The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-06 00:00:00

THE LEEDS MECHANICS'
INSTITUTE.
LEEDS, SATURDAY.—The annual festival of the
Leeds Mechanics' Institution and Literary Society
was held yesterday evening in the spacious Stock
Exchange, Albion street, Leeds, under the presidency
of Lord Mahon, M.P., who had been specially invited
to take the chair. Amongst the other distinguished
guests present were, the Hon. and Very Rev, the
Dean of Ripon, Mr. J. A. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. R. M.
Milnes,M.P.' Mr. J. H. Shaw (the Mayor of Leeds),
the Rev. W. Sinclair (President of the Leeds Philo-
sophical Society), &c. Altogether upwards of 600
persons were present, including members of the
chief families in the town and neighbourhood, and
many of the middle, but few of the lower classes.
Soon after seven o'clock, tea having been fully par-
taken of,
Lord leLenoN took the chair amidst great cheering.
After the applause had subsided, the Noble Lord said
--Ladies and gentlemen, it is with much gratification
to myself that I have come amongst you to make
myself acquainted, as I have done, with the details of
your institution, and to congratulate you, as I now
do, on the course you have pursued. You have chosen
to cultivate a taste for reading in literature and
science, not merely as an occupation in itself, but as a
relief from other occupations. You have felt that after
the duties of your daily toil have been performed, and
whilst resting in the body, you might still employ the
mind. Well and wisely have you chosen—well and
wisely, even had you no other end in view than the
passing gratification of the hour; for if it be true, as
we often hear it said, that knowledge is power, it
certainly is not less true that knowledge is pleasure—
(Applause)—and, like other pleasures, this pleasure
has no bounds or limits on this earth; it can never
he fully attained or overpassed, but, like the horison,
the further we advance, the more widely it spreads
out before us. —(" Hear, hear," and applause.) I
think, ladies and gentlemen, that in whatever atten
tion I have been able to give to this subject there is
nothing which has struck me more than to find how
nearly immeasureable is the sphere of human know-
ledge. We have not yet been able to discover the
extreme limits of the realms of space or yet of mie
nute smallness. If we look at the discoveries of the
microscope, we shall find they have been carried to a
great extent by Professor Ehrenberg and other phi-
losophere now living; they have carried them so far
as to discover animals so tiny that several millions
might stand altogether on a space not larger than a
thumb-nail. But then our discoveries only seem
limited by the the imperfection of the instruments we
use, and there is no reason to doubt that by further
improvements in them we may, as heretofore, find
new races of beings starting into view. On
this side, therefore?, the extreme limit, so far as
we can see, has not yet been discovered. If we
leok to the other extreme, so far as the realms
of space are concerned, we find that by the
telescope lately constructed by the Earl of R.osse,
tiloecs:loapse luhieresiinoshuoswenlouudss thate
with so much of well-directed skill, and so much of
what
liberalhatw eexbpeeforirsee----hLlt
etn we (1.,...,e1ees into clusters or stars, Calen star the
centre, no doubt, of other worlds revolving around it.
Thus in this direction, also, the sphere of discovery has
been limited only by the imperfection of the instru-
ments we Luse; and it has been supposrd by Sir John
Herschel that some of these bod:es in the spheres of
space are so remote, that Othough their light must
have been thousands of years in travelling towards us
—and although light travels so fast that from the sun
to the earth it pas-es its course in a few moments—
y. the light from these further bodiesg mi ht even yet
have scarcely reached us. Thus, then, on either side,
see how wide the extremities are apart from each
other! See hew wide is the sphere of knowledge,
that it imagination even endeavours to grasp to itself
the sp ice between, it is almost overpowered by the
greatness of the intervals, and can scarcely form to it-
self such immensity of space. This, then, is the
sphere of knowledge. It may be said, indeed, that
the greater part by far of this sphere can be an object
only of conjecture, or, at the best, of calculation, but
if even we limit ourselves to those objects contained
in this globe on which we stand, and to those objects
which our unassisted vision can perceive, even then
bow vast, how various is the sphere before us—(Ap-
pleuse)—and how may we with one traveller in one
region of the world ascend the summit of the Andes
or of the Alps, and with him assume, in the fine
language of the poet—

Ines—

" To breathe
The difficult air of the iced mountain's top,
Where the birds dare not build ncr insect's wing
Flit o'er the herbless granite;"
while with another traveller, in a far distant region,
we may dive into the recesses of the earth and ex-
plore the swarthy secrets of the mine. How great,
then, how vast is the sphere of knowledge before you.
In the pursuit of this knowledge I earnestly wish it
were in my power, when now appearing before you,
to offer you any word of counsel or of guidance that
could by possibility be of advantage to you. Let me,
in the first instance, express my hope that whenever
you open the great book of nature you may always
do so with a devout and reverent feeling towards the
Almighty Author of all.—(Bear, hear.) I am not
unmindful of the fact that I am here addressing mem-
bers of other forms of Christian faith besides my own.
Nothing shall pass my lips in the shape of controversy,
or which can give pain to others, but 1 desire to warn
you against that irreligion which is their and our
common enemy.—(Hear, hear) Be assured that
those minds most deeply embued with the discoveries
of science are the least inclined to treat sacred subjects
with anything approaching to irreverence. It may
have happened to many among you in passing some
church or chapel or other place of worship, to observe
whilst the worshippers were busy within, there
were some scoffers at the doors. Just so is it
with the temple of science. It is only at its portals
that the scoffers can be found.—(Cheers.) Those who
have entered that temple, who have studied its mys-
teries, who have heard the voice of its oracle, are the
most deeply impressed with the truth that there is an
Almighty Being above us, and that he has deigned
to reveal himself to man. You must bear in mind
that such men as Newton, and Pascal, and some of
the greatest minds this world has ever known, were
not at the first free from doubts and scepticism, but
as their experience increased, as their observation ex-
tended, as their judgment became matured, they be-
came devout and reverent believers in a Supreme
Power.—(Hear, hear.) Bear this truth in mind.
