The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-22 00:00:00

LORD BROUGHAM AT _HUDDE.RBFIELD

On Saturday evening the annual soiree and distribution
of prizes in connection with the Mechanics' Institution—
an institution of great local value, and well and efficiently
managed—was held in the Philosophical Hall, Huddersfield.
The event was one of general importance, in consequence of
the presence of several distinguished guests on the occasion.
The prizes were distributed by the [tight H on. Lord Broug •
ham, who delivered the opening address. His lordship was
received with quite an ovation of applause, and the whole
of the audience on his appearance joining in singing "Auld
Lang Syne," the venerable nobleman being thereby affeeted
to tears. On the platform, amidst a number of local gentry,
were the Right. Hon. Sir J. W. Ramsden, M.P., Frank
Crossley, Esq., M.P., James Stansfeld, Esq., M.P., E. A.
Leatham, Esq., M.P., the Hon. F. Stuart Wortley, and
other gentlemen. The spacious hall was crowded to excess,
and numbers were unable to obtain admittance.
His LORDSHIP, who on rising was received with renewed
outbursts of applause, spoke as follows :—I do assure you,
my old constituents, that I am very deeply affected by the
kind reception I have met with at your hands. (His lord-
ship was here visibly overcome.) Looking back to our
former connection, which I have always deemed the greatest
honour of my whole life—that of having been member for
this great county of York before its division into three—
looking back to that connection, though it may be with
satisfaction in one sense, it gives me pain, great pain, in
another. When I reflect upon the blank—the gap never to
be filled up—which has been made during these 30 yeas ;
when I reflect upon the many men who then stood beside
me, of all classes—the foremost of all classes, from the
humblest to the highest—and that so many of these I now
can see no more, not only those of my own standing and
age, but men far younger than myself, and who I might
well have hoped, in the natu, al course of things, should have
survived me—l will only mention one—Try dear friend,
Milton, afterwards Lord Fitzwilliam—(hear, and cheers)—
one of the very best men I ever knew in this world—a man
conscientiously attached, devotedly attached, to his princi-
ples, to his own opinions upon every subject in Church and
State, never deviating by one hair's breadth from the most
perfect candour towards those who differed however widely
from him—aye, and even those who differed very slightly
from him ; for it is the unfortunate calamity of a feeble na-
ture that in matters religious, as well as in matters civil,
they can more easily forgive one who differs widely horn
them, than one who differs from them only by a shade--
(cheers)—insomuch is this the case that I have oftentimes
been led to say that the rule which regulates men's charity
and tolerance—(l am speaking of religious opinions)—to-
wards their neighbours is. the reverse of the principle of
gravitation, unless you substitute repulsion for at!Taction,
for that it is inversely, as the distance that the strength of
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religious animosity, and even hatred preyailed—the greater
the distance the less the animosity, the smaller the dis-
tance the less the attraction, the greater the repulsion—(a
laugh)—Lord Fitzwilliam upon all subjects, at all distances
and in all differences of opinion, was perfectly and abso-
lutely not only charitable but kindly towards those with
whom he differed, however much or however little. (Ap-
plause.) I cannot avoid saying so. This is the first time
that I have seen you since the calamity which deprived us
of the blessing of his friendship and support upon all occa-
sions, and I could not avoid just stepping aside for one mo-
ment to give a faint utterance to my feelings in reference to
that irreparable loss. (Cheers.) Now, as I say, the loss
of one's contemporaries of the same standing is not per-
haps more easily sustained, but more natural and easily
to be expected than that those who are one's juniors in age
should pass away before him, and it really would seem as
if old age had that which has been represented by the
great orators of antiquity as the worst feature, the worst
calamity of war—that while in peace the young bury
the old, in war it is the old who bury the young.
(Hear, hear.) But now, to turn away from these pain-
ful subjects to a more cheering one, let me greatly con-
gratulate you upon the success of this institution of Hud-
dersfield. It has some incidents in its history which are
peculiar to itself. One is its finances being in such perfect
order; the next is, part of its revenue to a considerable
amount (of one-half) resulting from the weekly payments of
its members. (Hear, hear.) That is a prodigious thing;
for it not only is a cause, but it is an indication of the
healthful state of the Working Man's Society—that they
are saving money, and spending the money which they
save in the most profitable, really profitable manner in which
they can bestow it. (Applause.) Another is this, and a
most important one, that it is a real mechanics' institution ;
that the members—those who benefit by it—are the working
classes themselves. Now, we always have complained, in
many cases almost from the beginning—from the year 1825,
when mechanics' institutions were first established—that
that which began as a mechanics' institution for the work-
ing classes, and was intended for their improvement and for
their benefit, soon got into other hands and came to be
reading rooms, c nversation rooms, and news rooms—an in-
stitution in fact for classes above the working classes—for
