Star.
London, England, 1825-12-03 00:00:00

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

The members of this Institution celebrated their Se-
cond Anniversary yesterday, by a dinner at the Crown
and Anchor Tavern, which was attended by his Royal
Highness the Duke of Sussex (who presided), Mr.
Brougham, M.P. Mr. Denman, M.P. the Hon. Mr.
Abercromby, M.P. Mr. J. Smith, M.P. Mr. Alderman
Wood, M.P. Dr. Biikbeck, William Fiend, Esq. and
the other principal Officers of the Institution, and about
600 Members. As soon as the cloth was removed, the
Royal Chairman proposed the health of "The King,
the Patron of the Arts and Sciences ; which, as well
as that of "The Royal Family," by which it was fol-
lowed, wasreceived with the greatest warmth.
Mr. BROUGHAM, after complimenting the Duke of
Sussex upon his constant readiness to support every
institution which tended to promote the happiness and
the moral anti intellectual improvement of the people,
proposed the health of his Royal Highness; which was
drank amidst the most deafening marks of applause.
His ROYAL HIGHNESS, in returning thanks, took oc-
casion to observe, that one of the merits of this institu-
tion consisted in the Members retaining the management
of it in their own hands. He earnestly cautioned them
to adhere to their regulations, not to admit the introduc-
tion of any political subjects or religious tests ; and,
reminding them that they met fur scientific purposes
alone, he particularly warned them to beware of turning
the institution into a debating society ; for if any jea-
lousies existed against it, they would afford their enemies
an underhand mode of creating dissensions amongst
them. His Royal Highness, after enforcing this advice,
prayed to Goo to prosper the society ; and assuring
them of his best exertions in their support, he concluded
by proposing " Prosperity to the London Mechanics'
In SI itation"—(Great applause).
His Royal Highness next proposed the health of Dr. Birkbeck,
the founder of the Mechanics Institution, which was received with
the warmest approbation.
Dr. BIRILBEGIC, in returning thanks, in an eloquent
speech combated the arguments adduced by the as-
sailants of these Institutions; and in so doing he quoted
in their favour the opinion of the celebrated mathema-
tician and philosopher, the Marquis de la Place, con-
tained in the following extract of a letter received from
him:—"" I am much flattered, Sir, by having this op-
portunity of testifying to you the high esteem which I
entertain for you, on account of the honourable zeal with
which you disseminate knowledge amongst the most
numerous class of society, and that class which can
make at once the most useful application of it." The
Doctor also quoted, for the same purpose, a passage
from a speech of the Earl of Liverpool, in which his
Lordship said, that we lived in an age in which great
progress was making in the diffusion of knowledge, and
GOD far bid that any subject of this country should be
prohibited from enjoying the blessings of it. He con-
chided his address with the following quotation:—
"" Man must be enlightened to distinguish between good
and evil : he must be virtuous to choose the former;
and he must be free to enable him to give effect to his
choice"—(/ out! applause).
The Royal Chairmen next proposed the health of 11. Brougham,
Esq. the enlightened advocate of universal education.
This tout was drank with immense applause.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, the progress among the work-
ing classes, in the Arts and Sciences, for the furtherance
of which the Institutions were more immediately esta-
blished, was now clear; the value of them was esta-
blished; and the progress of their own Institution was
most distinguished. There were now 4900 actually
attending members, and if any other fact were required,
be might say, look round the room. That day twelve
months, there were about two hundred in that room,
now there were upwards of six hundred. Such facts
spoke volumes; and if another volume were required to
thew the success of such Institutions, he might mention
that even in small villages. mechanics or apprentices'
libraries were formed or forming. He next alluded to
those individuals who objected to the princip!es on
hich theinstitution was founded. He only wished
that the objectors would speak out—would write out.
But he could not conceive that any mortal man could
reason him into a belief that it was better, or hap-
pier, for any class of men to approach the condition of,
brute beasts, than to improve and enlighten their reason.
lie would also take the liberty of uniting with their
Royal Chaii man in advising them to abstain from Jan.
gerous topics, and wholly to exclude all political or
religious subjects. Let each keep his own opinion ; it
was his right—nay, his duty, to de so; but let him
not trouble himself about those of his neighbour. It
they had any adversaries who wished ill to their insd
tution, they would ask for nothing better thatila see it
converted into a debating society or religious arena.—
From this they would suffer ; and they might depend
upon it, they could not suffer from anything else. One
word more before he sat 'down. They we• e charged
with forcing education. He denied this in 1010. '!'lacy

'could not force it, nor could it go on too racidly. • Ile
begged once more to congratulate them on the extraor-
dinary progress they had made, and to join his 'wish to
that of the enlightened Prince in the chair, for the great,
the increasing, and the perpetual prosperity of the
London Mechanics' Institution.—(Great applause)
In proposing the health of Sir Francis Burdett, the
Royal Chairman stated that the Hon. Ba►onet was
confined by a severe attack of the gout in the country.
Mr. ABERCROMBY, whose health was drank next, in
returning thanks, defended these institutions from the
various objections raised against their establishment,
and particularly that of their being calculated to excite
hopes in the minds of the working classes which never
could be realized. Ignorance, and not knowledge, was
the mother of false conclusions (Applause.)
Mr. DENMAN'S health was next drank with great
cordiality, for which he returned thanks in an animated
speech, expressing a hope that he should always deserve
the favourable opinion of the friends of general educa-
tion. The diffusion of knowledge must lead to good
government, and good government could never be se-
cured but by political liberty, and political liberty
could never be maintained but by an educated people.
The health of the Vice-Presidents having been given,
Dr. GILCHRIST returned thanks.
After the healths of the Auditors; Mr. Tooke, the
Honorary Solicitor ; and Alderman Wood, and Pros-
poky to the City of London,
Alderman WOOD returned thanks, observing, that
the prosperity of the people would be best promoted by
their improvement in knowledge.
The,Duke of Systrix(it being then nearly ten o'clock)
found it necessary toletire, on account of the great heat
of the room ; at the same time he said, he thought it
was a pretty good test of his constitution that he had
been able to stand the fire so long. His Royal High-
ness retired amidst loud applause.
Dr. BIRKSECK then took the Chair, and after some toasts,
Mr. HODOSICIN stated that the Frenck Government
had established Mechanics' Institutes in all the great
towns in France, and Baron Dupin had paid the ho-
mage to England of stating that such Institutions were
copied from England.
After some other toasts, the company departed.