The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-20 00:00:00

HALIFAX MECHANICS' INSTITUTE

The soirée of the Halifax Mechanics' Institute was
held on Tuesday night, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, and
was most respectably attended. The company in-
cluded John Waterhouse, Esq., the mayor, who
presided on the occasion • the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, who is one of the borough representatives ;
Richard ICebden, Esq., M.P., John Abbott, Esq.,
John Baldwin, Esq., Dr. Alexander, Colonel Pol-
lard, &c., &c.
The Rev. M. TURNER, the secretary, read a very
gratifying report of the position of the institute,
showing that during the past year it has made consi-
derable progress, and has now subscribing and ordi-
nary members to the number of 628, besides an ex-
tensive and excellent library.
The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the meeting, and
was followed by
J. CROSSLEY, Esq., who in a few appropriate
remarks moved that the report read by the secretary
be adopted by the meeting.
Sir CHARLES WOOD seconded the adoption of the
report, and said he could not but look to these insti-
tutions as one great branch of that general education
which he felt deeply anxious to see promoted through-
out the length and breadth of the land.—(Cheers.)
Their worthy chairman (the Mayor) had alluded to
some difficulties which attended this subject of educa-
tion, because of those feelings which are implanted in
those interested in the promotion of education—feel-
ings which, even if one thought them mischievous,
they were bound to respect.—(Hear, hear.) Educa-
tion was, therefore, one of those subjects which must
be pressed forward, but they must leave it to the
people to speak for themselves, aid them in their
efforts, and not drive them on ~faster than they are
willing to go.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was
glad to state to them his opinion that the—he would
not call them prejudices, but—strong feelings which
had interfered with the progress of general education,
were fast wearing away.—(Hear, hear.) He be-
lieved that the general conviction was, that educa-
tion was one of the first things which they ought
to promote ; and though it was one of those things
which had been beset with difficulties, he believed
that in a few years they would see a much more
rapid progress made in favour of general education
than had been the case for many years past.—(Cheers.)
With regard to that portion of their mechanics' in-
stitution which provided instruction for the junior
members, he felt the same interest as in the other
departments ; he believed it to be even more useful
than the other, as it tended to raise the character of
society at large.—(Hear, hear.) Now, with regard
to that which was not a portion of general education
—that which afforded the means of self-instruction,
which members of these institutions were able to ac-
quire, he believed that to be of
.the greatest value.
One of the greatest advantages which persons in
easy circumstances possess over those less favourably
placed than themselves, is the command of books
and the means of information ; but institutions of
this kind put into the power of the classes alluded
to facilities which they would otherwise be
unable to obtain. Having at some length
pointed out the importance to the working classes of
using the opportunities afforded to them in these insti-
tutions of access to useful information, he concluded
by observing that they must look to others than him-
self for information to guide them. All he could do
in this way was that which he had done, to express
his approval of the principle of mechanics' institu-
tions. The only way in which he could help them
was by contributing to the new building, and if 100/.
would be of any service to them, they should be most
heartily welcome to it.—(Loud and repeated cheers.)
Mr. RICHARD CORDEN, M.P., next addressed the
meeting, strongly recommending the Halifax people
to emulate the example of their neighbours at Hud-
dersfield, who possessed a much larger and more suit-
able institution, with one-third more members. He
(Mr. Cobden) had heard Lord John Russell say
something to the effect that an educational test would
not be a bad franchise to be admitted into this coun-
try, and he had been trembling—he hoped their
Right Hon. Member would not say anything about it
at the next meeting of the Cabinet.—(Laughter
and cheers.) Huddersfield has 1,650 members in its
Mechanics' Institution, with only one Member, while
Halifax has two representatives and only 600 mem-
bers in its institution ; and while Huddersfield has
built and provided accommodation suitable for her
institution, Halifax, which has got plate-glass win-
dows, luxurious private houses, and superior mills,
has thrust her institution into a garret.—(Laughter
and cheers.) He (Mr. Cobden) hoped nothing would
be said about it out of that hall—(Hear, hear)—but if
it was, that it would be mentioned with the distinct
understanding that the men of Halifax had resolved
that before the coming year was out this stigma—
this great stigma—on so important a Parliamentary
borough should be wiped out; and that they would
have a nobler, a far nobler institution, than anything
his friend Schwann could boast of at ludde refield.—
(Claeers.) He was the other day attending a dinner
