Puslapio vaizdai
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FOR VAGRANT CHILDREN.

By J. C. BUCKMASTER.
(Continued from Page 307.)

been to school, and is sent there solely because it is em- ON REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS ployed in a factory, it follows that the instruction to be obtained is a secondary consideration, is acquired carelessly and without heart. But if the same child had been to school, and had learnt to read and to write before admitted to work in a factory, it will not be denied that the benefit The vagrant children, for whose benefit Ragged Schools of instruction then will in all probability be tenfold, and were established, form a distinct class, and require very that the child will rece've that instruction more willingly, different treatment to those children who have always had as it will be evidently not a clog attached to employment. the advantage of sober and industrious parents. It is The application of such a principle in this country would scarcely necessary, in illustration of the argument, to have been impossible a few years back, both from the adduce any statistics as to the extent of juvenile delinpaucity of schools and from the lamentably small number quency in this country. The following statistics, from a of children frequenting them, but the increased number of Parliamentary Paper, may not be altogether out of place:schools in operation, and the increasing attendance of In 1849 there were 6489 juvenile offenders committed children would, probably, render the carrying out of such in England, and in Wales 73; while in 1850 the number a system less difficult. The schools to which I have re- committed in England was 6988, and in Wales 82. Of ferred are in the midst of other schools and of factories, the number in England and Wales, in 1849, 167 were and yet, notwithstanding the competition for labour, the sentenced to transportation, and in 1850 184. The others proprietors do not lack hands; and I venture to hope that were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. On a principle requiring some school attendance previous to the 1st of November last, of juvenile offenders undergoing employment in a factory, or rather that no child should sentence, there were in England and Wales 169 under be qualified to work in a factory unless it had previously 13 years of age, and 568 under 16. Out of this number attended school might be so gradually and judiciously 429 had been in prison before. Of the juveniles then introduced that it should have no injurious effect upon the undergoing sentence 29 were illegitimate; it appears that supply of children necessary for the labour in factories." of the offenders then in prison, in pursuance of sentence, Mr. Redgrave then refers "to the iron and coal masters' 329 had lost one parent, and 103 had lost both parents, prize scheme, in South Staffordshire, reported by Mr. 327 were unable to read, and 554 had not been brought Tremenheere, inspector of mines, from whom the scheme up to any definite occupation. So far as I have been able originated, and by whose exertions it has been mainly esto investigate, I can find no nation in Europe presenting tablished, and by the Rev. J. P. Norris, who was author-anything like the same statistics of juvenile delinquency. ized by the Committee of Privy Council on Education to Before a boy in this country can become an object of conduct the examination of the candidates. This is an legislative interference, he must become a criminal, and association for awarding prizes to children attending after numerous convictions, at the public expense, he schools in the mining districts of South Staffordshire. enters upon the life of a convict, at Parkhurst. How The following are two of the fundamental rules :— many boys might have been saved this degradation; how "Candidates must have been at least two years in much public money saved by timely interference. attendance at their respective schools. "These schools must be under Government inspec

tion.'

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Upon the occasion of the first examination on the 24th February, 1852, eighteen schools, having 3,000 scholars upon their books, contributed eighty-five candi-chiefly cultivated with the spade, and the careful preserdates qualified to compete. Each successful candidate received, in addition to his prize, a certificate testifying to the nature of the prize and the merits of the holder, signed bythe president of the association and the Inspector of Schools, and it is stated that these certificates had been afterwards useful as testimonials in obtaining employ

ment."

He alludes to the impediments to the extension of the better class of schools by the encouragement given by parents to masters who are neither sufficiently instructed nor adapted for the office of schoolmaster. Similar difficulties do not exist in Prussia, where every teacher of youth must be previously examined and certified, under the regulations of the Government, before he can follow his profession."

