The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-13

a. sisrsiss. .Inpsnrs - 1857 /.
. The Rich,laa nd Athenman


fr"-.say f,srsis~s .,nnsrrs = 1877.
The Rfchnannd Athen9ani-
We referred bril- q i on yesterday TO the address
al Messrs Thomas III. Elis and Thos. IL Wynne
subcommittee Of the Athen@um committee TO Il
CITY Council respectfully and earnestly askii e
tha. body for reconsideration Of the resolution
dIree,lng the sale OF the Athenaam building The
history OF the institution rs given 10 the address,
Is .hfs. The Cenncf by ordinance of Septem.
her . 1851. directed the building previously know
=. ,hs piehu,ond Academy to be called the Athe
nunm And permission was given 10 the Richmond
library Association and to the Virginia Historical
soefe.y to occupy the upper story, upon eertaiu
conditions during the pleasure of the Council tie
rooms in the other stories were 10 be under the
eontrol OF committee. to be appointed by the
Council, aud called the Committee on the Athe'
uasun. II was made the duty of this Committee to
provide for the delivery, In some of these rooms
of lectures such SUR sets, at such times and on
sueh terms, as they might see fit except that the
city not to pay in its corporate character fof
such lectures otherwise than by allowing the use
ef the rooms without charge therefor, or tor the
water or light used therein. They were anthorl
ICED to charge such moderate adnistance lee As
might be sufficient to defray necessary current
expenses, and be best calculated to proVIde luHo
20 be applied, under the direction OF the commit
tee, in gradually collecting ascientihcaorary ana
scientific ruparatus to belong 10 the city, and to
be kept at the Athepssum They were to aiio"
such of the children taught at the Lanca''eflAa
achool as might be recommended by the trustees
on account of their good conduct and prohc'eheS'
20 attend the lectures gratuitously. Ana tney were
10 direct proper repairs and improFeio CHS al @o
aoout she buildings and grounds keep ana ois-
burse their funds in particular manner ana an
naaly make report to the Council.
The duties assigned the committee by the Coun
ell have BEEN faithfully performed. The property
has been adapted to its new purposes with strict
regard TO economy, with good taste, and kept to
this hour in excellent condition. No exception has
been taken to the regulations the committee have
adopted. the adnistance fees charged, or the lee
turers provided. The attendance upon the lectures
has been ge5erally encouraging, and q vast amount
If useful inforIaatio has been disseminated a
cabinet Of minerals has been secured, embracing
about i've hundred specimens, many OF them rare
aud valuable. A member of the committee has
deposited in the Athep4um collection of paint
ngs purchased by him in Europe which now adorn
expense 10 the city, except in the items Of gas and
water. The members of the committee have des
voted time. energy, and, sometimes, their own
means in the prosecution of their trust we can
bear psrsonal witness to the zeal, fidelity and
devotion with which they have performed the du-
ties imposed on them by the Council Under these
circumstances, we hope that the City Council will
ut least defer the sale of the Athen@um until the
erection of the Hall for the use Of the Mechanics
Association. &C., when suitable accommodations
can be provided for The Library, and the Athe~
poum be succeeded by an institution capable of
diffusing those benefits which it has hitherto
dispensed The committee conclude their adj
dress by remarking that there is perhaps not
E city in the country, as large as Richmond,
which is without its Athen@um public lecs
ture room; nor a town in the State of half the
population which is not in this respect the
full rival of Richmond. The multitude of such
institutions which have sprung up within the last
thirty years, is not only evidence of their pop
MARTY but also of their adaptation to the wants
and feelings CT the age. They are in harmony
with the disposition and taste of our people They
part of the educational movements of the
country. Public lecturing has grown to be almost
profession--to which much of the intellectual
labor of the day is proftabiy and honorably de.
voted. At slight expense of time and money, it
affords intellectual entertainment, diversiiies
study, and stimulates that thirst for information
which is so laudable. especially in the young 10
a city Ike ours, such al institution must be i'm
portant in its effects upon The character Of large
body of young men, surrounded as they are with
temptations to Idle dissipation or vicious indus
gepee, exposed to the eonta gion of evil examples
ard removed in many cases from the salutary re-
straints and eajoyments of home. There aremauv
persons to whom the very act of reading is irk-
some. Their minds must be improved by some
other means. To the Athenalm they may resort
without failing in single duty of the day and by
listening to some gifted stranger or fellow towns
man iiad their knowledge enlarged their taste
Improved theiriudgment ngthened and their
principles confirmed. Such an institution NAV be
made to i1fuenee, and does influence. the eharac.
ter Of the books, periodicals and papers published
or sold among us--tke very ornaments of mr.
houses and the conversation Of our firesides II
develops and encourages native talent 1t serves
to cheer the common path ot duty--to enliehten
and adorn the obscure yet honorable labor of Gem
mon life. 1t affords pleasure to our wives our
sisters and children and is an attraction to chr
friends from the country, who have few privileges
OF the sort. By improving the moral and intellec
'usi culture OF our people, it impsrts dignity and
Influence to the city,
Il Weird for Esap Poar