Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-18 00:00:00

ROYAL INSTITUTION SCHOOL.

Yesterday, at eleven o'clock, a public meeting was held
in the Lecture-room of the Royal Institution, for the
purpose of distributing the prizes to the pupils, obtained
at the last examination. There were a large number of
ladies present, and the room was filled to inconvenience
Elias Arnaud, Esq., President, occupied the chair on the
()cession. Among other gentlemen present we observed
his Worship the Mayor, Rev. Dr. Raffles, Samuel Ilolme,
Esq., Rev. Mr. Tobin, and Mr. Aikin.
The Chairman rose and said : Mr. Mayor, ladies, and
gentlemen,—We are again assembled itithis hall, on our
usual anniversary, to listen to the recitations and orations
of the pupils of our Royal Institution School—that we
may be enabled to form some opinion of the progress they
have made in their studies since our last annual meeting,
and how far they have advanced towards proficiency.
And the occasion becomes the more important from the
almost universal impulse that has been given to learning
through the length and breadth of the land, rendering it
of vital consequence to the rising generation not to neglect
the golden opportunity of youth for fitting them for
competition, as then the mind es more dunile, the
memory more retentive and a greater aptitude exists for
study. Admission to many public situations could for-
merly be obtained by influence or interest ; but now the
entrance door is shut to the army, the navy, the royal
artillery, or engineers, and even to civil situations in the
revenue, unless the candidate is prepared to outshine his
competitors and to satisfy the examiners of the superiority
of his attainments. I trust, therefore, lam not irrelevant
in impressing on our young friends not to lose the precept
season for acquiring knowledge, and qualifying themselves
for gaining future prizes, and so do credit to their present
preceptors, and gladden the hearts of their parents and
friends. (Applause.) In the course of the present year,
we have had the opportunity rf persuing the life of one
who, struggling with difficulty for the want of education,
very soon began to discern its inestimable value, and
accordingly placed himself at school when he had reached
eighteen—l allude to the greatest man of his age in
utility, George Stephenson—(applause)—who not only
originated the train, or railroad, but the wonderful engines
that run capon them, besides having claim to the invention
of the safety lamp, and who deserves much from Liver-
pool, as he has done so much in facilitating its commerce
His maxim was perseverence, which generally overcomes
all obstacles; and our young friends should adopt his
motto, " Labor orunia vincit." In conclusion, he expressed
his regret that they wars deprived of the presence of their
esteemed diocesan, who usually honoured them by his
attendance. He concluded by exoressiug his sorrow for
the absence of his lordship the Bishop of Chester, who
usually afforded them his services on those occasions, and
who was always so anxious for the welfare of that institu-
tion.

Mr. Turner then called upon a number of the pupils,
who gave several pieces of recitation in the different
languages, after which
Mr. Turner rose and sekl, as their esteemed friend and
patron, the Diocesan, had unavoiJably been absent thet
day, and who had done them so many good services, he
hoped Mr. Samuel Holme evou'd undertake his duties on
that occasion--that of distributing the prizes to the pupils
He held in his hand a letter, dated 14th December, from
his lordship, expressing his regret for not bring able to be
present, but sent his best wishes to the entire school,
The President then called upon Mr. Holme, who came
forward and said: Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mayor, ladies and
gentlemen—No one can regret more deeply than I do the
absence of the Bishop of Chester, because you are disap-
pointed of those eloquent remarks which etways fall from
his lips on euch an occasion as this ; and the young gen-
tlemen are deprived of receiving those prizes at his hand.
Now, apologies I do not like, because they are generally
for a bad speech, but I will assure you that I never was
more unprepared than lam on the present occasion Just
permit me to say for a moment, in my early days I was
celled a young Tory, and new, since my head began to
grow grey, I have been called an old Tory, but now you
are about to make me an improviso Tory. (Laughter,)
I should have a speech ready made in my pocket for every
difficulty. I, however, have had no diliculty throughout
life in grappling with the various subjects that have come
before me in my upward courss, from that of school-
boy,r,,toiling over my Latin grammar, up till the period
when I was elevated to the dignity of an alderman. But
of all the difficulties that ever I was placed in, is that of
becoming a locum tenons for the Bishop of Chester.
(Laughter and applause) Bat I have always taken an
interest in all the institutions of the town as well as this,
and I was struck with a passage on the table—" In
that the nation's fate lies circled"—how it depended
on the sort of education we give to the
children of the present day, our nation's fate
Education is extending itself far and wide, and I hope and
trust that no man will be found, in the present day, endea-
vouring to stop its progress. It is our duty—looking at
the pssition of our country in its commercial intercourse
with the world, seeing the competition which the nation,
as well as the individual, has to encounter—it is right that
we should give to our children such an education as will
give to our nation a euperiority, wherever she plants her
flag ; and I trust that wherever these young gentlemen go,
they will carry along with them that superior education,
which they are now receiving, and bear with them, to
whatever country they may go to, the feelings o; an Eng-
lish gentleman—the civilisation, the laws, and most of all,
the religion of England, and show, as I am sure they will, that
the education which they have received will be blended with
such principles as will enable all to say they do credit to
their country, on the one hand ; and, on the other hand,
that they honour that God whom they have been taught in
their education to serve and worship ; and, when any of
you go abroad, I trust that you wilt remember that you
are Englishmen, and by the education you have received,
diffuse blessings far and wide. (Applause.)
Mr. Holme then handed to the pupils the various prizes,
encouraging each in his pursuit in study. This being gone
through,

The- Chairman rose and said : I am sure you will all
agree with me that the Bishop could not have got a better
substitute than Mr. Holme. For his ability and kindness
we are all infinitely obliged. (Applause.)
Mr. Turner expresse,l his thanks to the chairman and
to Mr. Holme for their kindness on the occasion, and
hoped the boys would long keep these prizes, and pin
many more. And this he thought he might say, that no
prize was given but what had been heartily deserved.
Mr 1-lolme thanks I the young gentlemen for the man-
ner in which they had received his name, and he only
wished that he had had notice of the position ho had taken
yesterday, he would have been better prepared for it. He
concluded by reminding them, thai, although in the vigour
of youth and health, time was uncertain, and trusted
that the young gentleman whom he then addressed—all
for the first time, it may be, some of them, for the last,
would not forget their ieponsibility to God, and their duty
to their parents. (Applause.)
The Mayor moved a vote of thanks to their excellent
prisident, Mr. Arnaud. One, he said, that had passed
such a long time amongst them, needed no eulogium at
his hands.
Mr. Turner seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously by the applause of the meeting.
Mr. Arnaud, in a few brief remarks, returned thanks.
Mr. Turner then closed the proceedings by thanking
the ladies end gentlemen for their attendance, and wished
all a happy Christmas, and his pupils merry holidays.
The pupils, befure retiring, gave " three cheers " for
each of the principal gentlemen present.
The following is the