classes who needed it much less, and for whom originally it
was not intended. Many great complaints having been made,
the question was, how a remedy was to be applied ? I recol-
lect once at Manchester 20 years ago—it was the strongest
instance I ever knew— that a mechanics' institution which
had been formed, and was well provided with a library, and
exceedingly well off in point of funds, turned out upon my
examining into those who attended it to be composed chiefly
of merchants' and manufacturers' clerks—persons of the
middle classes—persons of very considerable yearly income,
among whom was hardly a sprinkling of those mechanics for
whom it was originally founded. (1 may remark, however,
that it is much better now in the case of that institution.)
Now that having been very much considered, various
suggestions were made, and means propounded for
endeavouring to get these institutions into the hands
of the working people, and then to keep them in those
hands. A plan was originally laid down which I had
suggested myself as long ago as the year 1825 or 1826, in
a letter addressed to the working men, and dedicated to my
excellent friend Dr. Birkbeck, who was the real founder of
mechanics' institutions throughout the country. In that
letter I suggested that a certain proportion of the working
committee of each institution should be of working men. I
suggested two-thirds or three fourths, but my friends in
Carlisle two or two and a half years ago,took a much more
effectual course. Instead of two-thirds and three-fourths
they said three-thirds or four-fourths—(laughter)—and they
laid it down as a peremptory rule that no person should be
admitted as a manager or a committee man who did not
earn his living by weekly wages. The effect of this was
instantaneous—it was magical. Instantly that this rule
was well established the class-rooms filled, the reading-
rooms filled, and there was no want whatever for members,
no shoving out of the working classes by the superior and
middle or upper classes, though these were very well re-
ceived, their company and contributions were very accept-
able, and their advice most respectfully and kindly taken;
but the government of the body being in the hands of work-
ing men exclusively, the working men came to be the sup-
porters of the institution, and it has ever since that been
filled with them, as their institution alone. (Cheers.) This,
which I call the Carlisle rule, having succeeded in Carlisle,
was very soon adopted elsewhere. It came into a small
neighbouring town, then into Kendal, then to Whitehaven,
then to different towns in the counties of Cumberland and
Westmoreland, then it crossed over into Lancashire and got
to be the rule of several institutions there, and in every case
it has been attended with complete success. It afterwards
travelled into Northumberland, and in Northumberland
they have had precisely the same rule, and as often as it
has been established it has been attended with the most
perfect success. I thought I would just mention this as I
passed. The Carlisle rule dLes not appear to be wanting in,
Huddersfield, for without it the institution is kept to its ori-
ginal purpose, and it is a real bona fide mechanics' institu-
tion. I was, by the way, a little surprised, and somewhat
amused, to see lately in some part of the London press that
some wiseacre (or wiseacres I ought to say, as they write in
the plural " we")—(a laugh)—have taken it into their heads
though mechanics' institutions are exceedingly good and
useful as long as they continue mechanics' institutions, yet
that it almost always happens that after a year or two the
mechanics' institution, which began as such, becomes a
ball-room, and is used for dancers. I was rather astonished
that I did not see it also stated that it was used as a gin-
shop or an ale-house. It might be just as well one as the
other. (Laughter.) I believe very few people have had
greater intercourse with the managers of mechanics' insti-
tutions, or know more of these institutions, than I myself
have done for the last 20 or 30 years, and I don't think I
ever yet knew one single instance out of the many hundreds
of these institutions that have been established in all parts
of the country of their being converted, perverted, from me-
chanics' institutions into a dancing-school, dancing .room,
or ball-room. I won't say that now and then it may not
have happened in any institution that, having a good, large,
and convenient room, they may have lent it for an evening
now and then to be used for dancing—that is perfectly pos-
sible ; but not only is it not the same thing, it is the very
reverse of having changed mechanics' institutions into a
dancing-room or ball-room. However, if only such charges
as these are brought against our institutions we may very
well please to treat them with indifference, and rather be
amused with them than offended. It gives me very great
satisfaction to find that in other parts of the country as
well as Huddersfield there has been of late a very consider-
ablemprovement in mechanics' institutions. Now I know
of noi
town in which they were more defective than in the
town of Warrington, in the neighbouring county. Never-
theless Warrington has made a very great start in this re-
spect during the last two or three years, of which I have
the most undoubted evidence in the statement that during
the last half-year, in six weeks there was an acquisition of
nine hundred members to the mechanics' institution of that
town. (Applause.) That shows a degree of progress of
which I hardly know any example. That statement was
accompanied with a note, stating a similar fact with respect

