The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-26 00:00:00

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A public meeting was yesterday held at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Great Queen-street, Mr the purpose of receiving the
Report of the Committee appointed (at an adjourned public
meeting in the theatre of the London Mechanics' Institution,
on the 3d of August, 1811) to take into consideration the best
means of testifying the public gratitude to Dr. Birkbeck for
his services in promoting the education of the people, especially
by the promotion of Mechanics' Institutions, Lord Brougham
in the Chair.
The meeting was advertised to take place at one o'clock, but
long before that hour, persons began to arrive, and by the time
the chair was taken, the Hall was crowded. There were seve-
ral ladies in the body, of the Hall and also in the Gallery. Lord
Brougham took the chair at twenty-five minutes af+er one
o'clock. His Lordship was greeted with the most enthusiastic
cheering from all parts of the Hall as he entered. Lord John
Russell, who made his appearance upon the platform imme-
d ately aster Lord Brougham, was also loudly applauded. On
the platform we observed Lord Dudley Stuart, Mr. Hume, M. P.,
Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Dr. Bowring, M.P., Mr. Monckton
Milnes, M. P.
Lord BROUGHAM, on taking the Chair, said, It is impossible
for me to open the business, the important business of this
day, business which I may venture to describe as at once me-
lancholy and gratifying, without observing in my own vindica-
tion, not so much for having come among you on the present,
as for having on so many former occasions during the last two
or three years found myself under the absolute necessity
of declining to accede to so many applications from
many persons I see assembled to-day to attend public
meetings. I may add that the rule which 1 was
obliged to lay down to myself, I should most cheerfully have
once more broken, as I have broken it this morning, if ever—
as is very unlikely—in your day, or in mine, an occasion should
again arise which called upon you and me, and the people of
this country, to testify their sense of gratitude for the obli-
gations they have received from the late Dr. Birkbeck.—
( Cheers.) I speak from a knowledge of upwards of five-ard-
forty years of the late Dr. Birkbeck, and I bear testimony to
his talents, to his learning, to his worth, and to his constant,
steady, and strenuous devotion to 'all the be't interests
of mankind.—(Cheers.) He well knew—and his conduct
was formed on the maxim that the noblest of all pursuits is the
pursuit of truth, and that the highest of all duties is the diffu-
sion of it among our fellow creatures,--( Cheers)—that human
reason has no worthier, or more noble employment than its in-
vestigation, and that its propagation among mankind is the
only legitimate use and province of all human eloquence.—
( Cheers.) Nor let such observations as these be deemed trivial,
because they are self-evident, and perhaps trite, when we re-
collect how many gifted men in all ages and countries have
sinned against these rules—(Cheers)—and, suffering them-
selves to be led away by corrupt and sordid and selfish
feelings, or blinded by party prejudices, have perverted
the faculties with which Providence has endowed them, to
mislead, and not guide their fellow creatures—(Cheers)—
not pursue and propagate truth, but to devise errors in all their
forms, from venial and slightmistake up to wilful, perverse, and
pernicious delusions.—( Cheers.) When we recollect this, we
must deem it, not a superfluous honour, nor unbecoming, that
it is neither without its use, nor foreign from our duty to
meditate on such a life as that of Dr. Birkbeck's, and to profit
by such an example as he has left us.--(Cheers.) Now, it was
the peculiar province of that excellent and useful man, and
it was during the whole of his career the constant
object of his exertions, by all the means in his
power and by the unremitting and successful application of his
endowments, whether natural or acquired, to labour inces-
santly on behalf of the working classes of this country.—
( Cheers.) The friend of peace, including foreign pence and
domestic tranquillity, the friend of education in all its branches,
the promoter—l will not quarrel about a word, whether he was
the founder or originator, or the successful promoter—of those
institutions by which education is bestowed, and
which are calculated still further to bestow, the incal-
culable benefits of education on the working lasses of the
community.—( Cheers. ) He knew, as we know, that these
working classes, whether they cultivate our fields, or work our
manufactories, or drive our trade, are the very support and
life of the prosperity of England—(Renewed cheers)-_
that to their unrivalled skill, to their unwearied in •
dustry, to their unfailing—l speak of the class at large
—to all rues there are exceptions—to their unfailing and un-
deviating submission to the laws, in the performance of their
duty, to themselves and the country, that we owe whatever of
prosperity this country has ever reached.—( Cheers. )
And, alas ! it is a hard reflection we must make
that as they are the cause of its prosperity, if ever in evil times
adversity comes over her, by the hard necessity of our nature,
by our lot in society which never can be otherwise, it follows
the those evils must fall on the working classes, that on them
must mainly and severely press the sufferings which those na-
tural reverses of affairs give rise to. Then comes the greatest
of all the praise which on these industrious and worthy and
able men can be bestowed—that their conduct, their
patience, their submission, their cheerful endurance

of those distresses, almost makes us forget their
other prodigious meriti.—(Cheers.) To raise a monument to
the memory of one who laboured so much for them, and who
so well deserved their gratitude and oars, what can we do
better than, instead of spending oar money in vain trophies
of marble and stone, which he himself would have been the
very first to despise, and the last to deem an appro-
priate tribute—that we should found some institution
that may help to remove those obstacles that still
stand in the way of the better education of our artisans ?
