The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-28 00:00:00

artificial heat carried to such an inordinate excess.
The interior of their dwellings is arranged with
the greatest taste, and they appear to shine con-
spicuous in all domestic arrangements, especially
the dinner table, which in Russian mansions is
a most brilliant affair, without extravagance.
Those who desire to peruse an entertaining work,
while they acquaint themselves with many things
only noticeable by an eye-witness in a foreign
country, will be delighted with the records of au
Encrlish lady, which she has rendered attractive by
their vivacity and spirit.

Routledge's Illustrated Natural History. By the
Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A., F.L.S. Part I. April,
1859.
Those who are familiar with Mr. • Wood's
" Anecdotes of Animal :Life," " Common Objects
of the Country," &c:, &c., will readily believe that
he is capable of producing a "Natural History" cal-
culated to tempt a host of readers who never before
gave their serious attention to one of the most
important and unfathomable subjects within the
reach of human brains. In this excellent publica-
tion there is no mystery imposed by difficult and
unexplained technicalities—there are no pretensions
to exclusive and unauthorised knowledge. of the
matter, but a most concise and intelligible style is
blended with solid and reliable information, form-
ing a work of valuable character, whether for
studious perusal or occasional reference. The
illustrations are executed with great skill and
clearness of delineation, and profusely ample in
number. We can cordially recommend this admir-
able and useful publication to the reading " mass,"
as it is issued in monthly parts, at a very cheap
rate, thereby ensuring a circulation equal to its
merit. The spirit and tone of the author is fairly
exhibited in the following short extract :--
"Not only is the past history of each being written in
every particle of which its material frame is constructed,
but the past records of the universe to which it belongs,
and a prediction of its future. God can make no one thing- •
that is not universal in its teachings, if we would only be so
taught; if not, the fault is with the pupils, not with the
Teacher. He writes his ever-living words in ;ill the of
his hand ; He spreads his ample book before us, always ready
to teach, if we will only learn. We walk in the midst Of
miracles with closed eyes and stopped ears, dazzled and be-
wildered with the light, fearful and distrustful of the word
It is not enough to accumulate facts as misers gather eo'n
and then to put them away on our bookshelves, guarded 1 y
the bars and bolts of technical phraseology. As coins, th
facts must be circulated, and given to the public for their
use. It is no matter of wonder that the generality of
readers recoil from works on the natural sciences, and look
upon them as mere collections of tedious names, irksome
to read, unmanageable of utterance, and impossible to re-
member. Our scientific libraries are filled with facts, dead,
hard, dry, and material as the fossil bones that fill the
sealed and caverned libraries of the past. But true science
will breathe life into that dead mass, and fill the study of
zoology with poetry and spirit."

LONDON MECRANICS' INSTITUTION.

PUBLIC MEETING THIS •DAY.

A public meeting was held this day at Willis's
Rooms, in aid of the funds for the purchase of the
premises in Southampton -buildings occtvied by the
institution, and the.release of the trustees from their
liabilities.

At half-past one o'clock the thair was taken by
the Earl of Carlisle, K.G., *accompanied by Lord
Faversham, the Bishop of Fit. David's, Mr. Slaney,
M.P., Mr. F. Crossley, M and about thirty other
gentlemen.

Letters of apology for non-attendance, but en-
closing subscriptions, having been read by the
secretary from Lord Brougham, Mr. Marjoribanks,
Lord James Stuart, and Lord Dundonald,

The noble CHAIRMAN said, on bringing before
the meeting the object of the assemblage, he
would endeavour to separate the topics that did
not presently bear upon the object they had in
view, and endeavour to lay before them those
which bore directly on the point. He wss
there to make an appeal to those now present, and
others beyond the limits of that room to join
in an effort now making to keep the London Me-
chanics' Institution planted in this most
opulent country in the world. (Loud cheers.)
In doing so he could not do better than refer to the
statement issued by the committee. By that docu-
ment it appeared that the London Mechanics' Insti-
tution had, for 35 years, to a great extent accom-
plished the objects of its founders by affording
instruction in various branches of science, art,
and literature, to more than 700 students an-
nually. At the present time there were about
1,100 attendances weekly at the various classes.
Much greater results might have been attained had
it not been for the heavy expenses to which the in-
stitution was subject, and ofebh the principal is
the rent of the buildings (Z 229 per annum), an
expense from which many educational institutions
are spared by permanent endowment. The lease
under which the premises are held was of long
duration, and empowers the institution to pur-
chase the reversionary interest of its landlord, and
thus to reduce the above annual payment to a small
ground rent, for the sum of £3,500. In order to
accomplish this object, it is proposed to raise this
amount by public subscription, and thus the ex-
penses of the institution will be reduced by £2OO
per annum, and the trustees relieved from all their
present heavy liabilities, and the sum at present
raised toward the above object amounts to £1,684 17s.
The object of the meeting was most praiseworthy,
and he would not for a moment doubt that the re-
mainder of the sum required would soon be forth-
coming. (Hear, hear.) While those possessed of
ample means contributed, he thought it was the duty
of all who approved of such institutions as the