to the books used in the libraries. in two years the num-
ber of books borrowed froze the libraries had increased from
2,000, as they stood two years ago, to 25,000. That is a
degree of progress, if my information is correct, most satis-
factory—in some respects unexampled, and which does the
greatest credit to that great manufacturing town. I have
lately had occasion to attend in Liverpool the opening of a
very great institution, which has been liberally provided
and generously bestowed upon that great city, and upon
the working classes pat ticularly, by my excellent ft ;end,
Mr. William Brown—(loud and prolonged cheering).—
formerly member for the county of Lancaster. (Renewed
cheering.) It was most gratifying to see the feeling enter-
tained by all classes—from the humblest to the highest—in
that vast city, the feeling of gratitude entertained by all
for that munificent proceeding of Mr. Brown. (Hear, hear.)
But it was still more gratifying to see the positive certainty
that is held out of his munificence having become real
beneficence, without which I have often had occasion to
say benevolence is of little or no practical value. (Hear,
hear.) Benevolence, not accompanied by beneficence, or a
willingness to do geod and doing it—that is to say, your
generosity, be it great or be it small, not being attended
by wise discretion in the use of it—is of no real benefit.
That, no doubt, cannot, in the case of Mr. Brown, be said,
because his great library and museum, which that magni-
ficent building created by him, of which he made a present
to his fellow-citizens in Liverpool the day before yesterday,
contains, must be of the greatest possible benefit to that
community. The great library, already extended to many
thousands of volumes, on every science and every art of the
most useful as well as of the most interesting description—
the reading-room, where they meet together to disctss the
subjects they have read about, or any other subjects that
they please to discuss, innocently, and calmly, and peace-
ably—all that, I say, must do infinito service, for it is
not only enabling men to obtain instruction and pro-
viding them with the means of obtaining it, but exciting
them—inciting them to use those means for the purpose of
obtaining it. There is also attached to it a museum, and to
that museum my friend Lord Derby has been a very con-
siderable contributor. He has given them a vast and very
valuable collection of natural history, which has already
been extended, and will be the foundation of a much more
extended collection. I had occasion to look through it and
examine it, and I was very much gratified with it. There
I saw specimens of all sorts—various and most interesting
specimens. I don't know whether there is any of the speci-
mens such as my friend Lord Normanby could have fur-
nished of the lost animals which he had at Mulgrave—the
plethyosaurus, or the ichthyosaurus ; nor did I observe any
4, protectionists" among them. (Laughter and applause.)
My noble friend had probably searched and could not find
them at any price. I bA:eve it would be attended with
great advantage if a specimen could be found—(laughter)
—but I believe it could not be found at any price, and if it
were found it would be one of the most extraordinary of all
those extinct animals. I believe it would be more extraor-
dinary than any of the old animals thousands of years old.
(Renewed laughter.) But I think that no attempt was
made to find it, and I believe that no price could obtain it.
However, the collection is an exceedingly valuable one and
contains very much to promote the study of natural history.
It was collected by my late friend, the late Lord Derby,
who spared no expense in making it altogether a very valu-
able possession, and this has been given most handsomely
by the noble lord, the present Lord Derby, and there it has
suitable accommodation in that noble building of Mr.
Brown's, which is provided in every way with the most
perfect lighting that I ever yet saw in any museum. It has
every sort of accommodation for discussion, and there are
also places for the purpose of studying the specimens exhi-
bited. I have no doubt whatever it will be the founda-
tion of perhaps the greatest in point of extent, and the
most valuable in point of price and variety, of any na-
tural history collection in this country. These are most
pleasant affairs to have to reflect upon. They
are the true progress of our species. (Hear, hear.)
They are the best monuments to leave behind us ; they are
the only true pillars upon which a valuable reputation can
be founded, and those who, like Mr. Brown, have founded
such institutions are the real, and I may say the most illus-
trious benefactors of mankind. (Loud applause.) I hope we
shall see no shortcomings in after years any more than in
the years that have passed in the attendance at this institu-
tion, nor in payments out of weekly wages by those who
benefit by it; nor in the keeping of itself—not exclusively,
but almost entirely—to the benefit of the working classes,
to the extent to which their demands amount. The advan-