Though he does not advocate a strictly analogous system for this country, yet he maintains that some control is necessary over teachers. Admitting the right of a parent to select the school, he considers it no infringment of that right, but a proper policy, to prevent his hardearned money being squandered, not only without benefit to his children, but even to their positive injury.

JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES -The Registrar of Joint-Stock Companies reports a list of 339 companies provisionally registered in 1853, and 124 completely registered The list of companies previously registered comprises 35 assurance companies, 80 railway, 54 gas, 33 for other public works, 32 mining companies, 30 companies for conducting manufactories or working patents, 18 shipping compani s. 3 land conveyance companies, 4 fishing companies, and 7 trading. Among the companies that proceeded to complete registration were 24 asrance companies, 39 gas, 4 for other public works, 18 mining companies, 10 for conducting manufactures or working patents, 10 shipping companies, and 2 trading.

In England and Wales there are 3,450,000 acres of waste land; some portion of this land is capable of profitable cultivation. Upon 200 acres of this land I would suggest the establishment of an Industrial School, with suitable accommodation for 200 boys; the land should be vation of the manure of such an establishment would in a few years make it very productive. These schools should be open for vagrant children, and no boy should be allowed to leave the school before he was 16 or 17 years of age. If the parents of any boy at these schools could show satisfactorily to the authorities that they were in a condition to take charge of him, such a request might, under proper regulations, be granted, but in no case should it be granted if there was the least probability of the boy becoming a burden on the public. A boy on entering the school should be made to feel and understand that he was about to enter upon a new life,-that his success and happiness depended upon himself. All available influences should be brought to bear upon his character, and every means used to gain his confidence. There is a strong prejudice in this country against the employment of boys who have spent part of their life either in a prison or a workhouse; they are generally looked upon with suspicion; many a good determination has been abandoned, many & noble resolution broken, and many a character lost for the want of a kind word and a promise of forgetfulness of what has passed. I knew a boy who had been in prison for some petty theft, and after his liberation he obtained employment as an errand-boy to a tradesman in the City; he had not been in his situation more than two weeks before he was found out by his old companions, and they wanted him to rob his master; they explained to him how easily it might be effected, and the impossibility of it ever and all entreaties on the part of his companions were unbeing found out. The boy remained firm to his purpose, availing; then came the threat, that unless he did rob his master they would go and tell him he had been in prison. True to their purpose, two young men, respectably dressed, waited upon the boy's master, told him they had called

by way of caution, explained the circumstances of the boy's imprisonment, which was followed by the poor fellow's instant dismissal. The poor boy had no father; his mother was a drunkard, and in six months he came to Parkhurst as a convict. I have known parents who have heard the sentence of transportation passed upon their children without the slightest emotion of sorrow. It is this inhumanity of parents which has filled our streets with juvenile mendicants and thieves. Born in vice and matured in crime, many of these poor children are cast like orphans upon the world; an asylum awaits them at Parkhurst, but they must enter through the portals of a prison.

