The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-29 00:00:00

to any portion of the human race. Such a timid statesman should
be told that there was no combustible so pregnant with danger as
an ignorant multitude. Who could say, and ape* truly, that
men would be less obedient or less traced-lc when under the in-
fluence of education ? Under what circumstances would not men
be preferred who knew their business well sad scientifically? In
what dock-yard would men be rejected because they could do their
duty otherwise than as mere machines ? The gentleman who ad-
dressed the meeting appeared to think that Mechanics' Institutes
would had to combinations among workmen; but the combine.
thins that would really arise would be of a very different nature
from those he seemed to apprehend: for if the labourer would in-
sist on receiving that hire of which he was worthy, he would be
able to estimate his worth, and never seek to receive more than he
was fairly entitled to. It should be remembered also that man
required relaxation ; and this those Institutes afforded. by taking
them from scenes of drunkenness and dissipation, and directing them
to amusement through a very different course. Knowledge as neces-
sarily led to virtue as the absence of it led to vice. In Scotland
there was abundant proof of the former, ard in Ireland a signal
example of the latter. The means of instruction would therefore
be afforded to the mechanics, but they must instruct themselves,
ard they would prosper and succeed, If they fainted not. They
would thus enhance their own consequence, their. own wealth, and
their own power, and become at once a tower of strength to the
throne and a protection to the country. The gentleman, who ad.
dressed the meeting with considerable force and eloquence, con.
eluded by moving the following reaolntion :
`• 2. That the Meeting acknowledge with approbation the ex-
ample which the Mechanics Odle metropolis have act their brethren
at large, in havirg established an Institution for their own instrue-
tionin the Arta and Sciences."

Mr. Bazar liowiTNTeeonded the Resolution. He said he
had been for many years a working man himself, and had had con-
trol over many men, and could say, from experience, that the best
educated man was the best servant. He could never sit quietly and
hear it said that Ignorance was better than knowledge, or that
fellow.beings ought to be driven like coach-horsea, because they
were ignorant. The Mechanics should remember that they must
themselves put their shoulders to the wheel, and that whatever as-
sistance they might obtain, to themselves they must owe their ad.
vantages.
The Resolution then passed.
JAMES MITCHELL, LL.D. congratulated the meeting on the
great degree of patience with which they had heard a gentleman
address them, whose opinions were ao diametrically opposite to
theirs. This gentleman, who imagined that Mechanics' Institutes
were detrimental to the government, forgot that his Majesty's At.
torney-General, and many officers under government, were patrons
and viee-testrons of similar institutions. M. Dupin, an eminent
French writer, during his v►sit to this country, particularly admired
the:Unbent& institute at Glasgow, and in consequence of his re.
presentations, no lean than twenty-eight similar imititutions were
formed in France. Not very many years ago, the greatest oppo.
sition was used to prevent the lower classes from learning to read
and write—that principle was now given up ; but as it was intended
to add some knowledge of science to these .tequireasents, some
thought proper to object to it. The Learned Gentleman concluded
by moving the following resolution :
" 3. That there be established a Rotberhithe and Bermondsey
Mechanics Institution."

Dr. HARRISON BLACK seconded the motion, and briefly ad-
dressed the meeting on the importance and benefit of such societies.
Mr. W. GILBERT, after commenting on the utility of • library
to the mechanics, contended that if such societies had nothing to
recommend them but the amusement they gave, still they ought to
be supported ; for they had none of the objections usually advanced
against amusements of various kinds, while thei combined the ad.
vantages and enjoyments of all. The gentleman, after a very elo-
quent address, moved the fourth Resolution :
" 1. That the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Mechanics' In-
stitudon shall have especially in view the establishment of lectures
on the different arts and sciences, the formation of a library of refer-
ence and of circulation, and the establishment of reading-rooms ; and
that the institution shall comprehend all those persons who have al.
ready given in their names as members, as well as all those who may
do so on or before the 10th day of December, on their conforming to
the laws to be hereatter adopted for the management of the In-
stitution ; and that after the said 10th day of December, persons
shall be admitted members on such conditions, and in such manner,
r the laws shall provide ; and that the annual subscription to en-
title a person to become • member shall be 10s. yearly, to be paid
either at once or in instalments, as the laws shall direct."

--- ... -..-. —..
Mr. Mama seconded the resolution, which was put and
carried.

Mr. GEORGE STACY, secretary to the London Mechanics' In-
stitution, moved the appointment of the Committee to draw up a
code of laws, to b c submitted to a public 3leeting on the 10th of
December.

Mr. LirrawaiTE seconded the resolution, which was earned.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, 111 r. Daniel
Brent. who returned thanks, and said that as naval architecture
would be an Important branch of the society's study, it was his
intention to present to it several books on the subject, and also
a drawing (with the marked lines) of the Royal Sovereign, built in
1617.

- - -.-
A vote of thanks was also passed to Dr. Birkbcck, and the
other gentlemen who had attended the meeting.
Dr. DIRIBECK returned thanks, and at half-past ten o'clock the
meeting separated.
We feel it necessary to observe, that the only symptoms of dis..
union were manifested by two or three individuals, who were
evidently not mechanics. The meeting, with those solitary excep-
tions, was most unanimous and orderly.