Many of you may not have leisure or opportunity to
examine for yourselves the arguments on which these
truths are founded, but bear this fact in mind, that
these arguments have subdued minds infinitely
stronger than our own—minds, so far as philosophy
and science are concerned, infinitely greater than any
of the present age. This is surely no unimportant
reflection, and one which I commend earnestly to
your serious consideration and thought. Ladies and
gentlemen, there is another counsel, though of far
less importance, which I will venture to give you. I
advise you not to aim at mastering too many sub-
jects of study at the same time. Eor whom am I
addressing now ? I am not addressing those who
have it in their power to devote their whole lives
to study and science—l am addressing those who most
meritoriously are anxious after their daily toil to give
what hours remain to them to these pursuits. Well,
then, if in these few hours you aim at too many sub-
jects of study, the consequence must be that you will
fail to attain proficiency in any one ; you will never
have the instruction you seek, nbr even the pleasure
you are desirous to attain; for, depend upon it, plea-
sure is not to be found in mere superficial acquire-
ments.—(Applause.) I would therefore recommend
you to aim at only one or two subjects of study con •
jointly, and make yourselves masters of them before
you aim at anything further. Then, when you have
really obtained a well-grounded knowledge on these
subjects—then, and then only, will you have the
your
willp e a;
altogether
ge whichth er fail
lmteoriemhpaasrt hasty
ra glance atu s such subjects
what
thin p
subjectsoin
point
30,u0
ushould
should
apply
very tI
a
inclination ; for, observe, I am not now speaking of
the points to which your calling or your walks of life
s 3;,
that
ow on
may claim your attention; I am speaking of your

leisure hour's, and if you take those branches of study
to which your own inclination would lead you, you
will pursue them better and with far more
benefit to yourselves than if, with the mere
abstract idea of the preference of one branch
of study over another, you take the one to
which your own judgment may not prompt you.
And of this I am persuaded, that there was great
truth in the remark I once heard from that accom
adished eel,: experienced Ellsll Prince Talleyraiel, when
web eeeelor in Lendoo :—" eviel :here i 4
flu such thing, iii labeur lost.- Depeed upon it, whet •
ever branch of study you peleae, as, however re-
condite or remote its utility may seem, a time may
come, and when you least expect it, that you will
derive practical .advantage from it, aml sea the go ,d
effects of having turned your minds to it." I b?lievc
in the truth of these emphatic words, and repeat to
you that there is no such thing in study as labour
lost.—(Loud cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen,
spoke just now of the greatness of the sphere of study,
but in what I said I fear I did that sphere great in-
justice, since I spoke of it only as subject to rule and
mensuration and limits of apace, and since I did not
advert to the awakening of that immortal spirit
within, as shown in various ages and in different
countries, and which, as thus developed, constitutes
the science of history. This is a branch of study al-
together different to that of the material world to
which I have already adverted. I should be unwill-
ing to speak with any undue preference of any
branch of study from which I have found especial
pleasure, but I think I shall show no undue partia
lity if I say that those who are inclined to pursue
it will find that it yields to few others in interest
and pleasure.—(Hear, hear.) Now, to many amongst
you it may be impossible to study at any length the
more elaborate and extensive histories which are to
be found of various times and of various nations; but
what I do commend to you is to ascertain, either by
the lectures you hear, or the essays you read, e
knowledge of the state of manners which prevailed at
feelingsrld
These two branches, the state of manners, and theof
the differentgre a
great
ages,au d andgoo
good
in
uo thevar
itohuosu thoughts aonfd t
he Nvo
deeds of men who deserve to be held in remembrance
—these two branches, not being of any great length,
as to the manner of treating them, but admitting of
easy elucidation in essays and short lectures, are
within your own attainment. Now, ladies and gen-
tlemen, ir on this point I may venture to give you any
counsel, it would he thisa—not to neglect any inci-
dent, however slight, however trifling, or unimpor-
tant it may appear to you at the time, either in
manners or in biography, if by those incidents the
accurate facts of the case and the true delineation of
character can be brought out to you. Do not,
from a false idea of the dignity of history, neglect the
sources of information most ri alily accessible
and within your reach ; for, in ray opinion, great
characters are often best portrayed by little circum
stances. But, perhaps, some little instances may make
my meaning clearer. I will mention an instance, not
of any importance in itself, but merely as making
clearer the meaning I am seeking to explain. Any
one who has had occasion to look into the stirring time,
of the history of Scotland during the life of Queen
Mary, may have observed there is very little
known of the real life and character of the Earl of
Marr; yet the Earl was in those times amen of some
importance, and, in the period after Mary was de-
throned, Regent of that kingdom. In the general
history of Scotland you will find little of his charac-
ter; but if it so happened that any of you were in
Scotland, and were ascending the Castle- hill of Stir-
ling, whence so' splendid a prospect unfolds itself.
he would from that bill observe a ruined edifice con-
structed by the Earl of Marr, and still bearing the
name of " Mares Work;" and if he consulted the
local history of Stirling, he wonld find that the Earl
had constructed that place from the ruins of a neigh-
bouring abbey, and had thereby incurred much
censure; and he inscribed on its portals these two

"Espy. Speak forth. I care not.
Consider well. I care not."