I say at once, as the Committee have, in my opinion.
most wisely, judiciously, and I might say most happily sug-
gested, that they should found a Professorship of the application
of science to the arts. I believe it is known to most of those
who hear me, that one very great difficulty which is found to
stand in the way of Mechanics' Institutions in various parts of
the country, arises from the impossibility of obtaining lecturers.
—( Hear.) It is inconceivable how small an amount of lecturing is
to be found all over the country, how numerous so ever those
institutions are.—(Hear, hear.) In communication with
that society, of which both my Noble Friend ( Lord John
Russell) and myself are members—l mean the Society for
the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. In communication with

that Society you are aware there i; formed another Central So-
ciety for the purpose of promoting the establishment and im-
provement of Mechanics' Institutions. Of that Society the
late lamented Dr. Birkbeck was the President. In corre-
spondence with these are upwards of 200 of those valuable
bodies, comprising 25,000 members, of whom, I rejoice to
think, upwards of two-thirds are of the working classes ex-
clusively ; but the average number of lectures delivered to
them is not above 1,200—1 think I,l9B—making not
above six lectures, on an average, to each Institution
in the course of the year. Now, it has occurred to
my Noble Friend, who has well considered this subject,
that the benefits to be derived from lecturing would be greatly
increased if it were possible to establish such a Professorship
as the Committee has wisely recommended ; and I hope and
trust that this day's meeting will not end witnout an earnest
being given in its success of the certain formation of such a
Professorship. This is an occasion on which I need hardly
remind you all political contention is out of the question—
( Cheers )—art occasion upon which the voice of party itself is
hushed, whereof 1 proceed to give you examples. Among
those benevolent individuals who have signified their
desire to aid you in your present design is my
Noble Friend Lord John Russell.—(Loud anti long-con-
tinued cheers.) I was going to say, of my Noble
Friend " whom to name is to praise," but you have anticipated
me. There are also Lord Dudley Stuart—(Cheers)—Mr.
Ilume—(Cheers)—who I am happy to know is returned in the
double sense of the word—Mr. Roebuck—( Cheers)—than
whom I venture to say the working classes of this country
neither have nor ever had a steadier or abler friend. There
are other gentlemen all more or less varying in shades of poli-
tical party and opinions, but all agreeing heart and hand on
this occasion.—( Cheers. ) I have it in command from his
Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex to read to you his letter,
with which I think really I cannot do better than
occupy the few remaining minutes during which I am
about to address the present meeting.—( Cheers.) [The
Noble and Learned Lord then read the letter, in which his
Royal Highness stated his entire approval of the abject for
which the meeting was convened, and that he was only pre-
vented attending by reason of the delicate state of his health ;
also his desire to contribute his mite towards giving effect to
the recommendation of the Committee. The reading of the
letter was followed by loud and protracted cheers.] Lord
Brougham proceeded to say—l have stated that no diffe-
rence of party ought to interfere, anti I am now
about to show you that no difference of political sentimen►.
has interfered on this occasion.—(Cheers.) I have here a
letter from the Secretary of State for the Home Department,
connected as that department most, appropriately is with those
things that relate to: the working classes of the kingdom.—
[The Noble and Learned Lord here read the letter. It was
to the effect, that he heartily concurred in the objects of the
meeting, and to further it he would subscribe 101.] I have also
had a similar request made to me, and which I have greatpleasure
in communicating to the meeting, from my Noble Friend and late
colleague, the President of the Board of Trade, who has a most
appropriate connexion with the day's business.—(Cheers. )
Lord Ripon desires that his name should be put down for ten
ieuineas to this great work.—( Cheers.) The Lord Chief
Justice of the Queen's Bench, Lord Denman—( Great cheer-
ing)—has sent the same sum.—(Cheers.) The late Attor-
ney-General, Sir Thomas Wilde, has sent a suns of five
guineas, and the present Attorney-General, Sir F. Pollock,
has cent a similar sum. —(Cheers.. ) To which I have
_ .