The cultivation of the land is the best employment for these boys, but the chances of obtaining a livelihood as an agricultural labourer in this country are every day becoming more difficult. Their future home and restingplace must be the colonies, and this they should distinctly understand on admission to the school. The choice of a colony might be left to the boy or his parents, and I am not without the hope that such a system as I am about to propose would enable the boys to become valuable colonists. In the case of boys who are deserted, or orphans, I think our duty is clear; but in the case of those boys who have parents, it is more difficult, and I fear the difficulty cannot be overcome without some legislative enactment. An Act of Parliament should empower any householder or policeman to lodge a complaint before the magistrates against the parents of those boys who live as vagrants in the street; these boys are well known to the police, long before they have been known to commit crime. I have sometimes spoken to the police about these boys, and I have generally obtained this answer:"Ah! I shall have them by-and-bye, sir; I have not been able to lay hold of them yet." Now, this, in my opinion, is just the time somebody should lay hold of them. Should it appear to the magistrate, on inquiry, that the boy had been neglected through the vice or profligacy of his parents, he should order the boy to one of these schools, and the sum of one shilling, two shillings, or half-a-crown, according to circumstances, should be paid by his parents towards his maintenance. I am not insensible to the probable objections that may be raised against a scheme which requires an Act of Parliament to give it effect. Something may be said about the liberty of the subject, and the cruelty of a compulsory system. If parents, by their own vices, become incapable of taking care of their children, there is no cruelty in relieving them of the responsibility-the cruelty consists in allowing their children to remain with them. If parents inflict severe punishment on their children, or send them to work in factories before a certain age, the law interferes, but parents may allow their children to become mendicants and thieves, without any legal responsibility.. I have always been averse to Acts of Parliament which interfere with the social duties of life, but I fear these evils cannot be overcome without legislative assistance. I am not disposed to think lightly of those ties which bind families together; I would that these feelings were stronger, but the children that would be most affected by this proposed change are those who, in most cases, would be better without parental influence than with it. Some, perhaps, would be glad to get rid of their children in the manner I have suggested, but the system would hold out no inducement to such parents, because all would be liable to pay according to their means.

The 200 boys which one of these schools would be able to accommodate should be formed into two divisions -the senior division, over thirteen years of age, should work ten hours a day, and the junior division, which would consist of the boys under that age, should work three hours or three hours and a-half a day. These two divisions should be sub-divided into families, of not more than fifteen, and over each family there should be a good agricultural labourer and his wife. The success of the scheme would depend, in a great measure, upon the elec

tion of suitable persons to superintend these families. The clergymen of our agricultural villages would know of labourers admirably suited for these situations. Tailoring and shoemaking should not be brought into the school, except in the case of a few boys, who might, from physical causes, be unsuited for agricultural labour. The school should be made, as far as possible, self-supporting; the most approved systems of agriculture should be practised. It should be continually before the boys, that by their labour they assisted towards the expenses of their maintenance; that the clothes they wore and the food they eat were partly produced by their own work. If it were convenient, the boys should be paid a small sum weekly for their labour, which should be paid back again for their board. This would remove the idea of pauperism, and create proper feelings of industrial independence. If any surplus money should arise, either from the labour of the boys, or the payment of parents, it should go towards defraying their emigration expenses. During the busy seasons of the year, neighbouring farmers, under suitable regulations, might engage the labour of these boys. The expense of providing food for two hundred boys and fifteen labourers and their wives, would not average more than 34d. each per day. Each family would take its meals separately in a room connected with the labourer's cottage; a small library might be attached to each family. In the evening the labourer and his wife should sit with the boys, and give them instruction in knitting, plaiting, &c.; work of this kind should be quite voluntary, and any profit that might arise from it should be given to the boy; he should be encouraged to put this money in a bank, which should be connected with the school. The annual expense of maintaining such a school as I have proposed would be about 2,5001.

Annual expense of clothing 200 boys
Do. board for boys, with labourers and their
wives

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£312

1277

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195

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£1800

This would leave a deficiency of £774, which might be made up partly by voluntary contributions, and partly by a grant from Government. I believe, under good management, such a school as I have suggested would in a few years be self-supporting.

The Quatt Farm School. belonging to the Bridgnorth Union, affords a good illustration of what can be done by pade husbandry. Last year, upon 25 acres of land, there was a net profit of £50. (To be continued.)

AMERICAN PATENTS. The Report of the Commissioner of Patents, the Hon. Charles Mason, for the year 1853, states that the receipts of the Patent Office for that year amounted to 121,527 dollars, while the expenses were 132,870 dollars, Among the items of expenditure were 7,086 dollars for seeds and agricultural statistics; 29,513 dollars for salaries, offices, &c., and 23,466 dollars refunded money for withdrawals.

