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

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PRICE 5d

TESTIMONIAL to DR. BIRKBECK.

The meeting of the members of the Mechanics' Insti-
tution, to consider the propriety of tendering some mark
of their esteem and gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck, which
took place on Tuesday last, and was adjourned till last
night, was resumed at half• past eight o'clock, when the
chair was again taken by Basil Montagu, Esq., Q.C.
The CHAIRJIAN 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-
tionate respect for his friend Dr. Birkbeck. With their per-
mission, he would now read the resolutions that had been
passed at the former meeting, which would prepare them
for 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 mooring the third
resolution, which he trusted would meet the approval of
the meeting. It was, however, open to discussion, and
he 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. SMITH seconded the resolution.

Mr. MASON said he was glad the predominant feeling
at the meetings that had taken place. with reference to
Dr. 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 iuterrup-
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
disease diem in a calm and deliberate manner.--(Dear,
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
thelotuider, 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. Alto 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
Dr. 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
upon 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.
Mr. CLAXTON did not think the amendment which had
been 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.—
(Hear, 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 Institution was ii 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 De. Birkbeck, namely, to explain
some species of popular knowledge, a measure which he
had always advocated, it would be much more judicious.
The establishment of a course of useful lectures annu-
ally would, he thought, fully meet the views of Dr.
Birkbeck, and be much more consonant to his feelings
than 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. J. SMITH said a fallacy ran through the amend-
ment, because they Could not expect to get money from
the members of other institutions,-which were struggling
very 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.
STIRIMPTON 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
money they owed him—to get rid of him in
fact. But would that be raising any testimonial
to Dr. Birkbeck? 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 lie 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. TRAICE 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
mind, 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
again 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. Shrunpsen had said that paying off the
building debt would be like saying to Dr:. Birkbeck that
theyhad done with him.—(Hear.)Now, for his own part,
he 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.) lie thought that the pet plan of the
Committee, namely, that of appointing a perambulatory
' lectitTeship was 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.)
oft
Mr. °elixir. thought the proposition for payingthat
the building debt was a most excellent one, and othneou
thought
that would do all in his power to effect, but heat
the
pre-
sent that proposition came most unapprop Y
sent time. They were met there to
offer
ruld that object
testimo-
nial to Dr. Birklieck, and he would ask,e? _
_ riatesiorine
be effected by paying off their building debt r The sub-
scription for the great object
could for one moment be
be general, it was saidl; but they had in view was to
of their debts? and as to
would subscribe for the
paymentnthe apathy that had been
supposed that any other institution than the present
the public, hewas afraid,
be
expectednblic to assist them in pay-
shown, there was little to
they could not look to
whom,;thcp
frei from them. If, then,
he would ask, were
inn. the building debt,
Why, to the members of that institu-
tion
on;gantdhewm• supposed that they could raise
posino• that they could raise that
pounds ? And even sup ~
would ask, mark their gratitude to
• ld that, he wet
SUM, would
Dr. Birkbeck ? Certainly not.
asselivteste-
A GENTLEMAN, who spoke from the body of the 1
theatre, and whose name we were unable to get, said
most impracticable. He was most decidedly opposed to
he did not know which of the plans proposed was the
endowment.
any
t
with respect o the Gresham Lectures, when the
Let them look at the course pursued
Royal doingburned down, and the lecturers
out of theirduty, until the City
tried to sneak
if
toperform it faithfully,
Trustees compelled them, not
..
Exchange was
at least to go through the form of doing it.
Mr.
Toeo said that he agreed with the last speaker
that the greatest.curSe that could be inflicted upoitedu-
cational systems was endowment. The inquiries insti-
tuted by Lord Brougham on this subject amply bore

iz.fr-

VENING SUN. 14*

that fact out. But an endowment in the present ease was
unadvisable—the same might be said likewise-tripther
measures proposed. How could they appeal Ito ',Otber
institutions if they proposed applying them iAi..ikoff
debts due by their own institution, for it was ii.
imagined the payment of. their debts could be re eft
as a testimonial to Dr: Birkbeck? What he (Air. ago) I
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.
Mr. KNox 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
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 would 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
institutions 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 along
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.

•
ACCIDENT RELIEF SOCIETY`
Yesterday the friends of this Society, which was esta-
blished for the purpose of giving immediate relief to the
families of poor persons who meet with accidents, twenty-
five thousand of which are said to occur annually in the
metropolis, met at the London Tavern, Mr. J. Labou-
chere in the chair.

