New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-22
SKETCHES OF LECTURES.
Dignity and Progress of the Mechanic Arts.
BY JAvEs 7. nRADT. ESQ

The opening lecture before the members Of
tie MccEGu.c Institute delivered last evening by
James T. Brsdy ESQ., in the hall OF the institute No.
BoweT-. Toe audience theugh not very Numerous,
highly intelligent and manifested deep interest
in the lecture ~ frequent and hearty applause. In
commencing. NJ. Brady remarked tbs; he had always
found that the very best OF dealing with classes
or with individual was TO be frank and direc, in
meneiLg he would ssy therefore, thai although
by means wholly unnccustomedt TO address public as
senbies he by no practieed Lecturer ani
when be consented TO deliver the Introductory lecture
the nature Of the occasion allowed him follow wide
range of remark and speaking what he had long
thought the proper means by which the American ne
ohanc could secure himself hi deserved position in
sOciety lie remarked that be once had the honor Of
belonging to this institution and probably would yet
have belonged to but for that spirit Il procrasnlron
characterize the profession T. which be beionye1
The conituiion Of this institution, remarked Nj b,
rays thsf was established the general instruction
in popular and useful science and is application . the
and Manufactures by means OF classes achoo lee
tures, library museuu, snd models Of machinery
This cOnsfifuCn waE tOTfet in the year l-,J, 0nf
doubtless there are in this aid ence gentlemen who we're
members that time and doubt not they viii coincide
with me in expressing the opinion that there has been
greater revolution in the world since that period than dg
ring many centuries preceding Since 3 the in tances
have been where the cOnquerOr has established 70
himself any additional reputation But, within that
eyeuiul period there has happened that industrial pur-
suti have gained and fixed the attention OF man
kind than almost any trump in humsn efoTt At the
Worlds Exhibition in London last year this fact was
well illustrated
In view Of this fact am led 10 consider how strange
il i that the social condition Of mechanics throu hoat
the world should either by the power of government
or some arbitrary rules OF society or by some other
mschieveus influences, be at this time BY no means
WHIT entitled to by s merit. And it Is very inter
esng 20 look back the history OF the world and
see the uniformity Of effort which mas been made 70 kep
in subiectien that class Of the community who labor
with n cir hands.
When we 20 hack TO Egypt and zee the stupsndous
pyramids and ruin and reflect that Of ali the people
who witne, scd these monuments. scarcely one now re-
mains are cOnsCed with the TACT thar they are al OF
no utility now Darkness brOods where bnlielce
iluminod her paths. But we are con-cl;d with tho
thought that that state Of society one which was
destined TO pass away Il wa -taie oil tyranny on me
part the ruler, and degradation on tie part oil tne
ruled IL would be natural for the reader OF history
TO suppose that when savage people had passed into
stae OF cyilizatsn-had burst upon the world IN new
light that the position Of the industrial classes would
have been elevated. But what has been the course OF
events in this maiter Why. when you look al the Brit
ish Islands and consider their history you discover that
the lbOrgints Rad fmCng y en- no more OF inventive
xiii than snch a. was adapted - their entirely bar
barcus condition. When the Romans presented
themselves in the British Islands, they brought arts
and men OF skill fastened thither from other
parts of the continent But when the Romans
were called back TO their native SOIL they eif those
islands in the condition Of Advancement which they
never would otherwise have attained And when the
Saxcns presented thcselve. there we know that they
were IA Wild race with but very ltlc mechanical skill
among them. But wien the NOrmans came they Sc
cured the advantages OF the arts and sciences and eX
bibted their superorty IN the OF refinement sill
the working casees were then treated "a menlal-.
