The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-27 00:00:00

THE SUN,

open page of nature, and the living wonders which
are around and about and beneath and above us.
Now, I think probably he is in the right in this ; but
at the same time lam convinced that almost every
prevailing direction, both of the individual mind and
of society at large, ought to have administered, always
to be ready to have administered to it something in
the way of free action and of a corrective.—(Hear,
hear.) It may be very well in the quiet of academic
bowers—as my friend Mr. Heywood may probably
remind me—it would be well that the stern cloisters
of Oxford, and the still shades of Cambridge—re-
taining, as I hope they will ever do, their old appro-
priate sources of learning, not ignoring—to use a
modern phrase which I may probably be told in those
classic precincts is a barbarous one—but not ignoring
the accustomed voice of their muses, yet it might be
well that they should reflect still more, as I believe
they have begun to do, of the aspect of the century,
and of the society in which they are placed.—(Hear,
bear.) But on the other hand, it is no less desirable
that, in &district like this, where the pursuit of wealth
is the habitual rule ; where the recurring routine of
labour is the daily life, where the steam-engine and
the power-loom, and mechanics and machines seem to
be the lords of time and space, of the body and of
the mind—(A voice—" No, no.") —it is well where
there is such a tendency, I say, that without neglect-
ing, on the contrary, while you directly encourage
those subjects and inquiries which are congenial to the
place, while you promote the study of the laws of nature,
or inquire into the properties of matter, at the same time
means of access should he given, an opportunity of
hearing, at least, should be afforded to the claims of
general literature—to the sober muse of history—to
the fervent acctnts of oratory, and to the sublime in-
spirations of song.—(Hear.) And, first, ladies and
gentlemen, as it is the boast of our country, England,
that it is the same country which produced our New-
ton, who has laid down the positive and ascertained
laws of other worlds and of other systems ; and our
Shakspere, whose imagination peopled worlds almost
as numerous and quite as bright ; while these
mingling characteristics, however, distinguished our
countrymen, at once the most sober-minded and the
most adventurous race which the world has known,
so let it be the aim and glory of our own times, on
the one hand, to make the study of the recluse and the
vigil of the student still more available for meeting
the wants of the present time, and for the mastery
over nature, still more useful, still more practical,
still more suited to the age in which we live, than
they have vet been ; while, on the other hand, we
should aiml to throw around the dry monotony of toil,
and the plodding perseverance of labour, charms and
graces which are not their own.—(Cheers.) And for
this reason I rejoice that such an institution as has
already existed—and which it is now proposed to
extend and to diffuse, to embody in a more worthy
home, and to diffuse further in its genial influences
all around you—should exist in your town. I rejoice
to hear that it is proposed to combine with it lecture•
rooms and class-rooms for drawing and music, classes
for languages, and a well-assorted library. I rejoice
to hear that it is not to be wanting in the graces of
external architecture ; and I trust that you will show
yourselves alive to the occasion which opens itself
thus before you ; and that when the form has been
'n, ulch d, when the bricks and mortar—l beg pardon,
I believe you have excellent stone of your own in
Burnley—when that has all been brought together,
and a goodly edifice has been reared, you will show
that it has the support of the inhabitants; and the
mind that is to be developed within will make the real
glory and honour of the building.—(Hear.) I know
that, in addressing you in Lancashire, I era among
a community which has shown a great and growing
interest in the cause of popular education in all its
directions. Into tee merits of any particular direc-
tioe which that interest may assume, this is not the
place or the opportunity to enter ; but I feel most
glad and triumphant to think that the time has come
when the education of the people must spread wide
and strike deep, and I have faith that the wisdom and
punlic spirit of all classes in this country will be
exerted to give that impulse the right direction
(Hear, hear.) I feel that there is someting large and
expansive in the bodies of men which in this portion
of the country are brought together upon occasions
like the present. Why, in the very place in which
we are assembled—in the very person who laid the
first stone of your new building—we have living and
patent proof that there is nothing exclusive or repel-
ling iu the assistance and energy which have been
brought to bear upon it; and, as I have referred to
mechanics' institutions as comprising in their aim the
cathedral towns of Lincoln and the factories of Burn-
ley, so we have seen to-day that they may unite in
their service the oldest and most ancestral modes of
faith with the least fettered and the least hierarchical
forms.—(Liear, hear.) And from my heart, ladies
and gentlemen, I join in the wish which I feel sure
animates all who have this day and this night been
brought together, which has already found eloquent
expression in the mouths of preceding speakers, that the
institution of which, amidst so many demonstrations of
good will and concord, the first stone has been laid this
day, and of which we are now holding this commemora-
tive assembly, may, in its future development, with re-
spect to all who may be brought within its walls, or be
made partakers of its benefits, never suffer them to im-
bibe any lesson or influence that is inconsistent with
their duties as good citizens, good subjects, good men,
good Christians—(Cheers)—that they may within and
under its roof find much to instruct, much to amuse,
much to refine, but nothing to corrupt, nothing to
sully, nothing to sap the wholesome foundation of
morals or impair the sacred principles of religion—
(Cneers)—but that, while they derive largely, and in
ever-increasing measure, opportunities for useful in-
struction and for rational recreation, they may at the
same time be imbibing lessons which shall stimulate
and sweeten their daily toil, and make their homes
and firesides honest and happy. (The Noble Earl
retired amid much cheering.)
Several other speeches were delivered ; among the
:rest, a short and somewhat humorous one by the Earl
.of Sefton, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, who
denounced the gin-shops and gin-bottles, and affirmed
:as a fact that no drunkenness ever disgraced Heaton
:Park Races, because no gin-booths were ever admitted
•within the precincts of the Earl of Wiltou's domain
while those sports were kept up there.