The Sun. — 1837-07-25 (London, England)

WESTMINSTER LITERARY AND MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.  The first Quarterly General Meeting of the members of tl.is Institution was held at the Infant School Room in Vincent-square, on Wednesday evening last, Wm. Page Wood, F.R.S., the eminent Chancery Barrister, son of Alderman Wood, and one of the Vice-Presidents of the Institution, in the Chair.  A very excellent and satisfactory Report, from the Committee of Management, was read to the meeting, and various passages alluding to the prosperous state and future prospects of the Institution, elicited the warmest approbation. Besides :the subscriptions of the Members— which have been more than sufficient to defray the current expences of the quarter—various donations of money have been received from the President of the Institution, the Right Honourable James Abercrombie, the Speaker of the late House of Commons (who was prevented being present by hai.ing made arrangements to leave town on the same morning), 15/. ; John Temple Leader, Esq., 20/. ; Charles Hindley, Esq., M. P., 10/. ; William Cooper, Esq., 101. ; Messrs. Elliott, the brewers, 101. ; J. C. Wood, Esq., 10/. ; a complete set of the " Bridgewater Treatises," and 51., from the Chairman ; the Rev. Dr. Williamson, Head Master of the Westminster School, 51. ; the Rev. H. H. Milman, Prebendary and Minister of St. Margaret's, Westminster, who delivered the opening address, which has since been published, at the request of the Society, .51. ; the like sum and a donation of books from the Rev. John Jennings, Prebendary and Rector of St. John's, Westminster; Mr. Sheriff Johnson, Si. ; Wm. Freeman, Esq. ; the Treasurer of the Institution, M. ; and a donation of money and books from the Hon. Chetwvnd Talbot, &c. &c. ; leaving a balance of nearly 200/. in favour of the Institution in the London and Westminster Bank ; and several valuable ?resents of books, apparatus, minerals, and services from several of the Committee and other members of the Institution.  The number of members already amounts to about 330, and classes have been established for the study of the French and Latin languages, music, literary composition, modelling, and for the human figure; linear, ornamental, and perspective drawing ; and others are in the course of formation. At t 6 conclusion of the report the Chairman, in an eloquent address, in the course of which he was frequently applauded, pointed out the advantages of the institution, and the best means of rendering it of still more extensive utility, and dwelt particularly on the necessity of providing central and eligible premises, and a convenient lecture-room, the house at present occupied by the institution, No. 5, Little Smithstreet, being, although well adapted for its infant state, too confined for its permanent or lengthened occupation, and above all, not immediately adjacent to the place where the lectures are delivered weekly. Thanks were unanimously voted to the Committe of Management for their exertions, to the gentlemen who have given gr ituitous lectures and services, as well as to those who have given donations of money, books, &c., to the institution ; and likewise to the Chairman, for his able and impartial conduct in the chair, who briefly returned thanki, and the meeting l,roke up at ton o'clock.  A serious quarrel having last week arisen between two naval officers at Toulon the Admiral authorised their deit in a duel. The parties met, measured swords, and at the first lunge one of them, a Lieutenant, was severely wounded in the hip, but it is hoped not mortally. The affair, however, is not expected to rest here, as the honour of a whole family is implicated, and two brothers of the wounded Lieutenant are said to have decla:ed their determination to to take up the cause, and call out the successful combatant in succession.  On Thursday morning the body of a male new-born infant, with a stone tied round its neck, was found in the canal near the Sydney-gardens, Bath. An inquest was held the same day, when the surgeon gave it as his opinion that the child, which is a line full-grown infant, had died from drowning. Verdict--" Wilful murder against some person unnown."—Bath Clu•onicle,  PRICES OF CANALS, DOCK STOCKS,  ASSURANCE COMPANIES,&c. &c. &c.