The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-27 00:00:00

Royal Polytechnic Institution.

The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders
was held on Saturday at the institution ; the Rev. J.
B. ,O wen in the chair.

After the usual preliminary business,
A SHAREHOLDER complained that the report of
the directors had not been sent out and circulated
among the shareholders with the balance-sheet, Szo.
The CHAIRMAN said he did not think that could
be done with a view to economy, but there would be
no difficulty in future in publishing a summary of
such reports.

The CHAIRMAN then said it was with deep regret
he had to announce that, in consequence of a very
severe indisposition, Mr. Pepper had not been able
to attend at the institution for several days past, and
as the same cause prevented his being present that
day he had sent a report to the board of directors,
which he (the chairman) would read to the meeting.
The chairman then read the report. Professor
Pepper regretted that the public had not come for-
ward to support the institution during the last
six months as they had in the corresponding period
in 1864. This he attributed in a great degree to the
intense heat which prevailed during the last summer
and the disagreeable weather during the Christmas
holidays. As an illustration of the effect which the
weather has upon the receipts of the institution, Pro-
fessor Pepper drew attention to the fact that a seri-
ous diminution of receipts was sustained during the
late three days' snow. After referring to some of the
principal entertainments during the last six months,
Professor Pepper remarked that the portion of the
public really appreciating scientific discourses was
very small compared with the majority, who require
the light entertainments to be at a maximum and
scientific lectures at a minimum. The laboratory
had been further utilised by the delivery of regular
courses of lectures on electricity, geology, and che-
mistry. The chairman said he was happy to add to
the report of Professor Pepper that since Christmas
the new exhibitions had been wonderfully successful.
He took the last week as an instance, when they
cleared £2B ; whereas in the corresponding week last
year they lost £3O, which shows a difference of £5B.
From the public approbation which the new enter-
tainment had gained he thought they might look
forward to a much better report at the end of the
current half year. From the report of the directors,
which the chairman next read, it appeared that the
receipts for the past half year had been considerahlY
less than the corresponding period, the cause of
which the directors believed was as stated in Pro-
fessor Pepper's report. Notwithstanding, however,
the heavy undertakings taken in hand during the
half-year, the directors had succeeded in keeping
down the gross expenditure to a figure much less
than during the corresponding period in 1864. The
expenses incurred in bringing before the public the
beautiful optical illusions which have rendered the
past year's operations of the Polytechnic so popular,
were still drawing large audiences, and there was
every likelihood of their eventuating in profit to the
shareholders. All the rooms, shops, and stalls of the
institution remained let on advantageous terms; they
were not alone sustaining their rent but making
profit on the letting. The directors testified to the
valuable services rendered to the institution by Pro-
fessor Pepper, and declared him worthy of the most
cordial thanks of the shareholders. Notwithstand-
ing the bad season of the past half-year, the direc-
tors felt themselves justified in recommending a
dividend of 1i per cent., making, with the dividend
in June last, 4 per cent. per annum ; but they ad-
vised, as a prudential measure, that whenever an
actual loss is incurred in a half-year, so long as any
poition of the accumulated balance of £2,450 re-
mains above £l,OOO, a dividend at the maximum
rate of 4 per cent. per annum should be paid.
The Rev. C. MACKENZIE, hon. manager of the
education department, read a report showing a more
successful result than any previous half-year.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the three reports
above referred to be received.

Mr. MAYHEW was ready to second the reception
of the reports, with the exception of that part of the
directors' report which suggested the diminution of
the reserve fund for the equalisation of dividends,
and after some discussion the clause was expunged.
Mr. MoLYNEux moved, and Mr. CHuRCE
seconded, an amendment, that the dividend be 21
per cent. instead of 1i as proposed; and the Roc'
Charles Mackenzie supported the amendment, -which
was carried by 15 to 10.
The Rev. Mr. Owen was re-elected to the board,
and Messrs. Charles Mayhew and M. Yeatman were
re-elected auditors.

On the motion of Mr. MAYJIEW, the remunera-
tion of the directors, in consequence of the reduc-
tion in their number, was lowered
.from £350 to
£3OO. A suggestion that the board should be re-
duced to four members was favourably received, and
it was understood that whenever a vacancy occuro
it will not be filled up.

Votes of thanks to Professor Pepper and his as-
sistants, and to the chairman and directors, con-
cluded the business.

Art Workmen's Exhibition at Manchester•

An art workmen's exhibition at the Royal Insti-
tution in Manchester was yesterday opened, in Pre-
Bence of Sir J. P. Kay-Shuttleworth and a 2211W:A
rous company of ladies and gentlemen, by Lord
Houghton, who spoke at some length on the ad-
vantages of such exhibitions, as tending to promote
popular taste in art and improving popular mat'
ners. The present exhibition contains about 400
contributions, which are the work of 200 workmen'
It differs from a previous exhibition of a similar
kind at Manchester last year, inasmuch as most of
the present contributions are the work of regular
working men, produced during the ordinary ho
of work, while the former one was mainly furnishe'
with works by amateurs, which were the produ°'
tions of their leisure hours. The aim of both 113°
been to display and stimulate the art workmanship
of the Manchester district. The germ of both is
said to have arisen out of a desire of the Blanches-
ter house decorators, painters, and grainers to display
their ability and remove a prejudice in favour oef
" foreign talent." The contributors are, for tli,
most part, the individual artisans who have execute'
the work, and their names are attached ; but i!
many instances the article exhibited is sent by
firm of employers, who specify if possible the names
of the workmen engaged upon it. It has not be
found possible to carry out this rule in so2ne ca,s
without modification, because it is sometimes
cult to decide whether a thing is a piece of aro`
tteric;
011
or whether the one peculiar merit tha t may aw
to it—the merit of design—does not belong rat liefier
to the employer than the workman, and soineto'.
the whole question of merit is so inextricablyaan
volved in the combined talent and labour or
entire establishment that no name more
that'
tinct can have the credit of it than
CO
y_
of the workshop whence it came. rll,e the;
tributions include panels decorated With,
of
utmost care of the painter or grainer in inutaptiosP__,
marbles or woods. The plasterers contribut.,
original designs in their method of ornamen. tinnsl74
teriors, and there are also some good speennes for
gilding and cabinet work, and original design
_at
appear gr"
wall papers. Stone and wood carvers on
force, and among the former is a panel
tablet
stone representing " the Good Shepherd ;' aueaq.
representing " Christ inviting the weary and
laden ;" and a bust of a girl with the face v coo.
There are some specimens of floor tiles, and af oia-
siderable number of models and drawings °radius
chinery. The contributions are from within a otii.
of 25 miles of Manchester, and altogether the
bition is a very interesting one.