The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-13 00:00:00

Royal Polytechnic Institution.

The annual distribution et certificates and priz^a to the
successful candidates of the evening classes (in connection
with the Society of Arts) attached to this excellent instiiu.
tion, took place on Fe iday ui ht iu the presence of a crowded
audience.

The ceremony came off in the theatre of the institution
after the usual performances, and the prizes were delivered
to the different recipients by the Lord Mayor. There were
also present, Mr Harry Chester, vice president of the
Society of Arts; Mr Foster, the secretary; the Rev. J. B.
Owen, the president o:' the institution; the Rev. Charles
Mackenzie, honorary director of the classes; Professor
Pepper, the Rev, Henry Mackoczie, sub-dean of Lincoln;
Mr W. T. Maxwell, &c.

The Rev. J.B. OWEN said they had asked the Lord Mayor
to distribute the prizes that evening, because from the fact
of his connection with the City of London School they
would be doubly acceptable to the recipients. (Cheers.) He
had the honour of introducing to his lordship 16 young
men and women as the candidates for the prizes. He could
hardly say anything too highly of the importance of giv;ng
away prizes, for they acted as a stimulus to young people
to persevere and improve in a manner that would make
them more useful to themselves and to society at large.
(Cheers.) The lady candidates were Miss Albin and Miss
Heritage, each of whom had appeared before in that capa-
city at the City of London College.
These ladies then received their prizes and certificates
from the hands of the Lord Mayor, who said although he
hid recently been much engaged he had not been idle in
matters where education was concerned. He felt sure that
the system of educating in evening classes was greatly
calculated to instruct and advance all who would avail
themselves of it.

Both the fair recipients were loudly cheered as they re-
;ired with their honours,

The remaining prizes were then awarded in rotation.
Amongst these were prizes presented to M. Roublet and
Mr Reynolds for their successful teaching in French and
book.keeping.
The Rev. Mr OWEN then said he had been requested by
the students to ask his lordship to present on their behalf
a book to Mr Cousins, the secretary, as a mark of their
esteem for that gentleman.

The Lord Maier readily complied with the request, and,
in presenting the book, said ho should be most happy to
offer £5 for the best essay in English history since 1857.
Mr Cousins, as he advanced to receive, and retired witht
his much valued trophy, was greeted with the enthusiastic
plaudits of the students.

Mr HARRY CHESTER then moved a vote of thanks to the
Lord Mayor for presenting the prizes, which he said must
bo greatly enhanced in value to the recipients from the
fact of their coming from the hands of the Lord Mayors the
founder of the City of London School.

Tile Rev. HENRY MAcKENzin seconded the motion. He
was not aware till then that the Lord Mayor was the ori-
ginator of the City of London School. He had only the
previous day met an archdeacon who had bean educated
there, which to him wa., a fact that spoke greatly as to the
valuo of such institutions. They were the means of bring-
ing out great princip!es and of giving sound, useful, and
religious education to those disposed to avail themselves of
them.

The Rev. J. B. OWEN said he was extremely anxious
that the evening classes at the Polytechnic should be more
extensively, kuown than they were. They could accom-
modate 800 pupils, and he would not rest satisfied till they
had got that number. The year was divided into four
terms, each term was five shillings, for which they could
obtain quality that could not be found elsewhere. He
trusted, therefore, that there would be a considerable
number of candidates next year.

The vote was then put and unanimously carried.

Th 9 LORD MAYOR, in acknowledging the compliment,
said it was a source of great pleasure to be present upon
an occasioa like that. What he saw before him was, he
thought, a signal proof of what could be done by industry.
As f boy of 17 he himself had come to London, and by dint
of prudence and industry he had gone on step by step till
he was put in the position he had then the honour of hold-
ing. (Cheers.) The same chance was open to thos3 young
people by the same road. The right hon. gentleman than
added—He did not wish them to imagine that ha was doing
them an honour in being there ; on the contrary, he con-
sidered the honour was conferred upon himself.
The proceedings th‘.n. closed,