London Mechanics' Institu...
The Times, 1824-12-03T00:00:00

Yesterday being the first anniversary of the formation of the Lon- don AMechanics' Institution, was appointed for laying the first stone of an edifice to-be used as a theatre, fbr delivering the lectumres of the Professors, on the premises occupied by the Institution, in South- ampton-buildings. At three o'eloclc, the appointed hour, a vast number of theatem. bers were assembled, and soon after Dr. 1irkbeck, the President, by whom thc stone was to be laid, accompanied by theother officers of the Institution who were to assist in the ceremony, arrived, and pro. ceeded to its performance. The officers advancetl in procession to the place where the stone was to be laid, the Building Committee walking first, next the Vice- Presidents, and next them the President, Dr. Birkbeck, tbe Secre- tary of the 1institution, and Alderman Key. the treasurer, and Air. Tooke, the solicitor. After whom fIbllowed Mr. k;mens, nearing the gold trowel to be used bv the President; and Mr. Cope, bearing a bottle which he was to bury in a cavity prepared for it in the stone. Befi3re performing this part of his office. Mr. Cope stated to the as- sembly, that the bottle contained a book of tbe laows of the institu- tion-the 10th number of the Alechanics' Magazine, which contain- ed an account of the first meeting of the members-a vellum roll, on which was inscribed the names of the oflicers of the institution, and a portrait of Dr. Bitkbeck, the President. The bottle having been deposited, the President proceeded to lay the stene, which contains the following inscription, with the namnei of all the officers of the institution This Stone, the first of tho Lecture Roam, wal bUid On the I'd of December, 1824. Being the First Aniiversary of the Establisnleat of the LONDON MEC1ANICS' INSTITUTION, by GEORGE DIRKBECK, M1. D., PRESIDENTI In the presence of the follouvn'g oiricers of the Institution,. Vlce.Presidents 'rrustees. Auditors. Jolin iartineac, Esq.. Professor Millington, John Borthwiek Gilchrtbt, LL. D. Robert 5t'Wimitni, Esq. After thie stone was laid, the President addressed the meeting in nearly the following words:.-" Now have we founded our edifice -tor-the- d*ffusion and- -advancemrtent of 4-uman knowledge. Now- have we begiun to erect a temple, whetein m:un shall cx- tend llis acquaintarce with the iniverse of mind, and shall acquilre the meats of enlargitig his domiHion over .he universe of matteS. In this spot, hercsioler, the charms of literature shall be displayed, and the powers of science ?hall be un- folded to the tost e humble inquirers; for to the finast of reason' which will be here prepared, the invitation slhall be as unbounded as the region of intellect. For aii undertaking so vast in its design and so magnificent it its objects (rnothing short, indeed, of the moral and intellectual amelioidtion and aggrandizement of the hum an race), the blessing df Ileaven, 1 humbly trust, will not be implored in vain. I , in this institution, we seek to obey the nandate which has gone forth, that knowledge itiall be incressed; if we act in obedience to the injunctioti, that in all our gettings we stGould get understarding i if we succeed in proving, that for the ex- istence of the mental wilderness, the continuance of which we all deeply deplore, we ought Ito blame the culture, not the soil;' if by rendering man more percipiett of the order, I)armony, and bene. volence, which pervade the universe, we more efectually 'assert eternal Providence, and justiiy' the ways of Ged to man;' and if thus we shall be the happy means of rendering it palpable, that the immortal essence within us, wlien freed froes tite detormity of ignor_ ance and vice, have been created in the express image of God-then may we confidently hope that Omniscience will favourably behold our rising structure, and that in its feiture progress, Omnipotence, without whose assistance ali-humau erdeavours are vain, will confer upon us a portion of' his powcrs. WVilst I remind you that the illustrious Bacon, Iotng ago, maintained that Iknowledge is power,' I may apprize you that it has, slnce his time, been established that knowledge is wealth-is cermfort-is security-is enjoyment-is hap- piness. Jt has been found so completely to mingle with huma4Iaf- lidre, that it renders social life. more endearing-; has given to mn.ro- lity mnore prlghtliness; and, polithcaly, has produced more consistent obedlience-it tace &from adversity some of its bitterness, and en- larges the sphere, as well as augments the sweetness of every lauda | hlf gratification, and lastly-unquestionably ene of its brightest in. duneness-it becomes at once an avenue aind a guide to that 'tem- pie which is not madel with tian4ti, eternal in the leavens.' After thie ceremrony of laying the stone was 0oer, the company adjourned to the Crown stnd Anchor Tavern, to partake of the first anniversary dinner. Dr. BrnEKIECe in the chair. '.VItere w4aSa numerous and respectable attendance of the classesof society more immedSatelyeouneeted with theobjects of theinstitution. About 220 sat down to dinnef. At the right of the Chairmlian sat Mr; Broughsrn, DMr. Alderrinan Woo, l. P., MIr. Hume, M1. P., and several scicntificcaracters. At soon asehecothwaa removed, the C AUMtAa; rcse and said, that in pursuance-0f tled old eatom, he had to propore the heal-th of the King. (Applausce.) There was also ati additional rta~' sion for hifs doings on- the pres!ent occsiori, lrthey would rccol.