The Bee-Hive. — 1873-02-01 (London, England)

EVENING LECTURES TO WORKING MEN.  Among the many other forms of good work done by the Royal School of Mines in Jermynstreet, mention should be made of the excellent courses of lectures which are delivered there to working men. These lectures were originated in 1651 by the present Duke of Somerset, then Lord Seymour, and First Commissioner of Woods and Forests, who expressed an opinion that a course of plain and popular evening lectures on each of the subjects taught in. the institution should form part of the arrangements of every year. The advantages of the Museum might thus be thrown open to mechanics and other working men upon payment of a small fee. At first a single lecture on each subject was given by each Professor, but the attendance became so large, and the interest shown by the audience was so great, that in the following year the lecturers voluntarily determined to increase their labours, and each Professor undertook to give a course of six lectures every other year, thus providing the hearers with 21 instead of with six lectures yearly. Admission is given only to bonfi fide working men, who send in their names, addresses, and occupations, and who pay 6d. for each course. The size of the theatre limits the audience to 600, and not only have tickets to this number invariably been personally applied for, but, in most instances, at least another 600 applicants have been necessarily refused.  The class of artisans attending these lectures is naturally affected by the neighbourhood, and by the period of the year in which thevourses are delivered. Among 600 successful appli°ante we Sad an average of 46 carpenters, 31 tailors, 25 engineers, 23 carriage-makers, 21 bootmakers, 18 cabinetmakers, 16 joiners, 16 watehmakers, 15 gold and silver smiths, and 13 jewellers. But, besides the local auditory, operatives are found to eame from every part of London, and some from places BO far distant as Woolwich. It is quite evident that the attendance of the majority is entirely on account of the pleasure and instruction which they obtain, and not on account of anY benefit to be derived in respect of their particular trades. It would be diffieult otherwise to account for the great eagerness with which artisans have listened to such a course as that of Professor Huxley on "Man's Place ja Nature," or to that now in process of delivery by Professor Ramsay on the formation. of freeU water lakes. It is apparent to the most casual observer that the men who crowd the benebes, are actually artisans and mechanics; and al' periods of life from 16 to 60 are well repro' sented. Among the number will be found a large proportion of diligent note takers; and it is very worthy of observation that the lecturers find no occasion to "talk down" te the level of their hearers. Professor RaniSaY' for example, although he divests his discourses of all unnecessary technicality, uses much the same phraseology and, the same scientific) words that would be appropriate to the theatre of the Royal Institution; and his hearers, by the crucial test of applauding in the right, , places show conclusively that they understand land follow every word which is addressed to them, In fact, the manifest and great Pleasure of the audience furnishes the strongest possible proof oethe advantage of continuing, and if possible extending, the work which has been so well begun. There are, probably, few' working men who would have sufficient tenacity of purpose to enter upon scientific subjects by means of books alone, eveu if the books were accessible to them; but Professor RamsaY and his coadjutors, by skilfully lifting the curtain of the preliminary difficulties of study, and by afl;,rding something more than glimpse° of the world of now ideas beyond, may be reasonably expected to give an impulse to reflection that can hardly fail to render essential service to all those who are subjected to its influence.  Gottifried Hessel W4B again brought UP at Be. -street on Wednesday for further examination upon the charge of having murdered Harriet Buswell, in Great Ceram street, on the morning of Christmas