MECHANICS’ INSTITUTIONS have for their object the instruction of the working classes in those branches of science and art, which are of practical application in the exercise of their several occupations.

It has been a subject of very considerable controversy to whom the honour of having originated those institutions ought to be attributed. Some have contended that to Professor Anderson, the founder of the institution in Glasgow, which bears his name, it is alone due; because in addition to the clauses in his will, which especially provide for the formation of a class of manufacturers and artificers, he had for a period of thirty years, whilst professor of natural philosophy in the university of that city, opened a class to which manufacturers and others had access, for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the fundamental principles of experimental physics. Others, again, have affirmed that although Professor Anderson had such an intention in view when he framed his will, it was only through the exertions of Dr. Birckbeck, the second professor of the Andersonian Institution, that the project was carried into complete and practical effect. Without going into the merits of this question, however, it appears to us that to Professor Anderson is certainly due the merit of having originated the idea of instructing that previously neglected but valuable portion of the community. But whilst we give all the weight to which that admission is entitled, we are of opinion that in as far as regards the usefulness of the idea when carried into effect, the merit is due to Dr. Birckbeck. Professor Anderson^[1. Professor John Anderson was the eldest son of the Rev. James Anderson, minister of the parish of Roseneatħ, in Dumbartonshire, and was born there in 1726. ] was in the frequent habit of visiting and spending several hours in the workshops of the mechanics of Glasgow, and freely entering into conversation with them; amongst others he was often found at the workshop of our illustrious countryman James Watt, then a watchmaker in Glasgow; and it was in consequence of the avidity with which the workmen, availed themselves of the theoretical information which on these visits he was in the constant practice of imparting, that he first conceived the idea of bringing within their reach those principles of science, the attainment of which had hitherto been confined to the higher and wealthier classes.

He then commenced within the walls of the university a course of lectures on natural philosophy, for the especial benefit of that class of society, and divided the course into two branches; one meeting four times a-week, in which the mathematical principles of the science were considered apart from experimental illustration; and the other, which met twice a-week, consisting entirely of those branches which admitted of such illustration, and in which the principles of mathematics were less called into operation. This latter class was regularly and numerously attended by a great many manufacturers and others engaged in operative occupations, and was continued for several years with great success; and he called it his antitoga class, in contradistinction to his regular academic attendance, which was denominated the toga class. It was in consequence of the decided improvement in the arts and manufactures of Glasgow, which from that time became very evident, and which Professor Anderson justly attributed to his instructions, that he conceived the truly philanthropic intention of bequeathing his ample fortune for “the good of mankind and the improvement of science.” In the provisions of his will there was an especial reference to the formation of classes upon the principle of that which he had himself so successfully taught within the walls of the university.

Professor Anderson died on the 16th of January 1796; and at a meeting of his executors, held on the 23d of March following, it was resolved to carry his intentions into immediate effect. Accordingly on the 21st of September of the same year, Dr. Thomas Garnett was elected first professor of natural philosophy.

The lectures however were at first only popular. Dr. Garnett, in 1800, was appointed to the chair of natural philosophy in the Royal Institution of Great Britain, founded at the suggestion of Count Rumford and Sir Joseph Banks; and Dr. George Birckbeck was elected in his stead. It was then, upon the suggestion of Or. Birckbeck, that the trustees were enabled to give full effect to Professor Anderson’s favourite idea, as expressed in his will, of affording instruction in experimental philosophy to the artizans of Glasgow. Such was the origin of the first mechanics’ class, which has now been taught for upwards of thirty-six years with increasing success and advantage to this interesting class of students.

But important as was this era in the history of the class which was thus instituted, it was not until upwards of twenty years afterwards that the example was followed by any other city in the kingdom. At length, however, in 1821, the School of Arts for the instruction of mechanics was formed in Edinburgh; and within a year or two afterwards, the example was followed, and another institution of the same nature was originated in Glasgow, in consequence of some differences which had arisen between Dr. Ure, (Dr. Birckbeck’s successor in the Andersonian Institution), and the students who attended his operative class. A great many of these left the Andersonian and founded the Mechanics’ Institution, of which Dr. Birckbeck, at their solicitation, consented to become the patron. About the same time the London Mechanics’ Institution was instituted, and within a very few years after this period there was hardly a city of any note in the kingdom which had not institutions of a kindred description.

As might have been expected, there exists a variety of opinions both as to the precise kind of instruction which these institutions ought to afford in order to carry their objects into the most complete effect, and also in regard to the manner in which they ought to be governed. Some conceive that the course of instruction ought to be of a popular nature, admitting amongst the lectures upon the graver and more abstruse sciences, prelections of a lighter and more attractive kind; whilst others are of opinion that the course ought to be strictly confined to those branches of physical science alone which are of practical application in the arts or manufactures. The management of several, indeed of the greater number, is entirely in the hands of the mechanics themselves; some have an admixture of these with the upper classes of society, whilst in others of a third description, the government is entirely vested in the latter, or wealthier classes.