During the year, 375 patents have expired, and 958 have been issued. This is nearly twice the number issued in 1841, though 62 less than last year, and 118 less than

300 stalks will each give 4 lbs. fibre, worth say 1d. per pound (when merely dried and packed),-that will be 57. But there will be raised on the same acre of land, along with the first crop of plantains, a crop of beans, of yains, and of corn, worth together, at the very least, 251; so that the first year's produce will yield 421, and the second and succeeding years, when the plantains will cover and therefore shade the ground, and there will be no room for other crops, the produce will be repeated every three months, and the fruit will be worth, at the same rate, 361., and the fibre 151. If a whole family is employed by the wife and children, leaving the man at liberty, after the first planting, either to extend the cultivation, to plant and cultivate canes, or to work for hire on a neighbouring plantation.

in 1849. The number of applications, however, was never higher than last year. The ratio of patents granted to the number of applications is as one to three: in 1849, when so many were issued, the ratio was as one to two. The cause of this falling off, however, was solely the lack of examiners, caused by the changes occurring in the office in the beginning of the year. That the examiners are not men of much leisure is evident from the fact that there are now 25,000 models in the office, 17,000 of which were received during the past nine years, and 3,000 were filed during 1853. The eight additional clerks who came on in July have enabled them to reduce the 1,028 cases un-planting two acres of land, it may be kept in perfect order disposed of on the 1st of July, to 582 on last New Year's Day. And yet more help is wanted. There ought to be force enough not only to reduce these arrears, but to put the office in good working order, so that as little detention as possible may occur when a patent is applied for.

According to the evidence of Sir Henry Barkly, before the House of Commons, the continuous labour of one able hand, for a year, is necessary to produce four hogsheads of sugar, or 100 hands 400 hogsheads. According to Bessemer's method of manufacture, nearly the whole of the saciharine matter being extracted from the canes, and converted in two days into fine dry chrystals of sugar, the same labour would produce, at least, six hogsheads of sugar, and this would be worth 1007.; less 127. for manufacture, 881.

A thing needing very much to be done, as it would greatly facilitate future examinations is, to index carefully and fully the reference books of the office, now amounting to 5,750 volumes. But an increase of force would make more room necessary, and for this the Commissioner petitions. Now a model has to be exposed a long time where a shrewd stranger who has access to the examiners may guess out its features from the glimpses he easily gets. It ought certainly to be so arranged that perfect secresy could be preserved for a model until the application has It thus appears that every industrious family in the been acted on. The commissioner wants to get possession tropics may, if they can obtain four or five acres of good of the large hall where the curiosities from the Exploring land, by temperate labour upon it, earn 1307. to 1407. Expeditions are now stowed, and for which the Smithso-a-year. Cotton is not so certain a crop, but, as provisions nian Institution is thought to be the proper place. It is needed for the proper exhibition and working of models. He suggests that it would save a great deal of unnecessary trouble, too, if the whole system of withdrawals were abolished, and inventors were required to pay their money only when it is wanted. Also, that the fee required of foreigners is enormous, and higher than American citizens have to pay in any country. Great Britain has reduced her high rate of patent fees lately, and charges the same fee to subject or alien. In the States a British subject is charged 500 dollars for that which an American citizen gets for 30 dollars. The proper way would be to charge the inventor, wherever he comes from, only such a fee as remunerates for the trouble he gives the office. Several other reforms are proposed, which seem reasonable: a change in the manner of taking testimony; of appealing from the decisions of the office; and some measures looking to the prevention of the protracted controversies which come in to absorb a great portion of the value of every truly valuable patent.

THE PLANTAIN TREE.

Paper has been made of the leaves and stalk of the Plantain Tree, which is grown in the West Indian Colonies, for the fruit. Humboldt states that one acre of good land in the tropics, planted therewith, will yield as much nutritious food as 144 acres of wheat. Mr. A. D. G. Netscher, an extensive proprietor in British Guiana, states that the cost of keeping up a plantain estate in that colony would be about 67. per acre; and that if grown, and cut down every eight months for the stem alone, the produce would be 1,400 to 1,500 good stems every cutting, or 4,500 in two years, and that the average quantity of fibre of each stem may be taken at 4 lbs. An acre of land will thus produce 9,000 lbs. of fibre per annum, at the cost of 67., and if 47. be added to the expense of drying, carrying and preparing for market, the cost need not exceed a farthing a pound.