Now, I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, whether these
two haughty and definite lines, slight though they be,
do not give you a more vivid picture of character—
do not briny the man more vividly before you—than
(Loud cheers.) Thin j 3 rounded paragraphs ?
may serve to explain the meaikeviA;rj.cVlata. Xd jt
develope and the counsel I am seeking to impart. But
I will give you another instance, from times morn
near to our own, and with respect to a far greater
man. I will give you a case from the life of Lord
Nelson. Sir David Wilkie, the eminent artist, whose
personal friendship I had the honour of enjoying, tole
rne on one occasion that he had received a commission to
paint any scene from the life of Lord Nelson which
he might select, the selection being left entirely in his
own hends. He told me it was therefore his inten•
tion to study with care the career of Lord Nelson,
and ts paint whatever scene in it he might think most
descriptive of the hero's character. On the next
occasion when I saw him he told me he had selectea
for his picture a circumstance so slight that many
an earlier historian, I am quite sure, would have
passed it altogether, although it did not escape
the eloquent and discerning pen of Southey. 1
dare say from Southey's works the story
will be known to you. It is merely this—how
during the siege of Copenhagen, Lord Nelson resolved,
from motives of humanity, to send off a letter with
the proposal of ceasing hostilities, how he desired of
an attendant to bring a lighted candle to seal the
letter, how the attendant was struck down by a shot,
how Lord Nelson desired another candle to be brought,
and how when the captain suggested that a wafer
would suffice, and that the hurry of the moment would
excuse it, Lord Nelson said, " It is to show that we
are in no hurry, that we are in no fear for ourselves,
and that we act only from a motive of preventing the
bloodshed of others."—(Hear, hear.) Now, this u•
but a slight incident, yet that celebrated painter se-
lected it in preference to any other scene in Lord
Nelson's life ; in preference to any scene in the glories
of his exploits abroad and the pageantry of his recep-
tion at home.—(Cheers.) I cannot but think, ladies
and gentlemen, that I am justified in telling you, from
such instances that you are not to weigh the question
whether the incidents are trifling or not, but to con-
sider whether they clearly illustrate the point before
you ; whether they clearly illustrate the manners or
the character which you wish to study ; and that is
the point which in these two instances I have endea-
voured to bring before you.—(Loud cheers.) I think,
ladies and gentlemen, that with respect to descrip-
tions of manners at particular periods, there
is one reflection which you may make in
the course of any such reading, and which I think
must be gratifying to you, as I myself have always
round it—it is to find how high, at various periods,
England has always stood among the nations of the
world.—(Hear, hear.) I think you may see instances
where persons, wholly unconnected with this island,
having no bias or partiality in its favour—how those
men, writing at a distance from us, are yet compelled,
with the force of truth, at various times of history,
to bear most striking testimony to the value of our
liberties and laws. Nay more, even those periods
which, looking at them by themselves, seem to us
disastrous, were yet not disastrous when compared
with the same period in the annals of the other states
of Europe. Even when we were, practically speak-
ing, not high, we were comparatively high with
regard to the other nations of the world. Of this,
with your permission, I will give you one single in-
stance. Perhaps there is no one single time in our
history which seems to us more disastrous than the
period of the wars of the Roses, and the period which
followed it. It was a scene of bloodshed and havoc,
and the devastations from which, by the way, no
county suffered more severely than this, your own
county of York. It was a scene of so many and
such various sanguinary outrages that, if I re-
member rightly, Hume says, in his History of
England, that these things had tended altogether to
confound historic truth, since the writers of the period
were unable or unwilling to distinguish between
those acts of havoc and slaughter which so nearly
resembled each other ; and thus in their annals they
are mixed and confounded with each other. This,
then, Ives a disastrous period, followed by another
disastrous period of misrule and oppression by the
chiefs of the Government of England. But see what
is said of England in that very period by a foreign
writer of high authority—l allude to a French histo-
rian of great reputation, namely, Philip de Comines.
He had no bias nor prejudice in favour of England.
He sometimes sided with the King of France, and
sometimes with the Duke of Burgundy; but to Eng-
land lie had no tie whatever. Yet, when he comes to
mention England in his history, he notices her in
language something like this :—" Now, in my think-
ing, of all the seignories (he means states or dominions)
of this earth, so far as I do know them, that state
where the public weal is most cared for, and where the
commonalty suffers least of oppression, and where the
fewest houses are burnt or razed to the ground, or
laid waste by men at-arms, that state is England.'
Now is not this a high testimony, borne at that
very period of misrule, by a writer of no bias in our
favour ?—(Cheers.) I believe in the ensuing cen-
turies it might not be difficult to adduce similar tes-
timonies, from equally impartial authorities, showing
how high we have ever since stood among the nations
of the world. Now, clearly this is a feeling in which

all parties may gladly combine.—(Hear, hear.) This
is a proud national feeling.—(Cheers.) It is no
reason whatever why you may not, if you think it
desirable, urge any change in our laws or customs
which, on refl-etion, you think right ; but it is a
reason why you should al A ays be proud of your
country.— (Cheers.) Whitever course you may takein
the future, looking beck remember this, that you
have a right to be proud of being Engle,hinen, and
of fetline; proud in the name O.F Deeli ;Innen.—
(Cliecre) 1 tell y:.,,1. r, -t, loe'ebee ta ilee coare or
tie last few 0:11' tiii,,, :111 i to tie 1,.;.:i•i0n :,. iLgli.:l.
i.ee, 120.,0ur has beeeene a pelt of your birthright,
and I call upon you never by any act of yours to
forfeit or forego your best inherit ince.—(Great ap•
plause.) Much may not be in the power of every
one of you, but something there undoubtedly is.—
(Hear, hear.) It is in the power of every ()tie of you
whether he will add an unit to the debtor or to the
creditor side of the accou4.—(flear, and cheers.)
It is in the power of every one of you to deter.
mine whether ha shall add one more to the number
of industrious and well-principled, and well-conducted
subjects, or whether he shall add one to those who
spurn at knowledge, who deride good conduct, and
who set, as far as in them lies, law and principle at
defiance. It is in the power of any one of you to
determine whether, by such acts on his own part, he
shall augment or diminish, as far as in him lies;the
ancient honour of England. (Hear, hear.) And
thus far, I think that the feeling I have mentioned is
no idle vaunt, is not a mere retrospect of past glory,
but should be instinctive in our minds, each according
to the lights of his conscience—each according to
what his judgment and understanding approve, to do
that which he believes to be conducive to the good
and the greatness of this his native country.—.
(Cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen, there is yet another
point of view in which I think that the study of
manners and tustoms of various periods may be
fraught with advantage. It may teach you to
see that every state of society has advantages of its
own, that we cannot look at any as being fraught
with unmixed evil or unmixed good.—(Hear.) Now,
if we look even, for instance, at the very rough state
of society before this your flourishing town was
called into being, when the hills and words of York-
shire were only roamed over by the shepherd or the
herdsman, or at best the farm labourer, even in that
rough state of society we cannot deny that there was
the advantage of pure air and healthful exercise. We
must acknowledge that of the working man it might
then be said, in the words of the poet—
" Early at morn he starts from short repose,
Breathes the keen air and carols as he goes."
But, on the other hand, when you look at a later state
of society, see how many comforts and advantages
which did not then exist are within reach, and, above
all, what especially concerns this institution, see what
sources of intellectual pleasure and instruction are
now to be found which at that period were not only
altogether wanting, but altogether unknown.—(llear,
hear.) So that you see, that while we lose on the
one side, we certainly gain greatly on the other ; but
I should be disappointed if the study of these two
periods did not also suggest a further lesson. Might
it not be possible to bring the advantages of the first
period home, in a great measure, to the people of the
second ?—(Hear, hear.) Why need we despair of
seeing, by improvements, that pure air and pure
water which formed one great advantage of the
rougher state of society, brought home to you, even
to the most crowded nooks and bypaths of our most
peopled cities.—(Loud cheers.) You should not
he content merely with the abstract theory
that there were advantages here and there, but
you should apply your minds as you may be able, re-
aining the advantages you possess, to acquire those
which your forefathers held before you.—(Hear,
near.) And I do think that with regard to these
measures of health—measures not belonging to one
party, but which every party must agree to promote
—I do think with regard to those measures much has
to be done by the industry, information, and intelli-
gence of such meetings as that which I have now the
honour to address.—(Hear.) It is an object which I
hope will be present in your thoughts and wishes,
and which, if present in your thoughts and wisliES, 1
shall trust to see at no distant day accomplished; and
lam sure it is to be promoted in no slight degree by
those habits of order and study, and by those habits
which are the consequeeeee4...een:e,:;2tatitiO,A. ztudi.
that before triil:=trjair ands cheers.) Ladies and
gentlemen, I will now no longer detain you. Residing
as I do at a great distance from you, to the south o 1
the Thames, I know not whether it may ever be
my good fortune to meet you here again ; but of this
I am certain, that whether I look to the national
interests with which your own are inseparably bound,
or whether I remember- the kindness and warmth
with which you have this evening welcomed me
—whether, I look, I say, at public motives or at
private—l can never think of you with any feeling'
approaching to indifference ; and wherever I may be,
or in whatever pursuits engaged, I shall always joy to
hear, as I trust I always may do, of the prosperity
and welfare, the moral and intellectual improvement,
of the people of Leeds. (The Noble Chairman con-
cluded his speech, v.hich occupied three quarters of
an hour in the delivery, amidst loud cheers, which
were continued for several seconds.)
Mr. T. "MESON, the President of the Institution,
read letters from the Earl of Harewood, the Rev. Dr.
Hook, Mr. Cobden, M.P., Mr. J. G. Marshall, M.P.,
and other influential persons who had been invited to
attend the soirée, but were not able. He then pro-
ceeded to call attention to the present condition
and prospects of the institution. It was formed,
as is known, by the union of two other insti-
tutions, in 1842 ; at that time they had 667 members;
in 1843 they had 750; in 1844 they had 770 ; in 1846
their members had increased to 1,244; in 1847 they
were 1,554 ; and the last time they met in this way
they were told the number of members was 1,868.
The number on the books at the present moment was
1,820 ; and when it was considered that this was
taken at an earlier period of the year, and when
members were invariably less numerous than they
were a month later, they must regard this number as
quite as favourable as at the period of their last soirée.
—(Hear, hear.) Then as to the number of volumes
in their library; when they were first united to the
Literary Institution they possessed 5 066 volumes;
and this number had gradually increased until they
now possessed 7.270. Within six years there had been
an increase of 2 000 volumes, and there would have
been half as many more if the members had been
more careful of the books they had taken out.—
(Hear, hear.) The number of volumes issued during
the year had been 42,702, and of periolicals 7,101.
The Hon. and Rev. the Dean of RtroN, in an
argumentative and eloquent speech, proposed the first
resolution :

" In proportion as the elementary education of the
people increases in amount, and improves in quality, the
greater will be the necessity for institutiuns like this, to
maintain the instruction that has been acquired, and to
gratify a desire for a higher and more extended know-
ledge, that will be awakened."

Mr. E. BAINES briefly seconded the resolution,
which was adopted unanimously, as were all the
subsequent ones.
Mr. R. M. MILNES, M.P., in an eloquent speech,
proposed the following sentiment :
" To impart a taste for artistic beauty, and to give
familiarity with the principles on which it rests, should
be one of the objects of popular education."
Mr. J. A. ROEBUCK, M.P , then rose and was
received with loud and reiterated plaudits. When
these had subsided he said—My Lord, lam always
puzzled when I am called upon to address a meeting
of this sort. I know not why I should be thought
at all able, on an occasion like the present, to address
an assembly like this with any hope either of amusing
or instructing them. I am a plain working man.—
(Laughter.) My business is so much with this
life, that in these mere displays of artistic lore, or
rhetoric power, I cannot pretend to address myself
with any success ; but Ido see, from what I have
heard to night, that there are things of practical ap-
plication in meetings like this; I can watch you, my
Lord ; I can watch the Rev. the Dean; and I can
watch the Hon. Member for Pontefract, all addressing
themselves to some particular idea as connected with
the working classes of this country. But there is
something beyond all this. lam sure my Hon.
