avner in which you, the people of Liverpool, appreciate cerned. From this day begins a new phase in the history
I,lrst• (Cheers.) I believe that many of those around of the institution. (Cheers.) A M local habitation is all
ithßol.' have felt, as I myself did feel this morning while that is wanted to elevate it to its proper rank ; and this,
katsf:xl in procession through your crowded streets, thanks to the munificence of our noble townsman, we
wlesi,,ahose thousands who swarmed around us on every shall soon possess. Permit me to say, in retiring,
aaerY a man would live to bless the day, many a man that no one can despair of the future of England
i"iltii've tb feel, that Mr. Brown's generosity had given to when we see the interest taken by the leading public
''a '' means of intellectual cultivation, and had saved men of all parties in institutions like these. To see
fto
eala In the miseries of intoxication, if not from the on one platform my Lord Stanley, with his ex-
"'t 'es of - (Loud
ean crime.cheers) I believe, gentlemen, that pansiye and generous sympathies with every move-
toe Vof your wealthy citizens disposed to act as Mr. meat for the intellectual improvement of the
kw, It ha, nobly burst
L Iter acted, human sagacity could not have devises)- masses; Sir John Pakington, who has . _
The et' a. more benevolent exercise of liberality Chan asunder the ties of party in his efforts for the education of
Ntanding, as he has done, a free library for the com. the people; William Brown, our old friend and townsman,
'lieb;Y aniong which be lived. (Hear, 1,
-'ar.) We are who, after a struggle of twenty years, has succeeded in
lila 'els to an honourable friend P:11d schoolfellow of coa ising a permanent and stable foundation for the es-
tht't"(l°3 lam happy to see at liiis table —I mean Mr. tablishment of libraries and museums. When I see these
,'Sly'ltuember for Dumfrioe (cheers)—we are indebted and men of kindred stamp coming together to aid us in
t'al honourable frier for an Act of Parliament which doing honeur to one of our townsmen, who, it may be
'oee,' Populous Totalities to adopt the advantages of a truly said, is one of those who
he lurar • - ' •
1 het xes- a
v s nd I think that he who has studied the "Da good by stealth, and blush to find it fame,"
If
ete en' agree with me that wherever a free library I feel that there is hope for our country. England,
41 ea
p,el,e, established, it has proved a signal blessing to comparative
• ly uneducated, can achieve such wonders
11- 'Pie• (Cl]and cries of "Hear, hear.") No- in andsciences, what will she not accomplish when
tee • (Cheers,
al th! and nowhere under more striking circumstances, light and knowledge and wisdom are brought within the
tity ot's been found more than in the neighbouring great reach of all. (Cheers.)
Itteea, Manchester. There you have a free library in the Mr alonckton Milnes .then rose at the call of the chairman.
Stiallis, and occupying the same rooms, which were He said : It does not become one who has been invited to •
ghat ''' and built as a Socialist Hall. (Loud chee-s.) this banquet to refuse anything otherwise, after the inter-
iithi Which was debasing—that which contained esting and various dit•courses which you have heard I should
,I Inn: itself the . elements of everything which have thought that it hardly became me to increa,e the
t'ls,a;t'ellieyous and destructive, has been by the number of your speeches; but, to any one who has been
Ordain ,ItY of the citizens of Manchester converted into a interested in any way in the literature of his country—to
;ea:10 from which the blessings of knowledge are any one who has contributed to that literature, in however
iilta 4 largely among the people. (Cheers.) Here in small a degree (hear, hear) —to any one who has mixed
Ita,,P°°l you will enjoy these blessins under circum• in the political affairs of life; and who, mixing in these
lyieLes no less remarkable, no less striking. Here you political affairs, has directed his attention towards the
•°tre,V2Y them from the princely liberality of one of intellectual elevation of the community—to. any one thus
taltle,,,-"-tespeeted citizens. (Cheers.) We hear much, interested, this meeting must be one of special importance.