to add, but no doubt others will be added, that of

a former Attorney - General ; the late Lord Chan-
cellor of Ireland, Lord Campbell, has authorised me to
give the same sum ; and Lord Lyndhurst—(Cheers)—
desires me to put his name down fur the same sum.—( Cheers. )
It remains only now for me to express the great gratification I
have in finding men of all parties and shades of opinion joining
in furthering this great and good object. 1 have no manner of
doubt, under the blessing of Divine Providence, we shall suc-
ceed—(Cheers)—in the object we all have in view, not merely
of recording our sentiments of the high merits and great prac-
tical good actually done during the course of so many years by
that most eminent and worthy individual, whose name brings
us together this day, but to further the progress of
that work, by furthering the improvement or the working
classes of the people.—( Great cheering. )
Captain ACKERLEY, from the body of the meeting, called
out, " Are you for Universal Suffrage, Lord Brougham?"—
( Great confusion and uproar, amid which)—
Lord BROuG rut 31 rose, and after obtaining silence with some
difficulty, said—Sir, if you don't instantly cease I shall cause
you to be removed.—( Great cheering.)
The Secretary then read the following Report :
" In laying before you the result of our deliberations, we
will abstain from discussing, the various forms of testimonial
which have been submitted to us, confining ourselves to that

which we have finally, almost unanimously, agreed to recommend
as the best means of perpetuating the memory of Dr. Birkbeck's
services, and of marking the gratitude of his contemporaries for

those services.
"Bearing constantly in view this, the main Ghject of our
labours, we i-esolved at our first meeting, that whatever testi-
monial should be determined on, ought to he of a permanent
character, and ought, if possible, to be connected with the ad-
vancement of knowledge among the people.
" In acting on this resolution we felt, that whilst we were
unable to devise means of affording direct advantage to the
subscribers, whom we hope to find in all parts of the Kingdom,
so it was our duty to avoid any application to merely local pur-
poses of the proceeds of a general contribution.
" These considerations, amongst others, have led us to recom-
mend that a fund should be collected by subscription for the
purpose of founding a Professorship of Machinery and Manu-
factures in London, to be called the Btrkbeck. Professorship.

It will be the duty of the Professor to teach the elements of
machinery, and the application of these to particular machines,
the construction and operation of which lie will exhibit and
teach to the class. He will also show the application of che-
mistry, and other branches of natural philosophy, to various
manufacturing processes; and he will exhibit those processes
by drawings and models, and by experiments.
" I: would have been satisfactory to us. if we could have sug-
gested some means whereby the fund which we Impe to raise
should be devoted immediately to the instruction of those
classes or the people, whose intellectual and moral improve-
ment Dr. Birkbeck has laboured to promote. But failing in
this endeavour, we believe that our plan will indirectly., and
not very remotely, tend materially to advance the education of
the working classes. it will be the duty of the Professor him .
self to have constant intercourse with manufacturers and their
wan kmen ; and (observing thus the difficulties which the latter
have to surmount in learning the principles of the arts prac-
tised by them) he may be inclined, as he will certainly be most
fit, to suggest means for removing those difficulties. We would
indeed urge that the terms of the Professor's appointment
should direct his attention to this matter.
" It is probable also that during the intervals of the College
session, the Professor will find it his interest to lecture at In-
stitutions in the country, where he will contribute to introduce
a branch of teaching which has not perhaps hitherto sufficiently
prevailed within them ; and we feel a strong hope that of the
students who will frequent the class which we propose to found,
many will afterwards devwc themselves to popular instruction.
By these means we believe that the Birkbeck Professorship
will, at no distant period, largely promote the instruction of
workmen, whether agricultural or manufacturing. A class of
teachers will we hope be sent forth, who will carry into the
various institutions of the country, the systematic instruction
which they have obtained from the proposed chair ; nor need
we doubt that, if the fee of the class is sufficiently low, school-
masters will frequent it in order to qualify themselves to impart
that knowledge which, though it is of the most valuable that
the future workman can acquire, has nevertheless been hitherto
the most difficult to attain.
