The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-05 00:00:00

LORD STANLEY AT LIVERPOOL.

On Saturday eveiling the Concert-hall was densely
crowded by a respectable and enthusiastic audience, a
portion of which had, doubtless, been attracted by the
announcement that the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P.,
had consented to take the chair on the occasion.

Lord STANLEY, in acknowledging a vote of thanks, ob-
served—My good friends and neighbours, I have not
much to say to you ; but, after a welcome so hearty and
so cordial as that which you have given me, I cannot
refrain from expressing ray thanks in a few words. Few
they will be, because the time at our disposal this even-
ing is very limited, and also because we are met here, not
for any purpose of discussion, but simply for the object
of enjoyment. We do not come into this room to pro-
mote any special object, or to set an example to our
neighbours. We come .simply for the pleasure of gra-
tifying, in common, one of the most universal tastes.
But I confess that I am glad that the arrangements
of this evening have given me the opportunity of
not only expressing, however briefly, to the managers
of this society my belief that these amusements greatly
contribute to the moral and social benefit of the
people: of Liverpool—(hear, hear)—but of rejoicing,
also, that I am able to express the pleasure which
I feel in finding myself here for the first time—
the first, but I trust not the last. (Cheers.) It may
be, I believe it is, my fault that:our acquaintance has not
begun earlier ; but I assure you it shall not be my fault
if, now that it has begun, it does not prove lasting.
(Cheers.) These concerts, as you are aware, have been
established now some 16 or 17 years ; and I believe I
may say, with perfect confidence, that the object of
those who first set them on foot was not their own
profit or personal popularity, but solely the public
convenience—(hear, bear)—a desire to supply a
cheap, a rational, and an agreeable source of amuse-
ment
to all—a wish to supersede musical entertain-
ments of a much lower and questionable character.
(Cheers.) lam told, and the appearance of this room
proves the assertion, that they have met with entire
success. (Hear, hear.) That, however, is a matter of
which I can only judge by hearsay ; what I am quite
sure is, that they have deserved success. (Cheers.)
The experiment of a few years ago, though it is an
experiment no longer, proves that with regard to one
source of amusement, and that for the time of
its duration one of the most intense our nature is ,
capable of experiencing, namely, that which arises
from the love of music, there may be a common
sympathy and a common enjoyment amongst all classes,
notwithstanding those inevitable differences of condition
which everywhere exist. (Applause). Now you often
hear a good deal said against our modern system of
society which tends to bring together great masses in
crowded communities like this great commercial town.
No doubt that state of society is attended with some
disadvantages ; but then you must recollect such a state
of society has also great countervailing benefits. It
is only in a community like this, for instance, where
the crowded population may, by combination, ob•
tain at such prices that which, at other places, in
former times, was considered a great luxury, and re-
served comparatively for the few. The principle on which
this society has gained success is simply an application
and extension of that same principle which enables the
labourer, equally with the man with his 5001. a year, to
enjoy all these luxuries of music ; the only principle on
which an institution of this kind can flourish is that of
extensive and universal popularity. There is, I believe,
a very growing feeling that the amusements of the people
are, or ought to be, the subject of general interest. In
all the finer arts we, in England, are behind our neigh-
bours. There is no doubt that, consequent upon the
alteration of manners, within the last century the
number of our national amusements has diminished,
and it is only recently that a reaction has set in. Ido
not think we have yet paid sufficient attention to the sub-
ject, which has, however, now attracted general notice;
and I believe it will continue to do so until, in that re-
spect, we stand in a more satisfactory position. (Hear,
hear.) Now, as to the kind of amusements which can
be provided. Those which are called manly exercises,
or athletic sports, are very well in their way, but, be-
side', having nothing intellectual in their character,
they are mostly amusements in which men only can
take part, while they are totally unsuitable, more-
over, to those whose hours of recreation are principally
in the evening, and who, in their daily occupation, have
enough and more than enough of bodily exertion and
exercise. Then there are what are called intellectual
pursuits. lam one of the last to say anything against
these. I believe every library, lecture-room, and me-
chanics' institution forms lart of the appliances for the
education of the working @asses, yet though very suc-
cessful in their way, they can hardly be called amuse-
ments • and on that particular evening which is more
especially devoted to rest and recreation, it is perfectly
natural that people should desire something requiring
less attention and which has less in it of the nature of
mental exertion than attending the evening class or
lecture. And here we see the advantage of concerts
of this kind ; they are open to all, and do hot fatigue
the mind. I think, therefore, that in supporting
them we are doing a public service. (Hear, hear.) At
the same time, I end as I began. We do not come here,
or ought not, formally and ostentatiously to give an
example to our neighbours ; we come simply for the
purpose of enjoying a high, and refining, and elevating
pleasure ; and we enjoy that pleasure the more because
it comes to us enhanced by the feeling that it is open to
all classes of the community. (Applause.) Again
thanking you heartily for this welcome, I will no longer
detain you from hearing the concluding portion of the
entertainment. The noble lord resumed his seat amidst
great cheering.

" THE PERMANENT-WAY COMPANY'S

CIRCULAR."

This work, modestly called a circular, would appear,
at first sight, to be one of a purely dry and mechanical
nature. It is, however, far from being so, inasmuch as
it contains most substantial proof of a great and rapid
change in the practical' philosophy both of the manage-
ment and economy of our railway system. Hitherto
the attention of the managers of railways has been, for
the greater part, absorbed in the care and thought of the
rolling stock, and the permanent way itself was compa-
ratively neglected ; but with the increased size and
weight of locomotives, and the wear and tear of the
rails consequent thereon, the active minds of our lead-
ing engineers became earnestly directed to the solidity
' and durability-of the permanent way. Several very
important and well-considered improvements almost
simultaneously emanated from the engineering world ;
but, as it became obvious that a suspicion might arise
of their authors having each an undue desire to ad-
vance his own peculiar invention, it was agreed to throw
all into one common stock, and, under the
the edtirection of
railway
able management, to afford to everybenefit
of such combination. The result has fully
longerul one ofly borne out
the first conception, and' its utility is no
theory, the principles secured by the company having
been adopted over many thousand miles of railway, and
are fast becoming universal throughout Europe and else-
where, where this mode of transit exists.moofnrgs.t the
directors of the company we find the napes
Barlow, W. H. Barlow, Charles H. Wild, James
Samuel, Robert Richardson, and Peter Ashcroft ; and
as manager, Charles May • E. W. Howden as secretary
--enough to explain the large amount of good that hae

already been done, and lead us to the full conviction of
increased exertion, gifted ingenuity, and consequent
advantage to the shareholders of railways, and addi..;
tional ease, comfort, and safety to the public.