If the plantain trees are cultivated for food and allowed to stand in the ground until the fruit is sufficiently full to gather, they must have more space and time, and then the quantity of fibre will not be so large. If 300 trees be allowed to stand on an acre, the first year will give 300 bunches and 300 stalks. The next year 900. The 300 bunches of fruit will be worth, at least, 127. sterling; the

may be grown with it, would be found very profitable. Each family possessed of five acres of good land might, in addition to an abundance of food and fruit, raise three bales of Sea Island Cotton every year, which would be worth 801.; less charges packing and freight, say 107. If the land were thorough drained, and, consequently, ploughed for them, they might with ease produce double the quantity.

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Home Correspondence.

WOMEN AND GIRLS versus FEMALES.

SIR, Mr. Wallis's explanation of his use of the term female," as applied to human beings, does not help the philosophy of the matter much. The word "female" applies generally to all the animal, and probably all the vegetable races, but even on this showing, in order to be definite, Mr. Wallis should specify what he means,-as & female monkey-or, in the phraseology of the police courts, "This here female woman, please your worship." God created man and woman in his own image, and they begat sons and daughters, whom we call boys and girls while in their nonage; of the lower animals, "male and female created he them." If this be so, the descendants of the Massachusetts Puritans, ruling over cotton, do scriptural wrong in mixing them up under the same designation. I am quite aware of the absurd mock-delicacy in the use of words pervading the American union, but this ought not to blind Mr. Wallis to any real indelicacy, and I apprehend it is indelicacy to regard women merely sexually, and therefore it is indelicate to use a term only distinguishing sex. The terms used to denote human beings are numerous-men, women, young man, young woman, boy, girl, lad, lass, wench, queen, quean, king, youth, maiden, gentleman, lady. None of these terms are applied to the lower animals, and surely they are numerous enough without encroaching on sexual designations. The Red Indian says "my squaw," meaning his wife-slave; the labourer says "my woman,"-if coarse," my old woman," if affectionate. The delicate, manly man says, "my wife," the affected man says, my lady;" and the term "lady" is especially affected by those who have forfeited some claim to the world's respect, and also by those seeking to rise a grade, as lieutenants are called captains,

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and captains majors. Were the duties to accompany the title in all cases, perhaps they would not be assumed. The lady, laf-deg, literally loaf-distributor, was the wedded wife of the bread-winner, her husband, and superintendent of the pantler, or bread-chipper or slicer. The young lady, therefore, is really analogous to a baker's assistant; but it is probable that the "Lowell young ladies" rather assist the baker by consuming than by distributing his bread, and would most likely prefer laying down their assumed title if it could only be maintained by giving away gratu

itous breakfasts.

Proceedings of Institutions.

