The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,' FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1841

TESTIMONIAL to DR. BIIIKBECK.
A public meeting of the members of the London Me-
chanics' Institution, and others interested in the cause,
took place last right -at the Institution, Southampton-
buildings, for the purpose of taking into consideration the
propriety and means of rendering to Dr. Birkbeck some
testimonial of their gratitude for his important and va-
luable services in founding the Mechanics' and other
institutions for the advancement of knowledge.
At half-past eight o'clock the Chair was taken by
BASIL MONTAGU, Esq., Q.C., amidst loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN said as he had been'for many years
accustomed to co-operate to the extent of his ability in
the honourable and successful exertions of his esteemed
friend Dr. Birkbeck to diffuse knowledge among his
fellow-countrymen, the moment he received intimation of
the meeting for that evening, to consider how they might
best express their gratitude to that estimable individual,
he had come from the country, from a considerable dis-
tance, to attend it. Of the blessings which Dr. Birk-
beck had been, fortunately for himself and for society,
instrumental in diffusing throughout the community,
very inadequate conceptions were or could be formed, ex-
cept by those who knew what society was before he
raised his voice for the advancement of knowledge.—
(Hear, hear.) 'When he was first heard, or attempted to
be heard, he was met by the yells of ignorance and pre-
judice. He endeavoured to explain that " man in the
infancy of his reason was bound by ignorance, till
knowledge, the revelation of good and evil, set him
free." He had done his utmost to remove darkness
from the face of society, and they now saw things pretty
well in their new dimensions, and they might as well at-
tempt to stop the progress of that knowledge as to stop,
by putting out their foot, the progress of the earth in its
orbit.—(Hear, hear.) Advance it must.—(Cheers.)
He would not trespass further on their time at present.
They were met to consider how they would best express
their gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck, and he would leave it to
the gentlemen who had the various resolutions to pro-
pose, to enter into the details, reserving to himself the
right to address, them again if any necessity should arise
for so doing.
Mr. FRY said he hoped, althou&li he had addressed
them at some length on the occasion of their former
meeting, that they would allow him to trespass for a
few moments on their patience, to put those who were
not present on the former occasion in possession of the
views of the Committee. They were met under the
presidency of a gentleman who was never backward on
any occasion in which the good of his fellow-creatures
might • be promoted, and more especially from the
diffusion of education.—(Hear, hear.) He would now
briefly state the views of the gentlemen who had asso-
ciated themselves into a Committee, to render some tes-
timonial to Dr. Birkbeck. He believed there was no
man to whom the people of England were more indebted
than to Dr. Birkbeck.—(Hear, hear) He had spent
40 years of his valuable life in the promotion of insti-
tutions like the present. He had acted from a genuine
feeling and desire to benefit his fellow-creatures, and
his efforts had been as beneficial in their results as they
had been noble and generous in their motives.—(Cheers.)
These gentlemen felt that to the Doctor some testimo-
nial was due, and they believed that an appeal to the
members of mechanics institutions would be responded
to in the manner it ought to be.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
It was resolved to appeal to the members of that In-
stitution in the first instance, he being their
President, and it was for them to say whether they felt
and appreciated the blessings which Dr. Birkbeck had
assisted to diffuse amongst them. The Committee ap-
pealed to them to ascertain whether they appreciated
these blessings of education, and would render him that
homage which he was sure the common gratitude of his
countrymen would accord him.—(Hear, hear.) On the
last oecasion he . had explained that the views of the
Committee were that public sutssriptions should be en-
tered into, not only by the members of their own body
but of all the similar institutions in the metropolis and
the provinces—that there should be a general spon-
taneous movement of all the members of mecha-
nics' and literary institutions for the purpose
of collecting a fund, which he hoped would be sufficient
to show the feeling entertained towards Dr. Birkbeck by
the members of the Mechanics' Institutions throughout
the country.—(Hear, hear.) Their feeling also was that
there should be a piece of plate. It had been urged,
indeed, that a piece of plate was solid pudding, and that
solid pudding was better than empty praise ; but the
Committee had come to the determination that it would
not be advisable to present a piece of plate, and one
reason (if no other existed) was that on a former occasion,
some years ago, when, the idea of subscribing for a piece
of plate was promulgated, Dr. Birkbeck disclaimed the
idea of being. rewarded in such a manner, and refused to
receive such a tribute for labour, which, in fact, could
not be estimated in money.—(Hear.) They thought
it must be in some way which would confer honour on
a spirit so generous and noble.—(Cheers.) The Com-
mittee had had no communication whatever with the
Doctor, but they were anxious to have such an expres-
sion of public feeling as would be agreeable to his
generous nature. He hoped the Doctor would survive
for many years to come, and therefore to erect a statue
to him would be rather premature. The policy of the
Committee, then, was, that the proceeds of the subscrip-
tion should be invested in some public fund, to be ap-
plied for the benefit of mechanics' institutions in gene-
ral, and to be called " The Birkbeck Fund," the details
to be hereafter arranged.—(Hear, hear.) He thought
that would best meet the views of Dr. Birkbeck himself.
