The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-02 00:00:00

Macau °fan establishment calculated In diffuse knowledge and in.
formation among a large class of their coentrinnen; to whom It wro
now by circumstances in a great measure denied. rn this stage of
their proceedings, and after the eloquent and luminous enunciation
of the objects of the Institution which had emanated from the speak.
era that preceded him, more especially from a bathed Gent. (Air.
Brougham) who always exhausted whatever subject he undertook,
he felt that It was scarcely fair or necessary to occupy the time of
the assembly further, by enlarging upon topics already so amply
1 discussed. He should therefore confine himself simply to a con.
gratulation of the assembly on the prospect afforded by the eats.
blishment of a Metropolitan institution, such as the present, and
which was pettedly compatible with other institutions of a similar
nature eiliewhete, and calculated to render their famous metropolis
as fatuous To learning and literary eminence, m it already was for
contmerelal adVantaget. He thought he should not be doing that
which was entirely useless, if lie anticinated by an observation or
two, soine:qbjections which might by possibility be urged against
the new dhultution. Ile wished by so doing, to guard against
the inconveniences likely to arise from misapprehensions, which
might deprive them of support or create hostility. The eats-
blishmebt of an University in London was a proposition that
Might he viewed with jealousy or misapprehension by the
friends and favourers of Oxford and Cambridge,but he thought thole
jealousies must be necessarily soon at an end, when the mem,
bers of those venerable estabishments taw that our object
was like them, indeed, to disseminate knowledge, but that the
paths in which the promoters of the Bletropolitan College pro-
posed to walk, were essentially different and distinct, and therefore
that it was impossible those feelings of doubt and apprehension
could long continue to exist on the part of their elder brethren. It
was not necessary for him to dwell upon the distinction between the
Afaropolitan and the old Universities, particularly as his Learned
Mend
(31r. /3rougham) had anticipated.him again on that point,
and he took leave to repeat what he had already observed, that his
Learned Friend never treated a subject which he did not exhaust.
It was also worthy of recollection, that his Learned Friend had
stated, and truly stated, that the Universities were at present so
full, they were incapable of receiving all the eatididates desirous of
obtaining admission into them. There was another circumstance'
which made the establishment of such an ininßution neces-
sary, and it was this—if an individual were sent to Oxford
or Cambridge to receive his education, he must of necessity
quit the parental roof, abandon all other objects and par.
suits, and along with this he must go there with consider.
able pegunlay means, and a purse not empty. Now all
this was the very reverse of the proceeding intended to be pursued,
and the objects to be attained in the London University, In that
Institution the pupil might pursue hit studies with the-advantages
of remaining under the parental roof ; his pursuit of knowledge ih
the University would be altogether compatible with being engaged
in other and professional pursuits, and the nature of the education
intended to be given was cheap, easy of attaimeart, and acces-
sible to ell. When the friends and members of the established
Universities examined and looked into_ the nature of the present
project, they must perceive it was not likely to cause one single in.
dividual to be withdrawn from either Oxford or (Ambridge, but
that through its means education would be extended to
many who could not otherwise be educated. Under those
circumstances be thought the members of Oxford and Cain.
bridge should entertain no feelings of jealousy towards the
new establishment. As •r the former, they were ancient and
venerable institutions, nod possessed the advantage of having as-
sociated with them the most celebrated names ; they enjoyed the
highest patronage, and were possessed of fellowships, professor-
ships, scholarships, and studentships, calculated to reward the in.
dustrious and support the indolent. This state of things afforded
the most complete contrast to the new Institution. It would be
without patronage, livings, fellowships, scholarships, or endow-
ments. Every professor in it must depend for the means of exist.
ence upon his teal—not one could hope for subsistence, except
through the strenuous exertion of his faculties; and the students
were to look forward to no reward, except the attainment of usefhl
knowledge. The paths pursued in the elder Universities of Oxford
and Cambridge were distinct from these, and they could hot by
possibility lose anything by the Metropolitan College, and what
was gained by it would he added to the general stodrof useful
knowledge. He had himself been educated at Oxford, and would
be no party to anything of slight or disrespeet towards that or the
sista University ; he was indebted to it for some of the happiest
and most contented years of his life, and he could see no danger to
either in the proceedings of that day, Following the principles
recognised in these Institutions, which had various endowments,
scholarships and sisarships, for indigent scholars, who were, by
means of those assistances and help., frequently enabled to rise
from the humbler walks afire into eminence and power—following
and approving of this principle, he. in common with the supporters
, of the new establishment, wished to found an universal scholarship
for the diffusion of similar benefits more generally and widely,
and to make education cheap, easily procured, and accessible
to all. _