-i lect that a meetingoohad, been hield in thie -coutrse of. the prese:nt geng,. for the purpoEe of aoing honour to the memory. of a mLan, vhoi had: af~kg.-ife:s~~...reeh niand? afterwpsrdsbecamneone of thle mostisfiAia ,'tic-a'ben-actorisof his-country. At thatimeeting to xccord: the memor o ala f mueorigin, splendid progress, anod glorious' r-ouio,te s Minitcr of the Crown attended, and dclared tsia ehd IiMjesty's commnands to ho?e;. that the r6yal-namewo: meda he bad of the subscribers 'list to blr. Ratt's-emonu;n.Tu i the Mioniarch of the greateNt -nation uipoLearihilonaet hemjsyof gentus._The Fing's health was then ran, ihlu plue Thec healths ofteohrmmesof toe R~yall nrilywevrelheft supccssively-drak; Yu posing hm h ?Iacal4s His Royallfigimes the-Due ofSussey'.who-fad at,the-arnirer.. sary,-of the Sbciety ofArts called the attenrtion. -of that institution, to tht, eatitbislim enit of the present Society. Tihe CAieAiga.x lliensaid,that the present.Aeniblageg-vestmeebes-t- itnticipation of the success to which hie was about to adveit in thle nixt-wa%t, In'proposieg " Prosperity, to theLondon-Dlechaicis' Inat.- tutioii," he! felt he wvasonly doingjust-Ice to the fieblbiti of the mgtiting, the -memybers of which bhad already done so much to. secure their. grea.tobject.-'-Thls toast was drunk witht great applause. 2Mr, BitouGreA3t rose to propose the health of .their worthy Pre.. sidefits. Tlic hon. and Tearmed gentletrian'S alip&earanee was hailed with louid chaeer. I4e commented by observing, tbatc no dotibi the applitisi with'iwhich .th,ey hrlt gre!eted him wvas given In anticipafiori O.' the toast-which he was ahotit to ~ronbanae, And,%hich waes nt, lest thanti the, healthi of their learnedl and -ni'aliable Preitidenit. (Loud apl'a3.) _lJporf tle mierits of so distinguished a mdln, it weas rinne~z ceasavtod-pntitWe. lie (lIr. Broughiam) lied -known their PresiC dent!%r' nearly' yt earsi-in the most cotistant inLtercourse of prWfaj~ ffiendslitp. 'He tcisenibered his earl-v efforts in'th&es.tablishsnentat Glasg'ow ot~s .socieky similar to teh present; and it was matter of astonishmenit Lo know, that betwveen 20 and .30 years had intervened. before the; exatnpli -of Gilasgow had be-en elsewhere folflowed;. greater_still was thte astonishmenti to find -the immense progress; ,-hich h? been mnade In London during thit fct~ monthis that had elpe ic the formnition, of thisi Society. in legs thin twelve mouths, no only had they reared their enlightening system in liondon, but hIdIspread it t-hrough miany of the smadlle towns. This was the work of' their distinguilshed President, wbvise~ laring- talents, and the singularly disinteresed devoiednei-cof themn to tile, practical purposes 'of society and the improvement of his fellow-. man, * ad shone so conspicuotus in the formatiofi ant i i*gress of thi.& Instituition, Ile would veniture to predict that in very few years these fiocieuies would operAte a great change ii the condition of manltind. In Glasgow, as he hand already reaid, their worthy Pre-' sident hsd laid the basis of thes,e Societies; but for yearsA the example wvas net followed, except by the Society of Arts in Edinburgh,- esta. blished four or fi've years ago, endi one or two oitlers, which-had anUng up i small andl remote communities; For years there wag no apeaanc oftheir taking root and spre-ading their ranilfiratiorns thruh oieybut now amnendls hiad been matde for this delay by the ctiity hic was manifested to ditl'use their bei3e8t -far a~ -near amongt heoperative cla-ses. In this greatmetropolfs,thte inipett~ hiad been given, and through the intelligence which tiey hadr tntus af; forded to thie operative clausses, wouldI thley find some mitigation! fori ithe seeds of' vice of whichi a large city was always the great depoLt That the great manufacturing towns of Alanchiester, Birmingham, iand Liverpool, shouild follow their exampijle, was not eurprising; ioc in themt the inechiaimics, haviing always the elements of' sedeb ro. cieties in reatdy activity, wvere in some degree prepared to reeceive! thiem ; bu.t he founid thtlr exaLmple was eagerly, fllowed in a ruinote and small town in Swdtand, and in Kesia, -in NVestmorland, in, both of' which, the system they hadl adopted and sent forth was in f'ull operation. It c'ould not he expected