The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 17, 186

win more supporters. The statistics of theie colleges
prove beyond a. doubt the great need' of Ocesplithat
existed, seeing •ti*: many of the scholars attain.
high degree of proficiency with a rapidity-typical
alike of natural ability and persevering applieation.
When we come to consider the sphere of life in
which-the yOung disfindion are pla-ced,
when we remember Ihat their
_moments of:atudy
follow long hours of close,application, either at the
fatigiiing routine of office work or at hard physical
toil, when we reflect, too, that the time devoted to
books and classes has to be snatched from their, only
leisure, we shall be convinced that the love of learn-
ing and the desire to improve which spurs them on
are very powerful agencies. The proportion of
students who obtain certificates in these insti-
tutions is, generally large, owing, we may sup-
pose, to the fact that the study is voluntary, and
that only those who are determined to do something
towards self-education take part in it, unlike the
enforced application of schools, At an interesting
meeting of the Ipswich Working Men's College,
lately held in that town, under the presidency of
Sir FITZROY KELLY, it was -stated that since the
opening of the college only a year ago no less than 16
certificates had been bestowed upon its students by
the Society of Arts., This is eminently satisfactory
at so early an epoch in its career, as there is rea-
sonable ground for expecting that many other of
the students now members of the college will attain
a similar distinction when they have had the ad-
vantage of a year or two more study. Since the
inauguration of the college 150 men have become
members, and 248 students. The president of the
meeting, however, did not consider these numbers
sufficient, and urged upon the working men, who
heard him, the advantages of taking part in the
instruction here openly proffered to them. In an
able and interesting address, Sir FITZROY KELLY
pointed out to the meeting the claims which the
institution possessed alike on the rich and the poor ;
on the former for their countenance and assistance,
and the latter for their support by joining it as
members. Among the chief requisites of the
college is a library, and we fully agree with Sir
FITZROY KELLY that the wealthier citizens ought
at once to subscribe the necessary funds for it, if
they wish the institution to prosper. It is hopeless
to expect a student to get on without books, and
the limited means of most of the members would
stand very much in the way of their getting any
even if they knew what to purchase. It is only
fair and right that the college should supply all
necessary means of obtaining information to its
readers, and we should hope that a very brief
time will be allowed to elapse before this indispen-
sable addition is made to the institution. From the
earliest times, as Sir FITZROY KELLY observed, it
has been the lot of the working classes throughout
the whole world" to spend their lives in toiling
and struggling for a precarious subsistence; to
see their pleasures limited to the mere satisfaction
of their bodily wants, to be, as Dr. JOHNSON
pathetically observes, rather driven by the fear of
evil than attracted by the hope of good."
It is the object of institutions such as
these to alter this state of things ; to
remove the barrier which has hitherto
shut out the working classes from intellectual plea.
sures—a barrier so strong that only a few rarely
gifted individuals have been empowered to break it.
There is really nothing in a man's condition, as Sir
FITZROY KELLY told the working men of Ipswich,
which prevents him from ranking among the great
discoverers and great benefactors of his race ; the
only really formidable obstacle in his way is the
difficulty he has in obtaining that rudimentary
knowledge upon which all improvements are
founded, and in learning those records of other
men's experience which are necessary to guide his
experiments. This want, which has been a formi-
dable impediment to many of our self-made men,
need now hinder their progress no more. Insti-
tutes and colleges open their doors to the eager
inquiry of the young student, and offer him the
treasures of past experience and present acquire-
ment for his encouragement and aid. The fact of
so many of their fellows distinguishing themselves
in the examinations will very possibly stimulate
others less hopeful or less industrious to enter the
lists. Among the holders of certificates at Ipswich
was a stonemason--a proof that no trade, however
laborious and mechanical, need hinder the seeker
after knowledge. We trust the various colleges
recently established will prosper in their course,
and that men of position and influence will continue
to lend their aid and countenance to a project
which has for its end the substantial benefit of their
fellows.

ASTROMETEOROLGY.