The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-04 00:00:00

MORNING SUN.

TESTIMONIAL to DR. BIRKBECK.

The Meeting of the members of the Mechanics' Insti-
tution, to consider the propriety of tendering some mark
sf their esteem and gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck, which
night,
place on Tuesday last, and was adjourned till last
:Ight, was resumed at lialf-past eight o'clock, when the
hair was again taken by Basil Montagu, Esq., Q.C.
The CHAIRmAN said, on the last evening he had the
honour of presiding over them, he was not fully ac-
quainted with the nature •of the resolutions to be sub-
mitted to their consideration. He had since been more
fully informed upon the subject, and had great pleasure
in again meeting them, in order' to manifest his affec-
'mute respect for his friend Dr. Birkbeck.' With their per-
Mission, he would now read the resolutions that had been
rased at the former meeting, which would prepare them
Icsr the third resolution, which they were then about to
discuss. The Chairman then read the resolutions passed
at the meeting of Tuesday last, which have already ap-
Peared in this paper,
Mr. READER had much pleasure in moving the third
resolution, which he trusted would meet the approval of
the
meeting. It was, however, open to discussion, and
e
hoped the arguments that might be advanced, either
in its favour or against it, would be heard with patience
by the meeting. Mr. Reader then read the resolution.
Mr. J. SsIITU seconded the resolution.
Mr. MAsosz said he was glad the predominant feeling
14 the meetings that had taken place, with, reference to
Birkbeck, was gratitude and esteem for that great
and good man, to whom the industrious classes, and, in-
deed, all the world, he might say, were so largely in-
debted.—(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the interrup-
tions that had characterised their former meetings
would not be persevered in, but that they would hear the
arguments that were put forward, and then proceed to
_ discuss them in a calm and deliberate manner.--(Hear,
hear.) Although fully concurring in the propriety of
the resolution that had been moved and seconded, he
should take the liberty of moving an amendment to the
effect that the subscriptions raised be applied to the pay-
ment of the debt due by the Institution of which he was
the founder, and thereby carry out the wishes which had
been expressed by Dr. Birkbeck.—(Hear, hear.) He
believed that such a proposition would meet the approval
of the majority of the meeting, and would be more con-
sonant to the wishes of the illustrious individual whom
they were met to honour than any other course they
could adopt. Such a measure would confer benefit upon
thousands, and would be much more grateful to
Dr. Birkbeck's feelings than the presenting him
with a piece of plate, which he had already
'Very unequivocally declined. As to the proposition that
had been put forward for the establishment of a lecture-
ship he thought there were many objections to it, and
the money raised would be much more usefully and bene-
ficially employed in clearing the institution from debt.
If he was not fully convinced of the disinterestedness and
Philanthrophy of the great and good man to whom he re-
ferred, he should never have thought of bringing forward
such an amendment. He believed the great object of
• Birkbeck's life was to merit the esteem of all the
great and good men of the country, and that in his ef-
forts to confer the benefits of education and knowledge
!tPon his fellow-men he had been actuated by purely dis-
interested motiveS.;--(Hear, hear.) Mr. Mason concluded
by proposing his amendment.
Mr. HAwes seconded the amendment.
been
CLAxTON did not think the amendment which had
proposed would meet the views of Dr. Birkbeck,
and he was confirmed in that opinion by some personal
communications he had had with that gentleman.—
(Rear, hear.) It appeared to him that if the amend-
ment were carried the impression would be conveyed
to the public that Dr. Birkbeck, having lent money
to the lnstitution was in want of it, and that
they had taken that method of repaying it.—(Cries
of " No, no.") He feared that such would be the im-
pression out of doors, and it appeared to him that the
Plan which had been adopted in America by Count Rum-
ford, of establishing a Professorship, which was filled by
an intelligent mechanic, would better meet the views of
Dr. Birkbeck. If the lectureship was established to en-
force the views of Dr. Birkbeck, namely, to explain
somet species of popular knowledge, a measure which he
• always advocated, it would be much more judicious.
..4,1,1e establishment of a course of useful lectures annu-
ally would, he thought, fully meet the views of Dr.
-,Tkbeck, and be much more consonant to his feelings
thanr any other course they could adopt. He could not
better explain his views and wishes if he spoke for two
hours, and he would therefore now sit down, thanking
them for the patience with which they had heard him.
Mr. a •
h, . Smii•Fr said a fallacy ran through the amend-
i"heeht, because they could not expect to get money from
Members of other institutions, which were struggling
TT hard, in order to be applied to the relief of that in-
stitution. Such a proposition had been met with nothing
but disgust amongst the members of other institutions.
They could not, with propriety, indicate precisely the
manner in which the money should be applied. Money
was to be obtained from all who were anxious to do ho-
nour to Dr. Birkbeck. There would be a General Com-
mittee, in which their Committee would be represented,
and they ought to have confidence in those whom they
had elected as office-bearers. He trusted they would not
be so selfish, or so indecent as to ask for money from the
country generally for their own purposes. He gave the
original. motion his warmest support.
Mr. SHRIMPTON would ask whether it would be show-
ing any gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck to go begging
through the' country for money to pay the Doctor the
inoney they owed him—to get rid of him in
fact. But would that be raising any testimonial
