The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-02 00:00:00

WALWORTH LITERARY AND

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SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.
Yesterday a general public meeting was held at the Horns
Tavern, Kennington, with a view of promoting the interests
of the above institution, and to consider the propriety of
building premises suitable for the institution, including a
committee-room, class-rooms, theatre, and reading-room.
The chair was taken at seven o'clock .by T. Wyse,
Esq., M.P.
Before entering on the proceedings of the evening, the
Secretary to the institution read several notes of apology for
non-attendance, from M. Miles, Esq., M.P., Mr. Kenible, Mr.
Sergeant Talfeurd, the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, M.P.,
Dr. Grainger, and several other gentlemen.
The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting, and said, that
having had the honour of being called upon to preside over
the meeting, he felt no other difficulty in addressing
them than the endeavour to avoid those common-places
which :must necessarily be expected, more or less, on
such an occasion. In the foundation of a lite•
rary and scientific institution they were only about
to do that which, in every part of the country, was about to
be, or had been, done in the spirit for improving the present
progress of civilisation. Such objects had been had in view
in England and Scotland for a series of years, and they were
about to establish such an institution in a part of the metro-
polis which more than any other called fur and would re-,
ceive benefit from it, and which therefore was the more likely
to receive the full benefit of the sympathies of the meeting.
They were about to bear their part in the great progress of
mental improvement which was the characteristic of the
present day. There was perhaps no part of the world which
moved faster in the march of civilisation than the me -
tropolis of England ; but even in every other continental
nation such a movement was to be observed. Whether
the movement was to terminate in a gradual de-
cline of its energies—whether it was to continue in
progress without any material benefit, or whether it was to
terminate in a glorious increase of knowledge, was for the
philosopher to determine, but it was for them and for all
mankind to do their best to avoid such a catastrophe. There
was every probability of their efforts having a successful ter-
mination, and they would have the gratification of being the
means of distributing knowledge amongst their fellow-crea-
tures. If they looked to the physical efforts of mankind,
was there one amongst them who could point out any other
age superior to the present in such efforts. In all countries it
was the same ; attention was in every quarter directed to
the development of those sciences which could not fail to
bind the social system more closely in every part of the
world, and place the lowest in the land on the
same path of improvement as the noblest. The
railway system, and the improvements in all other means
of communication had given to society a more rapid means
of communication, and consequently a better means of trans-
mitting to each other the thoughts and ideas on every point
of improvement and reform. Knowledge seemed about to be
universally diffused, and they were about to add their
strength to the general effort. They might have doubts and
difficulties, but if they pursued the pillar of fire—of know-
ledge—with unwearied zeal, they would be sure to obtain
the fulfilment of their desires. They were about to effect a
communion between all classes of men who would join in the
pursuit of knowledge, and he wished to see in the classes of
the institution all political differences remembered only in
the spirit of charity. He wished to see all religious
differences remembered with a truly religious feeling, and
with a spirit of toleration, remembering Him who said, " Iu
my Father's house there are many mansions." Under such
feelings of mutual charity and benevolence, the institution
could not fail of success.—(The Hon. Gentleman sat down
amidst much applause.)
The Rev. J.W. WATSON then read the report of the com-
mittee. It stated that the society at present had, with very
limited means, contrived to accumulate a library compris-
ing 1,300 volumes.—(Hear, hear.) They had on their table
seven daily papers, thirteen weekly papers, fourteen monthly
publications, and five quarterly ones.----(Hear, hear.) They
had established classes for the tuition of French, drawing,
German, and music, and in the course of the last year they
had had twenty-five lectures delivered on various scientific
subjects. They had done all this with 400/.—(Hear, hear.)
The main drawback on the society was their inability to ob-
tain premises which could contain the rooms requisite for
their convenience. They were compelled to have their different
rooms in different localities, and that inconvenience threat-
ened the institution with serious results. The committee
had therefore, according to their instructions, by a vote of a
public meeting of members, taken into their consideration
the subject of building suitable premises. An eligible site
for the premises had been fixed upon at the west end of
Carter-street, Walworth-road, near to both Walworth and
Kennington, and easily accessible from all directions. The
tenure was leasehold, for ninety-nine years, at a low rent.
The cost was to be about 1,8001., one-third being obtained
in donations previously to the commencement of the work.
A large hall was to be provided, capable of containing from
seven to nine hundred persons, which would be available on
hire for any and every useful purpose:,under the direction of the
committee of the institution. A reading-room, class-rooms,
a public library, and other conveniences, were to be pro-
vided in lieu of the very scanty and insufficient provision for
those purposes at present made. It might be added, that for
the present imperfect accommodation an annual rent of more
than 50/. was incurred, without the means of creating returns
to the society by letting any part of the premises ; whereas
the increased accommodation would not cost, including in-
terest of the sum to be laid out, much more than double that
rental, with the means of creating returns nearly, if not
quite, sufficient to cover the amount. That consideration
was the more important, since the whole revenue of the society,
after paying necessary expenses, would be employed in aug-
menting to the public the advantages originally contemplated
by its establishment. The property was to be duly secured in
trust for the society, and every facility was to be afforded
for making it available for a thoroughly useful educational
establishment, with library, news-room, reading-room, &c.
The committee and other members had commenced a con-
tribution, by sums collected in two or three days, amounting
together to 140/. They hoped that every friend of the moral
and social interests of the neighbourhood would follow this
example. _ _ _

B. 'IAMB, Esq., M.P. addressed the meeting in a neat
speech, setting forth the benefits which would arise from the
formation and foundation of a society like the present,
which could have its own hall 'and lecture-rooms. He did
not wish to force upon them the necessity of contributions,
for they all knew that an institution like the present could
not exist without them. He hoped that the present scheme
would not meet a fate like the one called the Surrey Institu-
tion, which front want of being properly supported had fallen
away, and its hall was falling into ruin. The Hon. Gentle-
man then moved the first resolution :—" That this meeting
has heard with pleasure of the establishment and progress of
the Walworth Literary and Scientific Institution, and
earnestly recommends that increased efforts be made for the
extension of its benefits."

