The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-22 00:00:00

HALIFAX MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
The .soiree 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 Cobden, Esq., 11. P., John Abbott, Esq.,
John Baldwin, Esq., Dr. Alexander, Colonel Pul-
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 hn
which he felt deeply anxious to see promoted t 3
rough
out out the length and breadth of the land.-1 d
Their worthy chairman (the Mayor) had alluded to)
borne 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.—
(aear, 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 bad 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 be could help them
was by contributing to the new building, and if 1001.
would he of any service to them, they should be most
heartily welcome to ite—(Loud and repeated cheers.)
Mr. Ricnaten COBDEN, 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
(Alr. 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 Cahinet.—(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 hell—(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 Huddersfield.—
(Cheers.) He was the other day attending a dinner
given to Mr. Walker, a distinguished American citi-
z-el, who was entertained at a public dinner in Man •
ches';er. Its the cour,e of his speech Mr. Walker took the
opportunity of counselling them in the same way as
21'. Abbot Lawrence had done, and telling them to see
that the people of this country were better educated.
Wow, he (Mr. Cobden) did not like it that people
are to coma 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
foiled that in the new settlements which were formed,
they all sent their youths back to Greece to be edu-
cated. Bat 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 was•e, 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 towiing-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
shout 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 be
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
La' cashire, the news room had not kept alive the insti-
tution ; whether they were not the greatest attrac-
tion these institutions had ?—(Hear, hear.) Such
being the case, then came the question whether news-
papers, which furnish the greatest amount of instrue-
tioa to men engaged in the world, ought to be taxed
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for let then bear
in mind that the plea set up, that the tax put upon
the newspaper was for pa 3 ing the carriage of it, did
Idol apply; for as many of them knew, they got their
L: KIM! newspaper long before the post could deliver
than, and consequently they did not get the carriage
for the
stamp.— (" Hear, hear," and loud ap-
pleuse.)P"A."
About this time twelvemonths, when allu-
ding to
ae this very in the Manchester Athe-
num, he quoted a
was more
made by a writer to the
effect that there W
!Imre useful knowledge in the
Times newspaper than
in
whole history of Thucy-
didee. Well, this wee the
opinion to express, but
he thought, after tweleesentroong
was a great deal to be saidneftohorpse:Tt.c
reflection, that there
For instance, he
that day brought with him at
would be of
sage of the American President. °l.;kt.ficieling the
be importence to all time, but Tv':
as
159. y.
as
setrhee-
which was important to men of the preeeZPaartichle of
fore, to tax newspapers was ten times
taxes on the works of Thucydides. But in tile ea„ of
modern newspapers they tax it twice, first oe all
the
paper, and then the stamp.—(Fieur.) But in addition
to this advertisements were taxed, and a mechanic who
advertised for a situation bad 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
wag freed from fiscal exactions. In conclusion, he
saidif he had any claim upon the working men in the
way his friend Mr. Crossley had mentioned—that was
in having bees
in
instrumentale in cheapening their
bread, he would imploreto them mhtc! spend whet they now
saved in the educe
them food for the tni„d. Ift
they did this, it would
their children, in giving
be the means of raising society
intellectually and
mornlly.
baliviiricinge,aftotsigsrg.7st,e(rietfheartrint!urtlo the proposed new
employed on the
subscribe 2,000/. arnoigstatmheornn them; and
thore 1
the people,re st EshhOouull(iil
aggregate 12,0aOrvitili"°Wn"s' who
be raised by subscriptions
kern, and the community at merchants, the
/115:' I. Alderman Baldwin, Colonel%% large.
-..--A - , , , ,Pollard, and Mr.
A Mrin, bairn, of Ariancnester, having addressed the.
iif : e latter in
23
some practical remarksan do ria
rire
-
r inime:otthrtag. of mental culture to mechanics
' - sans, -tie ' sual vote of thanks was given to the visitors
and.ths4 irman.
~ .. The meeting did not break up until after 10 o'clock.
... 4

is
IN VALID SOLDIERS.—Upwards of 4,000 men have
been discharged from the army during the present
Tear U unfit for the service.