The Secretary, Mr. M'FARLANE, then read the fol-
lowing letter from Lord Brougham :
" Lord Brougham presents his compliments to Mr.
Macfarlane, and begs him to assure the Committee that
he regrets extremely his inability to attend the meeting
on Thursday. It is unnecessary for Lord Brougham to
state how entirely he concurrs in its objects, or how de-
sirous he is to aid them by all the means in his power.
Independent of a very long and sincere private friendship,
he feels in common with the rest of the country, the
gratitude which is due to Dr. Birkbeck for such ser-
vices as no other person has rendered ; above all, to the
working -Glasses, whose interests must ever hold the
highest place- -in the consideration of all reflecting men.
" Grafton-street, 12th July, 1841."
After a desultory discussion on a point of order, and
as to whose right it was to open the business,
A MEMBER begged to correct a statement made by
Mr. Fry, respecting the opinion of Dr. Birkbeck. That
gentleman had said that, upon a former occasion the
Doctor had repudiated the idea of his receiving any tes-
timonial in the shape of a piece of plate. He had a
perfect recollection of what the Doctor said, and it was
this—" If you have any money to spare for any purpose
connected with the Institution let it be applied towards
the liquidation of your building debt.—(Cheers.) My
heart and soul is with your Institution ; let every
farthing you can spare be spent in its behalf."— (Cheers.)
A MEMBER in the body of the theatre said he felt it yesterday 4sl-
a Court was held for the despite
a duty to obtrude himself on the meeting, and he could ness, a great variety of which was transacted.
only lament that no one of more ability stood in his TREATMENT OF CATTLE IN SMITHFIELD MARKET.
place. He intended to bring out the latent intentions of Mr. TEGG said that he had noticed a report in the
many members of the Institution, and for that purpose newspapers, in which serious complaint was made of the
he had drawn up a body of resolutions, which he would ill-treatment of cattle, as regarded the small allowance
now read.—(Cries of " Order, order.") of water to them in Smithfield Market.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said the Committee had come prepared He hoped that the Lord Mayor would cause such notice
with resolutions, and it would greatly facilitate the busi- to be taken of the matter as would lead to the correction
ness, as well as be more orderly, if they were allowed to of so great an evil, if it really existed, or to the correc-
bring them forward.—(Cheers.)
tion of the report, if there existed no foundation for it.
Mr. WALTER moved that the Secretary read the mo-
The LORD MAYOR said he felt convinced that the
tion which was passed at the last meeting. Corporation would most willingly afford every requisite
The motion was seconded, and, being
.put, was carried accommodation for the cattle *Mar 'were brought_ to.
in the negative by a large majority. Smithfield, and whose distressed condition had been
Another MEMBER wished to ask a question of Mr. represented to him in the communication al-
Fry relative to his speech on the last occasion.—(Cries luded to, as calling aloud for some compassionate inter-
of " Order.") ference.—(Hear, hear.) It was not for him to
.point out
The CHAIRMAN said, in the Commons it was a rule the means of remedying an evil of the kind ; but the
never to make any allusion to former speeches, and in Chairman of the Market Committee, whose intelligence
his opinion it would be a very useful rule to observe in and humanity he relied upon, was in;Court, and would,
private life, ais was sure the ladies would agree with no doubt, give a satisfactory public explanation, and
him.—(LaughtM) suggest an efficacious plan.
