The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-15 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE 'OWENS COL

LEGE, MANCHESTER.
The new collegiate institution, founded in Manchester
on the principle of the national universities (except that
it is open to all without religious dietinctiou), out of
funds provided by a munificent bequest made several
years ego by the late Mr. John Owen:;, to the amount of
nearly 100,0001, was opened yesterday. The building
selected (the will of Mr. Owecs giving no power to erect
a building) was the spacious house in which Mr. Cobden,
M.P., formerly resided, in Quay-street. The principal
of the college is Professor A. J. Scott, late of the Lon-
don University, who was prevented from delivering his
inaugural address by sudden illness, and the session was
opened yesterday morning by the delivery of a lecture
iutroductory of a course of instruction in the languages
and literature of ancient Greece and Rome by Professor
J. G. Greenwood, 8.A., followed by one on mathematics
and physics by Professor Archibald Sandeman, M.A.
The other resident profes,ors—Mr. Edward Franklund,
Ph. D., who presides over the classes studying chemis-
try, and Mr. W. C. Willianison, M.R.C.S., who takes
the department of natural history, anatomy, and phye
sioloey—were also present. The n acher of French is
M. Podevin, and of German M. Thecdores. The prin-
cipal of the college (who is also professor of logic and
moral philosophy) it is expected will now postpone his
inaugural address for some weeks, if not till the opening
of the next session. The public were admitted, on
giving their names, to the introductory lectures yester-
day morning, and a great number of ladies and gentle-
men presented themselves. Among the gentlemen were
Mr. J. Potter (mayor of Manchester), the Very Rev.
Dr. Bowers (Dean ot.Mancheeter), Alderman Watkins,
Alderman Shuttleworth, Mr. S. Fletcher, Dr. Hodgson
(principal of the Chorlton High School), Mr. G. Osborne
(Wesleyan minister), and Mr. Alexander Kay. There
were about la or 20 youths present, who had already
been admitted students.
Mr. A. KAY (who is one of -the trustees under the
late founder's will) introduced the Learned Professors
the meeting.
Professor GREENWOOD, in opening his address, dwe
at considerable length on the advantages to be derived
from the study of classical literature and the value of
the study of languages as an intellectual discipline to the
mental faculties. It might be asked, while the claims of
the study of languages to form an essential part of edu-
cation were not questioned, why the dead languages
should be chosen for this purpose?, why the modem
languages were not selected? the acquirement of which
would have a practical utility in itself, besides being a
'valuable means of mental training. A careful answer
must be given to this inquiry. It must be shown that,
while on the one hand the study of modern languages
was important, the classical languages were better in-
struments of training, because more elaborate in their
processes of etymology and syntax.—(Hear,.hear.) But
the value of classical studies rested not on this alone:
the varied stores of information which they unfolded
to the pupil were invaluable. We in our day were
hardly less closely connected with the people of Greece
and Rome than our own immediate ancestors. We
wet e indebted to the ancient Greeks and Romans for a
large element in our literature and philosophy, and it
was not for us to disown the bonds which united us
with the nations of antiquity. We could not efface those
ties, and if we ignored them, it would be at our own
taost.---(Hear.) Even for themselves alone the authors
of antiquity were most deserving of an intimate acquaint-
an ae. Classical literature embraced the works of poets,
his, orians, and orators, who were by common consent
regs...e6 led as models of excellent composition. They were
the history of some of the most momentous events
which.. the world had ever witnessed. It must not be
supae AEA that the narration of ancient struggles and
trinn iphs possessed no attraction for us. The heart of
hum: inity was much the same in all times. The study of
the I inguages of aneiehitGreece and Rome, set before the
pupil the idioms of languages widely differing in charac-
ter, a old simultaneously with the power of translation,