The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-10 00:00:00

THE SURREY ATHENIEITIVI.
On Wednesday evening a meeting, most numerously and re-
spectably attended, of the inhabitants of the boroughs of
Southwark and Lambeth, was held at the building formerly
known as the Socialists' Hall, in the Dlackfriars.road, for
the nurpose of founding a Literary Institution, to be called
the 'Surrey Athenaeum. It was expected that Lord John
Russell would have been present, but the Noble Lord was
prevented from complying with the request of the originators
by engagements of an important character, and in his
absence the chair was taken by Benjamin Hawes, Esq.
The SECRETARY read letters of apology from several dis-
tinguished individuals connected with the boroughs, express-
ing their hearty concurrence in the objects contemplated, and
their anxiety to become subscribers and donors. The following
noblemen and gentlemen were among the number :—Mr.
Peto, 201. ; Earl Radnor, 5/. ; Mr. A. Pellatt, 101. 105. ; Mr.
Wilson, 51. 55.; Mr. Parkinson, 5/. ; Mr. J. Parkinson, 5/. ;
Mr. Hugh Bowditch, 51. 55.; Dlr. B. Hawes, Si. ss. • Mr. J.
Field, 51. 55.; Mr. J. Bickerton, 51. 55.; Mr. J. M. Webb,
51. ss. ' • and many others.
TheCRAIRMAN opened the business of the evening by ex-
pressing his regret that circumstances prevented the Noble
Lord the Member for the City of Loudon from presiding.
The object they were assembled upon on the present occasion
had his most cordial approval. He had for many years lived
in the vicinity of that building they now occupied. He
knew the neighbourhood well, and he had a distinct recol-
lection that a literary institution of great importance once
stood in their immediate vicinity. It possessed one of the
most judiciously-selected libraries in the metropolis, with a
theatre for lectures, and all the other appendages of a well-
arranged and useful institution. Owing, however, to certain
causes, which it was unnecessary for bins to allude to on the
present occasion, but which were much to be deplored, the
library had been sold, and the institution itself shut up.
From that period to the present the injury which the
cause of literature and science had sustained by permit-
ting so valuable an establishment to fall to the ground,
had been visited on the very structure itself, in the shape
of a judgment from Heaven, for never bad an edifice
once dedicated to high =and noble purposes been so
completely disgraced and polluted as that had been.
Everything that was exceptionable had of late years
found a ready reception at that building, which until very
lately had been occupied by men who set little value either
on literature or science, and who had nothing in common
with the amiable and erudite persons who were original en-
gaged in the praiseworthy duty of founding the Surrey Insti-
tution of former days.—(Cheers.) But now a healthier and
a better social tone had sprung up. The great and para-
mount advantages to be derived from literary institutions
was now beginning to be understood and appreciated. The
true value of knowledge was now appreciated, and he felt
convinced that the day was not far distant when the inhabit-
ants of Lambeth and Southwark would see the necessity of
redeeming their character from the dishonour which had at-
tached to it by permitting their Literary Institution to re-
main closed for so many years. He hoped that the time
would shortly arrive when there would be again established
an institution calculated to supply the mental requirements
of the great body of the population.—(Loud cheers.) The
present was the second institution of the kind which within
a very short time he had assisted in forming, and he begged
unaffectedly to assure them that he felt the warmest in-
terest in the success of such undertakings. That which they
were now engaged in was one worthy of all praise, and it
would be very little to the credit of the people of Southwark
and Lambeth if they did not make a cordial and enthusiastic
response to the call made upon them. It was exceedingly
delightful for him to reflect that there was every proba-
bilitg of the library which once existed there being
soon restored. The presence of that respectable assembly
was in itself a great encouragement, and redounded very
much to the credit of the neighbourhood. Three things were
essential to success—a sense of the necessity of such an in-
stitution—a disposition on the part of those who would be
themselves most benefited to come forward and contribute