Mr. OGILVIE said he had had the honour of being Mr. HICKS (the Chairman of the Markets Committee)
deputed to propose the first resolution, which was as said that the subject was by no means a new one. It
follows : had been frequently mentioned to him, and be had been
" That it is the conviction of this meeting, that the waited upon by several of the members of the So-
foundation of Literary and Scientific Institutions for the ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, all
Industrious Classes, is a work of the utmost importance of whom he satisfied by his answer with the
to society, and that such institutions have already pro- exception of one. The complaint was, he assured the
Court, without foundation. It was a common feeling
duced and are still producing vast benefits, by imparting
knowledge to thousands, before indifferent to its value, with the public when they saw oxen with their tongues
and by giving a scientific and intellectual direction to out and evidently suffering from excessive heat, that
that active spirit of inquiry by which the present age thirst was the cause. The facts were these. The ani-
is characterised." mals were driven to market from distances round Lon-
Ile felt much diffidence in coming forward, as it appeared don varying from 60 to 140 miles ; upon their arrival
so many older members of the Institution had come pre- on Saturday at some distance from London they were
pared with resolutions, but as the one which lie had to placed before tanks of water and an abundant supply of
propose could not be controverted, his task was ren- hay, and on Sunday they had the same sort of ref'resh-
ment without the least stint. It was true that upon
dered the easier. He stood there in his twofold capacity
being placed in the market for sale no water was given
of Committee man of the Institution, as well as one of
to them, but it was erroneous to assert that they re-
the Central Committee. He could assure them that the
Institution had not been in any way slighted. First, the
mained for 13 or 14 hours in a deplorable state in
,Smith-
gentlemen who wished to set the business on. foot wrote field. Great numbers of cattle arrived between three
and four on Monday morning, and by twelve or one in
to the Committee of the Institution, who met the gen-
the day were all cleared away. Now his opinion, de-
Morris, in a body. He (Mr.' Ogilvie), along with Mr.
make an unfavourable rived from a long experience, was, that to give cattle
Morris, were appointed by the ommittee as de-
legates to the general body of delegates then waver in Smithfield during the hours of business would
formed, and they appealed to the general body of be extremely injurious to them. He knew that he was
the Mechanics' Institution in London to send delegates
im-
to meet- them. A meeting was held by the general prcssion on the public mind ; but he considered it to be
body of delegates, and from them the Committee re- his duty, and should not hesitate to maintain the result
st. t ng what would probably
ceived its appointment. The whole of the Committee of his experience and judgment.—(Hear, hear.)
felt that it was in that place in which Dr. Birkbeck first While the animals were in a hurly burly condition,
began his labours, and consequently it was in that theatre baited by dogs, and shoved about by drovers under a
they ought first to show their gratitude to him.— hot sun, to fill them with cold water would be productive
(Cheers.) For that reason, and from that feeling, it of the most serious mischief ; and if they were
was that the meeting had been called there. Having slaughtered with their bellies in such a state a great
so far apologised for, his presumption, he would then portion of the meat would become almost immediately
proceed to lay his views of the resolution entrusted to him putrid.—(Hear, heari) Mr. Mellish, when he supplit d
before the meeting. Thousands of years had now passed the navy, never alldwed the cattle to have water for
since one, who was agreed to be wisest of the wise, de- twenty-four hours before they were killed, for he knew
dared, " For the soul of man to be without knowledge, that if they drank the salt would lose its efficacy upon
it is not good." That axiom never had been, and never the carcases.—(Hear hear.) He (Mr. Hicks) repro-
could be controverted. The colleges and schools of this bated in common with every other man of humanity the
country by their number proved the estimation in which cruel treatment of the brute creation • but here was, in
education had always been held in this country. If they reality, not the slightest ground for the imputation. He
looked back a few years they would find that the diffu- would show to any persons who might he appointed a
sion of knowledge was confined to the higher classes of Committee to inquire into the merits of the question,
society. The working classes—those who lived by the that the very thing complained of was a proof of the hu-
sweat of their brow—were shut out from their colleges manity of the Smithfield system. Something, it would
and schools, because they were not possessed of the faci- be admitted, was due to the owners of the cattle as well
lities of wealth and riches, no place was open to them as to the public, who were deeply interested in the
for acquiring knowledge or instruction. Matters were wholesomeness of the meat, and to the cattle themselves,
now altered. Within the last twenty years the institu- and the alteration of the existing practice would soon
tion, in the theatre of which they had met, had been show itself to be prejudicial to man and beast.—(Hear.)