tit the
-en) of the subject of education. We hear much It dons not become to such an audience as this, and to such
tit
aravoluntaly principle. Never bas England yet a man as you, it does not become to speck of the advantages
apt
NT °f such a noble instance of the voluntary principle of education. L does not become to speak to you of books
the
tti. Brown has this day afforded us. (Lourl cheers) you who know their value just as well' as I do. I would
114 sejel ar that all who have the means have not equally rather imagine to myself what would have
.been the. feelings
the ;1.; In many places we find neither the means nor of a stranger conaiug into this town thy morning and
''ad
(Rear, hear.) Other means must be resorted witnessing this singular spectacle. I think it was possible
''ll JQ't wisheducatethe and here again I that he might have said, when he saw the busy mart of
1,, t, to h people;
bait at in the town of Liverpool you have a splendid Liverpool suspended, your shops shut, your acye
may .hation of the agency by which the voluntary principle population idling in the streets—he might have said,
kleor assisted. (Hear, hear.) I fled that you have " What is this for?" And wheal he was told
jr aila in which are educated many thousands that it was to celebrate the foundation of
'tail "dren, and which are supported by a rate a library, he might have said, " What does Liverpool
I,,(iPpis"Pon the people and paid out of pony town dues. want with books ? What does Liverpool, who is making
aN3auter.) Here yon have, in my humble opinion, in your the history of England, want to do with reading history ?.
that,
Oh a solution of the difficulties of the question. What does Liverpool want to do with geography, which
aes ,ave a noble instance of the voluntary principle ; and she learns by sending her fleets to every sea in the globe,
!tsx'ell have the sleficiences of that principle made no by and when she can hear and learn every language along her
4oatlion which the people willingly submit to. (Hear, docks, and in the ships that crowd the Mersey?" But
5,11 i ,Gentlemen, this is not an occasion upon which it there have been amongst you persons who have another
he 4,1144,1(:, b.-coming in me to dwell further upon the details, feeling, and who have felt that Liverpool could do good
Iln 'ractiltiets of this great and interesting question. I have with books, and that it is well tha . her population should
e
* 1 ad
"Prted to the fat that I think here, in tbis locality, be supplied with them. The stranger might have told
otaa find an example which, through England, we you that he had visited various cities, and in those great
N: well follow. (Hear. heal). I shall not detain you and historic cities had seen magnificent libraries lying
li, n: m
than once ore to offer to my honourable friend my together covered with dust, and unread' and unregardea;
lait,rttelt congratulations upon the scene which I now see and he might have told that the costly library of Venice did
15!it,,,e re. Never have I witnessed so striking an example not prevent the ,decav of that great city. But he might be
(rll'' great principle of ', honour to whom honour is due." answered, as Mr. 'Brown would have answered him,
14,ttireR.) But, gentlemen, certain do I feel that, although that those cities fell because they did not know how to combine
api `nd Mr. Brown may appreciate the manner in which the material and moral elements of mankind—because they did
11:1.0„4"e this day recognised his noble act, through the pros- not know how to bring together the activity of daily life and
kta4l and happy years which I hope are still in store the intellectual pleasure which books can furnish, and intel-
ht ~.4', he will find his best reward in tho reflections of his lectual means alone supply. (Hear, bear) Gentlemen, 'thetlls h'ind. (Cheers.) You will all feel that this noble hall, library which we are about to establish will not be one of those
hore'i'la of Liverpool, and one of the ornaments of England, which lie hidden in closed cupboard and unopened bookcase,
art "ever been used in a more noble cause; 'and I believe but it will be a library which, like your monetary circulation,
he7ete one of them who now fill this hall must be animated will be current among the people. (Cheers.) Your books
'till 4i earnest hope, an anxious prayer, to which I trust you will be bills of exchange, passing from hand to hand, bearing
Si tit me now to give utterance, that the events of this interest wherever they go, and that the best of interest.
ktR,•4l(l the ceremony of this day, may he blessed with the (Cheers.)
..,,,, Gentlemen, we must remembe• that this celebration
t01,1,8t ineasure of success which its generous founder himself has an interest tor a large population across the Atlantic—our
late desire and that the institution which has this day been
ill "gar ' brothers in ano her hemisphere. (Cheers) I would call Mr
s , ated, may, through many generations, diffuse among Brown a citizen of both worlds— (hear, hear, and cheers)
led,VPlllin ion of this town the blessings cif useful know- —and in many a crowded city of our brothers on the
hi;',: of intellectual enjoyment, of religious instruction, other side of the Atlantic will the celebration to-day be
tia,"ta Must be recognised among the greatest and most read with interest and delight. It is such men as he
14(0'11461e blessings that can be enjoyed by the population whom we have assembled to hear ht have brought
great and prosperous community. (Loud cheers). together the two great nati ns of England and America
pkate Rev. Rector Campbell, who was warmly by the electricity of common sympathy and feeling; and
9tkii,d, ' propostd the next toast, which was the therefore, gentlemen, lam delighted tbat I have a real
ht (!.of Mr. William Ewart, M.P. In a few eloquent purpose in rising before you to day. It is my object to
fk teees therector vindicated the clergy of the churca
a, , rev bring 'before you and to drink the health of a citizen of
kl,, 41)y reluctance to aid in the progress of the educational the United States. (Cheers.) The connection which Mr.