given to Mr. Walker, a distinguished American citi-
zen, who was entertained at a public dinner in Man •
chester. In the course of his speech Mr. Walker took the
opportunity of counselling them in the same way as
Mr. Abbot Lawrence had done, and telling them to see
that the people of this country were better educated.
Now, he (Mr. Cobden) did not like it that people
are to come from a new country and tell them that
the people of Old England were an ignorant set of
people, and wanted to be better educated.—(Hear,
hear.) England should take the lead of America.
It was so in the time of ancient Greece, for they
found that in the new settlements which were formed,
they all sent their youths back to Greece to be edu-
cated. But they never heard of Americans sending
back their children to be educated in England. And
why ? Because, so far as real practical education
was concerned, England was in the rear of America.
When they went into a cotton-mill, and looked at
rubbish called cotton waste, they would say it was a
strange idea for any Chancellor of the Exchequer to
think of putting a tax on that. And if they were to
see the great waggon-full of rags going through the
town, they would say that was a queer sort of com-
modity for a Chancellor to put a tax upon.—(Hear,
hear, and laughter.) And, true enough, he never did
think of taxing this waste and these rags. These
were sometimes converted into a sort of wadding and
used for firing off fowling-pieces—wadding for a gun.
Still the Chancellor did not think that was a proper
thing to tax. But these things were sometimes con-
verted into reams of paper, which were made into
primers and grammars; and then, although the Chan-
cellor did not tax the article with which parties might
shoot a partridge or a snipe, yet when it was con-
verted into an article to teach " a young idea how to
shoot," forthwith his excellent friend, their represen-
tative, placed an exciseman on the paper, and before it
could be used in their school-rooms and libraries he
put a tax upon it.—(Cheers.) There was another tax
to which he would refer. They had now in almost
every mechanics' institution a news-room ; and he
would challenge every secretary in every institution
to answer him this question, whether in almost all the
institutions in these two counties of Yorkshire and
Lancashire, the news room had not kept alive the insti-
tution ; whether they were not the greatest attrac-
tion these institutions had ?—(Hear, bear.) Such
being the case, then came the question whether news-
papers, which furnish the greatest amount of instruc-
tion to men engaged in the world, ought to be taxed
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for let them bear
in mind that the plea set up, that the tax put upon
the newspaper was for paying the carriage of it, did
not apply; for as many of them knew, they got their
London newspaper long before the post could deliver
them, and consequently they did not get the carriage
for the penny stamp.—(" Hear, hear," and loud ap-
plause.) About this time twelvemonths, when allu-
ding to this very subject in the Manchester Athe-
neum, he quoted a remark made by a writer to the
effect that there was more useful knowledge in the
Times newspaper than in the whole history of Thucy-
dides. Well, this was a strong opinion to express, but
he thought, after twelvemonths' reflection, that there
was a great deal to be said for it. For instance, he
that day brought with him a:copy containing the Mes-
sage of the American President. which would be of
great importance to all time, but every particle of
which was important to men of the present day; there-
fore, to tax newspapers was ten times as bad as the
taxes on the works of Thucydides. But in the case of
modern newspapers they tax it twice, first of all the
paper, and then the stamp.—(Hear.) But in addition
to this advertisements were taxed, and a mechanic who
advertised for a situation had to pay is. 6d. duty,
while the man who advertised an estate of 100,0001.
had no more to pay.—(Hear.) He then contrasted
the conduct of England with that of America, it being
in the latter country a fundamental principle that
everything which bore on the education of the people
was freed from fiscal exactions. In conclusion, he
said if he bad any claim upon the working men in the
way his friend Mr. Crossley had mentioned—that was
in having been instrumental in cheapening their
bread, he would implore them to spend what they now
saved in the education of their children, in giving
them food for the mind. If they did this, it would
be the means of raising society intellectually and
morally.
Mr. CROSSLEY, referring to the proposed new
building, suggested that four large millowners, who
employedmbscrib e
2o 700 t hoe!.amongst aggregateoogstthem l2:n ; and
00 wor k p
the
rest e opl e, should
should
ih) ea
nrts e
andby subscriptions amongstcommunity
lurg theo. merchants, the
Mr. alderman Baldwin, Colonel Pollard, and Mr.
Win. Pairbairn, of M
in a
somen
e s ter,
practical k
having
remarks
addressed s
oe
u tll d thee
importance
etenrtal culture to mechanics and arti-
sans, vote of thanks was given to the visitors
d not break up until after 10
meeting,
the
h u thse uoafiima t
an
The
hee meeting c hairm adni.

INVALID SOLDIERS.—Upwards of 4,000 men have
been discharged from the army during the present
year as unfit for the service.