BOSTON.-The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Athenæum took place on the 18th ultimo. The report read by the secretary (Mr. J. W. Bontoft) shows an increase in the members over last year-the number at the present time being 450. The establishment of the class of "annual" or guinea members, had exceeded the expectations of its promoters, as many as 13 gentlemen having joined that class within 12 months of its formation. But there is something much pleasanter in the idea of During the past year £11 4s. 6d., was voluntarily suban American factory, where "young ladies" save money scribed for the purchase of 50 new books; and 10 were from ample earnings, and are intelligent enough to write, presented. The total number of volumes now in the library edit, and publish works of imagination and fancy, than of is 1920. The total revenue for the year amounted to the factories of our northern towns, where pinched wages £206 0s. 11d., the expenditure to £195 28. 10d., leaving and coarseness are the lot of the women working therein. | a balance of £10 18s. Id. to the credit of the Institution. The term wench, commonly applied by a northern father The issues of periodicals and newspapers amounted to 4260; to his daughter, would, in the States, sound indelicate, of books in the library to 4556; and of books hired from just as the term "gentleman," applied by workmen to Mudie's library to 7328; making a total of 16,144 issues; each other, seems absurd to those born with silver an average of 51 per day. The lectures of the past spoons;" who again would feel indignant at being termed season had been better attended than of late years. The man." The term mistress was originally a term of re- services of Mr. Partington have been engaged for a course spect; in some cases it is now a term of reproach. The in April, and the Institution is guaranteed against any term master, denoted ownership or a mastery over arts loss, a sufficient number of tickets for the lectures having or trades; it has now degenerated into mister. Esquires been disposed of before the lecturer was engaged. This have multiplied beyond limit, but shields have disappeared principle might doubtless be advantageously applied by save on seals; workmen have dwindled into " hands," other Institutions. The report states that the connexion and manhood and womanhood have sunk into mere dis-with the Society of Arts continues, and with the most tinctions of sex, not regarding qualities. Not for this, but satisfactory result. far otherwise, did" God create man in his own image." Society must learn to respect humanity generally in order to teach individuals self-respect. The use and abuse of terms is an important element for this object. I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

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3, Adam-street, Adelphi, March 20, 1854.

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W. BRIDGES ADAMS.

NATURE PRINTING. SIR,-I wish to claim a small space in the Journal of the Society for a few notes upon that beautiful process termed "Natural Printing,"-to step in between the promoters at present contending with one another as to the priority of ascent up the ladder of invention, Dr. Branson, of Sheffield, contending for one order of things, and Mr. Aitken, of Birmingham, for another; the latter gentle man stating in his paper, read Feb. 15, "that it is his suspicion that the Austrian application had been derived from the English patent for the ornamenting of metals by pressure, and that the earliest application of the principle in which metal was used by the Austrians, in order to copy lace, appears to have taken place between May and October, 1852, the first English patent alluded to having been sealed in January of the same year." Now, the purport of my note is to go much further back. I believe the officers of the Imperial Press at Vienna obtained the process adopted so successfully by them between May and October, in the memorable year 1851, from our Great Exhibition, where my friend, Mr. Taylor, of Nottingham, exhibited specimens of lace, muslin, and leaves, printed from impressions in type metal. He has used the plan for the last ten years. A specimen of beautiful lace printing by this gentleman may be seen in the Journal of Design for November, 1851.

Believing Nature Printing and the Austrians are greatly indebted to our International Exhibition,

I remain Sir, ever yours truly,

JOHN LEIGHTON.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED ON RAILWAYS. (open and not open) at the end of June, 1852, was 103,536, and at the end of the same month last year 118,173. The length of line opened at the end of June, 1852, was 7,075 miles and 52 chains, and at the end of June last 7,511 miles and 754 chains. The total length of line authorised at the end of June last was 11,884 miles and 46 chains.

