The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-11 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF SCIENCE

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.
To-day the Liverpool School of Science—an in-
stitution formed in connexion with:the Free Library
and Museum, for the class study of science—was
formally inaugurated by Lord Granville, Lord Pre-
sident of the Council, and other eminent men, who
had been invited to take part in the proceedings and
to attend a public meeting held in St. George's-hall
in the evening. The gallery of the school, which
like the Free Library and Museum itself, was erected
at the expense of Mr. Wm. Brown, will comprise
specimens of inventions and other matters of scientifi c
interest and value, and will consist of four storeys. It
is not yet finished, in consequence of the recent strike
in the building trades ; but the other arrangements
for the school having been completed, it was deter-
mined to open the establishment, and commence
class operations. Invitations were issued to many
noblemen and gentlemen who are conspicuous for
their interest in scientific and educational matters,
and amongst those who promptly accepted the re-
quest to attend the inaugural proceedings were Earl
Granville, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.
Mr. W. Fairbairn, C.E., and several others.
Yesterday morning a numerous party, comprising.
Earl Granville (who had been during the previous
evening the guest of Mr. W. Brown), and other visi-
tors, accompanied by the Mayor, Mr. W. Brown, and
several local gentlemen, made a tour of the principal
public buildings, and particularly inspected the
Free Library and Museum, the latter being to-day
for the first time opened since the removal of the
specimens from the old institution in Duke-street.
The visitors were conducted over the great central
hall, which has been filled with a varied and fine
collection of casts from antique and modern sculp-
ture; thence to the lecture theatre, which will ac-
commodate 500 persons ; and thence to the upper
portion of the Museum. This section embraces five
rooms, four of which are devoted to ornithological
specimens, and the fifth to aquaria and preserved
specimens of ichthyology and reptiles. The orni-
thological collection (formed almost entirely of the
museum which was presented to the town by the
late Earl of Derby), is very extensive, and has been
arranged by Mr. Moore, the curator, with an in-
genuity and cart which greatly enhances its value
and usefulness. After examining the various speci-
mens the visitors passed through the reading-room
and library, and then proceeded to the Liverpool
Institute (in Mount-street), where the Government
Art Exhibition, and a large collection of valuable
paintings, are at present deposited.
From thence the party proceeded to the Albert-
dock, where the arrangements for loading and stor-
ing goods upon the most approved principles were
shown. The visitors next embarked on board the
Cunard steamer Satellite (which Mr. Mclver had
placed at the Mayor's disposal), and sailed first to
the Sloyne, where the river assumes a noble width,
and where the largest steamer are moored, inspect..
ing the Conway training school ship, and the Akbar
Reformatory, and returning by the Cheshire shore,
thus affording the visitors an opportunity of witness-
ing the progress of the Birkenhead Dock works and
landing stage. When opposite Egremont the Satellite
steamed across to the Canada-dock, a new dock built
more particularly for the accommodation of the
timber trade, and beyond which is the Canada lock,
500 feet long and 100 in width. The immense
gates (100 feet) of the Canada-dock are moved with
the greatest ease by hydraulic power. In reply
to various questions the visitors were informed that
the docks on the Liverpool side measured nearly
five miles in length, and included a water area of
280 acres, and a quay area of 15 miles, while the
docks on the Birkenhead side measured six lineal
miles, and embraced a water area of 166 acres, and
a quay area of 280 acres. With all this accommo-
dation, however, the docks (on the Liverpool side at
least) are found inadequate to meet the wants of
the trade of the port.
On disembarking the visitors went to the Town-
hall, where they were entertained by the Mayor.

PUBLIC MEETING AT ST. GEORGE'S HALL.
At eight o'clock a public meeting was held in St.
George's Hall, which was crowded in every part.
