108 REPORT — 1853. 



Mechanics' Institutions, almost the only existing means for the education of the 

 adult population. He corroborated his statements by reference to similar remarks 

 made in the report of the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutions, by the Mayor 

 of Chester and the Rev. H. Gunn at the recent conversazione of the Lord Mayor 

 of London. He then noticed that a beginning had been made for such an advance 

 as he advocated, by the Act just passed for extending the operation of the Public 

 Libraries Act of 1850 to Ireland and Scotland, so that tovpn councils and boroughs, 

 the population of which exceeded 10,000, can now adopt proceedings to establish 

 public libraries and museums throughout the United Kingdom. He also remarked 

 upon the aid at present afforded to national and other schools as a step in the true 

 direction, and argued that government aid, instead of giving any establishments an 

 eleemosynaiy character, gave them a status and a position rather likely to be overrated 

 than otherwise. 



He went on to point out some of the ways in which it seemed to him that govern- 

 ment assistance might possibly be furnished, not only to a general museum of art in 

 the metropolis, but to all country towns, in proportion to their own contributions 

 either by subscriptions or a rate, as afforded at present to schools for the young ; 

 first premising that he thought it a thing of far more importance than it might at 

 first sight appear, to devise some good name by which such establishments should be 

 called. It is obvious that the name of Mechanics' Institutions is no longer applica- 

 ble to those associations, which nevertheless continue to bear it — actual mechanics 

 form but a minority of their members. Possibly part of their failure may have been 

 caused by this " defect of title," — the name " National Colleges " might perhaps be 

 suggested as the natural sequence of the " National Schools." 



Acting, then, on the principle already adopted in regard to grants to schools in 

 proportion to local funds raised, he would have in London a general British Museum 

 of all works of art as well as the one that already exists for the works of nature — 

 one whose library, specimens, casts, patterns, models, plans of houses, apparatus, 

 maps, illustrations, and examples of all hints for improvements should be easily ac- 

 cessible to the community at large, on conditions similar to those already adopted 

 by the sister institution for admission and inspection — it should be a source of 

 example, advice, instruction and communication. All this of course implied a larger 

 annual educational grant, and a tenfold amount to that at present voted would in 

 all probability by the elevation of the people tend to their comfort and well-being 

 in various ways, and so to their being more universally beneficial to and not a burden 

 upon the state. He would then desire to see throughout the country buildings of 

 respectable or where possible of handsome appearance, and at the same time adapted 

 internally to the convenience and comfort of those resorting to them. These buildings 

 should, if carried out to a complete extent, contain a museum, library, reading-room, 

 lecture-room, room for philosophical experiments, and various other adjuncts care- 

 fully enumerated ; a taste for scientific pursuits would be fostered by the sight of 

 specimens of natural or artificial objects; the first sight of a butterfly or a bird 

 might excite the dormant spirit of a Le Vaillant or Audubon, or the mode] of an 

 engine some otherwise " inglorious " Fulton or Watt. Lecturers should be appointed 

 and partly paid by government, and a certificate of attendance on a three years' course 

 of lectures, and of adequate proficiency at the close of each year after due examina- 

 tion, might be a ground for a diploma for a license to lecture. 



The true and legitimate result of thus raising the mental culture of the people at 

 large is to elevate and refine the mind, and make it more susceptible of high and holy 

 impressions. The discoveries of Herschel do not lead men to disbelieve in God, 

 nor do the compositions of Haiadel act as a hindrance to the singing of His praise 

 in worship. 



Mr. Morris further advocated a large provision for the healthy and rational amuse- 

 ment of the people in connexion with the foundations he had been speaking of, and 

 after complaining of the low state of the taste of the people at large, showed that it 

 must be raised by general and not by individual means. A little knowledge is then 

 only a dangerous thing, if it be rested in as the end instead of being used as the 

 means to further imorovement. 



