The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-29 00:00:00

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

Last night a meeting of the mechanics (princi-
pally of the class of shipwrights) in Bermondsey, Rotherhithe,
and their vicinities, was held on the premises of a sail-manufac-
turer in Chcrrytree-street, for the purpose of establishing a me-
chanics' institution in that populous neighbourhood.—Mr.
BRENT took the chair.

When the chair was taken at 3 o'clock, the place in which the
meeting was held was crowded to excess, and the confusion was
so great from the pressure, that it was with great difficulty the
speakers could be heard by the meeting.
Dr. Bi lIKBE CK opened the business by proposing a declara-
tory resolution in favour of the principle of mechanical Insti-
tution, and enforcing it by arguments founded on the value of
scientific knowledge, and its practical application to the business
of the world, in all its ramifications. This resolution was se-
conded by Mr. Robert M`Williarn, and opposed by
Mr. THOMAS, who submitted an amendment, declaring the
inexpediency of these Institutions. He. attributed the diffu-
sion of societies upon this plan to the fanaticism of these
times ; and while he disclaimed being an enemy to the growth
of knowledge, he begged to point out the absolute incompati-
bility of scientific studies with mechanical labour. The me-
chanic who devoted his mind to scientific studies of an abstruse
nature would be physically unable to apply himself to the
labours of the day, which were necessary for the maintenance
of his relative condition. This gentleman was so repeatedly
interrupted in the course of his speech, that it was difficult to
catch his observations.. lle regretted the opposition he en-
countered, as being inconsistent with fair discussion ; and as-
sured them, that the same principle which would lead him to
oppose any invasion of the higher powers upon the just rights
of the humbler classes, compelled hint to differ from the latter,
when they seemed upon an organized plan to travel out of their
proper sphere.
Mr. Gas•r replied at some length to the preceding speaker,
and contended that the growth of knowledge was quite con-
sistent with the proper performance of mechanical labour, and
the due subordination of the workman to his employer. At
the same time he -admitted.. the modern plan of diffusing
scientific education was calculated to impede the growth of op-
pression, and to make men more tenacious of their just rights.
Not that he considered these institutions as exclusively calcu-
lated to benefit the operative classes; they were equally con-
ducive to the interest of their employers, for whatever tended
to improve the principles of mechanism, and to economise ex-
penditure, must be advantageous to both.
Mr. Eni.iowv also replied to Mr. Thomas, and supported
the propriety of establishing these mechanical institutions up-
on principles of general public utility. Ile was followed by
Mr. Donlan, the Bev. 111 r. Gilbert, Drs. Black, and Mitchell,
and the resolutions for the formation of the society were
carried with great applause. At eleven o'clock the Meeting
separated.

UTI ATIO N.-A woman was last week-brought
to Bristol Infirmary, having had both her thumbs
entirely cut off by one stroke of a butcher's
cleaver ! The latter, having quarrelled with his
wife, raised the cleaver with the intention of
striking her, when her mother, with uplifted
hands, interposed, and received the blow.
On-Tuesday evening last, a young man named
Brickley, who was arrested in the town of Skib-
bereen, by the police, under a warrant charging
him with sheep stealing, contrived to escape from
their custody. He plunged into the river, but
being a bad swimmer and the current strong, he
was drowned,