that amiong all bodies of mnechianics, however decirable tc, adopt this plun. It wasreasonable to thiink there existedi the necessarv mecans of carrying it into effect. la all these instances, it was most desirable to promrrote-the views of the mechanics, by presents of book,, and by affording them as frequent. ly as poNSsible thie opisortunity of re'ceiving scienitific lectture. Inthe small towns to whiich he alluded, they had -begun with a set o ok%adgonie on gradually to the expansion of their object, unUtivhd placed themselves upon a most respectable positiorn for the diffiusion of usieful aiud valuable information -in their local circle. When ite saw these proceedings in fbil operation, not only in helarer bu te smialler anid most remot towns, he was, eon. tie toantciptetha vey ltte otine would elapse before their p1-ins woud b inful oeraionamngst- the mechanics of every town in - the mme. lthughi was to mechanlies alone they ought to loo fo th prctialextentsion of the blessings of this system c-f' improvemeant, yet t ought to be impressed upon those who had the meanis of' assistigin a diifferetit sphere, how much of serice they Itad it in their poer to confer upon thie - mechanical classeFs, hy preseniting thiem- with the apparatus of science, so esseRtial.,_ for the ulterior purposes of their es-tablishment, Indeed, he wouild never appreciate the tsincerity of any nman, however enlighten.; ad, wrho professed to promote the improvlemtnt of his fellow-conun;. trymen, utiless he accomipanied Iiis professions by some practical demonstration, within die spherd'of his inifuence, ot the sincerity of the opinions which he avowedt. There was this great advantage at- tendant upon thie promotion of the interests of this somiety-that-nse of all sects, and all political opinions, could concur in the objesz withiout compromising any of their peculiair tenets.--Men PhO elmter.- tamned the most consciertious difference of opinion from eac. other unoah general topics, could all agree upon this. One practical illustration of his view in this way was worth the moast eaboriate explanation, and it was this-there was one greatpolitical question,, which agitated a large portion of thie community. By some it was, said, and he was of thie-number, that the people had not a sufficient shar intedrc dinistrationi of the affairs of thieir govern.. ment-octhers thouight dfifbrently, and assigned as a reason thtat th p eople were not enlightened enoughi to 4*et a gieater share withl safety in the political administration of their safFirsa. These were thie conscientious sad( condlicting opinions, of large classes of people in the country. Now thie object of this society was to enlighten tdie misechanical commjaunity, an object in accordance with the juar maximi-that the more enlightened any nation became, the fitter Ita inhabitants were to receive a larger share in the political administra- tion of their affai,-s. So that he whio thoaught the people must be re- strained fromn the enjoyment of an extension of power until they. beanme mnore enligltetmed. lied, in promoting the ends of this insti- tution, thje nmeans of accomplishing hlis own purpose, by 2assisting in removing the disqualification upon whi-ch his opinion was founded. Mtake the people more fit to be intrusted with civil rightsiprove tieni by all possible mecans. Thie experimient isi a safeone-itis noethe quality of man to retrograde. In this viewv,the combination ofsectsend p3oliticians to promote the interests of this Seciety is quite consistent w-ith their own particular views in other respects; nay, eso'n is pro- moting hiis own peculiar opinion, byv assisting in the coDmmon Object of this Society. Fifty years ago, a grezt rrench writer hntdpredlicted that the children of his tiune would live to see a great change in the condition of the then existing state ofsggciety. MAuchistronger didbhe (Air.-Brougham) anticipate thiat the children of the present day would live to see a greatrchange in the condition ofsocicty. Nay, eh~ee whlo were doomed to live only four or fi7e years frolm the present timne, wouild see the consolidation of a great power, aneting out-of in- creased knowledge among the bulk of tdie people. It was on this, ac-countl that hxe rejoiced at thie establishment. and extension Of siuchi institutions as tite presenit, and in paying this tribute of gratitude to one of the most disinterested beitefactors of science--their worthY Prestdent,-whose health he concluded by protPosing. The health of the President wns drank wisih loud ajiplatse. The PRESI DE-; returned thaniks, and declared mne high gratifil- cation which he experieniced at witnessing thie success of an insdtiu- tion, arising OUL Of a principle he had so long snDported-natnely, that of diffusingscientific intorniation among the f6-chanlical classes, and enabUitig them to possess it in the way, most likely to render it