The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-03 00:00:00

• - Robert M'William,Rsq. • •
After the stone was laid, the President addressed the meeting
in,ncarly the .following words :—"• Now have we founded' our
edifice for the diffusion Mid .atleancementuf human knowledge.
Now have we begun to erect a templ4 wherein mei shall "ex-
tend his acquaintance with the universe of mind, and shall ac-'
quire the means of enlarging, his dominion over the universe of
matter,-In this'spot hereafter, the charms of literature shall be
displayed, end the powers ,of science shall be unfolded to the.
most humble inquirers; for to the feast of reason which will be
here prepared, •the invitation shall be unbounded as the region
of intellect. For an undertaking so vast in its design, rind so
magnificent in its objects (nothing short, • indeed, of the moral
and intellectual emeliorittion and aggrandizement attic human
race), the blessing of 'Heaven, I humbly trust will not be im-
plored in rain. If, in this Institution„ we seek •to• ,obey the
maedate which has gone forth, that knowledge shall beiti.;
creased,; if we act in obedience to the injunction, that in till our
gettings we should get understanding ;, if we succeed in prow.
ing, tnat for the existence of the mental wilderness, the con.
tinuence of which we all deeply deplore, we ought blame
the culture, not the soil,' if by rendering the man more perci.
pient of the order, •harrnony, and benevolence, which pervade
the universe, we more iffecuudly assert eternal Providence, and
justify the ways of OM to man • and if thus we-shall bo• the
happy means of rendering it palpable, that the immortal essence
within us, when freed from the deformity of, ignorance and
vice, have been created in the express image of God--then
may we confidently hope that Omniscience will favpurebly be-
hold-
our rising structure, and that in its fitter,: progress, Om-
nipotenee, without whose 'assistance all. human endeavours are
yam, will confer upon. us a. portion of his. powers. Whilitt.
remind you that the illustrious Bacon, king auto, maintained
that knowledge is power,' I may. apprize you that it has,
since his time, been established that knowledge is wealth—ha
comfort,--is security—is enjoyment—is happiness. It has been
found so completely to Mingle with human affairs, that it ren-
ders social life more endearing; has, given to morality more
eprighiliness ; and, politically has produced • more consistent
Obedience—it takes from adversity some of its bitterness, and
enlarges the sphere, as well us au orients the sweetness of every
laudable ;;ratification ; and 'lastly—Unquestionably one of its
brightest influences -it becomes at once an averme,an aguide
to that •f temple which is not made with hands, eternal in the
j Heavens."'

Alter the ceremony of laying the itone was over, the corn•
pally' adjourned to 0: Crown and. Anchor Tavern, to partake
of the first Annivcr;ary Dinner. Dr. BIRICBECK in the
Chair.

There was a numerous and respectable attendance of the
claSses of sovicty more inm),li:ttely connected with the objects
of the institution. Abotit '2.20 sat Clown to dinner. At the
right of tic Chairmen sat Mr. Brougham, Mr. Alderman
\l'ood, M. 1)., Mr. flume, anti several. scientific cha-
racters, • . • .

.........- . . .
its stem as the cloth was removed, the CRAM MAN rose and
said, that in pursuance of the good old custom, tie had to pro-
! puke the health or the King.--(Appiniise.)—'rliere was also an
I additional reason The his-doing satin the present occasion, for
they would recollect that a meeting had been held in the
course of the, present year, for the purpose. of doing honour to
the memory or a nuts, who had started in life as a mechanic;
mil afterwards became one of' the most distinguished benefac-
tors of his country. At that meeting to record the memory of
a. Miltk Of humble origin', splendid prog,ress,.:trul glorious eon-
elusion, the First Minister of the Crown attended, and declared
that he hall his Majesty's commands to h.ope that the royal
name would stand at the head of the subscribers' list to 31r.
Watt's monument. MUM did the Alonartleof the greatest tut-
Om upon earth do homage to the inajest of . genius. The
King's health was then drank with loud rip ilause.
it
The }midis of the other members of the opt! Family were
then successively drank.. In proposing them, the Clint tt MAN
eulogized his Royal Highness the- Duke of Sussex, who had at
the.anniversary 4 the Society of Arta 'called' the attentiOn of
that institution to the establishthent of the present Society.
• The CHAIR M AN then said, that the present assemblage gaVe
the best antieipAtion of the success to - which lit, Wai about to
advert in the next toast. In proposing " Prosperity to the
London Mechanics' Institution," he felt he. Wits only doing
justice to the feelings of tho meeting, the members of which
had already done so inueli.vir secure their great object.—This'
toast wits drank with great applause. • •
Mr. Ilitoutistaat rose to propose the health" of their worthy.
President. The lion. and Learned Gentleman's appearance
was hailed with laud .cheerir. ile coniinenced fay observing,
that no 'doubt the"apphtuse with which they hail greeted' him
was given in anticipation of the toast which he Was about
. to pronounce, and which was no less than the health of.
then' learned and invaluable President.—(Lout) applause,)—.
Upon the merit} of so distinguished it man, it was unne.
ceviny to expatiate. He (Mr. Broughtta)' had known their
President for nearly thirty years, in the most constant ins
tercouese of private friendship,. lie remembered his early
Ohms in the establishment at 011isOw of a locietY aiTi-,
lar to the present ; and it' was Matter of astonishment to
know, that bet Ween twenty •aritl thirty' yeara had intervened
before the 'example or Olaskotte had been elsewhere followed:.
greater still was the astonishinent to find the immense Pe.egreee.
which had.been matleirilgindon -during' the feW Months that
tir,olonndtiollininiot ours had elapsed since the formation of this SOCiegy.
Alt _tad Filrend it 016'60 many of the smaller towns.
had theyteactied their enlightenjiliiills7ysttle.l.3filli-121
Thin was the werkel their dixtingutshect President, whose learn-
'ing, talents, end the singularly disinterested devotedness of them'
and the improvement of his
. Ifi•°ertiti.ba?h,.,°()..l:l,triti'c:tioilts,icilialiall,idPtis'ituhtPii6e7s.o°cifoinspe, espliyie6ctitlYiloattsv.einnttuirit'ftOortlior,eatdieitictaittidaptrti:n.,
'ec-rifew years the' se Sircietlcs-woolti operate a great change in
the coutlituni of mankind. In tilasgow, as- lie had alreadr
Kahl, their worthy President had laid' the basis of'these Skieties,
,_,--but for, years, the example, iv-' not' follbated, e'ittefit If, the
Society of -Arts in Mint:m.or, established fbur or five years ilftet;
`and am or two others; vitich turd sprungdpiatihtitlinifrernate'
'enunnunities..; For yearrthere`WaS 00 aPPeititiWelfilleir! two..
ing root and spreading .their nullification% throtigbiltecelety; lint
now, amends I lad been mule' fire this • delay which"byliwattivlty'li
' Its mAM rested. Or. d i tfairestlteir 'benefits far nod nearn Oita* t lie
n:native elastiosit In: dila °peat xne.teopolis theimpetifsiii& biefi-,
.ipveit, and through the ietelhgeticesihich they had thtisallbrdeilv
to /hq 01,01,4 ye elassest wOuld they finthsonieniittgtitioli foetve.
„,d, of v 4,,, pf,Wilitt.ol4llo CitYl4%4 alwartithe.grent &tat.* •
shat tl 1 e greutinanutact uring towns otllanelivirervnirminkhan?,"
and Liverpool, should follow their example, was not surprising;
for in them the mechanics, having always the elements of such
societies in ready activity, were in some degree prepared to