PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 155 



mittee, through the library^ new reading-room, and the several 

 class and apparatus rooms, in which he appeared to take great in- 

 terest ; and previously to entering his carriage expressed himself 

 highly gratified with the general arrangements of the Institution. 



The Manchester Mechanics' Institution was established in 1824. 

 It is governed by a Board of Directors, chosen annually from those 

 subscribers who are above twenty-one years of age, and who have 

 been two years members. The qualification to vote consists in being 

 a subscriber of six months' standing, and above the age of eighteen. 

 The subscription is <£1. per annum, which maybe paid by quarterly 

 instalments ; and the number of members, honorary and ordinary, 

 is about 1,200, of whom many are under eighteen years of age. — 

 About half of the ordinary members avail themselves of the evening 

 classes ; in which are taught arithmetic, grammar, writing ; figure, 

 landscape, and flower drawing ; architectural drawing, mechanical 

 drawing ; French, algebra and geometry, and vocal music. Classes 

 for German and Latin are also established. The library contains 

 upwards of 3000 volumes. A reading-room is attached to the libra- 

 ry : — and there is a Theatre for the delivery of lectures. A boys' 

 and girls' day-school is established, conducted on the plan of the 

 Edinburgh sessional school. 



It is a very gratifying fact, that many individuals attribute their 

 advancement in life to the opportunity of improving themselves 

 which this Institution has afforded. 



THE NEW MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, MANCHESTER. 



This Institution was founded in 1829. The number of members 

 is about 130, and the subscription of 5s. per quarter entitles them 

 to all the benefits of the establishment. There are occasional lec- 

 tures, and, in the evening classes, instruction is given in reading 

 and writing, arithmetic and mathematics, English and Latin gram- 

 mar, mechanical and architectural drawing, and landscape, figure, 

 and flower drawing. The library contains about oOO volumes, and 

 the weekly delivery is about 50 volumes. A Sunday evening school 

 is attached to this Institution, in which forty young women are 

 taught reading and singing. 



These Institutions occupy a very prominent ]>lace among the 

 means of education in Manchester, as affording opportunities of 

 gaining an acquaintance with higher branches of knowledge than 

 can be supplied in ordinary schools ; and offering their advantages 

 to persons of all ages, rank, situation and pursuits. The subjects 

 here studied are taught by men of judgment and ability, and the 

 affairs of the Institution conducted by a body of Directors who are 

 well able to judge of the merits of different plans of instruction, and 

 have ample opportunities of observing and comparing them. " Few 

 things," observes the Report of a Committee of the IManchester Sta- 