We think that the Chair which we recommend is most likely
to be efficient arid permanent if attached to some existing and
largely endowed institution for education ; and we therefore
recommend that the Professorship shall be established in Uni-
versity College, London. Although, according to the system
of 'he College, this class may be attended alone upon mere
payment of the fee, without involving any other expense, yet the
study which we desire to promote will (like all others) be best
pursued in a place where the sciences connected with it, are
taught. The Chemical Laboratories in University College,
together with the large collections which it possesses of models
and apparatus, will greatly aid the labours of the Professor, and
diminish the cost of establishing and maintaining the Chair.
We have also reason to hope, that if means should be raised by
subscription for founding and endowing the Professorship,
those means may be augmented by a grant from the College
funds, or from some of the endowments at its disposal, and may
become a motive with friends of education to endow it more
largely or found Scholarships in connexion with it. In pro-
portion to the extent of the endowment will be the diminution
of the fee.
" We have also strongly felt that there can be no fitter
place wherein to establish a Memorial of Dr. Birkbeck's services
to mankind, than University College--an Institution in the
foundation of which he bore a prominent part."
Mr. HOME, M.P. then rose to move the first resolution,
and was most enthusiastically received. He was not aware
why the first resolution had been put into his hand, unless it
was because he had been one of those who had earnestly re-
quested the Noble Chairman to deviate from the rule he had
laid down of late years not to attend public meetings, but to
sanction an Institution for the benefit of those classes to whose
interest Isis whole life had been devoted.—(Cheers.) lie con-
curred in every sentence of the excellent speech of the Noble
Lord in the Chair. The Resolution he had to propose was as
follows—
" It is the opinion of this meeting that. upon the sound
education of the great body of the people mainly depend, under
Divine Providence, the stability and happiness o f nations ; and
that. Mechanics' Institutions have greatly contributed to that
education by the direct instruction and by the rational re-
creation which they afford to the working classes."
Such was the resolution he had to propose. lie would not de-
tain the meeting at any length, because he did not consider it
necessary to recommend such a plan to their notice; but then
he would say, that he never attended a public meeting at which
lie felt greater satisfaction as to the result, than the present.—
( Cheers.) It was most gratifying to see men of all parties,
when party ran so high, coming forward in support of so great
and general an object,—an object confineslto no class. Whatever
class of politicians were in power, nothing was of such im-
portance as to raise the condition of the working classes.
He was one of those who considered that it was as important
that a Government should provide for the education of the
people, as that it should provide for their physical wants by the
erection of poor-houses. He had been ever anxious to for-
ward that great object, and he deeply deplored that it had not
made greater progress. The working classes themselves were,
he was glad to see, now pushing forward to point out the
necessity of this object.—(Cheers.) He had known Dr.
Birkbeck fur many years, not simply as the advocate of
Mechanics' Institutions, but as the friend of general
education, when it was a question even among many
avdll-meaning persons, if -general education were a good
or not. He had found Dr. Birkbeck, so long ago
as 1811 or 1812, the earnest promoter of every plan for the
general education of the working classes. Dr. Birkbeek was
himself one of the working classes. He had earned all that he
possessed by his own labours, and yet, unlike too many profes-
sional men, who kept aloof from all participation in any mea-
sures of a public nature, lest it should affect their private
interest, Dr. Birkbeck was ever ready to conic forward pub-
licly and privately, in the most zealous manner, tu pro-
mete that object. The present occasion was one of the
utmost importance. They had lost Dr. Birkbeck, and
what could be more fitting than to make that loss
itself a means of continuing Dr. Birkbeck's labours, and ap-
pointing this Professorship. He thought that the Professorship
should be appointed to University College, because he was
aware of the labours of Dr. Birkbeck in founding University
College. No man ever exhibited more zeal and energy in the
pursuit of his own private interest, than Dr. Birkbeck had ex-
hibited in promoting the foundation of University College.
