The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-12-03 00:00:00

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

Yesterday evening, at eight o'clock, a second meeting of
this infant Institution was convened at the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, fur the avowed purpose of receiving the
Report of the Committee which had been appointed to
draw ep the Rules and Orders. It being undee stood that
no persons would be admitted, except those who h eel pro.
posed their names as members, the meeting, though highly
respectable as to number and appearance, seas not ,o
crowded as that atter previous night. About a thousau
names have already been proposed.
Dr. BIRKBECK, being called to the chair, stated the
object of the meeting. They bad assembled (he observed)
to give a local habitation to a Society which had alreat.iy
a given name ; and at the same time, to receive the report of
the SubeCJininittee with the draft of certain Lea s,
,
atter many arduous sittings, they were prepare I to submit
fur consideration and adoption. It was recommended that
the Institution should receive donations of Moeey, Hooks,
Specim-ns, Implements, Models, and Apparatus ; that, its
the next piece, there should forthwith be established a
Library of Reference, a Circulating Library, and a It ading
Room ;'that a Museum should be provided of Marline ,
Models, Minerals, and Natural History ; that Lectures
should be given on Natural and Experimental l'hilwop.,y,
Practical Mechanics, Astronomy, Literature, and the Arts;
also that Elementary schools should be provided for the teach.
ing of Arithmetic, Algebra Geornetry,& Trigonornetry.and
their appications to Perspective, A rchitecturn, Meneuratior, ,
and Navigation ; and lastly, that there should also be
established an Experimental Workshop and Laboratory,
for the better instruction of Mechanics by the results of
experience.

Mr. Rene/mom read the Rules and Ordt rs of the
Mechanics' Institution, as agreed to be established on imr
I Ith ult. He enumerated, in like manner, the doeations
which has been received, both in money and hooks.
W. FREND, Esq. moved that the lteport just read
be received. Ile dwelt upon the connection that ex;!te t
between Science and the Arts, and denied filet the
knowledge of the latter was injurious to the cultivation of
useful science. It war, indeed, too much the habit of some
persons who cultivated the Arts to look down with contempt
on their application to a class of persons, to whom so..jey
was so much indebted for the substantial comforts and in-
dispenslble conveniences of life. He hoped that the period
was approaching when the heaven gifted and heaven
destined allied of man would be enabled to soar above tt,
earth we trod, when, however humble the individuals in t!.e
scale of mundane existence, and that Science would be
,seen walking hand in band stub the Arts. Hut it was
also to be considered that they were entering into arrest
sphere, by the interchange that was contemplated ; t; e
Institution had begun well, and be hoped it would prosper.
It was most degrading to consider the majority of men is
beings who were calculated for only one purpose—manea I
labour. He should, therefore, now propose, that the
Report read by one of the Secretaries should be received.
[Here the whole of the laws were read.]

Mr. J.S.Tavlor after prononncing a warm panegyric !Ton
the zeal and intelligence of the member of the Committae,
moved that those rules be adopted by the meeting. To
this motion an amendment was proposed by a mechanic,
describing himself as a bookbinder, that no more than
two members of any one trade should he admitted upon
the managing committee. This amendment gave rise to
a discussion of sonic length. It was urged by one party
that two Committee men of certain trades, might no: be W./
intelligent as even one member of another trade ; and that
others, who happened to be in reality of no trade at all,
might be useful as members. The remark was also male,
that an increase in the Society must lessen the chance of
confining the trades; as at present out of forty trades not
fifteen had joined it. 'f he present Committee, it was ad&d,
had acted with zeal, fidelity, and intelligence; and seeing
that their labours were directed to. consolidate the Instito-
tion, their Report should in the first instance he attended to,
whatever might be its finsl fate.
Jealously wasexpressed lest any of the Committee should
become the Lecturers to the Institution.

Here the amendment was put, and nei,atived.
Another amendment was proposed in addition to Role
12, to admit of Honorary Members for life on donations of
_'Ul. from each. This motion excited disapprobation, oo
the grounds that it wee opening a door for the admissian
of that sort of influence which might afrest the eqnalify
and independence desirable among the members; and :that
the establishment would have the wider betas. and the.
firmer structure from being supported by the equal contri
butions of the Mechanics themselves.

Mr. Taylor's resolution was, therefore, carried. It was
then agreed that a ballot should take place for the election
Ir -Ind Monde-

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min, of Officers to the Institution, and Monday se'nnight was 1.-.
350 a fixed upon for the ballot. In tfie interim, it nal resolved i',
Oats, that Dr. BIUKIECK, Mr. BROCONIAM, and Mr. Al I. HAY,
,come should be requested to act as treasurers and trustees.—
;63,,, Dr. llirkbeck having quitted the Chair, the thanks. of ;he
t and . :
meeting were on the motion of Or. Borth wick tu'rhrht,
it the voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting, about II u'Lloclt,
g was adjourned. 1
being
mplesei The following are the Rules and Orders as proposed at
the Meeting:—
.