Cage of not only paying as they go for the benefit they re-
ceive, but of spending their time in reading, and in con-
versing upon what they have read, is incalculable, not only
in the improvement of the mind, in the improvement of the
moral and religious character, but it is in the first instance

most practically beneficial in preventing other pursuits and
other indulgences—(hear)—not only of a less beneficial,
but of a positively hurtful nature, detrimental both to the
body and to the mind, and to the soul—l mean intemperate
indulgences. (Hear, hear.) And just in proportion as work-
ing men at tend these institutions and take the benefits which
_ _

;hey afford them, just in proportion as they withdraw the

pence they can afford to give for them from other indul-

gences in other places of a less beneficial, ofa less innocent,
nay, of a most hurtful kind, exactly in that proportion will
they benefit by these institutions, and do good to themselves

and to the community of which they are members. I really
had several other subjects on which I could have wished to
address you—(cries of " Go on")—but we are all agreed
upon them. It is not as in cases where there is controversy,
where matters require to be urged on unwilling hearers; we
are all decidedly of the same opinion and the same feelings,
and therefore it gives me the greatest satisfaction again to
tell you how infinitely I rejoice in being once more among
the great body of my much-loved old constituents. (Loud
applause.) It was said at the commencement of the meeting
that I had engaged duly to come here about a year ago,
because at that time this Huddersfield, unfortunately, and
from an aecident, was the only town in the West Riding that
I had not bad an opportunity of visiting; therefore I said
that if it pleased God to spare me for another year, I should
come to Huddersfield. His lordship then resumed his seat
amid loud and long-continued applause.

The next speaker was Sir JOHN W. RAMSDEN, Bart.,
M.P. for the West Riding, whose present relationship to
his tenantry:in Huddersfield is of an extremely unsatisfac-
tory nature. On rising he was received with hooting and
other expressions of disapprobation, mingled with cheers.
The,.commction continued for some time, and the noble
chairman rose from his seat, and shouted with stentorian
voice, "I tell you what, if you are not silent I shall be
obliged to raise my voice, and it is not the lowest in the

room." (Groans and cheers.) Silence was then restored,
and the hon. baronet proceeded with his speech.
The meeting was then addressed by the Rev. Gervase
Smith, Frank Crossley, Esq., M.P. for the West Riding;
George Augustus Sala, Esq. ; Francis Stuart Wortley,
Esq.; James Stansfield, jun.; Esq., M.P. for Halifax; and
E. A. Leatham, Esq., M.P. for Huddersfield.

The noble CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging a vote of thanks
accorded to him at the close, said—lt is needless for me to

say how much gratified I ant by your great kindness ; less
than I should have been if it had not been so often ex-

pressed that the receiving it has become a habit to me.
But it is always good to turn every occasion to some useful
_ _

purpose, and that has been one of my maxims through life.
(Hear, hear.) And I will now say, first in reference to
Mr. Sala's most useful observations upon the progress made
in this mechanics' institution during the last twenty-five
years—and still more during the last thirty years—as
illustrated by drawing being now taught, es it was not

formerly, and that part of the fine arts, as well as the culti-
vation of the fine arts generally, has a most excellent—
because a humanising and improving—effect on man ;

in addition to that, I wish he had added how much that
humanising effect is also produced by another of the fine
arts—a taste for music. (Hear, hoar.) I consider it is of
the greatest importance that the working classes, as well as
the other classes of the community, should culti-
vate the taste for music, whether vocal or instru-
mental. Music, as it has a humt'tnising effect in itself

—a civilising effect—so it has the other effect to. which I
formerly referred—that of keeping people out of worse
habits, and worse tastes, and worse dissipations, and worse
amusements. (Hear, hear.) The other remark which I
have to make is also of a very practical nature, and it ad-
dresses itself to the parents of children, such as those we
have had before us. I lately had occasion to refer, when at
the great congress at Glasgow, to a saying of mine, pro-
nounced some 40 years or upwards ago, and which has very
much passed into a common saying in cox sequence of its
including or implying a truth, and that truth being an im-
portant one—l mean that I then declared " the school-
master was abroad." (Hear, hear.) I repeated that declara-
tion at Glasgow, with this addition—that there was another
master abroad as well as the schoolmaster—the workmaster;
and the testimony not only of the workmaster, but of the
parents over the workmaster, that he came in competition
with the schoolmaster. Not, God forbid, that I should ac-
cuse the workmaster of not being a friend of education, al
some foolish people have supposed ; it was the very reverse.
There are no better friends of education to my certain
knowledge and experience than the working masters of the
country. (Hear, hear.) But it was that the parents pre-
ferred the earnings of their children to their learning, and
therefore they were apt to be slow to send them to school,
slower still to keep them there while they could turn a
penny, thereby neglecting
the work of tho schoolmaster—
the benefit of the schoolmaster—in order to gain the earn-
ings of their children from the workmaster. Now, I know
it is a very difficult problem to solve, and has raised much
inquiry and discussion at that great congress at Glasgow—
(l hope their report will be published soon and communi-
cated to this country at length)—how best, without press-
ing on the resources of those poor parents, we can best wean
them from the habit of neglect in the education of their
children for the sake of their earnings. (Cheers.) I thought
it requisite to mention these two subjects; and I shall now

return you my most heartfelt thanks for the very kind re-
ception I have met now, as on former occasions, and say
how delighted I shall be to hear of your continued prospe-
rity, and of your continued good and virtuous conduct.
(Loud and prolonged applause).