That institution was founded on the great principle of giving
education to all, without any distinction of creed, tenet, pro-
fession, or country. He was aware that a difference of
opinion had existed on the subject of endowing this
Professorship, among the members of the Committee
at their former meeting on this subject, but he trusted that
now there would be no difference of opinion as to the propriety
of continuing Dr. Birkbeck's labours by the foundation of a
Professorship, which would carry down the name of Dr. Birk-
beck to ages yet to come, and would stimulate others to imitate
his exertions.—( Cheers.) He thought it would be a waste of
money to erect a marble statue. The foundation of a Profes-
sorship would he a monument far more lasting, and if Dr.
Birkbeck could give an opinion on the subject, he felt con-
vinced, from what he knew of Dr. Birkbeck, that he would
say, " The promotion of the education of mankind has ever
been with me the primary object of my life, and nothing can
be more gratifying to me than that you should take
care to carry out that object."—(Cheers.) He thought that
by doing this they should be doing an honour to the country.
—(Cheers.) He was aware that there were many persons
who objected to endowments of any sort. He objected to
many endowments, but he only objected to them when they
were abused ; and he trusted that in the appointment of this
Professor the Committee would take care to lay down such
rules as should prevent any abuse arising.--( Cheers.) On
those grounds he cordially approved of the object of the present
meeting, and was delighted to see the manner in which their
Noble and Learned Chairman was supported ; and he was re-
joiced to see this the more, because it would go forth
to the in orld, that, however men might differ as
to other things, still when the education of the
working classes was concerned there was no difference
of opinion, but that all parties were united in bearing testimony
to the labours of 1)r. Birkbeck in the manner which would have
been most gratifying to Dr. Birkbeck himself, by continuing
his services to mankind.---( Loud cheers. )
Mr. R. TArnois was glad to be permitted to second the
motion. It had been his good fortune to be acquainted with
Dr. Birkbeck, and to have co-operated with him and the Noble
Lord in the foundation of University College. He had also
witnessed the great zeal and uniting energy with which Dr.
Birkbeck had laboured in founding the London Mecha-
nics' Institution, and in supporting and promoting its interests.
None but those who had witnessed his labours could be aware
of his unceasing exertions in behalf of that Institution. He
superintended all the financial operations of the Institution.
If any difference arose, his interference was always the means
of restoring harmony. If lectures were wanted, Dr. Birkbeck
was always ready. He devoted the greater part of the leisure of
his very laborious life in promoting the welfare of that Institution.
It was not only to the London Mechanics' Institution, but to
the cause of the education of the people generally, that the
talents and the labours of Dr. Birkbeck were ever devoted.

His Lordship, and many of the gentlemen present, knew how
actively his services were rendered to the University College.
He might also advert to the assistance which Dr. Birkbeck
rendered to that school of which his Lordship laid the
first stone in the City of London, and which now num-
bered between 400 and 500 pupils. They could not
express their regard for the memory of such a man in a way
more honourable to him and more likely to be of permanent
service to the cause to which he devoted his life, than by
erecting such a Professorship as that mentioned in the resolu-
tion. 'filene had certainly been abuses in endowments ; but
still endowments were part of the capital of the country.
Many of the abuses alluded to had also, it should be remem-
bered, been removed of late years ; and many valuable
institutions which had become almost utterly useless to the
public at large, hail been resuscitated. He trusted from the
countenance which the proposal of a fitting memorial to the
memory of Dr. Birkbeck had that day received, that the pro-
ject would be speedily accelerated. The Hon. Gentleman con-
cluded by seconding the resolution.
Mr. HoncsKlN said, that he felt he owed some apology
to the meeting, and to his Lordship, for trespassing on their
attention. He would not detain them long, and he would
confine himself strictly to the purposes for which they had as-
sembled. Lest he should be mistaken at the outset, lie begged
leave to say, that, however intense might be the admiration of
the gentlemen around him for the memory of Dr. Birkbeck,
their admiration did not surpass Hear, hear. ) It was
because he was desirous of imprinting his admiration
on the spirit of all time, that he rose on that occasion to make
a suggestion rather adverse to the report which they had heard,
although not adverse to the resolution which had been moved.
He was decidedly adverse to the endowment of a Professorship,
and still more decidedly adverse to the connexion
of that Professorship with the London ITnivereity
College. As he understood it, the Professorship
was intended to promote knowledge among the humbler
classes. Now it was pretty evident that to a college which was
frequented exclusively by the wealthy and middle classes, at t. ,
labouring classes would never resort for instruction. As far as
he could judge of such Professorships they had contributed very
little to the honour of those whose mimes they bore;
and some of these were very little known beyond the
walls of the seminary in which they were endowed.