Friends need not suppose I am going to impute to
them anything that is not of the highest honour.
But what makes us all here to night so different
from our ancestors? What is the distinctive mark.
of the present generation, so different from those
which have preceded us ? What calls me here ?
What has called the Rev. Dean here to address you ?
and what induces the Member for Pontefract and
all of us to congregate together here to-night ? It
is this, that there is a new element in the social
and political life, which has reared itself, unaided,
into a formidable position, which excites attention,
and, in some minds, creates alarm. And then those
minds, which like yours, my Lord, look into futu•
rite, and see what may come, watch, and see, and
feel, that there is a power, which it may be well if
they can direct; there is an influence which it may
be well should not be malevolent.—(Hear.) They
watch the signs of the times—and so du I. I glory
in that tone which is thus manifested to night.—
(Cheers.) It is the popular influence that is at
work ; and my Hon. Friend the Member for Ponte-
fract is right when he says that he has not to defend

the education of the people. No, no, the people have
done that for themselves.—(Hear, hear, and loud
applause.) The people will educate themselves ;
and here is my Hon. Friend Mr. Baines behind us,
who has not spoken because he found that he was
triumphant to-night—that the people do educate
themselves, and avid educate themselves ; and that an
institution lily,. the present is one of the strongest
arguments against use, when he is in favour of the
ci!ttzation of the Fccp!e. It is a great
thing; awl I •,:i4 tile present 1.1 sit
I: is alloJell-,:=r a ci_eurni,t;_ne..,
marks you. out and takes you from bygone
centuries. And though there are many who may sneer
at us, and look cootomptuously at Mechanics' Insti-
tutions, yet depend upon it the nineteenth century is
by nothing so much marked as by this I see hen.,
:Ind which that eccentric nob!emitn, referred to by the
Dean of Ripon, had much to do with bringing out,
but which we, I believe, have carried far beyond his
highest expectation.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble
Chairman has endeavoured to advise you in respect to
your studies, and I was a good deal struck by his
observations, for I found, from what he said, that he
did nut altogether appreciate the present state of
things among the labouring population of this coun-
try. Now, in acquiring knowledge, depend on it
that the large mass of knowledge is acquired by every
individual by hiinself—it is not taught him ; it is
learned, it is acquired. • And with respect to the class
of which my Hun. Friend has spoken, which has
leisure, Ido not believe that the leisure which they
have prepares them so well for the acquirement of
knowledge, as that industry which is of necessity the
portion of the labouring man, and which he brings, in
the hours which he can spare, to the acquisition of
knowledge. And I prove it in this way—all the
great advances of knowledge, all the great works
which have been done for mankind, have not
been done by the leisure class—(Cheers)—but have
been done by the labouring classes, those classes who
have had to work for their livelihood ; and who, aft, r
acquiring those habits of industry, bring those habits
to the acquirement of knowledge; and, using those
stern habits in the race with the dilettanti, press
upon and outstrip them, because the latter is as
dilatory in his modes of pursuing knowledge as in
his habits of pleasure. Therefore, I believe that the
Noble Lord mistook when he advised you to take up
•any particular branch of study; and I take up his
Lordship, who being himself' an historian, illustrates
everything by history, just as my Hon. Friend the
Member fur Pontefract, being partly a poet and partly
a politician, has illustrated his arguments by these
two things.—(Cheers.) But if I were to take the
working man and ask him to illustrate to the the
benefits of kno eledge do you think he would speak
to me of the danger of diffuse study ? Do you think
he would simply illustrate from the peculiarities of
antiquarian lore and history ? No ; he would
take a far wider field, a far more philosophical
view of what he derives from knowledge. He
would say, there is that knowledge which for
himself alone, without regard to others, gives to
life its salt and savour; and there is also, beside all
that, the knowledge which makes him to his fellow
beings a worthy associate and a meaes of beneficence
to those around him. Now, mark, that is not the
dilettanti mode of illustrating that of which I have
been speaking. He says—here is a knowledge which
love for its own sake ; it is something which is to
me the salt and savour of life.—(Hear, hear.) It is
not to genius we speak. Associations like these are
not made for genius: that has inspirations and aspi-
rations of which we know nothing—genius
"Sees a hand we cannot see
That beckons it assay,
And hears a voice we cannot hear,
That bids it not to stay."
--(Cheers) Therefore, with its aspirations we have
nought to do. We have to consider man—the ordi-
nary man, and what he derives from knowledge. I
know it is usually the habit in associations like this to
pick out persons who, under difficulties, have raised
themselves from the lowest to the highest ranks, and
altogether made themselves different from what they
were before. Now, I confess I do not look on this
as an advantage. I like to see man in whatever
position of life he is ; if he is a genius, he will
mount out of it, whatever happens. But I want
us all, in whAt.4,,,,,. —'-"happy and
vir turn' k4r.."Lit'"lßlll.`Q.,,.._Kts„ !rive
knOwiedge.—(Hear, hear.) I have no care whether
or not it frightens anybody that people should be
learned. I have seen states—we know them, my
Lord—in which there are classes who are forbidden
to learn. In this country, centuries back, we were
like this, but we have outgrown these things; we
have forgotten them, and all are on a perfect level as
to the acquirement of knowledge ; and no class can
be distinguished from another by the mere acquire-
ment of science or literature. We are all alike ; and,
as in social life, the peculiar advantages of scientific
knowledge are placed within the reach of all, so far us
knowledge is concerned, each is placed upon an
equality with every other man; and that to my mind
appears the true equality and the true fraternity
which philosophers desire; and which do not mean
those fanciful notions which are elsewhere held.
