Delivered at Hurstper-point, in 1851, to the Members of a Working Man's Reading Room.

I AM here to-night through the invitation of your kind friends, with no right but that of unfeigned interest in every institution like yours.

The subject I had proposed was the Progress of Society. I changed it for that of the Working Classes. But even this is too full of pre

tension.

Nevertheless, the mere fact of my standing here to-night is full of significance.

More so than railways or electric telegraphs.

That so many of the Working Classes should come here after a hard day's work is very significant.

It proves the growing victory of the spirit over the animal: That the lower life of toil and animal indulgence is getting to be reckoned as not the all of man.

It shows, too, that the Working Classes are becoming conscious of their own destinies.

Any Society is in an advanced state when it begins to contemplate itself, and asks, “Whither do we tend?"

Three thousand years ago, the centre of the World's civilization was in Eastern Africa.

The monuments of this civilization still re

main. The Pyramids. -They are the wonder of travellers, whose report of their measurements excites, in turn, our astonishment and surprise.

But to one considering the progress of the race, these Pyramids tell a different tale. They were built by the Working Classes, under coercion. They were built for Royal ostentation.

Herodotus speaks of hundreds of thousands degraded into serfs.

In the Metropolis of the World's present civilization, a structure stood this year almost as marvellous as these pyramids.

Remarkable not for gigantic massiveness. But for punctuality and order.

Built, too, under Royal auspices, and built by the Labouring Classes.

But not built, like the pyramids, for Royal splendour. It was built for the exhibition of the works of Labouring Men.

You could not go through that building without feeling that Royalty itself was second there, not first.

One feeling I had was—There is nothing here that I can make. I belong to the non-producing classes.

New era. The dignity of Labour.The sinking of the Individual in the Society.

Another truth typified by that bearing on the destinies of the Working Classes. The approach of an age of Peace.-Falaise.—Guizot.

Assume, then, the fact of the growing importance of the Working Classes.

There are two ways of treating this fact, just as there are two ways of treating an heir just entering on a noble patrimony. One is, that of the sycophant, to tell him how great he is.

Another way is, that of wise friends, who tell him that as he has become great, therefore he has duties; because he has become rich, therefore he has responsibilities.

There are two ways of treating the Working Classes. One, to tell them how enlightened they are. -How powerful.- -That Vox populi vox

Dei, &c.

Another, that of reminding them that because free, they should fit themselves for freedom; because destined to play a great part on the stage

of the world's history, therefore it behooves them to cast off their ignorance—their vices.

Value of these Institutions. First, Habits of self-government. Secondly, They expand the sympathies.

I hold it as a principle that a man is great and good in proportion to the extent of his sympathies.-The man whose eye is ever fixed on himself is the smallest of human beings.-The next step is love of Relations.-The next, love of Country. The next, sympathy with all that belongs to Man.

And this is God's method of gradual education, through the Family, the Nation, the Race.

One means given for this is public newspapers, which tell of other countries. A wise man gets out of the paltry events of his own village-election of churchwardens, &c.-to think of great questions. Further still, the social state of other countries.

Observe on our English narrowness, the idea that one Englishman is equal to two Frenchmen.

-We are apt to think that English manners, English literature, &c. is the only good thing in God's World.

Recent case of an illustrious foreigner, formerly Dictator of Hungary. Received with enthusiasm by the Working Classes. I pronounce no opin

Some say great,

ion in this place about him. good, noble, others call him a charlatan and revolutionist. This matters not. The question is not so much what a man worships, admires, but as what. Kossuth may be no hero, if

you will; but to see those hard-handed sons of toil in Manchester and Birmingham honouring one whom they thought good and noble, when in exile and oppressed; he has little heart indeed who is not touched by it.

Now this kind of Institution fits men for Work.

-Foolish objection that it incapacitates them for business.- The labourer who knows something of chemistry-on what principle soils are composed; why such manures are employed in one case and not in another; according to what laws decomposition takes place is a better labourer than one who knows nothing of all this.

The mechanic who understands the laws of motion, is a better mechanic than the Chinese sort, who can merely follow a copy.

The domestic servant is improved when she understands the reason why certain things are done, and why certain results follow.

There is a foolish prejudice against educating the poor, lest we should fail to get servants or apprentices.

Putting aside the diabolical character of the