their subscriptions--and a resolute spirit of perseverance on
the part of those who wee more immediately engaged in the
formation of the institution.—(Hear, hear.) One of the
greatest arguments in favour of popular institutions of this
kind was that they afforded to the humble classes facilities
of consulting books of a valuable description. It was with a
view to place education within the reach of the many that
the combination of the many was called into action, and he
urgently implored of all his hearers to co-operate enthusias-
tically in an effort to establish an extensive and a well-
selected library. No less than 300 persons had already come
forward to testify their interest in the project by volunteer-
ing to pay their subscriptions in advance—(Hear, hear)—
and if the promoters of this undertaking could reckon on
perseverance and sustained action on the part of those who
now professed to feel an interest in the project, there was no
doubt but that the happiest results would follow. The
Hon. Gentleman resumed his seat amid loud cheers from all
parts of the building.
Mr. APSLEY Pxr.LArr proposed the first resolution, which
was to the following effect Resolved, that this meeting,
impressed with the importance of the diffusion of knowledge,
as tending to the moral and social improvement of all classes,
views with extreme pleasure the proposal to establish an In-
stitution to be called the Surrey Athenaeum—such luau-
Lion to embrace reading-room and library, and to afford op-
portunities for literary and scientific instruction by lectures
and classes, and being convinced of the necessity of the same
in this populous district, pledges itself to use every exertion
to effect its es'ablishment."

Mr. SILK BUCKINGHAM seconded the resolution, and ex-
pressed his readiness to assist in the promotion of the object
in view. He congratulated the assembly upon the day they
had selected for the commencement of their purpose, on the
auspicious day when the Prime Minister of the country was
returned, un )pposed, as tie representative of the first com-
mercial city in the world on free-trade principles.—(Loud
cheers.) They were assembled to commence a new era, and
to yat:quish the obstacles that retarded mental improve-
ment.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Institutions of this kind
tended to advance not only man's interest in this world,
out were most likely to advance them for a future state.
Within his own experience, he knew hundreds of cases in
which persons. competent in every other respect, were re-
tarded in their progress through life in consequence of a
want of that education which institutions like their own
were directed to afford. The subscription (something about
6d. per week) would afford a catalogue of the most refined
pleasures, not purchasable through any other channels.—
(Rear, hear.) The institution would open the intellectual
eyes of its supporter,, and afford them gratifications which
a few years before were reserved almost exclusively for the
elite of society—for the " common people•'—as if any man
could naturally be more common than another.—(l.lear, and
laughter.) In former years, "common people," or rather the
humbler classes, were taught to believe that they were formed
solely for the purpose of working and keeping inviolate the
laws of the country. Such was the antique doctrine; but he
put it to them, whether it might not be well to instil upon
he humbler, and the more useful classes, that they should
also be able to understand the laws they were told to obey.—
(Hear, hear.) After some other observations, Mr. Bucking-
ham concluded by offering to subscribe to the institution,
and to deliver a course of lectures gratuitously.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
The Rev. J. W. WATKIN. proposed the next resolution :
"That a committee be formed for the purpose of obtaining
patrons, vice-presidents, and making such other arrangements
as might be found necessary for carrying out the foregoing
resolutions."
Mr. Snsratorms seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. Witsox (one of the proprietors of the Plate-glass
Company) moved the third resolution—" That a subscrip-
tion be entered into, for defraying the cost of library,reading
and class-rooms, and for defraying the necessary charges of
establishing the institution." It was true, that the reputa-
tion which the building had unfortunately gained rendered it
a task of some difficulty to induce persons to subscribe, but
when they were informed,through the instrumentality of the
press, of the real object they had in view, he was convinced
many persons would cheerfully lend them their assistance.
lie had much pleasure in proposing the resolution.
Mr. A. W. HOGGINS seconded the resolution.
Mr. GREENE, a gentleman who spoke from the gallery,
suggested that the subscription should be 12s. instead of 245.,
but not, at all events, to exceed 16s.
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the pertinence of the recom-
mendation, but hoped that the question of arranging the
terms of subscription would be left to the discretion of the
committee.—(Hear, hear.)
After an announcement by the Secretary that the total
subscriptions collected in the room amounted to upwards
of 90/., a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the
meeting broke up.