Wien William the COnqueror took possession OF Great
Britain Lis first movement was 70 nave ae ahl ui'fio
1ied among his retaneTs that the title wa Invested
in them; and the military being placed In power. the
working classes treated with contuney AMI OPP
rres,on md YOU know that Grea. Britain, a; this mo-
meui under government which some deem wise the
condition Of the laboIng classes H. 10 all intents and
purpoeea attended with something OF that degradalOn
which power can impose upon H. say TINS, win
view Of introducing remark whose appication &c our
,;,c ven will at once perceive viz that here in
th:s country of ours, with equality oil eva hoery
that s Enthusiastically perfectly balanced, II Il SIN
gusr fact, which you VIII recognize az nonen,
that in the Classification of Society the tendency Is 10 put
professional men-men unaccustomed 70 manual labor
az lie apex while the other class are beneath then-
Now this topic, It il the easiest thng IN the "9rit 20
be demaeoeue And it is unfortunate thing in this
community fiat the willy and interested demagogue does
more INSULT class than the worst enemies they nave
in the ranks which lhaye just alluded is frequently
said 10 Won that the mechanics are an oppressed
Glass II is not 30 Applause. And he who declares
this is nothing more OF less than demagosue APP
plsusel Because under the equal protection OF the
Conftituton which insures TO eeey one the rights aud
the means OF seeking happiness, reputation anu properly
utterly deny that in the race Tor honor nor reward
this cas all depependent upon the patronage Oh
any other class whatever Appause Inc 5tructur anu
of our societboth In the city anu in the
coniryihough not controlled by law Is az arbitrary AM
unist a il Is in the country from which we came Butt
claim that the great does not consist IN the TACT
TINT the sesyled aristocracy claim Tor themselves
higher position in society but the great dihcuty ~
The weik and low ambition Of the majority OF the
dcondsnts Of the workinemen IN trying 10 raise then
solves 10 that position with the hope OF nnding honor
bere II has been remarked that our arlstocracy IN
America was perhaps the most democratic ars1ocTacy IN
the woIl because il based on money ana as al were
at liberty to strive for money all had chance 70 pace
tleuseyes on that eninence. Well, now when we look
AZ the arisocracy of England, there Is some sction
an odor Of antiquity about the mobility IKE that whch
i,s II nile 10 be reverenced there But our arsoc'
1scv utterly destitute Of high lineage and great learn
pg preseIis to my mind, the very last Instance oil any
thing 10 aurement to seek It for the sake OF p'so1
In society Yet think there IL atendency IN ths eoun
Nv ON The pat Of those who spring from tie lower
lsses rs they are called in society, 20 leave sphere
In which they have been educated that they may asso-
caie in other classes thinking tnereoy 70 gam 70 le
selves either reputation or wealth
Now WHY should any such idea az this ever nave ocea
epte,tsjnedl Why should the idea OF obtaining de,
cree Of pecuiar sanctiy within TINS enarned c.te'e
ever have obtained among 80 many II Il Dccs1 :,
ho1rc engaged in industrial pursuits lave yielded 20
~ tlpg II Il true that long "a the word lasts,
there viii be classes In society But II - equly uae
lint each OF these classes, can through III owh nr
htain for IL elf as good social position rs any oshe
csss In the days OF William the ConqueroF' among
u'e i0UA"' WHO Quilted not his harness bright,
Neither by day nor by night ,.I,
neither writing nor reading were common 1N-A
am correct In saving that even Magma Charter WHICH
WIS wrunc by tie Barons from the hand o. joan n.i
no name subscribed 20 IL But now the wofil ms
lv cbspced Learning il common NJ AR. Al eiHsses
cnd MI conditions paTttke Of It's benets Ihis Deins
he Gaze there Is nothing that can be more ihp1th,
than the elevation Of the mechanics 10 DC eaec''u
how, Ry themselves and by themselves Hlohe
NJ smoke Al considerable length Of the great pro
rss which our country making in every department
of science literature and arr and remarEe! ma l1s
progress Of Mechanism was now interesting In -
Iirc =, than snv other branch Of geKus or ski IN
the words Of Rev Mr. Chaplin remarked the lsc.urS,'
I'VE hive hsrnessed the lighting 10 our cars oil thou.
and our giant steam engines are trAnpins doNh .Ae
waves Of the ocean" lAppleuse.l Let Us men t"ine
The vyres,hes of Science Literature, and me ATS
around the hours tire labor and the results o. tae me
chsuic's toll This Institution can do muoh 'o"1'"
bringing about this result Applause.J
Charles II DelAvsn, Eco, Corresponding secretary