The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-03 00:00:00

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION

A most numerous and highly respectable meeting of the
patrons, friends, and members of the London Mechanics'
Institution, was held yesterday evening in the theatre,
Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane, for the purpose of
celebrating the eighth anniversary of the institution, and
for the distribution of the prizes for essays, drawings, &c.,
to the successful competitors. The theatre wax crowded
to excess, and the platform was graced by a ♦ery full at-
tendance of ladies.

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The chair was taken by Dr. BIRKBECK soon after eight
o'clock, and the Learned Doctor opened the business of the
evening by an able and elaborate address on the importance
and advantages daily accruing from institutions similar to
that over which he had the honour to preside.
Mr. Gonsost, M.P. for Sr. Alban's, after an appro-
priate address, moved the adoption of a proposition ex-
pressive of the gratification with which the meeting con-
templated the success which bad attended the efforts of the
measures of the institution in extending the benefits of
knowledge to every class of persons in the metropolis.
Mr. JOSIAH CONDER moved a proposition, declaratory
of the objects of the institution,—namely, the extension of
civilization and the increase of human happiness, by un-
folding and enforcing the great tt uths of social and physical
science, excluding only those topics, which by their local,
temporary, or personal influence, were calculated to inter-
rupt the harmony and well-being of society.
Both the propositions were unanimously adopted by the
meeting.
The prizes were then distributed as follows :
A prize of 61. for the best, and 41. for the second best
Essay on Political Economy, given by T. H. Holdaworth,
Esq., to Mr. Hunter, and to Mr. Price, a mathematical
instrument maker, who had only recently attained his

majority.
A prize of 101., given by Bingham Baring, Esq., M.P.,
for the best Essay on Emigration, to Mr. Francis Clifton.
A prize of 101., given anonymously, through Dr. Birk-
beck, for the best essay on the effects of the distribution of
the revenue on the condition and interests of the working
classes, to Mr. 'Ward, an engineer. The essays were all
strongly eulogized by Nassau W. Senior, E.q., and several
other gentlemen, as highly talented and meritorious pro..
ductions.
A prize for an architectural drawing of the New London
Bridge was awarded to Mr. Colliver, a smith ; and a si-
milar for a drawing and elevation of Martineau's steam-
engine, to Mr. Curtis, an operative.
Propositions were moved by Mr. Ginsose and the Rev.
Dr. LADDNER, declaratory of the conviction of the meet-
ing of the advantages of the institution, as manifested by
acquirements and qualifications which had that evening
been displayed, and which demonstrated the soundness
and accuracy of the opinions of those who suggested and
assisted in its formation.
These propositions were carried unanimously, as were
also a vote of thanks to the donors of the prizes, and a si-
milar compliment to Dr. Birkbeck, the President and Fa-
ther of the Institution. The last was responded to with

three hearty cheers.
Several new subjects for Prize Essays were announced
by the President, who, having returned thanks, the mett-
az broke up.