and New Museum. 221 



Sir J. V. B. Johnstone the President, and Mr. Dunn the Secre- 

 tarj% of the Scarbro' Society, returned thanks, on their healths 

 being given. 



Dr. Belcombe. — Mr. Chairman, I beg to give you the health of 

 a gentleman who has been already alluded to, and whose name has 

 only to be mentioned to be received with enthusiasm — the Reverend 

 C. Wellbeloved. 



Mr. \\'eIlbeloved. — If my name is connected with the York Me- 

 chanics' Institute, it is my duty to acknowledge the honour : for I 

 do feel honoured by my connection with that Institution, under our 

 admirable President, who is always present with us in spirit, though 

 we regret that he is frequently absent in person. We have a very admi- 

 rable bust of him in the room where we hold our meetings, which al- 

 ways reminds us of him ; at thesame time ive are sorry that we have 

 only his bust. When the York Mechanics' Institute was set on foot, 

 I took an active part in promoting it. I am proud that I did so ; 

 for it is a valuable Institution, and lam convinced that its tendency 

 is good. I was told in the outset, that I should do a great deal of 

 harm ; that society would be disorganized ; that we should have no 

 subordination, no inferiors ; that apprentices would be no longer 

 bound by their indentures, but would rise into journeymen ; that 

 journeymen would leave their masters, and set up as masters for 

 themselves ; that we should have no servants ; and in short, that we 



should have nothing but confusion. I have seen nothing of this I 



have heard nothing of it — of nothing approaching to it. But I will 

 tell you what 1 have seen. I have seen a number of young people 

 assemble night after night, for the purpose of completing their neces- 

 sarily deficient education. I have seen others meet to improve them- 

 selves in architecture or drawing ; others attend lectures, and ex- 

 press the greatest anxiety to procure information. I have seen them 

 devote hours, too frequently devoted to debauchery and dissipation, 

 to the investigation of subjects interesting to all human beings : 

 and seeing this, I rejoice that I have been enabled to do any thing 

 to forward their views. 1 have seen too, a number of young per- 

 sons come, night after night, to the library, — which, I regret to say, 

 is not so well furnished as it ought to be, — for books, which they 

 carry home with them, to read by their firesides; instead of being 

 induced to seek for recreation in the haunts of idleness, and 

 amongst idle companions. Since the commencement of ihis bene- 

 volent Institution, I have seen nothing else arising from it; and as 

 long as this is the case, it shall have my services, and all the time I 

 can bestow on it. I think we are all bound to support such Insti- 

 tutions. We have Infant Schools, Sunday Schools, National Schools, 

 and Lancasterian Schools. What are they for, but to enable the 

 population to read ? When they are taught to read, will they not 

 read? And what will they read? Are they to be left without 

 guides to direct them what course to pursue ? Mechanics' Insti- 

 tutes come in aid of these schools, to give the people proper books; 

 and to keep them out of improper courses, which ilicy would other- 

 wise fall into. I believe that the mentbcrs of Mechanics' Institutes 



will 



