The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-10 00:00:00

LORD STA.NLEY. AT BLACKBURN.

• An inaugural meeting o f the members of the Black-
burn Mechanics' Institug p'n took place in the Theatre
Royal, on Thursday eveni tei-;•. •
Lord Stanley was unani iously voted chairman, amidst
loud applause. His lords iip on addressing the audience
said—With regard to theii. means of supporting such an
institution the question ad ilitted of a himple reply. They
had a population of nearly 50,000 persons—a population
which, within the last 20 years, had nearly doubled in
number. He was told tint t the rateable annual value of
property there was, two yes ,rs ago, about 100,0001., and
that it had since risen to 1:12,000/. ; thus showing, not
only the possession of a kr; le amount of wealth, but also
that that wealth was ski! .lily on the increase. And,
as regarded the position. of the labouring population,
he (the chairman) was informed on the best authority
that the wages of high s:killed labourers varied from
15s. to ISs. per week,; which was about the average
price of that district, but half as much more than was
paid in the agricultural: districts of England. There
was no_ question, theref *ire, but the members of the in-
stitution had the means 'of existing as an institution if
they thought proper. isi the next place, what was the
necessity for the existence of such an institution ? He
found, however' by evidence not absolutely conclusive,
but upon which he was ire clined to rely, that the amount
consumed in drink in lackburn was 4001. a day, or
lather more than 140,00 N. per year. In that respect
their condition was hiebei • and better than that of many
neighbouring corammtitiol s. (Cheers.). At the same time
it was evident that such a consumption—a consumption
sufficient to maintain fel ir hundred public-houses and
beer-shops—was still a gri lat anomaly. Amongst those
present who took an in terest, and had shown a pe-
cuniary interest in the institution, were masters em-
ploying some 12,000 or 1:1,000 hands, lie thought that
was a proof that the in at itution was intended for the
operative classes, and that it would be supported both
by the employer and the ..employed. He would state in
few-words the circumstances under which they met.
If it were possible, he would recommend the estab-
lishment of a free library; but if that, were not possi-
ble, and he thought it was not—for it implied not only
the possession of funds sufficient to establish, but also
.to maintain it—if it were not possible to maintain such
a library, as the next best alternative he would re-
commend the library of the institution to bo thrown
open to all parties who were not members, on payment
of a small charge. Look:at Manchester ; the free library
in that town cost something like 12,0001.—it is free to
all classes, and at all hoar?. He would venture to say
that no private iudivid eat in Manchester had in his
library a 'collection of books half so valuable as that
which was brought together in the free library of that
town. We in England were very much behind hand in
this matter. There was no large town in Franco that
had not also its collection of books, generally largo, and
pretty well chosen. If they considered what was a
well-attested fact, that 50,.400,000/. were spent annually
in this country on intoicicating• drinks, and in Blackburn
alone something like 140,0001., he would say that the
sum required to establish a public free library, which
would be open to all, and a source of pleasure, interest,
and instruction for years, was not much more than the
receipts at the public•houses and beer-shops of Black-
burn for one single week. (Checrs.) Ho was con-
vinced that what had been done in Preston, Bolton,
and other towns, Blackburn would also be able to
do. He looked back upon their past, and found that
even amongst other industrial communities Blackburn
had still held a place. It was there, 90 years ago, the
ingenuity of Hargreives added millions of wealth to the
"ration, and shed a lustre on the place of his birth and
his labours. - ,rreat cheering.) He was confident they
would not let it be said they were now resting upon
their past triumphs and sus mess. lam still more
confident (his lordship continued) tha's,- you will not let it
be said that, amidst the bustle of gusintav, and' the
excitement of commercial competition, you have for-
gotten the higher and more ennobling claims of human

intelligence, and of moral and mental progress. (The
noble chairman rgsumed his seat amidst loud applause.)