BURY ST. EDMUNDS.-On Tuesday, the 21st of February, the members of the Athenæum and Suffolk Institute of Archæology and Natural History held a Literary and Artistic Conversazione in the Town Hall. Upon the walls were hung paintings, drawings, and engravings, and other specimens of the fine arts, the whole of which had been selected from the collections of gentlemen resident in the town and neighbourhood, and were kindly lent for the occasion. Among the most liberal of the contributors to the exhibition were the Marquis of Bristol and Hy. Jas. Oakes, Esq., of Newton Court. The chair was taken at 8 o'clock, by J. H. P. Oakes, Esq., M.P., who commenced the proceedings of the evening by briefly naming the papers which would be read, and announcing that fifteen minutes would be allowed between each, for the purpose of inspecting the artistic attractions adorning the walls. The Right Hon. and Rev. Lord Arthur Hervey, the President of the Institution, then read a most ingenious and eloquent paper upon Poetry and Painting. His Lordship, in a popular style, traced the progress of the imitative and creative faculties in the minds of the poet and painter, from their earliest dawn to their full development in the epic poem and the historical painting, illustrating his remarks by references to the pictures ou the walls, and by apt quotations from Homer, Milton, &c. He then showed the analogy existing between the different schools of painting and poetry. After the lapse of the appointed time, during which the audience had promenaded round the Hall, the Right Hon. and Rev. Lord Chas. Hervey, M.A., proceeded to give a short lecture upon the Island of Malta, illustrated by drawings, maps, and plans. His Lordship first briefly, but most lucidly related the manner in which the island became a British possession; he then described its geonable fortresses, and impressively shewed its importance graphical position, its general appearance, and its impregto England as a station in the Mediterranean. Adverting then to its early history, he demonstrated by drawings and plans, made by himself on the spot, the identical bay in which St. Paul was shipwrecked, and confirmed his assertions by citing local names and traditions. His Lordship concluded this most interesting essay by describing a Roman tomb in the island, which he had opened and examined, and by exhibiting amphora, urns, &c., he had taken from it. The third and last paper was on the Language and Literature of Ancient Britain,

by the Rev. Rt. Jones. The proceedings of the evening-Juvenile writing and arithmetic, 87; first juvenile were terminated by a short address from the chairman, in reading, 26; second do., 19; third do., 28; adult writing which he conveyed the thanks of the audience to their and arithmetic, 26; adult reading, 16; drawing, 8; able instructors. The Hall was densely crowded during French, 6. A discussion class has also been recently formed, the entire evening, but none of the works of art exhibited and a grammar class upon the mutual improvement sustained the slightest injury. principle. In the female branch the attendance for the same time was:-Juvenile reading, 16; adult do., 14; geographv. 17; arithmetic, 24; reading, 10; writing, 16. Mrs. Balfour had delivered four lectures at the Institution during the year. The total receipts during the year had been nearly £480, the expenditure about £435; so that they had been able to reduce their debt to the banker, from £159 1s., to £121 19s. 4d. The directors expressed their regret that their anticipation with respect to the erection of a new hall had not yet been realised.

CLAPHAM.-Mr. J. Tell Topham delivered a lecture "On Thomas Moore, the Bard of Erin," at the Literary and Scientific Institution, on Friday, the 3rd inst. He commenced by affirming, that in all remarks on individual character, allowance should always be made for the peculiarity of the age, and the temperament of the man; justice requiring not a positive, but a relative estimate of character. The lecturer then traced the career of Moore, from his first arrival in London, criticising his satiric poems, the Irish Melodies, Lalla Rookh, and other productions, and enumerating his various prose works. His great misfortune was, that society idolised him. It was, however, a delightful remembrance that the flattery of nearly half a century did not spoil him. He never lost his good nature: his feelings, too, retained their freshness; and neither parents, nor family, nor home, were ever forgotten by him.

DEVONPORT.-Mr. R. Burnet, the founder of the Mechanics' Institute, has placed in the hands of the Committee the sum of £5, to be awarded as a prize for the best Essay "On the Best Mode of Educating Youth, so as to teach them to trust to their own energies, rather than to public or private patronage for advancement in life." The essays are to be sent in by the 1st of April. The premium is not limited to the members of the

Institute.