Mr. NICHOLAS GEDGE seconded the motion. He said he
hoped that the exertions of the members of the institution
would not slacken because 3001. had been already raised out
of the 8001., which was the 'portion of capital necessary to
commence with. He hoped that they would be prepared on
a future occasion to come forward to support the institution
and repeat their donations; and he for one would come for-
ward again with his subscription.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.

The Rev. JOAN Buartirrr, in moving the second resolution,
said that if it were passed by the meeting according to the pre-
cise words contained in it, all those who were present would be
pledged to sustain the institution, not to their ruin, but to
the extent of their abilities, without injury to themselves or
their families. They must necessarily see that such an in-
stitution as the present would enlighten the minds of its fre-
quenters as much as the gas lamps in the streets enlightened
all around them. He believed that gas lamps had done more
for the morality of large towns than all the benches of ma-
gistrates that ever were.—(Laughter.) The evil-doers were
now warned, that in the event of any violation of the law
their detection was certain—(Hear, hear)—and in the same
manner their institutions dispelled mental darkness, and com-
pelled men to avoid the disgrace of ignorance. The mob were
spoken of as being ignorant, and what were they to
do with them?—were they to stand aloof and point them
out as " the mob ?" Were they to be handed over to the
police? and if they were not strong enough, were the guarl3
to be called to them ? Were they to decimate them'?
No, they were, to dispel their ignorance by the
formation of such institutions, and bring them closer to the
higher classes in knowledge and cultivation.—( Hear, hear.)
Such institutions would not only be beneficial to the poor
man, but would operate sensibly on public men, whose con-
duct would be judged by a people whose understandings
were enlightened by their frequenting societies like the pre.
sent. He would conclude by submitting the following reso-
lution to the meeting :—"That this meeting hails-with special
gratification the intention to raise a suitable building for the
various purposes of the institution, and pledges itself to give
its utmost assistance in the prosecution of that design."
The Rev. J. W. WATSON briefly seconded the resolution,
which was then put by the Chairman, and carried unani-
mously.

_ .
Mr., J. S. Nomwßrre then, at the request of the Chair-
man, read the list of contributions to the institution, giving
a total of 3001.

Mr. DAVID BASS, in moving the third resolution—" That
as the proposed lecture hall will be open to the public for all
purposes not inconsistent with the civil and moral welfare of
the community, the committee are entitled to the support
and co-operation of all classes in procuring its erection"—
stated to the meeting that the principal cause of his being
called upon to address them was his being Secretary to the
w "Lireenich Literary and Scientific Institution." Thatinstitu-
tion had arisen from almost nothing. Its ollice was originally
merely a small room, and its library was contained in a small
cupboard, and the books were only the gifts of the members
who belonged to it. The institution had now a hall fit to
contain 1,000 persons, and the institution itself had spent no
less a sum than 5,0001. in useful purposes. He would there-
fore recommend the meeting not to be discouraged, however
slight the commencement might be, but to give their stre-
nuous support to the committee in the laudable object in
view.

The Rev. SA➢IUEL GREEN seconded the resolution. In a
brief speech he impressed on the meeting the necessity of
supporting a medium through which information and instruc-
tion were to be conveyed. The new institution would be
such a medium, and its rooms were to be placed in a spot or
in a parish containing no less than 60,000 inhabitants, who
would thus all have an opportunity of deriving benefit from it.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was carried
nein. con.

WALLis, professor of astronomy, after a brief expres-
sion of regret at the lateness of the hour, which precluded
him from occupying the time of the meeting as fully as the
subject deserved, then moved the fourth resolution :—" That
the cordial thanks of this meeting be given to Thomas Wyse,
Esq., for his very able, zealous, and efficient conduct in the
chair." He was fully aware of the importance of such insti-
tutions as the present, and of the importance of the instruc-
tion they conveyed. He had on two or three occasions de-
livered lectures to the members of the institution, but on
those occasions he had not been able to set up some illus-
trations of the science of astronomy which would have
spoken for themselves, for want of sufficient room. He
hoped that the meeting would second their efforts in obtain-
ing a proper hall for their lectures and instructions.
Mr. G. liocsns seconded the resolution, which was put
and agreed to with loud applause.

TheCirmamAw briefly returned thanks, and the meeting
(which was very numerously and respectably attended) then
broke up.
The plan of the proposed hall, an extremely light and
elegant one, was drawn up by Mr. Jordan, the architect.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] —SPLENDID Alin kNGEMENT OF
LOOKING-GLASS, producing the effect of a long arcade, and of
bewildering as to cause a doubt whether you are in London or
in old Rome.

" Arch follows arch, and pile ucceeds to pile."
This unique apartment is devoted to coffing and arranging the
hair in, and with another having a beautiful view of Naples, are
on the ground-floor. In calling attention to their establish.
ment, Ross and Sons beg to notice the advantages of their
system—viz., they never take apprentices nor young men from
the country, nor object to customers asking for the same man
to wait upon them, every person has clean brushes, they never
being used twice, without being washed ; and parties are not
pressed to buy things they do not want. Address, Ross and
Sons, 119 and 120, Bishopsgate-street, who likewise give
lessons in hair-dressing.
Lord De Tabley arriv.ed in London yesterday after-
noon by the General Steam Navigation Company's steam-
ship Triton, from Ostend,