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MECHANICS' INSTITUTES. 



The formation of literary and scientific societies has. long been 

 considered one of the surest tests of the growing civilization of 

 an empire, and the only standard by which we can judge of the 

 intellectual enlightenment and purity of the age; for when once 

 the waters of knowledge have thoroughly saturated the soils 

 through which they pass, richness and fertility spring from their 

 washings, and boundless is the harvest of mind produced by their 

 wholesome and refreshing irrigations. Upon this score, England 

 owes a debt of gratitude to the names of Brougham, and Birk- 

 beck, which she never can repay, a debt, which ignorance owes 

 to those who have opened *^ the eyes of the blind," and dispelled 

 the mist of darkness from those beings, who have too long resem- 

 bled boys peeping out upon the light, by means of two small 

 orifices perforated through a shell, and fastened by a string around 

 their heads, and over their eyes : but the bandage and the shell 

 have been removed, and happily for the world, and ourselves, 

 knowledge plays in full streams of light upon the optic nerves of 

 millions ; and the names of their benefactors are, we believe, en- 

 graven on their hearts. The Plymouth Mechanics' Institute has 

 been founded for some years ; but the members of that Institute, 

 with a want of foresight, much to be regretted, incurred a debt of 

 £800., for the erection of their building, which is still standing 

 against them. This was a defective system of proceedure, for 

 these reasons. Firstly — it displayed a singular want of caution : 

 Secondly. — They had no right to contract a debt, which they had 

 not the power to meet. Thirdly — The burden of this amount, 

 which is still pressing on their shoulders, has taken from them 

 that freedom and independence of spirit, which every body of 

 men (whether civil or scientific) ought to exercise. Fourthly. — 

 By paying a small annual rental for the use of rooms, they might 

 have avoided their present distress, besides having (like the 

 Devonport Institute) a surplus sum of money, or balance in hand 

 to have answered needful, or contingent expenses. Fifthly. — 

 With this surplus cash they might have purchased scientific 

 apparatus. Disquisitions on mechanics, &c. These precautions 

 would have prevented all those awkward consequences, the force 

 of which they now feel; and have placed their Institute on a 

 proud and flourishing position. We have discussed these finan- 

 cial arrangements, and we beg to review cursorily -the internal 

 policy of our neighbouring Institutions. Now, we conceive, that 