founded, and their example had been followed not only Mr. ANDERTON said that lie had every reason to place
in London, where there were now upwards of forty confidence in all that Mr. Hicks had stated. He did not
mechanics' institutions, not only in the provinces where know whether any of his brethren of the Corporation
there were now 180, but' they were spreading through- kept pigs.—(Laughter.) He was the owner of pigs
out the world. Only a few days ago a letter had been some time ago, and he sent them to a butcher to be
received from Athens, stating that the proceedings of killed after they were fed. " No," said the butcher, "if
that institution had been watched there with much you don't let them be without eating and drinking for a
pleasure, and one upon a similar principle was in pro- time, they won't be worth killing.' So that he was
gress of formation, and they were rapidly spreading in obliged to starve his pigs to save his bacon.(Laughter.)
America. Knowledge now opened her ample pages at Mr. LAWRENCE said it appeared from what had been
a -very inconsiderable expense. just said that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
A Member—Considering the lateness of the hour, . to Animals was in the wrong in their conjectures about
and as there may be 'many More resolutions, he would , what was really cruel and what was humane. At all
ask whether anything more need be said upon a reso- events the question seemed to be, which was to be preferred
lution which speaks for itself.— I
(Cheers.) _humanity and putrid meat, or denial of food and drink

Mr. OGILVIE would adopt the suggestion, and move
his resolution without further preface.
Mr. F. HILL seconded the resolution. From the
situation he held of Inspector of Prisons, he had had
many opportunities of witnessing the good effect of the
labours of Dr. Birkbeck and those associated with him
in the great work of education. He had made repeated
inquiries on the subject, but it had never come to his
knowledge that a member a mechanics' institution had
fallen into crime and become an inmate of a prison.—
It would be rash in him to assert that no such cases
had occurred, but if they had he believed those occurrences
were rare indeed, for though his inquiries were constant
as to crime in Scotland and England he had never been
able to discover that a member of a mechanics' institu-
tion had been the inmate of a prison.—(Cheers.) A few
years ago frightful proceedings took place in Glasgow,
in order to obtain higher wages by intimidation, and
upon his instituting an inquiry into the parties concerned
in the outrage, he could not discover that a single mem-
ber of a mechanics' institution in Glasgow was connected
with the combination.—(Cheers.) Sometime ago he
had occasion to make a similar inquiry with respect to
mechanics' institutions generally, and the result
shewed that it was a rare circumstance, indeed,
to find a member .of a mechanics' institution
committing crime.—(Hair, hear, hear.) With re-
spect to education generally, he would say that in the
year before last upwards of 9,000 persons were com-
mitted to prison for different offences, and out of that
number there was not one in ten who could do more
than read and write, and a much larger number could
not even do that.—(Cheers.) With such knowledge as
this coming before him at every step, and entertaining,
as he did, the highest esteem and veneration for Dr.
Birkbeck, it was with the greatest satisfaction he se-
conded the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the meeting,
and declared it to be carried unanimously.
Mr. FOGG() then rose to move the following resolution;
"That it is the earnest feeling of those now assembled
that immediate, full, and adequate expression should be
given to the sentiments of esteem and gratitude with
which the name of Dr. Birkbeck is regarded for having
devoted his valuable time, his energies, and learning, and
for having munificently contributed towards the founda-
tion of literary and scientific institutions for the people."