to Dr. Birkbeclir It was almost too absurd for argu-:
Ment. No doubt Dr. Birkbeck, with his native mo-
desty, would say he was satisfied in his own conscience ;
the good he had seen flow from his exertions was suffi-
cient reward to him ; but would that satisfy the grateful
feelings which existed in the breasts of thousands? He
Would answer—No.—(Cheers.)
Mr. VALLENTINE thought the whole case was one
which required the very gravest consideration. In his
opinion the meeting ought to pause and consider before
they passed either the amendment or the motion. He
doubted whether it was at all to be expected that country
Members of Mechanics' Institutions would subscribe
their money to establish a permanent lectureship for the
benefit of their institution. It was a painful subject, but
it was a fact that their institution was rapidly decaying
—that was seen in the library, nay, throughout the whole
establishment. Would it not, then, be a mere mockery
to give a testimonial to the Doctor, while, if the present
decay went on, even he might see its downfal ? Let
them remember the advice of the Doctor only a short
time ago—. Be just before you are generous.
, Mr. Tunica thought the worthy member had answered
himself, for with their institution falling into decay, as
He stated, would the country institutions come forward
to their aid ? Would they not say the institution was
badly managed, for the building debt had been reduced
at the time when they flourished in a manner beyond
any other institution in the country. Such an appeal
would be most ridiculous. In his opinion the establish-
ment of a lectureship would be a great benefit to the
community, and a splendid testimonial to a great bene-
factor of mankind, who was now in the evening of his
days.
Let them bear all these things in mind, and cease
squabbling. Whatever would do a great good in ame-
liorating the condition of mankind by instructing the
'lliad, would prove a source of much satisfaction to Dr.
Birkbeck.
Mr. SouTHGATE had thought, after what had taken
Place atithe last meeting, that they would not have heard
"gain of the mushroom plan that had been proposed by
the Committee. He thought that the speeches that had
been made in favour of the resolution had been so under
a misapprehension; and, for his own part, he could not
but think that those who had the benefit of the institu-
tion at heart would most heartily support the amend-
ment that had been made. It was his firm belief that
the plan proposed by the amendment was more in con-
sonance with the feelings of Dr. Birkbeck than any other.
--(Cheers.) Mr. Shrimpson had said that paying off the
building debt would be like saying to Dr. Birkbeck that
they had done with him.—(Hear.) Now, for his own part,
lie could not see it in that light. It might be all very well
for those who did not wish to pay their debts to say
that, but it was widely different with those who did.—
(Hear, hear.) He thought that the pet plan of the
Committee, namely, that of appointing a perambulatory
• lectureship vas absurd, for the fact would be that that
institution would have the benefit of the lecturer's ser-
vice once in about 70 years.—(Laughter.) He believed
that by adopting the proposition contained in the amend-
ment they would render the institution permanent, and
raise one of the most enduring monuments to Dr. Birk-
beck that could be conceived.--(Cheers.) When the
building debt was paid off, the income of the institution
would be considerably increased, and it would then be-
come, what it had not hitherto been, worthy of its ex-
cellent and benevolent founder.—(Cheers.)
Mr. OGILVIE thought the proposition for paying off
the building debt was a most excellent one and one that
he would do all in his power to effect,. but he thought
that proposition came most unappropnately at the pre-
sent time. They were met there to offer some testimo
aid The to Dr. Birkbeck, and he would ask, could that objectsub
be effected by paying off their building debt ? t
seription for the great object they had in view was _oe
he general, it was saidi; but could it for one moment bt
supposed that any ether institution than the presen
would subscribe for the payment of their debts? and as to
the public, hewas afraid, trom the apathy that had been
shown, there was little to be expected from them. If,
then,
they could not look to the public to assist them in pay-
ing the building debt, whom:, lie would ask, were
they to look to ? Why, to the members of that institu-
tion ; and was it to be supposed that they could raise
among themselves between two and three thousand
pounds ? And even supposing that they could raise that.
sum would that, he would ask, mark their gratitude to
3/r. Birkbeck ? Certainly not.
A GENTLEMAN, who spoke from the body of the
theatre, and whose name we were unable to get, said
he did not know which of the plans proposed was the
most impracticable. He was most decidedly opposed to
any endowment. Let them look at the course pursued
with respect to the Gresham Lectures, when the
Royal Exchange was burned down, and the lecturers
tried to sneak out of doing their duty, until the City
Trustees compelled them, if not to perform it faithfully,
/It least to go through the form of doing it.
Mr.. Foco said that he agreed .with the last speaker
that the greatest curse that could be inflicted upon edu-
cational systems was endowment. The inquiries insti-
tuted by .Lord Brougham on this subject amply bore
that fact out. iZ2t all 'endowment in the present case was
anadvisable--the same might be said likewise of other
inineasstitunrtlosups appeal to. other
,thens to pay off
riorthseed. How
y proposeriapdp!rinyg,
debts due by their own institution, for I. was not to be
• imagined the payment of
.their debts could be regarogo)ded
as a testimonial to Dr. Birkbeck? What he (Mr. P
Proposed would be, that the Committee should submit
three or four suggestions to the Doctor, and allow him
to choose that which met his approbation.
1-f
• . Mr. listox said, as a member of the Westminster Me-
chanics' Institution, he should protest against any reso-
lution emanating from that meeting being considered as
a resolution on the part of the public. If the proposed