THE UNION CANAL.
BURSTING OF THE EMBANKMENT.
On Monday morning last, two portions of the em-
bankment of the Union Canal gave way, to the seri-
ous injury of some of tLe adjacent property. The first
of these places was at Ratho, and was first discovered
shortly after five o'clock in the morning. At that time
the gap was only about two or three feet square, but
ws the rush of water was great it soon increased to a
m anndk me
whenn
mighty chasm of about twenty feet deep and thirty in
vwidth.
The
depth, eenptarutp
waters ot con-
siderableh adatthethips
:airly forced an exit, it burst forth with impetuous
velocity and volume, so that in a few minutes the con-
tiguous fields were completely flooded. A field of oats,
part of the property of Mr. Brown, of Ashley, being
quite continuous to the canal, was the first to suffer.
the greater portion is embedded with sand and other
debris, so as to present quite a devastated appearance.
A. house in which twenty cattle were placed was
nveloped by the torrent, and it vva- only by dint of ex-
traordinary exertions that they could be set free, and
rescued from their precarious position. The grounds of
Mr. Melville, of Hanley, also suffered greatly, the water
having flowed into the garden, %here it swept away
a great many valuable plants, and otherwise committed
fearful ravages. The flood subsequently flowed into the
Gogar Burn, which it swelled to a great extent, and
caused the submersion of numerous fields along its
course. A similar event took place about the same
time at a part of the canal to the westward of Linlith-
gow, and near to the viaduct over the Avon. The
mass of the embankment which gave way at this
point was even larger than that at Ratho ; but it
appears the damage which the water committed was
not so extensive, as it soon found a channel in the
Avon. The cause which led to these occurrences, so far
as we could gather, were of a twofold kind. It seems
that at Linlithgow the water of the canal, to a consider-
able distance, has lately been drained off, in order that
some improvement might be made. This act had com-
pressed the water into less than its usual space, and the
immense quantity of rain which fell on Sunday night
and yesterday morning had given to it an accumulated
strength, under the pressure of which the embankment
at the two points above mentioned gave way.—Edinburgh
Advertiser.

THUNDER ST
lent thunder-stormn.thT
afternoon service innms.—On Sabbath last, during the
wind from south-west churches, Ayr was visited by a vio-
ominously overcast.
day was very sultry, with a light
violent whirlwind that tossed -asbt,i2it about half past two the sky be-
cameteahr
esk tdaobur
houses. Its violence was rearnh .iii_ swaso over
thepreceded
remarkable
tops
of bt yh a
theat
two or three vessels, leaning
and among them a large barque,
the South Quay wall,
being at ebb), were blown over.(ine;etiirber-loaded (the tide
wind lasted about twenty
minutes, but was not felt in the ba
all sail, and making for the drtiotu wo
r a smacks carrying
untouched by it. The whirlwind was succeeded
the time, were
flashes of lightning and loud peals of thunder,ded by vivid
for more than an hour. The thunder was accuruuuned b
continuing
very heavy rain, that fell without intermission throughout
Y
the night and forenoon of yesterday. So heavy was the
rain that by ten o'clock on Sunday night the channel of the
Ayr was covered by a raging flood. The volume of water
continued to increase till mid-day yesterday, when it sur-
passed any previoni flood within the last two or three years.
We have not heard of much damage being done. A number
of fishing boats and a pleasure boat, moored to the buoy in
the middle of the river, were carried off by the flood, and
cast ashore upon the north and south beaches, with trifling
1 iniWitg,--lyr Observer,