Favourable as we are to the universal diffusion of knowledge amongst the great mass of the people, we conceive, that the paramount object which these institutions have in view, namely, the advancement of the arts and manufactures, will be most decidedly and advantageously promoted, by confining the attention of the student to those branches of the physical sciences which bear more especially on the great majority of the useful arts. We have seen and examined carefully the plans of study as followed by most of the leading institutions of this kind throughout the kingdom; but, whilst we generally approve of them all, we shall confine ourselves to a more extended outline of the course followed by the Edinburgh School of Arts, as being that which seems to us most likely to promote the great objects they all have in view. It being self-evident that the elements of mathematics, mechanical philosophy, and chemistry, are of the most general application to the useful arts, it has been the [7:14:461]principal aim of the directors of that institution to urge the necessity of acquiring a knowledge of these upon the notice of the student by every possible means; and especially that they should thoroughly understand the fundamental principles of mathematics, both from the intimate connexion these have with all the physical sciences, and as supplying a course of mental discipline, highly favourable to the successful prosecution, at any after period of life, of those studies the principles of which are more immediately involved in the ordinary occupations of life, and by the application of (which alone any decided improvements in the arts may reasonably be looked for. And in order to encourage the student to adhere steadily to a certain course of study, an honorary certificate or diploma was instituted, conferring on the successful candidate the privilege of availing himself gratuitously, during his life, of all advantages of the institution. That course of study is as follows :—

I. A junior class of mathematics meeting twice a-week, in which the following branches are taught: Arithmetic, including vulgar and decimal fractions; Algebra, as far as simple and quadratic equations; Geometry, first and second books of Euclid. In this class, a portion of each hour of teaching is devoted to exercises and examinations.

II. A senior class of mathematics meeting once a-week, in which the following branches are taught: Geometry, the remaining books of Euclid; Logarithms; Mensuration and Trigonometry, with their various practical applications. In this class, also, a portion of each hour of teaching is devoted to exercises and examinations.

III. A class of Natural Philosophy, illustrated by experiments, meeting once a-week, in which the following branches are taught: Mechanics, including statics and dynamics; Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, and Optics, with such additional matter as time may permit of. A part of every fourth lecture of this course is devoted to examinations on the subjects treated of in the three preceding lectures.

IV. A class of Theoretical Chemistry, in which the principles of the science are taught, together with their application to the principal arts and manufactures in the processes of which chemical principles are involved. This class meets oncea-week; and apart of every fourth lecture of this course is devoted to examinations upon the subjects of the three preceding lectures.

V. It is of course left optional to the students to attend as many of the classes in one session as they please, and also to attend them separately in whatever order they prefer. But the directors, impressed with the benefits which may arise from such a course of study, earnestly recommend those who desire fully to avail themselves of the benefits of the institution, to pursue their studies on the following plan, viz. During the first year, to attend the junior mathematical class alone; during the secorid year, to attend the senior mathematical and the chemistry classes; and during the third year, to attend the natural philosophy and the chemistry classes.

It was therefore with the view of encouraging students to pursue this regular and systematic plan of education, that the directors instituted the honorary certificate above mentioned.

This course of study has for the last four years been most steadily persevered in, and the acquirements of the students who obtained the certificates after the most searching examinations, have completely satisfied the directors and other competent judges who were present on these occasions, that the great object of the institution had, in their case at least, been attained, and that the information acquired by them was sound and practical.

Within the last year an addition to the course of study afforded by this institution has been made, and it promises to have the most beneficial effect on the advancement of those branches of art, in which the principles of Design are in any way involved, viz. a class for Ornamental Modelling. It is by no means intended in this class to open a nursery for artists, but only to teach those engaged in trades where ornament is in the least concerned, such as silver-chasers, jewellers, plasterers, glass-cutters, brassfounders, smiths, die-sinkers, and a variety of others, to form their ideas of design on the most approved models of ancient and modem excellence; to enable them, instead of servilely imitating existing patterns, with a vague uncertainty and want of acquaintance with the laws which regulate art, to classify their labours, and, by accustoming their minds to contemplate and imitate acknowledged excellence, gradually to lead the way to that creative skill in the execution of designs, which may eventually lead to the commencement of a new era in such departments ofart.

The fee for each of the four classes above mentioned separately, the junior mathematics, the senior mathematics, the natural philosophy, and the chemistry, is five shillings. A ticket which gives admission to all the lectures, twelve shillings. The privileges of the library is extended to all students, whether attending one or more classes.

When these institutions were first originated, a great many excellent persons were led to withhold from them their countenance and support, fearing that the moral effect which they might have on the minds of the working classes would be unfavourable to the reception of those great and fundamental principles of religion, without which all human acquirements sink into insignificance; and that they would only fit their pupils .more thoroughly for becoming the dupes and tools of designing men. Our opinion, however, of their effects upon society at large, is very different indeed; for by invigorating the faculties and enlarging the information of the student, this training serves the double purpose of enabling them to understand the evidences and truths of religion more easily and more thoroughly than they could otherwise have done, and of fortifying them more strongly against those sophistries by which its enemies so often and so fatally perplex the ignorant and the simple. It is true that knowledge is not always accompanied with such results; but its natural tendency is to counteract and prevent the very evils which have been apprehended as likely to result from it. Proceeding on the supposition that the young men who attend these institutions have previously, under the parental roof and at the schools where they obtained their elementary education, been taught the principles of religion, the mental discipline which they receive therein, and the course of study they are encouraged to pursue, furnish them with the means of cherishing a more enlightened, vigorous, and steady attachment to those great doctrines, which constitute the perfection and the glory of all science; and as industry is one of the best safeguards of moral conduct, they will operate most beneficially in that respect on those whose chief danger arises from the temptations which beset them at their leisure hours. Being necessarily so much occupied with objects of sense, and so little accustomed to purely mental exercises, when they seek for enjoyment, they are apt to look for it in the indulgence of mere appetite. Now these institutions are calculated to rescue them from the power of such temptations, not only by filling up their spare time with innocent and laudable pursuits, and providing them with occupations which elevate them far above the grossness of sensuality, but by training them up to habits of purity, sobriety, and correct deportment.

It is pleasing, therefore, to be enabled to say that the progress and advancement of the arts since the commencement of these institutions, has been most striking. They have attained an elevation, and partaken of a character which was formerly unknown; and since that period we may date the discovery and improvement of several of the most widely useful inventions, and the consequent dissemination of those comforts and elegancies of life, which have had such an influence on the whole social system.
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