True equality is that of a man standing by himself
alone, his knowledge acquired by his own means,
and having that supremacy above the lower animals
to which man was destined—that supremacy of
knowledge which leads to virtue, without which
we cannot be happy.—(Hear, hear.) It is for
this, then, that I look so favourably on an institution
like this ; it makes us all, my Lord, entertain right
notions of true equality, it teaches us to have those
sympathies which nature intended, and which you
have always felt vehemently ; it makes us all under-
stand each other as true men ; it is the bond of know-
ledge which is the tie which shall unite us to each
other.—(Cheers.) Now, the clock, my Lord, ad-
monishes me that I ought no longer to detain you.—
(Loud cheers, and cries of "Go en.") There is one
observation I would make, with the greatest humility
possible, and without attempting at all to touch upon
one particular which some persons think ought to be
excluded from all associations like this. But you will
perhaps say, every man to his trade. I cannot help
looking at associations like this with reference to the
government of the state. I cannot help it. I dare
say the Reverend Dean looks upon them with refer-
ence to a higher class of thoughts and feelings than
in ordinary circumstances would enter into my mind.
I cannot help looking into these institutions with
reference to the government of the country. I would
wish to speak of them—of course not using the word
in a theological sense—with a truly catholic feeling,
and I should like to see a truly catholic spirit with
reference to all classes of knowledge pervading them.
—(Cheers.) Whether you discuss questions of poli-
tics, or the sides of a triangle ; whether you investi-
gate religion ; whether you inquire into analogies, or
test simple dynamics, which you can reduce to a
formula, it is my desire to see you actuated by the
same calm and philosophic spirit in the one case as
in the other.—(Hear, hear.) I therefore wish to
introduce habits of research into assemblies like this
—I speak not of this assembly, but of the institution
—and you should go one step further, and look into
metaphysical and political knowledge, and instructing
yourselves not only with regard to the civil and mer-
cantile relations of life, but look also into the moral
influences by which our whole lives are governed.
And if we could by such questions—which usually
and unfortunately lead to habits of quarrelling and
antagonism—attain habits of quietness while probing
these questions, I should say we have done more to
produce quiet, happiness, and good fellowship among
' us all than by any other mode which could by pos-
sibility have been pursued. Now, I have spoken with
a desire to throw out an idea. I have spoken upon
the matter in the most guarded manner, ith the hope
and desire that some of you may seize upon that idea
and see to its being carried out.—([-Bear.) Without
wishing to take up another moment of your time, I
would ask of you, in support of institutions like
this, to divest yourselves as much as possible of all feel-
ings of caste and class. The Dean has spoken of
washechup artizans, and, as this is a mechanics'doing
in-
stitution,_ I hope that it will be the means of
what it does nut at present—of bringing h
amongst us, and introducing a close alliance between
e
i
s no
ail classes of society, without which there
safety ; and that we shall be • with themthe bro-
therhood of knowledge and of' feeling, anti inmake this
what it now calls itself, but which, I fear, it has not
been—a mechanics' instittre.—(Loud applause.)
Mr. W. E. FORSTER proposed, and Mr. W. BRAY-
LEY, of London, seconded,
•'That the effect of institutions for popular instruc-
tion, as proved by large experience, is in many ways to
promote the study and successful pursuit of industry,
and thus to advance both the happiness of individuals
and national prosp •rity."
The Rev. W. SINCLAIR, who was much cheered,
proposed the following sentiment:—
" That the union of men of different classes and par-
ties in these institutions and at their mutual meetings
tends to the removal of prejudice, and the cultivation of
friendly and harmonious feeling, and thus to the knitting
together of society with advantage to its moral interests
and the general good."
The Rev. H. R. REYNOLDS (Independent) se-
conded it.

The MAYOR of Leeds proposed, and Mr. Cuußca
seconded—

" That the best thanks of this meeting be givcn to
Viscount Mahon, for the honour he has done the insti-

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. .
TATTERSALL'S.—YIiSTERDAY.
DERBY, 1850.
10 to 1 ag;t Lord Albemarle's Bllinghroke—t freely
11 to 1 a4st Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum—t
12 to 1. agst L )rd Eglinton's li.-tikht of Avenel—t
20 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's The Italian--t to 100/.
20 to 1 agst Lord Ail he's Ciii,clicr
22 to 1 avt Er. Pedley'e S:-..eetheart—taknn and
s.:tcrwalds of f -,t LI
2-2 1...) 1 ~:!:t, Lo:d Aiiii],. -I.:feoeti
to i agst, 'Ol.r. J. Scott's C.:ypi ui
25 to 1 agst Mr iteques's Mildew—taken tind after-
wards t,ffered
25 to I agst ',old Z 'timid's Volt'g,eur
1.00,1 to 3.5 agst Duke of Bedtere's John o' G roat— taken
1,000 to 30 agst Mr. Gratwieke's Tie Nigger—taken
33 to 1 agst Mr. flih's Pitst)rd
4 OW, to 100 ~gst Col Tiel Peel's Hardinge—laken
1.000 to 2.5 agst L-rd Chesterfield's Gartorth—taken
5 000 to 75 agst Mr. I'e Iley's Lttele B.A.—taken
3 000 to 45 ag-t Major Marts 11'S The Swede—telien
All the' horses quoted were backed, Bolingbroke,
Ghillie Callum, and The Italian being most in demand;
Mddew aid Sweetheart had three or tour supporters,
but closed at a decline on the previous quotations.
METROPOLITAN STEEPLECHASE.
3 to 1 agst Mr. r. M.eson's The Commoner
4 to 1 a.:st Mr. C. H. Carew's Lansquint t
5 to 1 tigs Mr. Elmore's British Yeoman
8 to 1 agst Mr. Y ung's Sarah Sykes
CHESTER CUP.
3.000 to 45 agst The Baroness—taen
2.000 to 20 agst Mr. R. Holmes's Lismahagow—taken
2,000 to 20 agst Mr. Peck's Melody—taken
2.000 to 20 agst Mr. S. Conway's Kennington—taken
2,500 to 25 agst Sir R. Pigot's Essedariustaken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Meiklam's Baby—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Pedley', Cossack—taken
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Pea )'s Chatterer—t.keu
1,000 to 10 agst Mr. F Clarke's Gh-nalvou—taken
1,000 to 15 off red on the field.