DUNMOW.-On the 8th instant, the Rev. H. Gammidge gave a lecture at this Institution, on the "Commere of Ancient Times." He first defined commerce in general, and its main divisions; and stated that no apology was necessary for introducing this subject to the consideration of Englishmen. In ancient times wars and revolutions alone were recorded, but history would henceforth assume a different aspect, and embrace the friendly dealings of mankind with each other. The foundations of commerce were laid by Providence, which had so ordered things that different products were found in different countries; and the necessity of exchanging these had made the origin of commerce equal with the world. Its operations were first carried on by barter, and the things exchanged were for the most part flocks, herds, and the fruits of the earth. There were evident traces in the Mosaic writings of commercial transactions even before the flood; and such transactions greatly multiplied in the times of Abraham, Job, and Moses. From the Hebrews he passed to the Tyrians, and described their extensive operations by sea and land; illustrating his conclusions very happily by quotations from the Prophets. In the same lucid manner he selected the trade of ancient Egypt, and glanced at that of Greece and Rome. He then discussed the first introduction of coins, and of banks; and concluded with an impressive exhortation to the merchants of Britain to conduct their commerce with integrity, if they wished their country to escape the disastrous fate of Tyre. The President of the Institution, making a few remarks upon some points which had been touched on, returned the thanks of the meeting for this very able lecture.

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HALIFAX. The annual report of the Mechanics' Institution states, that during the past three years, the number of members had gradually increased from 412 to 550. The number of books issued from the library was 10,500, and of periodicals 4,200. During the same period 120 new volumes had been added. The news-room had been very successful, and was now one of the most popular features of the Institute. A con siderable change had been made in the classes, by the substitute of paid for gratuitous teachers; and the result was very satisfactory. The average nightly attendance in the quarter ending on December was:

MANCHESTER.-The annual report of the Institutional Association of the Literary and Mechanics' Institutions of Lancashire and Cheshire, states, that the number of institutions enrolled in the association at the present time was 38. Of these nine pay local rates, while thirteen, which include three large towns, with their own buildings, are allowed exemption. It was considered advisable for all Mechanics' Institutions to adopt a simple form of registry, which every person should sign on joining, whereby he or she engaged to obey the laws and rules of the institution. There had been an increase in the number of young persons attending the evening classes generally; and in three instances-Droyldsden, Oldham, and Bury,-female classes steady decline of lectures was apparent. Where paid lecwere alluded to. Throughout the whole district the turers had been attempted the result was unsatisfactory, equivocal success. The report alluded to the arrangements and gratuitous lecturing had also been attended with entered into by the Society of Arts with different publishers for the supply of books at reduced rates, and expressed the opinion that no benefit could be gained by deviating from the ordinary channels of supply, as both in Manchester and in Leeds, booksellers could be found who were prepared to supply Mechanics' institutions at 25 per cent. discount, free of carriage.

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TONBRIDGE.-Mr. A. W. Hakewell delivered two lectures at the Literary Society, on the 8th and 9th instant, upon The Study of Historical Paintings, considered as part of National Education." The lecturer elucidated his subject by observations on the original paintings by James Barry, at the Society of Arts, and exhibited some very fine engravings from those paintings, also executed by that artist.

WATERFORD.—The opening lecture of the Mechanics' Institute was delivered by Mr. W. L. Joynt, of Limerick, his subject being "The Importance of Supporting Literary Institutions." He referred to the suggestion for the formation of a Munster Union of Mechanics' Institutes, for the purpose of procuring lectures at a reasonable expense; and he urged the establishment of free libraries in the various boroughs in Ireland under the operation of the Museums and Libraries Act of last session, stating that it had been found that wherever a free library was established, it had given great support to the Mechanics' Institute. He recommended the members to petition Parliament for a grant of Parliamentary Papers, and to urge upon their representatives the desirability of giving that measure, as well as the bill shortly to be introduced into the House for the security of the property of Literary and Scientific Institutions, their most strenuous support.

WHITCHURCH.-Two interesting and instructive Lectures, on Popular Illusions, were delivered at the Mechanics' Institute on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the 22nd and 23rd of February, by Mr. C. F. Partington. The gentleman commenced his lecture by showing how the eye and ear might be deceived by scientific ingenuity, treating upon the powers of electricity and magnetism in connection with the wonders of science, giving a lengthened explanation of the phenomena of Table Moving and other subjects.

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