He was happy once more to visit that room on an occa-
sion that was most agreeable to himself, and he was sure
must be acceptable to all present.—(Cheers.) He had
perhaps more than many that were present had opportu-
nities of witnessing the results of the labours of Dr.
Birkbeck.—(Cheers.) He would not now enter into the.
question of the merits of mechanics' institutions; he
believed they were well understood, generally, though
he understood (and he must confess his surprise at that)
that many members of the Legislature were not aware of
them.—(Cheers.) In his opinion no person could doubt
that the present improved state of society was
attributable to them.—(Cheers.) Such being the case,
he felt great delight in coming forward to assist in offer-
ing some testimonial to Dr. Birkbeck for his great exer-
tions in the cause of mechanics' institutions.—
(Cheers.) Dr. Birkbeck did not want a piece of plate.
—(Cheers.) All he desired was that it might be clearly
shown that, through the establishment of mechanics'
institutions the condition of society had been improved,
and the minds of the working and industrious classes ex-
panded.—(Cheers.) The present resolution did not tell
them in what way they were to express their gratitude
to Dr. Birkbeck. Some gentlemen thought it strange
that it did not ; but., in his opinion, that was one of the
greatest merits of the resolution, because it left it to the
meeting to point out what was the best mode of expressing
their gratitude.—(Cheers.) It had been said that a
piece of plate was not desirable for Dr. Birkbeck, that
the present moment was not the right one to erect a
statue, but that a lectureship would be the better mode
of showing their gratitude. He would not say anything
upon that subject, but that be would venture to predict
that if they fixed upon a proper testimonial, all the me-
chanics' institutions in the the country would join them.
He thought the best mode of showing their gratitude
to Dr. Birkbeck would be to prove that his exertions had
been successful, as he was sure that that could be more
grateful to Dr. Birkbeck than a peerage and 4,0001.
a-year as a pension.—(Cheers.) He weill not detain
the meeting further than to say, that he felt great plea-
sure in proposing the resolution.—(Cheers.)
Mr. CoWPER seconded the resolution.
Mr. SOUTHGATE differed materially from some of the
speakers who preceded him, as their intentions, although
good in theory, would be bad in practice. The plan re-
commended was to raise a sum of money from that and
similar institutions throughout the metropolis and the
country, but no one had intimated in the most remote
degree how that money was to be applied in pursuance
of the objects of the meeting. He wished to know what
Mr. Fry meant by saying that the money should be applied
to the purposes of mechanics institutions generally.
He thought that savoured of the old adage,e•
" robbing
Peter to pay Paul." Lectures could not be established b;
for the interest of the money collected would at best
amount to not more than 351. per annum, and if the lec-
tures arising from that sum were to be delivered] at all
the institutions throughout the kingdom seven years
would elapse before a second lecture could be delivered in
the same place. Perhaps before that time the Trustees
might disagree among themselves, and the whole
matter be the subject of a Chancery suit. He
would recommend. as the best plan, that with the
amount: subscribed the Mechanics' Institution of London
should be placed on an independent and efficient basis,
and the original designs of Dr. Birkbeck be thus carried
out and promoted. The Parent Mechanics' Institution
was now insolvent. They had been obliged to dis-
continue their subscriptions for many of the magazines,
and he therefore considered the planS mentioned by the
gentlemen who had proposed and seconded the two first
resolutions to be most preposterous.

It being now past 11 o'clock,
On the motion of Mr. Reddar, seconded by Mr. Trace,
the meeting was adjourned to next Tuesday, at 8 o'clock,
P.M.
A vote of thanks having been proposed to the Chair-
man,
Mr. MONTAGUE rose and said he was sure that in ex-
pressing his gratitude to the mechanics for the kindly
feeling they had invariably shown to him he was only
echoing the sentiments of Dr. Birkbeck, with whom he
had humbly co-operated in disseminating knowledge
amongst his countrymen. Their feelings were those
of Sir Samuel Romilly, and of the " Cincinnatus of the
West"—the glorious Washington, who said, in his last
address to the nation he made free, " I now beg to re-
commend to your especial consideration the necessity of
forming mechanics' institutions wherever you possibly
can."—(Loud cheers.) The meeting then separated.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.