YORKSHIRE UNION HUNT CLUB RACES.
MONDAY.
The Champagne Plate of 50/., added to a Handicap of
10 sous. each. Two miles. (10 Subs.)
Mr. Shepherd's Alp, 7st 91b ............ (Cartwright) 1
Mr. Meiklam's ltaby, 8. t 610 .
.......... ( renapleman) 2
Sir R. Bulkeley's bl Iby Plecaroon. 7st 6lb ............ 3
The Tyro Handicap of 10 soya. each, 5 ft, and 50 added,
for three yrs old; second to save his stake. One mile.
(14 Subs.)
Mr. Dan son's Mark Tapley, Bst 51b .. (Cartwright) 1
Mr. Johnson's Duxbury, Bst 6lb (Clark) 2
Mr. J. Osborne's Achyrtn hes, Bst 61b (G. Abdale) 3
Mr. .Lcitics ea 2E,culapius, Sst 31b ..(Wintringham) 4
The Ainsty Handicip of 20 sous. each, 10 ft, and 5 only
if declared, with 50 added. Mile and a half. (22
Subs., 16 paid.)
Mr. Meiklaan A The Cocktail, 3 yrs (Templeman) 1
Mr. Arrowsmith's Lady Hylda, 5 yrs, llst 31b
Mr.. Barion's Smuggler Bill, 6 yra, lOst 101 b
Sir J. Gerard na Gaudy, 3 yrs, 9st
Even on Cocktail.
The Yorkshire Club Slakes of 16 sow. each, 5 ft, I2st
each. One mile and a half. (8 Subs.)
Mr. W. Simpson's Peter Simple, aged ... (Capt. Bell) 1
Captain Bradley's Wireworm, 6 yis (Owner) di; q.
The Union Bunt Cup of 50 sods., add, d to a Sweepstake
of 10 soya. each, 5 ft. Two miles. (17 Subs.)
Mr. Bute man's S'rychnine, 3 yrs (Cart. Bradley) 1
Mr. Danson's Defaulter, 4 yrs ..... (Mr. A. Smith) 2
Mr. G. Barter's Smuggler Bill, 6 yrs
EE'St).\l SPRING MEETING.
In order net to clash with Beth, the above meeting
will fake place on Thursday, the I lth of April, the
week before tie Newmarket Craven Meeting.
WAR ,VICK AND LEAMINGTON NOVEMBER
MEETING.
FIRST DAY.
Nominations for the Free Handicap.
Lord Chesterfield's Mrs. Tait, 4 yrs—Lord Chester..
field's Chicot, 3 yrs—Lord Strathmore na Diana, 3 yrs
—.Captain Pettit's Eagle's Plume, 4 yrs—Captain Har-
court's Ellerdale, 5 yrs—Mr. J. F. Jinnin2's Subduer,
aged—Mr. C. 11. Garew'. Fugitive, aged—Mr. Lister's
Bind of the Forest, 4 yes—Mr. T. Dawson's Magnet,
aged—Mr. R. Hesseltine's Andalusian, 3 yrs—Mr. Law-
son's Courier, 3 yrs—Mr. Montgomery na Vaut Rien,
4 yrs—Mr. Line's ['be Mea,e, 5 yr--Mr. Flintoll7s
Ma)-day, 3 yr.—Mr. Fowler's Ciegari, 3 yrs—Mr.
Harris's Cardinal's Niece, 5 yrs—Mr. J. Day's Cocker.
mouth, 4 yrs—Mr. J. Day's Milliner, 6 yrs—Mr.
Woriley's New Forest Deer, aged—Mr. T. Parr's
Marti ~ 3 yri—Mr. Skerratt's Egrer, 4 yes—Mr. Cow.
ley's Second Sight. 3 yrs—Mr. Gulliver's Faz-ley. aged
—Mr. Lane's The Dartly, A ....—,.. ~ . OL. ,) A 5--tivi i". 31 ur-
Downes. ap,,,-1 • - mr. ,eesaa,s Doura, 3 yrs—Mr.
.:.i. ..,..-n,seetL,iiiilii:'3 yrs—Mr. Maughan's Portia, 3 3 rs
—Mr. Mathews', Maid of Nlasharn. 4 yrs.—Mr. Daisson's
Alp, 3 yrs—Mr. Das•son's I'. iest-ss, 3 3 ra—Mr. D. 4 W
sun's 1.):-Catriter, 4 yrs—Mr. M.-iklaufs H .Isod. 3 3 rs—
Mr. Meiltlatn's Inheiitr,,s, ag,d— Mr. Meild.m's Wers-
leydsle, 3 yrs—Mr. Melaitufs Cocktail, 3 yis —Mr.
Stephenson'. Doetrin, , 5 v ts.
sEconD DAY,
Nominations for the Fre.. Hat,dicap Frurelle•r:ce.
Lord Strathmore's S; ectator, ug, d—Lord Strath. more's Miss Burns—Lad Lutgall's Fugitive, aeed—
Colonel shirle; 's Fug c mat.—C ,ptain "lhotnpsonc Ven-
ture. 4 yrs—Mr. E H. Lane's The M, ase. 5 yrs—Mr.
J. Oliver's Rein Deer—Mr. Gulliver's Faz eiey—Mr.
Harris's Redstnak—Mr. Derostown's The Prophet—
Mr. D. ni,ito.cu's C
'•nservativo—Mr. Cartwright's
Streamer—Mr. Phillipss Tallyho—Mr. Webb's Peggy
Meldruin—Mr. Williams's Syrup Mr. S. Darling's
Hawkstone—Mr. Heiman's br g by the Cardinal—Mr.