Mr. LABOUCHERE' having stated the object of the In-
stitution, and that it had a strong claim upon the policy
as well as the humanity of the country, called upon the
public to aid their funds. The Society. had, he said; pre-
vented numbers of poor and afflicted families from going
into the workhouse and submitting to the most painful
privations. The benefits which it conferred extended
to the patients who lay in. the hospitals, by setting their
minds at ease (a great auxiliary to the prescription of
the medical attendant) by the conviction that their wives
and children received such care ancicomfort in their una-
voidable absence.—(Cheers.)
Mr. F. SALMON, the distinguished originator of_ the
Charter-house-square Infirmary for the cure of fistulous
diseases, moved that the Report, of which the follow-
ing- is an abstract, should be adopted :
The income of this Society is nearly double the
amount received last year, and the increase would have
been still more but for an impression amongst fnanv
that this Society was an auxiliary to the hospitals, and
that these establishments being so numerous and so libe-
rally supported did not require so much additional assist-
ance. The relief is given in the following way :—Each
member of the Committee is supplied with a printed
check book, from which he issues orders to respectable
tradesmen for bread and meat, coals and potatoes. In
this way during the past year the Committee gave away
to many truly deserving families 3,320i1bs of meat, 3,39.0
loaves of bread, '1,250 cwt. of coals, 17,500 lbs. of potatoes.
In all the case?, in which relief has been given, not one
has been known during the past year in which any party
relieved by the Committee sold their food for any need-
less or injurious article. As to the necessity for an In-
stitution the Committee pointed to the 'fact that, owing
to' the increase of the population, the Lite of machinery,
and other causes, upwards of 30,000 accidents annually
occurred in the metropolis. The Committee submitted
that the operation of other charities applied. to those un-
used to poverty, rather than otherwise, to keep them
from seeking refuge in one of those receptacles of misery
where the most important distinctions are. lost in one
great mass of wretchedness, and where the industrious,
the honest, and the virtuous are at once reduced to' a
level with the idle and the profligate. But the Com-
mittee had to do with those who would rather work than
beg, and they referred with confidesce to the plans of
the Institution as a guarantee against imposition and
misappropriation. A great number of cases, which
strongly proved the admirable effects of the Society,
being then detailed, the dreadful recital of the accidents,
the extensive and immediate application of relief through
the Committee and Secretary of this admirable Institu-
tion, the:gt, -atitude of those who received relief, and the
description of the feelings of the patients upon learning
that their families were kept from the workhouse, and
only waited their cure to be in perfect happiness agected
most:of the noble-hearted friends of the Society.
The Report was seconded by Mr. Walton, in an able
speech, and was agreed to amidst acclamation, each
member pledging himself to the most active exertions in
forwarding its glorious objects.
The Rev. Mr. Price and others also spoke in praise Of
the Institution4and thanks being voted to•the'Chairman,
the meeting separated.

BLOCK PRINTING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE

,
SIR,—I have read in The Sun of last evening a
statement, extracted from the Glasgow Herald, in which
a description is given of various improvements, so styled,
in the method of block printing. These kind of notices,
at a time when the operatives are already but half. grip.
played, are. calculated to inflict still more serious injury
on their interests, and can only contribute to the 're-
sources of those hideous monopolies that are already
spreading desolation and destruction throughout the
length and breadth of the land, and threatening every
industrious workman with immediate distress and desti-

tution. The grasping avaridowness of these machinery
masters is most notoriously evident in the fact, that they
never could, they never can, produce anything in qua-
lity which approaches the perfection of hand block print-
ing. Till dead matter hath, the superiority over living
intelligence, it is not possible. This selfishnesss is still
more apparent in the fact, that the average cost of pro-
duction is pretty well equal, and this is explained more
fully by considering the enormous waste of materials,
the expensive nature of the machinery, mid the waggon
loads of machined rubbish that are daily returned on
the manufacturers' hands as utterly useless, not only ex-
hibiting the absurdity of the competition, but its equally
futile pretension to superiority, and its eventual ten-
dency tb the ruin both of employers and those whose
employ it, supersedes. With regard to the Scotch
Editor's statement as to the equality between the French
and English workman in manual dexterity, I will hereby
stake the produce of six months' labour, that myself and
anotheiEnglishman shall come and do more work in
the time, and do it as well, as any four Frenchmen in
France. .