Mr. J. M. GOLD9MITII proposed the next Resolution, which
was seconded by Mr. B. SHAW, and carried unanimously.
Mr. Dooer then addressed the meeting.
Mr. Wise ES proposed a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor, for
his very proper and dignified conduct in the chair.
Dr. BIRRBECK seconded the motion, which was put by Mr. S.
Faye% and carried by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN was about to return thanks, when
The SECRETARY announced that Mr. Denman was present, and
would address a few words to the Meeting. (Applause.)
Mr. Hex MAN dun stood forward Lining very general cheering.
He said he had never, in the course of his life, been wrestled more
suddenly. (A laugh.) His personal liberty had been violated ;
and never, he was convinced, did that profession to 'which he be-
longed—the law—use a more direct control over the liberty of a
subject than was then violently exercised over him. (Laughter.)
He had been in the room but five minutes, delighted with the op-
portunity of expressing by a silent vote his gratitude and acknow-
ledgment to the Lord Mayor for that conduct by which lie did
himself so much honour on that day. (Loud applause.) The
Learned Gentleman went on to say, that he attended the Meeting
for the purpose of bearing testimony, as an individual, to the value
of the proposed undertaking, and not that he might express his',
sentiments nn the subject. This he was the more disposed to do
from a conviction that science and literature had been that day ad-
vocated by others more competent than he was, and in a manner
that would reflect credit on the best ages of mankind. He was
sorry for trespassing on the Meeting, but could not refrain front say-
ing how mach he exulted in the prospect that was now opening, and
from stating that he felt the most perfect sympathy in the semi-
mente of those who had spoken before him. He begged to congratu-
late the meeting that the great day had arrived on which so gin.
rioua a work was to originate. Atter some further remarks, the
lion. and Learned Gentleman proceeded to observe, that if objec-
tions were to be made by other Universities on the grounds of cont.
petition, he trusted they would rather remember that to spread the
light of science and of literature, was to do what they themselves
had been engaged in, and from which such inestimable blessings
were to arise to mankind ,• and that it was the duty of those who
were capable, never to relax their exertions to communicate that
light. (Applause.) It was clear, that all were now stepping for-
wind in this career, and that all wished that the blessings of cilia-
cation were not to be confined to those of rank and of fortune; but
that that which was so likely to promote general peace, domestic
happiness, and in fine, the tranquillity of all nations, should be
within the reach of all classes. lie did not wish to enlarge o .
topics which, lie supposed, had already been auticipwed by his
friends, and therefore would advance no arguments to prove the
utility of the present undertaking ; and, indeed, the multitude then '
assembled, proved more forcibly than any arguments, however
strong, the expediency of their proceedings that day. Ile never,
since his connexion with the city, felt greater honour than then,
when he found those possessing the highest rank in it maintaining
the principles of justice and of freedom. In conclusion, he apolo-
gised for detaining them, and begged to join his hearty wishes to
those of the illustrious individuals who are connected with the
undertaking.—(Applause.)
Mr. GURNF.Y next came forward, and said, that he too, like his
lion. and Learned Friend, had but lately entered the room. He
would not, at that late hour, trespass on the meeting further than
to express his great pleasure at seetng so many persons then assem-
bled, and to state his perfect coneurunce in all that had fallen from
his lion. and Learned Friend.

The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to return thanks. He declared
that he never felt more warmly than on the present occasion. He
fully coincided in the Resolutions that were agreed to, and trusted
that the undertaking would meet with all that support which it so
fully merited._ He said, that he took the Chair that day from a
' feeling, that lie ought to give his fellow-citizens every opportunity
of expressing their opinions, and by such a feeling should his future
conduct be regulated.
As his bordsh'; was about to retire a Mr. Walker proceeded to
address the Altettog, but from the great merriment which his ob-
servations excited amongst those in his immediate neighbourhood,
we were unable to catch their import.
Before the Meeting separated a great number of shares were
subscribed for. In the list we noticed some who took as many as
ten shares.

The Queen of the Netherlands, returning from Berlin,
was expected to arrive in Brussels on Friday in the fore-
noon.

We find the Juvenile Fete at Vauxhall is on Saturday,
the 9th inst. ; in addition tq the various attractions of the
evening, we have been given to understand that the young
Prince Cecrge, and his sister Augusta, will he present,
their Royal parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,
having graciously signified their permission. From the
public spirit of the proprietors, we may be assured that the
entertainments will be, in every respect, worthy of the inter-
, esting occasion.

The fourth number of the new typolithographical work
the Parthenon is published to-day. The execution of this
number is, we think, better than any of the preceding.
The last pages contain the music of the sato in which
Velluti was so much applauded. The topics and sketches
are selected with the same taste and discrimination by
which this periodical is distinguished.

Ycterday his Excellency Baron Maltzahn, Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty
the King of Prussia to his Britannic Majesty, jointly with
Mr. N. M. Rothschild, and accompanied by Mr. Charles
Green, notary public, cancelled, and deposited in the
Bank of England, the amount of 19,3301. in special bonds
of the Prussian Loan of 1822, being the fifth half•yearly
(redemption of bonds—viz. one half per cent. on the amount
of the loan, and also. the saving of the interest on the
72,7.501. redeemed to the Ist of January last inclusive.