Clayton's 'Teresa—Mr. Young's Sarah Sykes—Mr,
Land's Ha Tread—Mr.Wilkins's Ama—Mr. Drew's
Master Murray—Mr. Edward's Bedford—Mr. Oakes's
Small Beer, aged—Mr. Armstrong's Rosabel—Mr. Ady's
Mrs: James—Mr. Brocas'aValeria—Mr. Barnard's Jack-
of-all-Trades—Mr. Nervin's Diana—Mr. T. Eskrett's
Vaut Rien—Mr. H. Austin's Little Johnny—Mr. Shir-
ley's Novelist.
Nominations for the Grand Open Steeplechase.
Lord Strathmore's Switcher—Lord Strathmore's St.
Leger—Lord Strathmore's Rat-trap—Lord Strathmore's
Master Robin—Lord Strathmore's The Doctor—Captain
Tuomson's Abd-el-Nader—Mr. Leary's Venom—Capt.
Little's Chandler—Mr. J. G. Murphy's Sylphide—Mr.
J. Oliver's Safeguard—Mr. J. Oliver's Outcast—Mr. J.
Smith's Peter Simple—Mr. Vever's Vain Hope—Mr.
Vever's Vengeance—Mr. Maughan's Farnham—Mr.
Storey na The Victim —Cap :.:iti W. Peel's ch gby
Hurlestone—Mr. C. H. Cbrew's Lan. quinet—Mr. C. 11.
C irew's Vindictive—Mr. T. Mason's The Commoner—
Mr. T. Newcombe's Proceed—Mr. Tilbury's Bayous t
Mr. G. W. Goad Ea Victoria—Mr. W. Sutton's Kil-
kenny—Mr. Murphy's The Oaks—Mr. T. Oliver na
Trust-me not—Mr. Hunter's Hope—Mr. Stony na
Young-un—Mr. Rose's Grand Luminer—Mr. Fowler's
Little Fanny— Mr. Treadgolies Muria Day— Mr.
R ,berts's Little Houghton—Mr. Williamason's bhinrone
--Mr. J. Fort's Kn'ght of Gwynne—Mr. Butler's
Young Lottery—Mr. Ehnore's British Yeoman—Mr.
Williams's Bold Davy—Mr. Bunter's My Uncle, by
Uncle Toby.
SOUTH. LANCASHIRE COURSING MEETING
Al' SOUT;iPORT.
i The Annual Dinner Slakes (16 Subs.), were won by
Mr. Taylor's Oliver; Mr. Bradley's Bumper ran up.
The St. Le4er Stakes (16 Subs.), were won by Mr.
Mdlaby's The Colonel; Mr. Ta3lot's Flirt ran up.
The Churehtown Stak s (16 Subs.), were won by Mr.
.ifiotb's Alice; Mr. Braille, 's Bere,ford ran up.
The Scarisbrick S al: e . (16 Subs.), were won by Mr.
D. akin 's Dont- be-behind-'era; Mr. Wood's Turpin
ran up.
The Consolation Stakes (8 d,)gs) were won by Mr.
Coupe's Dick the Devil, mind the Marshside Stakes (8
dogs) were won by Mr. Blake's G In.

At the meeting of the City Commissioners of
Sewers to be held this day, the following motion by
Mr. Under-Sheriff Millard will be taken into considera-
tion 1 mediately :tier the reading of,the minutes and the
petitions to the Court 'l'hat the salary of the prin-
cipal clerk, in consideration of his long services and in-
creased duties, be hereafter 600/. n-year." The length
of service of he chief clerk, who has been an indefati-
gable servant of the Court, is eighteen years, and the
increase of hs &pies includes ev:rything contained in
the san4iry regulation of the Coy of lelndon. besides
the usual and wdinary duties of the clerk. The City of
London Sewers Coinmissi .10, it is proper t say, compre-
hends a much more ext« n.tve range of business than
that appointed for the metropolitan districts, which is
foe sewers alone, for the former takes in lighting, pay..
ing cl..ans,ng. and improvements, embracing a
great
variety of duties.
THE RECENT CAPTURE OP A WHALE AT GRAYS.
—The whale which was r,ce~~tlycapturA a; Gr
the Dsex coast, has been put up to auction 7
given, nuto
tswh' on
e i g
buo,tlieeres,oafntdheits‘Na,lieswbhoitelgtthwt was
for 20/. The
s
o
we re he
eb
limitedu but few
idw
purchasers are expect, d to realise 1501. by their bargain,
I'he Lr.ril illayhr, us Conservator of the River, claimed
the whale, and, having asserted his right to it, gave it
up to the cap7ors upon the condition of their not taking
it to any populous pkce for show, in consequence of its
effmsive smell. The process of cutting it up and boil-
ing it was performed by Messrs. Griffin and Edevain,
oil merchant:, of Maiden-lane, and occupied seven men
during eight days. About thirteen tons of blubber was
cut off, leaving upwards of twenty tons of meat on this
enormous animal. It will produce about eight tons of
pure oil. It took tight horses, with double tackle and
falls, to turn it ov. r.

OPENING OF TLIE COAL EXCIIANGE.—ME33TS.
Staples have forwarded to Win:lsor Castle the bill of
fare intended for her Majesty on Tuesday last, together
with the dessert plate, doyley, and winoglasses, which
were all especially manufactured for the occasion. These
memorials the Queen has been pleased very graciously
to accept, and an official acknowledgment of her Ma-
j, sty's approbation was yesterday (Monday) forwarded
to the Albion by Major-General Bowles.
FORCE OF CONSCIENCE.—OD Wednesday last,
Messrs. Harvey, of Regent-street, jewellers, received a
letter, bearing the Isliorveasil post-mark, containing a
pearl brooch and part of a p.m of pearl earrings, the
tops being retained and large pearls removed, with the
following laconic remark:—"Stolen from you nearly
twenty years ago."