Mr.
amendment was carried, he trusted they would include
the Westminster Institution, which was one of the largest
in the metropolis, and founded under the immediate aus-
pices of Dr. Birkbeck himself. He considered the best
plan to adopt mould be to appoint a Provisional Com-
mittee, which should be prepared to propose some plan
to be discussed at a general meeting, where all the branch
iustitutions would be fairly represented.
A resolution to the effect, that a number of gentlemen
connected with the parent institution, and two gentlemen
from the other metropolitan or provincial bodies, willing
to act, be likewise added, having been passed, after a long
and desultory conversation, a vote of thanks was pro-
posed and passed unanimously to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated shortly before twelve o'clock.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.
PARIS, MONDAY.—The Moniteurcontains the follow- 1
ing telegraphic despatch :
" TouLort, JULY 31.—The column of General La-
moriciere re-entered Mostaganem on the 19th."
Several engagements had taken place to our advantage.
Mascara is occupied by 2,000 men, well provided with
everything till October.
The arrest in Paris of M. Linormand, the ex-Com-
missary of Police at Toulouse, was known iu that city on
the 30th.
La Presse remarks that the recent treaty on the
Turkish Straits has restored France to the position she
occupied before the 15th July, with the exception of the
friendly feeling which prevailed between England and
France.
The Ministerial evening journal of yesterday contains
the following ;--The news received to-day from Toulouse
announces that the most complete tranquillity has not
ceased to reign there. M. Maurice Duval has formed,
according to the terms of the municipal law, a new Pro-
visional Administration ; which has replaced that of
which M. Cerzee was the head. The Members of the
new Municipality have been installed in their functions,
and are now performing them, notwithstanding the oppo-
sition of those provided by M. Cerzee, and whom it was
found necessary to summon by a Commissary of Police
to obey the law.
A letter from Brussels, published in several papers,
states that the Customs' Union Treaty between France
and Belgium is warmly desired by. King Leopold and his
Ministers, with the exception of General Busen.
The Augsburgh Gazette, in speaking of the aforesaid
treaty, acknowledges it to be a fine conception ; but adds
that the main fault is that it will considerably modify
that state of actuality which treaties have assigned to
Belgium. It also draws a distinction betwixt the new
German Customs' League and this projected treaty,
considering the former as a national institution, and the
latter as a violation of the European balance of power
under the specious pretext of commercial interests.
The Prussian State Gazette observes that this pro-
jected union will be far more difficult of execution than
is generally surmised, and hints that it would be more
beneficial for Belgium to unite with Germany than with

