THE SPECTATOR. Ill 



sentatives of Barnstaple, was about ninety pounds, the 

 subscription of each member is nine shillings and two 

 pence a year, and the number of volumes in the library 

 about 400. Three London daily papers are taken in, 

 besides provincial papers : lectures are delivered, 

 and discussions take place afterwards ; as yet no 

 classes for instruction have been formed. Females 

 are not allowed the privilege of being present at the 

 lectures. As yet this institution has not excited much 

 attention among the higher classes of society : its 

 name is a " Mechanics' Institution," and it seems to 

 be principally supported by the persons who form the 

 bulk of the members of such institutions. 

 • The BiDEFORD Institution was established in 

 January, 1832, and its object is the acquirement and 

 diffusion of " Useful Knowledge among its members ; 

 first, on Mechanics, Mathematics, and History ; and 

 afterwards, on such other subjects as circumstances 

 may require. The means by which these ends are 

 proposed to be accomplished are, — by the association 

 of persons, and the payment of a subscription or a 

 donation, — a library of reference and circulation, and a 

 reading room, — lectures on the Sciences, Arts, and 

 other subjects, when they can be obtained, — and 

 classes for instruction in the various branches of Sci- 

 ence and Art, when required. The number of members 

 is, at present, 125. The term " Mechanics' Institute" 

 was never adopted, in the conviction that small towns 

 cannot support two literary establishments ; the title, 

 therefore, of the " Bideford Institution for the diffusion 

 of useful knowledge" was adopted instead. Two 

 daily papers and one weekly paper are taken in. This 

 however is contrary to the original design of those in- 

 terested in the matter, but no injurious effects have 

 yet been observed. The library contains about 190 

 volumes of works on general science, history, British 

 literature, &;c. 



During the last season, the members were favoured 

 with a course of lectures by Dr. Burrows, on select 

 portions of natural philosophy, and one by George 