thetl°lcut, and decOred that while they pleaded. for the Brown has established between the material interes's.of
ael.'lattion of religion and education, they . did not care England and America, the same connection has Nathaniel
%,,',lghly the intellectual faculties were cultivated. True Hawthorne established between the sympathies of the
°les 'e 'ge, he emphaticelly declared, had never yet been two people. (Cheers.) His " Scarlet Letter" has stuck
Iter:cd to true religion, and on that ground the clergy to the heart of every one with whom it came in
, gar ?•alous advocates for the progress of educatiop. contact. He has built his " House of the Seven
tls 4. William Ewart, M.P., rose and was loudly cheered. Gables " in every town in England ; and as for his-
I,ta ra,4l: my Lords and Gentlemen, at this period of the ,4 Melee told Tales," we all wish to have them told ten
, 14jobicenent I should not feel myself justified in detaining times. (aheers, and laughter). And therefore, gentle-
' le4tls-ag• I cannot, however, but remember my long and men, in giving you the health of that distinguished
acera connection with this great, increasing, and magni- citizen'
of the United States, and of that distinguished
'hleatown. I boast of my connection with it, with its citizen of the literature of the world, I believe you will
tale Irv, with its commerce, with its past, with its present, agree with me, and that you will feel we are in no degree
!lea hope to a certain extent with its future. I derogating from the special purpose for which we are
that (1 ill express my feelings if I did not say assembled. (Applause.) I give you the " health of
!Rog the end of all all commerce is something Nathaniel Hawthorne, United States Consul." (Cheers )
Co Sop' ti
the mere commerce itself. In vain, gentlemen, .
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
~11 extend your docks to the amen? In vain have you -
warmly a -
ItiteaJrests of unnumbered masts, unless you have some Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne rose and was P _
!Ile ri4C, object and that ulterior object is in plauded. .He said : I come here, not with strength of
blowtevatiOn of your fellow townsmen and your any individual merits, but as a representative of my country,
li . cheers.) This great town, and especially as a representative of the literature of
tee .coentrymen. (Loud
wish the
of )hiatus destined at some future time to achieve something America. I may say, gentlemen, that I heartily _
;te; Intellectual fame of Athens, while it will infinitely literary men of America had a better representative ; for
11.44 the commercial fame of Carthage and of Tyre. there are many of them, " one who had done better things
aratior. hear.) Gentlemen, my right hon. friend, Sir John with his pen, and could better answer with his tongue."
laf p-n,Rc'n, and my raw. friend who has done me the honour The gentleman who did me the honour to propose the toast,
""Y r-P°sIII health, have alluded to some exertions of and who connected my name with it, made some very kind
~ eo . gmy
the 'ft in the. great cause of promoting free libraries for and complimentary allusions to certain productions of my
• r be . g
'kilt ben of the people of this country. I confess, as my own. The praise is the more flattering as coming from
the ~uco• friend has already probably experienced, that in such a source—from a man whose own literary achieve-
`e f r,auso of education it is somewhat of an arduous labour ments have proved his right to say what has been well
,totuisj`e such a question through the Legislature of the done in others. (Hear, hear.) His praise is very precion=
mtseitY• It ma be compared to the sort of labour to me; for—will I confess it, gentlemen ?—there is nothing
"'el by onof ost eminent poets, when he said : in literary reputation so dear to an American as the idea
a, se e onr m .
• al ''s) pans against the infernal steep, that he may not be wholly unknown in the land of his al-
'tell ie'v ed the huge rock, whose motions ne'er may sleep." cestry—that if he comes hither, he comes not entirely as
`l,t eq,.,`,..3 the destiny of many a man who toils in the cause a stranger. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, I must not forget
.eet oeation. (Bear, hear.) And yet, gentlemen, I recol- that I speak in this respect not merely on my own behalf,
to that by the committee over which I had the honour but on behalf of the literatuae of my country. I may be
ileWnestde, the one object above all others which was laid as modest as I please in my own behalf, as modest as.
ley; as desirable for the people of this country was that befits me to, be, but on behalf of the literary men, my
1*er:418110111d have the power of educating themselves. brethren, whom my country has produced, the poets, the
"len, I am almost afraid sometimes, in the case of ' novelists, the historians of America, II have no right to