If they were, therefore, to establish such a Professorship as
that proposed, it would completely fail, he thought, to honour,
or even to commemorate the memory of Dr. Birkbeck. He
might mention, as an example in point, the case of a Profes-
sorship
in the University of Oxford, endowed by Mr. Finer ;
but he believed that the Vinerian Professorship would
be almost wholly unknown to the world at large if
Blackstone had never written in his Commentaries. If
the Professor were a clever one, the Professorship would
be only known in connexion with his name; and if he were

(._
n indolent or an incapable man, tgin•On O 'l,4'
confer honour nor utility of any kiisW* gaff. '
reasons for not establishing a Professeirs r d1,.tl snore -11r4
besides, in his opinion, very solid and sisbati.We reas,ill-‘4
such a Professorship, even if establiihed, shoOld jnot bye' von'
sleeted with the London University C,olle,ge. SObelieveso th
the proceedings of that College were Nriaty littte ,neva ba4
its walls. That College had been established ;eofitkitt‘y s
ago, and he wanted to know what great man it had producet4
or what great discovery it had led to either in science or in lite- •
rature ? Ile would even say that, in his opinion, no event had
given so great a blow to the liberal aspirations of the age as the
complete failure of that College.—(Dissent and interruption. )1
He knew nothing great or good to which it had contributed,
and knew of no greater abortion in madern
save and except the Reform Bill.—(Marks of dissent. )
But there was also a strong personal reason against founding a
Professorship in connection with the London University; for
although Dr. Birkbeck had contributed liberally to that insti-
tution, about the )ear 1830 he withdrew from it, and he never
afterwards took part in the management.—(Cries of " No,
no f") About this period, or a little subsequent to it, Dr.
Birkbeck expressed to him the very strongest opinion against.
the University. Upon these grounds lie must dissent from
the proposal of the Committee to establish a Professorship in
connection with the London University. The respected Chair-
! marl had referred to the project. of erecting a statue to the
' memory of Dr. Birkbeck in St. Paul's Cathedral. He would
not have addressed that meeting had it not been that there
were other alternatives by which they might attain the
object ; and he thought the plan of ereecting a
statue or tablet in St. Paul's preferable to that
which had been suggested by the Committee. There was,
however, another plan to which neither this Noble Chairman nor'
the Committee had alluded, but which he thought far preferable
to any that had been suggested; namely, to establish itinerant.
professorships under the control of a body in whom the funds
should be vested for that purpose.—(Cheers. ) Lord Brougham
hail told them, aed told them very truly, that tin ro was a great
paucity of lecturers for the Mechanics' Institutions scattered
through the country. Now, surely the best means of removing
that evil was to establish one or more itinerant professors, who
should give lectures to the Mechanics' Institutions in general,
under the direction of a Committee appointed to superintend
their labour, s.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) This plan he would
prefer even to the erecting a statue in St. Paul's, though to erect
a statue in that great national temple was, in his opinion, prefer-
able, because more likely to honoue his virtues, to the endowing a
Professorship in the London University. It was to propose this
plan that lie had risen to address the meeting. What he would
suggest was, that they should refer the matter uack to the
Committee, with instructions to ascertain the probable expense
of erecting a statue to the memory of Dr. Birkbeck in St.
Paul's Cathedral, and also what would be the cost of establishing
itinerant professorships; and, having ascertained this, the Com-
mittee should report again to a p•iblic meeting.
The CHAIR MA N said, before he put the resolution, he hoped
Mr. Hodgskin would have the candour to listen to one or two
word', in reference to his proposal. There need be no differ-
ence of opinion among them upon this matter. If any persons
proposed a statue to a professorship, let them subscribe for a
statue.—( Laughter. ) If any person preferred a pro-
fessorship to a statue, let them subscribe for a professorship.