The MAYOR (Mr. S. R. Graves) presided ; and
upon the platform were Earl Granville), the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, the Hon. A. Egerton,
M.P., Mr. W. Brown, Mr. W. Rathbone, Dr. Fair-
bairn, &c.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the meeting upon
the auspicious circumstances which surrounded the
inauguration of an institution which was intended
to fill a gap between the initiated and the unini-
tiated in scientific matters.
Mr. J. SAMUELSON, secretary to the committee,
then read a report describing the origin and cha•
racter of the school. It stated that the object of
the institution was to aid the industrial classes
and others of both sexes in procuring in-
struction in natural history, geology, chemistry,
mathematics, geography, and mechanical and expe-
rimental physics, the school being supported by
voluntary contributions, students' fees, and Govern-
ment grants.
Earl GRANVILLE moved the first resolution, re-
marking that he deemed it a very high honour and
a singular gratification to have been named in con-
nection with the Mayer of Liverpool and Lord
Stanley, a nobleman of different politics from him-
self, as patrons and vice-patrons of the new insti-
tution. He moved—" That it is highly desirable
that the means of obtaining instruction in the lead-
ing branches of science should be extended in Liver-
pool." The Exhibition of 1851 showed that however
eminent we were in certain branches of science,
other nations were fast competing, and some even
almost distancing us. It was impossible but that
some present should have been across the Atlantic,
remarked the progress made in the application of
science to art by that great nation, at a time when
they were happily engaged in the arts of peace, and
not, as now, suffering some of the worst calamities
of war. (Cheers.) Having alluded to the progress
of science on the Continent, his lordship expressed
his satisfaction at the movement in favour of in-
creased scientific education on the part of the uni-
versities, particularly that of Cambridge. He paid
a high tribute to the generosity of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, who, rigidly careful of the coun-
try's money in other matters, was just, if not gene-
rous, in his support of education and the cause of
science. His lordship believed that the exertions
of the Department of Science and Art had been
most useful in the diffusion of sound scientific in-
struction throughout the country, and had im-
mensely improved the character and capabilities of
scientific teachers. The result of this exten-
sion of scientific knowledge must, in his
opinion, tend in an enormous degree to promote the
welfare and prosperity of the country. (Cheers.)
His lordship, in conclusion, drew attention to the
local advantages which the pupils of a school of
science had in a town and port like Liverpool,
where the products from all parts of the world were
collected, and where some of the highest engineer-
ing illustrations were also to be found.
Dr. FAIRBAIRN, C.E., president of the British
Association, seconded the resolution, tracing the
progress of science chiefly in connexion with engi-
neering works. The resolution was then put and
carried.
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E. GLADSTONE, who was re-
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established is eminently calculated to promote the
beneficial objects enumerated in the report." He
paid a warm tribute to the munificence of Mr, W.
Brown, who, in addition to the erection of a free
library and museum, had given a building also for
the School of Science. Touching upon the subject
of science generally, Mr. Gladstone noticed the
effect of chemistry upon manufactures and of geo-
logy upon mining industry, the increase of the
supply of gold, and the general advancement of the
wealth and comfort of mankind. The most scientific
works had been frequently suggested by the con-
templation of the most humble objects. Watt had
gathered his idea of constructing a pipe of peculiar
strength from scientifically examining the shell of
a lobster, to Sir I. Brunel the common earthworm
suggested the Thames Tunnel, and Wedgwood
derived his most beautiful designs from a con-
templation of natural objects. Following out
this train of thought, the speaker, in tracing tho
origin of the oar, the wheel, and the plough,
ascribed the first to the motion of the bird's wings
in cleaving the air, the second to the gyrations of a
peculoiabrsekrivnadtioofnhoafwthke
and the third to an
habitsintelli-
gent of that very humble
but useful animal the pig. (Laughter and cheers.)
This contemplation of natural objects and the appli-
cation of the experience so gained had brought men
From the humblest stations to the foremost positions
—for example, George Stephenson and Hugh Miller.
The right hon. gentleman, in eloquent language,
denied that the cultivation of science tended to foster
intellectual pride, and contended that thought