The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-23

Adelaide Gallery" in the Strand, which still ex-
It's. This gave rise to the Royal Polytechnic Inst-
tuition, Regent street. of which Prince Albert became
a patron and frequent visiter, and we have reason
to suppose that it was from the curious and won
derfu exhibition of practical mechanics, in
ton with the lectures and experiments in chemistry
natural philosophy, DC, in this institution, which
directed his mind to the importance Of the Great
Crystal Palace Exhibition, and which was, in effect
only grand polytechnic exhibition, open to all
nations This has been followed by others in Eu-
rope, and one here. We had the honor some years
ago, Of personal acquaintance with Jacob Per
kins (since deceased), whom we considered one of
the greatest and most useful men (self made too at
that which this country ever produced. At the
time we visited the Royal polytechnic Institution,
in 1S4l subscription course of eight lectures were
being delivered by an eminent engineer, on The
Steam Engine and Steam Navigation for Naval
Officers and other Gentlemen"
These lectures embraced all the materials relating
tosteam machinery the construction of engines for
marine purposes, the nature and application Of fuel
the properties of heat, the of water for boilers,
fresh and salt, boiler explosions and their causes
the pressure. and force Of steam, steam gauges,
&C.. with notices of all collateral points bearing on
the subject. In this institution there exhibited
steam engines at work in propelng various ma
chimes large water reservoir for all kinds of
sells and hydraulic apparatus, was also provided.
There were lectures and experiments in various
branches of practical science. good band Of music
was also in attendance; and thousands were drawn
to the institution while the managers of Drury Lane
ana C0Yent Garden theatres bitterly complained OF
the falling off in their receipts by the superior atrac
tons of the Royal Institution (where Davy and Fa
raday had won mperishable fame,) and the more re-
cent Royal Polytechnic School of Regent street,
the forerunner of all modern crystal palaces.
The United States have produced many very useful
and distinguished men who have been known self
made or selEcducated men, whose success has been
mainly attributable, under free institutions to prac
tcal education, which has been well applied TO their
active pursuits. 1t is only necessary to name Pow
ers, Clevenger Clarke Mills, Fulton, Cass and Clay,
with host of others, as cases in point Industrial
schools should also embrace naval architecture, navi-
CATION, the laws Of trade and commerce, and practi
cal bookkeeping. BY establishing such schools in
the United States, and making them as common and
as free possible, we should greatly advance the
interest of the country in all the elements of true
greatness. The study Of nature and her laws is the
study of the laws Of God. As acquires conquest
over physical laws, he rises just 80 much higher
towards his Creator in intelligence, and approx
mates the closely in his mental features to the
image Of Omnpotence. Gods highest and best gift
is reason bestowed for the noblest and highest pur
poses-not to be FILTERED away in unavaing misap-
pcati0n-but to be devoted to intellectual progress,
to the amelioration and advancement of our fellow
beings, by which our own happiness is secured-to
the exploration Of those boundless fields of useful
knowledge spread around u.s. and seeking their appli-
cation to the improvement Of man in all that can
enhance his happiness and ennobe his being.