The one did not at all exclude the other. Judging, however,
by those whom he had heard speak on the subject, and by those
ho had tendered their subscriptions, he Mimed that there
would be a very small subscription for the marble, whilst there
would be—he would not say a very large—but a considerable
and competent one for the Professorship. The orly question,
then, was, as to the two kinds of professorships. He quite
agreed with Mr. Hodgskin, that if they had funds sufficient for
the purpose, itinerant professorships would be beyond all com-
parison better than any one ventral professorship. But the
fact was, the Committee, before they made their report, had
taken both proposals into their serious consideration; and it
appeared from their calculation, that if one itinerant profes-
sorship was established, taking the whole number of Mechanics'
Institutions that would require his aid, it would amount to one
course of lectures for each institution every sixth year.—
Laughter. ) Undoubtedly, if they could afford forty or fifty
itinerant professorships, that would be forty or fifty times
better than establishing a Professorship at the University Col.
lege.—( Hear.) He was afraid, however, that there was no
hope that such would be the case. It appeared to him, there-
fore, that they could afford the Professorship, whilst they could
not afford the itinerancy. Now with regard to the London
University, as the head of that body—
Here his Lordship was interrupted by a person who at-
tempted to address the meeting, and complained that the
Chairman was out of order in doing so. After several ineffec-
tual attempts to address the meeting, he at last succeeded,
through the interposition of the Chairman, in obtaining a
hearing, when he said, that his name was Watkins, and that
Iris only object then was to inquire of the Chairman whether
the resolution which was about to be put, was a resolution
proposing a Professorship at the London University?
The CIIA I ItM A said, that there was no allusion whatever of
the kind.
Mr. 1101)GSK IN then proposed an amendment to the effect,
that the Report be referred back to the Committee, with in-
structions to state what would be the expense of erecting a
statue in St. Paul's, and also what -a ould be the expense of es-
tablishing itinerant professorships.
On the resolution and amendment being put from the Chair,
the former was carried.
Lord .1. Itessei.r. then rose and said, after the eloquent ob-
servations that were made to you by the Chairman at the com-
mencement of this meeting, and after what you have heard
fi inn Mr. Hume and Mr. Taylor, in proposing and seconding
the first resolution. I need not detain you longer than a very
few minutes. You will all agree, and I am happy to see that
the gentleman who moved the amendment emphatically agrees
iii hearing testimony to the merit of Dr. Birkbeck. The,
resolution which I have to move is, simply to record the sense
which this meeting entertains of those merits. It refers to the
class which he instituted for mechanics at Glasgow as long ago
as the year 180(1. Before that time no doubt there were men
of great mechanical skill, some of mechanical genius, among
the working classes ; but they had every difficulty to contend
with if they endeavoured to make that skill and that genius
available by the addition of acquired knowledge.—( Hear, hear.)
It was the merit of Dr. Birkbeck that in Glasgow lie insti-
tated a class by which that science and that knowledge might
be attained. Many years afterwards, when in London, he
contributed, by his attention, by his labours, and munificently
try his means, to the foundai ion of the Mechanics' Institute in

is metropolis. Others have sought, in the mode of disposing
of their fortune, either enjoyments for themselves, or the
means of raising that which should be a benefit in
future to their family. Dr. Birkbeck was one of those who
wished that the fortune which he had honourably acquired
should be the means of benefiting his fellow-men at all future
times. And now, Gentlemen, agreeing as I have no doubt
von do, in recording your sense of the merits of Dr. Birkbeck,
will say but. one word or two as to the nature of the monu-
ment you should raise to his memory. It appears to me that
to the extent of your funds, you should endeavour to
make that monument useful to mankind. There are
those who, honourably to themselves, and gloriously
to the country to which they belong, obtain by their military
and naval services distinction at the moment, and tame for
ever. It is most useful to a country that there should be such
men—it is useful that there should be these rewards and dis-
tinctions, and that they should receive the fame of marbles and
monuments, and all the honours that attend on their merits.
But merits of the kind possessed by Dr. Birkbeck are not re-
warded by immediate fame; they are unobtrusive in their ope-
ration, but they tend to the improvement of mankind in all ages;
they tend to the promotion of peace and the diffusion of know-
ledge and to giving men a better knowledge of their duties, both
to those immediately surrounding them, their fellow-countrymen,
and to living in peace and brotherhood with foreign nations.
To such men we can raise no monument so fitting as that which
shall be continually, perpetually, and uninterruptedly useful
to mankind. I ask you, therefore, to agree to the resolution
for founding a Professorship in University College. I call on
you to agree to that which is fitting to the character of him we
are about to honour ; and I trust that, as his exertions
have tended to the general benefit of his countrymen,
the subscription will be as widely diffused as possible, and that
the knowledge of what has passed here to-day will incite other
men of similar benevolence, of less confidence perhaps, of
being able to achieve similar services, but still that.
it will incite such men to believe that honours and rewards will
be given not only to those more captivating and exciting ser-
vices which have too much, perhaps, though not undeservedly,
gained the applause of mankind, but that they will be given also
to those who have been engaged in the work of peace and bene-
volence, of universal improvement and universal charity, that
these men will likewise be handed down to future ages, and
obtain their reward in the gratitude and veneration of mankind.