London Mechanics' Institution to contribute their
pence. (Hear, hear.) Then again it was hardly
to be supposed that the great number of similar
institutions now in existence would allow the parent
establishment, which had set the example and pat-

tern by which they had all profited, to continue to
have its operations cramped by financial difficulty.
(Hear, hear.) It would be but an ill requittal of
the great services of Lord Brougham to allow an
institution in which he had taken so much interest
to fall for the want of £2,000. (Cheers.)
The Bishop of Sr. DAvms said he had great
pleasure in moving the first resolution. It was as
follows.:— _ _

" The London Mechanics' Institution having been the
first society of the kind instituted in England, having
called many hUndred of similar institutions into existence,
and having afforded instruction in science and the arts to
more than 25,000 of its own members, thereby contributing
not merely to their success in life, but to the industrial pro-
gress of the country, pessesses a strong claim -on public
support and sympathy."
He thought it was due more as a debt of justice
than a tribute of respect to an eminent person,
who, although he could not be looked upon as the
founder, was at least the foster-father of the insti-
tution—(loud cheers)—that it should be immedi-
ately, as it were, emancipated from its present
difficulty. (Cheers.)
The resolution, having been seconded, was
carried unanimously.
The following resolutions were also agreed to :
" That although the small subscriptions required from
the members have been sufficient until recently to meet tho
current expenses of the institution, yet the heavy rent pay-
able for the premises in Southampton-buildings, has not
only at all times prevented many improvements in the
management from being effected, and a methodical course
of education from being pursued, but has at length involved
the institution in difficulties ; and that in order to give it
the same stability which is enjoyed by many establiih-
ments designed for the use of the more wealthy classes,
funds should be raised by public subscription sufficient to
endow it with the buildings it occupies.
"The object mentioned in the last resolution ration:T
purchase of the buidings occupied by the instit, is the
snore desirable because, if attained, the surviving trustees,
Lord Brougham and Mr. Joshua Walker, will thereby be
released from the heavy liabilities which with great public
spirit they incurred at the foundation of the institution by
becoming lessees of the premises.
"That the thanks of ail friends of popular education are
eminently due to his Royal Highness the Prince Consort,
and the other donors whose names have been read, for their
munificent contributions to the fund for the purchase pith()
lease.
"That the warmest thanks of the meeting are due to the
Earl of Carlisle for having consented to take the chair on
this occasion, and for the manner in which he has con-
ducted the proceedings."

THE RESOLUTION " DODGE."—Sir Hugh Cairns,
in a speech of unrivalled ability, has fixed upon the resolul ion
of Lord John Russell its just and appropriate designation.
The spirit in which it has been conceived, the policy with a
view to which it was framed, and the end which it Intended
to compass' are simply and purely those of a "dodge." If
it is said that the bill of the Government is so fundamentally
vicious that it was necessary at all hazards to defeat it, the
proper and natural course was to move its peremptory rejec-
tion on the second reading. If, on the other hand, it was
thought undesirable to postpone the settlement of the ques-
tion, and with this view it was deemed e Tedient to modify the
objectionable features of the Government measure, it was
easy enough, in the existing temper of the House of Com-
mons, to put such a pressure on the administration, and in
such a manner, as would have permitted them to comply
with the opinion of the majDnty. The answer of Mr.
Disraeli to the question of Mr. Mitchell, on Thursday night,
sufficiently indicates that Ministers were brno means dis-
posed to resist such a solicitation. But no man who knows
the real history of the resolution can doubt for an instant
that it was drawn for the express purpose, and with the
single intention, of oxcluding the possibility of concession
by the Government, and that its only object
was, not to
settle the principles or to promcte the cause of refor ,but
purely and simply to storm the Treasury
Bench.—Sarday
.Review.