beneficial, information had arisen, as if toouhed by the nagician's. wan,d, acong the mechanic-al classes,, and lie haried the development ofit witl the Ihighest satisfaction. (Applause.) Mr. M:1u NrE said he hatd muchi pleasure in proposuing the toast which was just put into his hiands, lie cottin assure them that no- siting afforded himn more gratification titan to have heard of the great aLnd rapid progress of this excthletit institution. lie lied also tile satisfactioti of telling themi that thte mechianics of Aberdeen, to wholm lie had tranninittetd the ruxles anod regulationsi of this Society, had, its imitation of their exaniple, established a sintilar institution. He entirely 'concurred in the opinion that those who were not pro- ininent in bestowving that assistance which they had it in their power to aflbrd, had not dcone their dutyj to the community. flow' much higgher did their President stand, who, whilst others of great Pro- perty, derived fromn the industry of mechlanics, withheld their aid f'rom the Society, came forward himaself and generously, advanced the means of erecting the building in whiceh their businesst waS to be transacted. (Ureat 4poplause.) The great wealth Of society die- pended not uo gold aniti property in thie cootnarl aCceptiatoti of the words, but on the com-bined efforts of the operative classtes of th_cmmunity, upon whose succesis and intelligence depended th Main strength of the national resouirces. The honourable memtber .rcinclded ivith pr-oposing the hlealths of tile Vice-Presidents and Trustees of the Society. Mtr. BiLo u r. A 3 returnied tbanks in, behalf of hisi brother trus- tees, for thie hearty manner in whichi they had drank their healths. Eie also took the opporttunity tif doling jastice to the public services of Mlr. Huinc, who was alw;ays zeadlous for the improvement of his fellow countrymen. He had no aoubt that those who owed a debt of gratitude for properties acquired by the indlustry of the opera- tive classes, would take the opportunity afforded of Palying portnit of polgizing for the absence-some throuigh illness, othes troug abencefso tow-ofsoime of their bes,t friends- amongdiemwereSir rancs Bu del, r. Abercromby, -Mr. -JOhn Leterswer thn ied romMr.JosuaWalker, Mgr. Hobrhotise, -nd Mr. John Smith, apologizing for uaodable absence. '1'he healths of these absent benefactors of the SocietY were te' druink with applause. - blishmelnt of this SPcietv, in the prospeu'lty Of which, lie assored thiem, lie felct itetede6llestinterest, l.Ie regretted thatthiey bad erect- ed their building ,,,ltrotiitthie iminediate preeincis*ofthecity of Lon- doni; but nevertheless, if vhey allowed him, hte.hoped to bie a firm and zealous member of their institution. lie begged leave to Pro- p~ose the healths a'Pof P-iessor.111illin toni, Dr. Gilchrist, Mir. 1ar- tineau, and Alr;-Rn~bert 'Williamns, theirft Vice-Presidenits. Dir. Dl1ARvwlNgku returned thanks.- Hei assured, the meeting that by s`pportinauch a siety as thin, they would eiffuse chic information which would puS ar end mitch better than acts of Par- liament tn tohose-combinanons that were practically en injurious to the Interests of tfie community. Dr. G1LewntrST and the other Vice-PeesidenWs also returned? thanks. Th 4healths of Mlr. Tooke, the-honorarv solicitor D1essrs.- Robertson and Hodgken, the former editors of thbc Mchaniics' Afe- gnioe, were then given. VIr. HODGtrEs returned thanks, and pointed out the benefits which hbad'imisen frotn the establishment of the Mechaedes' - Moaga- sitne, out of which this institution had sprang. The healths of the officers of, the institittiomi were then given, and Colonel ToanEsxs, in proposing prospelty to the city of l,ondon, took a reviewot the benehciai-progress of this institution, iwhicbh lie-_ hoped would be imitated in Ireland, as well-as In England and Scot-T- land, where the diffusion of knowledge was so desirable, for the pur- pose of turning the piblic mind frol civil dissensions, fostered by their Government, to more useful pursuits. Ee pointed out the integral connexion between the-interests of the inechanical clauses and thotse of the commiunity-at large, -and-warmly urged theirimportantinflu. ence upon tie-condilion of society. ' : Unon Mlr. 1iyura's health, being drank, the honoumable moenibte in returning thanks, adverted to the changes in-the combinatinnlwsis which were made under liis auFpices during the -last sessit-n- and six- pressed the gratifleation -which he-feltat tbeprtieal uls&l'ffe-re. moval of the old laws, whAch incumbered and opposed-the rational, -eortsofindustry. (Applause4)He-dedcla-cdthat wthing wasinore;- gratifying to him than to f,F4d,the-diFlusion of such societies iscthis, and their beneficial effect upon the interest both of mnster antdan. - Several othertoasts were drunlk, iud the C ntsx A lert- thz chair soon After 10 o'clock> - - , ' -' LONDON MRECHANlCS' I.VSTITUTIO.o