Sir, in conclusion, as we know you for the unflinch-
ing advocate of the poor man, I have sent you a sample
of hand-made paper-hangings, and the price we can
make it at, and I beg to ask you thus publicly, if you
think any machinery can compete with it even in price.
Your obliged, obedient servant,
A HARD-FISTED OPERATIVE PAPER-
July 31, 1841. STAINER.

[We have receive(' the sample of hand-made paper,
and taking into account the low price and the beauty
of the workmanship, it certainly is a wonderful produc-
tion. At a little distance it does not:appear at all in-
ferior to paper that is sold at a shilling, while this costs
only pne penny a yard.--ED. Sun.)
A M

eeting of fifty free-traders took place at
Farnworth a few days since. Mr. Rawsthorne, one of
the speakers, observed:—Sir Robert Peel would be like
Goliah, " glorying in his strength," but David was coming
with a big loaf in his sling, and then Sir Robert would he
sure to fall.—(Laughter.) He was certain that if they
had the women round them instead of
.the men, they
would have had their requests granted long since; for
though it was said that man was the head of the howl:,
yet if so, woman was the neck, and the neck could turn,
the head which way it liked.
An engraver, who had produced several prints of
acknowledged merit, committed suicide a few days LIO
from a cause which shows that his strength of mind ,was
by no means equal to his talent. Having prepared IMO,
new plates in aqua-tint, he was so hiCLIS iblyaacted_V:
their not coming out with the force and beauty he -bad
anticipated, that he shot himself, and thus, at the early
age of forty years, terminated a career which gave every:,
promise of being brilliant.
soaper}•, in Leeds-street,;
Barry, who worked at Moore 's FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last ThoOte
heavyth an't:la;crolurd.ing
v‘th.ase masesniswtinengt
its side, another said it stood on one entt -
to one, was on
Barry was,
it fell over upon him, and crushed him severely,
accident it
with two others, steadying it, when by some
saTaeyrntoengetot remove
rmoollveer.a; p
he died o
FELTED CLOTH FILTER.—A person at Brus-
He wads cnieddlaiyo,mifies,La_ndListuergrpiocoail
Albion.
FELTED procured, but
istusrrPeapsos,rteind
the simplicity construction, and into
has )l-cn ted
ofa
its lilter, which
notice. The filter consists of two pieces of felted cloth,
effects, most of those hitherto brought under public
several inches thick, between which a laver of poWderee
Brus-
sels
charcoal is placed. This is the first application ;of thick
felted cloth for the purpose of filtration, and it is pro-
bable that it will be thus extensively used. Filters 'tif
this kind can be cleaned with the greatest ease.--Invvi=
tors' Advocate.
THE WILL OF THE LATE LUKE HANSARD;
EsQ.—The will and codicils of Luke Graves • Han-
sard, Esq., late of Bedford-square, in the county of
Middlesex, has just been proved in the Prerogative
Court, Doctors' Commons, by the executors, Richard
Ogle, Francis Rivington, and Thomas Varden. The
personal property of the deceased has been sworn under
the value of 80,000/. which is principally bequeathed to
his children. Mr. Hansard was for many years printer
to the House of Commons.

WHICH IS THE WORST?—When the late Lord
Clive was a boy, and once walking with a schoolfellow
through Drayton market, the two lads stopped to look at
a butcher killing a calf. " Dear me, Bobby," says the
lad, " I would not be a butcher for all the world."
". Why, I should not much like it," said Clive.; "it's a
dirty, beggarly business ; but I'd a plaguy deal rather
be a butcher than a calf 1"

When peaches and nectarines are about half
ripe cover the side exposed to the sun with strips or
specks of wax, in any desired shape or form, which hin-
ders the sun from colouring the parts covered ; and,
when the fruit is ripe, and the wax removed, it will be
found, marked in the manner described. _

MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE IN AjERICA.-A
letter from Philadelphia, dated July 8, says :—"'l
informed by a person, just from the foot of Arch-street,
on the Schuylkill, that a person fishing there this morn-
ing caught his hook in the dress of a woman, and in
drawing it to the shore was horror struck to find it to be
-a young and lovely girl, not over nineteen, fast tied to
the arm of a young genteelly dressed man ! They had
resolved to die united by a silken handkerchief, probably
because they could not live in the silken bonds of matri-
mony. On searching their persons no marks of violence
were discovered
i , nor was any one present able to iden-
tify Ahem, but n the pocket of each was found a loaded
pistol.