The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-12-04 00:00:00

' Tilt

LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATESMAN.

Stn,—l trust you will permit me, through the medium
of your paper, to address a few remarks to that portion of
the useful classes of London, who have, or may be, in•
dined to become Members of the London Mechanics'
In,titute. I select the STATISMAIV, for two reasons;
first, because in the STATIESMAN. about two years since,
was an article descriptive of the Mechanics' Institution at
Edinburgh, and some excellent remarks in recommenda-
tion of a similar attempt in the southern Metropolis;
secondly, in consequence of my belief that your paper is
extensively read by that class of persons who are most
interested in the formation and ultlinste success of the
Mechanics' Institution.

The subject to which I intend at present to call
the attention of the Members of the Institute, is, that
of Honorary and Life Al:tubers. Being appointed, with
othei persons, to ent-e the names of Members as they passed
up stairs, I was prevented entering the great room, till the
attention of the Meeting eas directed to that subject.
As a great portion of the time of the Committee
was occupied during two of its sittings in discussing the
point, and as I, with several others, opposed the intro-
duction of Life Members in the committee, I certainly felt
myself called upon, (when Life Members were proposed by
a gentleman of the Committee at the pultlic meeting •
state my opinion of the impropriety of Installing fe
Members in the Ueda:tries' Institute. Well knoning, that
any person who attempts to address a public meeting, from
the door of the room, is sure to cause a serious interruption
to that meeting-1 therefore take tais method of stating my
opinion.
The Mechanics' Institution, appears to me, ca7ea-
lated to produce benefits in which not only we at present
are interested from the view of its blossoms, but our eta!:
dren's children, from the prospect of its fliftits. It is, there-
fore, of the rust importance, that tbia rnetitution be esta-
blished ou the broadest possible base; that this base be equitl
laws ; that the method of making a member should for the
humble, be the same as for the wealthy mechanic; that the
weight of the po ket should have no influence whatever ;
I and that, should any honorary distinction be coigerestou any
individual incusber, it should be bestowed for merit alone.
This would create an emulation most excellent in its results,
while quite the contrary would be the effect, if honorary
idirtinction were to point to those only, whom a fortunate
combin ration of circumstances enabled to put down
at one time the sum of twenty pounds. 'ft
would naturally have a tendency to create an aristocracy
in the Institution. This might not skew itself in our day,
but, depend upon it, it would ultimately be the case; and
• future generations might condemn us for having be-
queathed to them that which might be used as an engine
of despotism. It therefore behoves the present members to
be careful that no law, regulation, er party, he dovetailed
to this Society, that may be a serious inconvenience after-
wards. " Look twice before you cut your stuff." Some,
fears have been expressed, that those Gentlemen who hive
subscribed handsomely, may feel offended in consequence
of the non adoption of Life Members. I entertain
.quite
an opposite opinion, because, I presume, that these tien-
tlemen having the object of the Institution at heart, al
desirous that the thing should proceed as meet* as a-
sible. In consequence of this desire, they have
themselves credit, by coming funned with the
means to assist, what may be termed, the'
outfit ; • and. when I look over the list of
these praiseworthy .benefactara. who .have se iontrlbuted !
thatmost needful of all material, apitil, I cannot for one
view of being dfflA _ .

asked, " taki the saucy theta geotiessei,
en th turn your backs upon th ' I answer,ge y
nut; for 1 contend that it will be tif consequence
Society and most cheering to its humble members, to ".
among them its early patrons; but let these doom be on a
level with other members; let them come, in the Unit
way, and pay the yearly contribution, for as the quarterly
payment is to be five shillings, on gentleman who has the
success of the Institution at heart will object to the sant-
lice of one Sovereign per year to the general good of the
Society.
Although I object to Life Members, lest evil might.
I by no means wish to impute the intention of evil to toy
one ; but, I am desirous, that care should he taken that to
law be passed or precedent adopted that would at some future
period produce evil. I would say, in conclusion to such of
the working class, as are members of the Mechanics!' nsti•
tution, you have adopted a code of laws for the assuage-
ment of the Society ; the 'snugl election and vote by ballot
never lose sight of ; prevent sinecure places, by ptevent-
log Committee men serving the Institution in the way of
trade with any manner of article, or bold any place of gtro.
fit—or gain. Let me entreat you to discard forever from
your minds those detestable prejudices that exist among
different tracrEs, for they stein fact a bar to civilisation
and improvement. lam aware that there is much dlificstl-
ty in questioning opinions established by time, by habit,
and by education ; bat as the diamond becomes 'mote
bright, by its collision with a portion of other di. Ps,
so will the minds and views of the useful classes, e
expanded and improved in proportion as they are ese d
on useful subjects. chat the London Ilechantee ;',4114.1-
lion may succeed and bring forth abundantly, at
wish of JoHw WHIT tR.
12, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road,
December 3, INS.
...lasssmansaless

lIIPROVESIENT IN TN? CANN are —.-~
on the rise in different parts of the country; sod, if I
dupe of landshould stand at the existing rates, rap
hopes ere entertaieed tbirthe'sgricvitural interest *I
to look tips At the fair of Ballyttutegoudy, in the*
Gram, on Monday last, the prices of beef and pork N
ennakderably, and coarse nerro* linens advanced mr4
IL per yard. In the market of Enniskillen what 1
the *pimple of yarn advanced from 104. to is. WA
Correspondent.)
71tx AVAIL—The 65th (Id Yerk itorth
lOW of Foot, which marched from Hull, on the 14th nit.
will arrive at Edinburgh to-morrow, for the pallier of
relieving the 73d Regiment of Infantry, which is ordered
to Ireland.

The 17th (Leicestershire) Regiment of Foot, which
marched from Gosport, on the nth nit., will artiste,: Hall
tomorrow. •
11141 TR FOR Otis HUNDRED SovanatcAs.—An lnbarefliog
race took place yesterdey morning, made on the preceding
evening over some mellow port, at the Turf Coffeirhiese, be•
twines Mr. tlewson, late of the Guards, and Gilbert %whops.,
Esq. It was to go on foot twenty miles, end Mr. Howson
backed himself to do his work within two bon/prod 'a half in
several bye bets. The match was run on yaps piece of
ground, leading from Hanwel towards Harris?, and betting
was even. Mr. e cut oat the work, add did his first
mile in 6 min. a . It was a very fine race. Mr. Hew
son keeping close Ms opponent. Both were together at
the tenth tulle, wh Was performed in one hour anal ten min.
ali
The travelling pace was about a mile In seven "ninnies and ten
seconds; bet in the sixteenth mile Mr. Stanhope fell off his
speed. and resigned in the eighteenth. Mr. Hewson kept at
work to wikhis bye bets, and he did so by accomplishing the
ground.. in two hours and twenty five minutes, with apparent
ease. eompany was chiefly gentlemen acquaintances of
the ppr,
'Box .---The boxing match between Flowers, the black.
its, Neale, the Stafford navigator, was postponed from
sda oy 10 this morning in consequenceef SOUS dispute
respecting the stake of fifty soya. aside, which was mad* 1001.
iiraleg'shtpecker,
anCrpiatninragd
R—lan.
fa/torsi:wen! esrtto!recmaelne
we
410tisso
ivii.
fight
De.
. '