Mr. BASIL. AIONTAGUE moved the next resolution, that—
" This meeting desire to record their deep sense of the emi-
nent services which Dr. Birkbeck has rendered to the educa-
tion of the people by founding in 1800, and by teaching a class
for mechanics at. Glasgow, by his munificent aid in founding
and his constant care in superintending the London Alechanies'
Institution, and by his assistance in forming similar bodies
t iroughout the kingdom."
He stated that the late Dr. Rirkbeck originally belonged to
the Society of Friends ; he eulogised the system of education
prevailing among that respected body, and after passing a
high eulogium on the personal character of Dr. Birkbeck,
referred to the importance and success of his labours.
All that was required of them was the grateful expression of
their respect for the memory of the man who had benefited
mankind by the establishment of Mechanics' Institutions.
A person in the lower part of the room, whose name we
understood to be WATKINS, said, amid considerable noise and
confusion, that the resolution ought to be placed in the hands
of a person who had shown practical devotion to the opinions of
Dr. Birkbeck.—( Cries of " Turn him out," and much uproar. )
The CHAIRMAN said he did not think the gentleman was out
of order in speaking to the resolution. But he would put it to
his good sense and feeling whether they ought not to avoid all
unnecessary allusion to political matters. Let them reserve
them for another occasion.
Some further interruption then took place, but after a few
words from the Noble Chairman order was restored, and the
resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Lord DUDLEY STUART said that when he heard the pre-
sent meeting was to be held, he did not for a moment hesitate
on determining to attend it, because he was and must
ever be most anxious to do everything that was
in his power, little though that might be, to testify his
veneration for the memory of the late Dr. Birkbeck.
( Lord S. ) had had the honour of being well acquainted with
that deeply-lamented gentleman, and had been a great admirer
of his virtues, both public and private. He honoured the man
who had passed his whole life in devoting himself to the ser-
vice, not only of his country, but also of mankind in general.
Dr. Birkbeck had been mentioned to them to-day in eloquent
terms, as the ftend of all maid:hid, and particularly of the
working classes. it was to their advantage he had especially
devoted all the energies and powers of his brilliant understanding.
Dr. Birkbeck might indeed be said to bean ornament not only
to his country, but the world and age its which he lived.
(ither‘ had celebrated his praises, anti the present meeting
was a proud testimony to his merits, and the proof of the ye-
neration in which his memory was held he his countrymen.--
(Cheers.) It needed not, therefore, the teeble words of one
like himself to pronounce a panegyric upon him.--(cheers.
All knew his general character well. They had all witnessed
his general philanthrophy and his important. labours.—(Loud
cheering.) 'There was one proof which Dr. Birkbeck
gave of his labours in an eminent degree, to
which he would advert. It was a subject that
first gave him the opportunity of becoming acquainted
with Dr. Birkbeck, and which bound him to him afterwards,
during the whole of his life, in tics of the greatest friendship.
Dr. Birkbeck was the friend of all mankind; of the working
classes, he was the most enthusiastic friend ; and he was the
friend to the cause of Poland—(Cheers)—which with all his
intelligence he never would have been had he considered that
cause the cause of the aristocracy, and not the working classes.
—(Cheers. ) The resolution which had been put into his
hamd went to the principle and adoption of the Report of the
Committee- That subject lie might be excused from arguing
now, as it had been discussed a short time ago. The Noble
Lord concluded by mos ing the follow ing resolution :
" 'this meeting approve and adopt the Report of the Com-
mittee appointed on the 3d of August last ; and are of opinion
that the most fitting method of testifying the public gratitude
to Dr. tfirKbeck is by founding, in University College, London,
a Professorship of Machinery and Manufactures, including the
application of Chemistry and other branches of Natura (Phi-
losophy to the Arts, and that a subscription be commenced for
this purpose."
Air. DILLON seconded the resolution. He agreed with the
remarks made by the Noble and Learned Chairman on the
subject of the plan recommended by the Committee to this
meeting. In the present instance, if they could not do all
they would, they must do all they could.—(Cheer.) The
monument about to be erected to Dr. Birkbeck ap.