France.
The Castellano of the 26th says that the protest of
the Queen Christina was delivered to Espartero by the
French Envoy ; as was also a letter from Louis Philippe,
in which that monarch considers the vote of the Cortes
as an attack on crowned heads.
Our Madrid letters state that the new Guardian Ar-
guelles took the oaths on the 26th.
The weather in Paris continues fine.

A PASSAGE IN THE EDINBURGH

- - -
REVIEW.
In the elaborate and able article in the "Edinburgh
Review" on the Budget, there is one passage to which, as
part of an unsound theory, the foundation of many prac-
tical errors, we wish to direct the attention of the writer
and the public. On the 27th ult. we quoted a passage,
stating, we think, with great accuracy, that every increase
in the quantity of manufactured commodities diminishes
the relative cost of production, and exhibiting very con-
cisely and clearly the advantage of an increased and in-
creasing demand. In order to contrast it with the pas-
sage we object to we shall re-produce it :
" The explanation is to be found in the well known
law of manufacturing industry, that, cateris paribus,
with every increase of the quantity produced the relative
cost of production is diminished ; and, what is the same in
different words, that with every diminution of the quan-
tity produced the relative cost of production is increased.
The larger the production the greater is the division of
labour, and consequently the skill of the workman, the
smaller the expense of superintendence, the more exten-
sive the use of machinery ; in short, every element of
production becomes relatively more efficient, and every
source of expense is relatively diminished."
In the same article is the following passage. Speaking
of Sugar, the Reviewer says :
" The price for the first five years having been some-
what under 225. Gd per cwt., and during the last five
years rather above 225. 9 d., a new demand for the in-
ternal consumption of the British islands will of course
have a tendency to create a rise in the foreign sugar
markets ; under that general law affecting the cost of the
production of all agricultural produce, namely, that with
every decrease of demand the relative cost of production,
and, consequently, the price, rises ; just as, with every di-
minution of demand, the cost of production, and conse-
quently the price, falls."
We have marked in italics the two sentences in the two
passages to which we request attention, and we ask
whether the great difference between " the law of
manufacturing, industry," and the "general law affecting
the cost of the production of all agricultural produce,"
described by the Reviewer, and assumed as a principle
in the doctrines of modern political economists, really
exists ? The question and the subject are of no trifling
importance. .The opinion announced by the Reviewer is
the basis of a great body of doctrines, and, therefore, it
is worthy of a strict examination.
It must first be noticed that the Reviewer contrasts
" manufacturing industry," and " agricultural produce,"
which may tend to some confusion ; but his conclusion
applies to the cost of the produce, both of manufactures
and agriculture, and l►e maintains, in fact, that it is a law
that with an increase of demand, the cost of the produce
of manufactures diminishes, and the cost of the produce
of agriculture increases. We cordially subscribe to the
first statement, we deny the latter ; we deny that there
exists a law which causes an increase in the cost of pro-
duction with every increase of demand for agricultural

