The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-25 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

A letter, addressed to the committee of this institution,
through Mr. Leyland, the secretary, has been brought to our
notice. It is signed "James Mulleneux" and "Richard V.
Yates," and proposes "to add to the present establishment a
day-school, in which the sons of all persons who cannot afford
to give their children an expensive education, may obtain in-.
struction on cheap terms, but in au efficient manner, in all the
branches of knowledge necessary to fit them for their future
stations in life." The letter suggests the outline of the pro-
posed plan; and, subject to certain conditions, offers a donation
of one thousand pounds towards the accomplishment of the
object. As we give the letter at length below, it is needless to
make any further extracts for comment. It is probable that we
shall not have credit for being the strongest advocates of.me-
chanics' institutes. 'We have certain opinions on such subjects.
Those opinions may be erroneous, or they may be otherwise.
Be they, however, ',what they may, we have neither the right
nor the inclination to question the purity of the motives of
others when their actions are avowedly devoted to the well-
being of their fellow-creatures. It is in this spirit, and without,
in the slightest degree, compromising our own sentiments on
the question, that we bear willing testimony to the munificence
of the offer made by Mr. Mulleneux and Mr. Yates. If the
object be a desirable one, then we say it will reflect disgrace on
the inhabitants of this wealthy and enterprising town, that a
proposal of so unusual a character as that which the following
letter contains, should not be made available by the immediate
subscription of the conditioned sum, and its appropriation in
the manner set forth, presuming always, that such an applica-
tion of the funds would most effectually secure the object in
view.

Liverpool, October 1, 1833.

. -
GENTLEMEN,—We rejoice with you in the prospect we now
have of obtaining from the corporation a grant of land for our
new building; and we hope 'an opportunity may soon occur of
fulfilling the wishes of some members of the committee, that
we should extend the utility of our Institution by adding to the
presenteetablishment a DAY-SCHOOL, in which the sons of
all persons who cannot afford to give their children an expen-
sive education, may obtain instruction on cheap terms, but in
an efficient manner, in all the branches of knowledge necessary
to fit them for their future stations in life.

In a great commercial town like Liverpool, a public establish-
ment may embrace objects which are all highly important, but
which we cannot expect to find united generally in private
schools, however excellent those schools may be of their kind.
You all know with what success and energy the Seotch push
their way to stations of the highest honour and emolument in
various parts of the world; this is mainly to be attributed to the
facilities afforded to every child in that nation of obtaining a
good education. And why should not the youth of Liverpool
be provided with equal advantages ?
It appears to us, that amidst the vast population of this town,
there ought to be at least one institution in which instruction
may be given on cheap terms, not only in reading, writing,
grammar, and arithmetic, but also
,in English composition; in
the mathematics, including algebra, mensuration, and me-
chanics; in history, and biography; in geography, and the
use of the globes; in natural philosophy, and natural history ;
in drawing, painting, and modelling; in the French, Italian,
Spanish, and German languages; and, lastly, in the classics.
We mention the classics last, because in the execution of the
plan proposed, it might be advisable first to 'provide instruction
iu those branches of knowledge which are less attended to in
many other schools, and postpone, if necessary, for a short
time, a provision of instruction in the classics, in consequence'
of their being so excellently taught in the Royal Institution,
and in other schools in Liverpool. But as soon as circum-
stances
will permit, it is highly desirable to have the classics
taught also, because they greatly strengthen the powers of the
mind, and serve as a key to many other languages; and it is
important to have every department collected under one roof;
not to dwell upon the circumstance that many persons, -to
whose children classical knowledge would be very valuable,
are not now able to obtain it in its best form on account of the
expense.

'We may hope that by embracing so many useful objects, the
schools would become much frequented, and the great number
of pupils would enable the directors to fix the fees of admission
at so low a rate, that all classes of the community would be able
to obtain a really good education,-adapted to fit them for filling,
with advantage to themselves and to the public, the, various
stations in life to which they may be called.

In order, however, to add these schools to the plans of utility
which are at present in operation, considerable accommodation
willvbe required ; in addition to the rooms used for the evening
schools, there should be a liberary, .a museum or room for
models, a play ground, &c.; and of course a considerable sum
of money would be wanted. And by way of beginning, we shall be
happy to make a donation of one thousand, pounds, provided
you can in twelve months from this time obtain donations to
the amount of five thousand pounds, in addition to the money
which has been now given or promised towards the new build-
ing, and in addition to what may be given by the corporation.
You will, however, excuse us, if we mention that the sum
we propose to give forms no very inconsiderable portion of the
moderate fortunes we possess; and whilst this circumstance
will serve to show you our sense of the importance of the mea-
sure contemplated, we must make it a condition that we shall
not be expected to pay this sum, if the money raised is ex-
pended in erecting a showy building, which often throws public
institutions into great embarrassment, or in providing for the
current annual expenses, nor in fact, unless it is expended in a
really efficient manner in attaining the great object we have
mentioned above.

If the inhabitants of Liverpool think the establishment of
such a school an object of importance, it will be easy for them
to raise the five thousand pounds ; a very moderate sum given
by each person who is able to give will be sufficient; the
success of the school, when established, must ultimately depend
upon their sending their children to it, and their cordial co-
operation in raising the money required, or their unwillingness
to subscribe (which latter case we by no means anticipate,)
will perhaps serve as a test whether they think such an institu-
tion wanted or not.—We are, very respectfully, gentlemen, your
most obedient servants, JAMES MIJLLENEUX,

RICHARD V. YATES.

P.S. From the Masters of the school thus proposed to be
added to the institution, it is probable we might obtain much
valuable assistance at our evening lectures.
To the Committee of the Liverpool Mee/Lantos'
Institution, per Mr. Lenland.

employed in excavating the new
approach
rkfrom the cast, upon Friday last,
disAev.reiroerditioaTtvrh.ne—dteloi'wyh enhleoawfbiFol taistone with certain characters cut upon
it, which was first supposed to be a Roman relic, from the spot
where it was found being only about eighty paces north from
Graham's dyke. It appears that it was embedded about eight
or nine feet'beneath the surface of the hill called Ciaddin's Brae,
and in shape it perfectly resembles one of the ballasters used in
suppoiting the flat stones in churchards. Upon bue side are the
letters OCTO and A 11, with the date 531. It is no doubt of
Christian origin, but how such an object came to be deposited in
the situation where it was found, after the lapse of thirteen cen-
turies; is rather unaccouutable.—Seetssaaii. , -