produce.
The writer comes to this conclusion, in common with a
school of political economists, by looking only at one fact
in the whole complicated process of production ; or
rather one assumption ; namely, that every increase in
the demand for agricultural produce forces men to culti-
vate less and less fertile soils. Supposing that such
were the fact, he overlooks all the counteracting circum-
stances ; but we must first inquire is the assumption true?
Are all, or were all the most fertile soils first occupied?
Fertility is a term relative to knowledge, and as know-
ledge advances soils that were apt before fertile become
so. For example, "by the newly imported practce of
furrow-draining," says Mr. M`Culloch, " large iracts
that were formerly comparatively unproductive have
been rendered capable of bearing heavy crops ;" that is,
large tracts have been rendered more .productive or more
fertile than they were before. They have been made
more fertile than other land previously considered to be
superior in fertility to them. It is well known that ex-
tensive tracts of land in Norfolk and Lincolnshire have
been made, within a few years, by the application of
modern skill, much more productive of wheat, that is,
more fertile, than almost any of the land that was pre-
viously brought into cultivation. It is not the fact,
therefore, that what men call the most fertile fields were
first occupied, and there is, therefore, no reason to assert
that men are driven to have resource to less and less fer-
tile soils for a subsistence. No man who knows anything
of agriculture will assert that the land last broken up
either in England or Scotland yields less than the land
first ploughed in either country a few centuries ago.
But this question is universal, and when we speak of
the general law of mankind having recourse to less and
less fertile soils, we must include the whole earth. It
will not be fair in discussing such an extensive principle
to confine ourselves to England, to which an arbitrary
law limits our people to obtain their supplies of food. We
must look abroad ; and there we see that the plains of the
Mississippi, and the Pampas of South America, can be
used to supply us with food ; and those countries, ac-
cording to the best information we possess, are quite as
fertile as the most fertile parts of Europe, whether we
speak in reference to the knowledge at present possessed,
or the knowledge possessed a few centuries ago. It is
not true, then, that the most fertile soils were first occu-
pied, and not true that we know in what fertility consists,
so as now and at all times to select for cultivation those
soils which will be in future the most-fertile. No man,
in fact, can say, looking to the past progress, that those
soils which are now the least will not, in after times, be-
come the most productive.
In Mr. M`Culloch's work on the " Statistics of the Bri-
tish Empire" there is a somewhat striking illustration of
the improvement of productive power, or of fertility,
which is
quotet he same ;
thing,
remarkingby
by
the v
means
Nofayl7tohlled those ge,
which
we shall who,
like Lord Stanley and Mr. Pusey, persist in calling agri-
culture a science, will perhaps point out how the science
of astronomy or of botany has improved the movements
of the stars or the structure of plants, as the art (science)
of agriculture has improved the fertility of the soil. We
must add, that we quote such instances from Mr. M‘Cul-
loch as unexceptionable authority, because he is one of
the leading advocates of the doctrine we impugn :
" The following statement of the comparative weight
of the produce annually afforded under the system of
farming followed in East Lothian, as described by Lord
Belhaven, and that which is now followed, is taken from
a paper by Mr. Oliver, of LOchend, near Edinburgh, one
of the most intelligent and extensive practical farmers
in the empire :
" The mode of cropping at the former period (1723)
was—first, peas ; second, wheat ' • third, barley ; fourth,
oats ; the produce being about three seeds, but, to pre-
vent all cavil, say four seeds. Thus taking the seed for
each acre at one boll,* over a farm of 100 =esti. is 400
bolls. The quantity of straw for each boll of such a
crop could not exceed 15 stone, which on 400 bolls gives
6,000 stone, or 42 tons 151 cwts. of straw, to be con-
sumed to the stock, and returned to the land in the shape
of manure. But upon a farm of 100 acres, cultivated as
at present—viz., a fourth turnips ; a four rth wheat, e
dor
barley ; a fourth rover, or rye grass, pastured oma
into hay, and consumed on the farm ; and a fourth oats,
or wheat ; the account would stand thus :-50 acres of
wheat, barley, and oats, at 8 bolls per acre, which we
are convinced is not above the average crops of the best
district of East Lothian (and such only was cultivated
when Lord Belhaven wrote), this, allowing, as above,
15 stone of straw for each boll, gives 120 stone per acre;
which, over 50 acres, makes in all 6,000 stone of straw,
or 42 tons 151 owls, being equal to the quantity pro-
duced by the whole 100 acres under the old system.
Now, suppose that the 25 acres of clover and rye grass
are made into hay (which, however, is not the mode

* One Bast Lothian boll of wheat was equal to nearly
4 bushels ; a boll of barley to near 6 bushels.
$ Tho Scotch acre, equal to 2,161 imperial acres, is
here referred to.