1853] 



INTRODUCTION. 



3 



The proceedings of the Institutions in Union with the Society 

 of Arts at the Second Annual Conference, were distinguished by 

 discussions on various subjects which tend to throw much light 

 upon the numerous difficulties with which Literary and Scientific 

 Institutions in England are fettered, many of which are happily 

 ■unknown to the people of Western Canada. It will scarcely be 

 accounted a digression if, in closing these remarks wo extract the 

 pith of the discussions, for the sake of information and encourage- 

 ment. 



The Chairman classed the subjects to be discussed under 

 several heads. First, Parliamentary Papers; second, The Pro- 

 vision of Books and Maps; third, News-Rooms and Reading- 

 Rooms; fourth, Lectures; fifth, Classes, &c; sixth, Statistics and 

 Trade Museums. 



1st. Parliamentary Papers. No resolutions were adopted in rela- 

 tion to their distribution; the Report of the Committee not 

 having been received. The opinion was unanimous that the 

 greatest utility would result from a distribution of selected Par- 

 liamentary Papers among the Institutes. No difficulty, we ap- 

 prehend, will for the future, be found to exist in this country if 

 timely application be made in the proper quarter. Wc regret to 

 say, however, that there is at present extreme difficulty ex- 

 perienced in obtaining some Parliamentary papers. They ap- 

 pear to have been distributed so indiscriminately immediately 

 after their issue that at this period no complete copies are to be 

 obtained of many important documents. The Canadian Institute 

 has not yet succeeded in obtaining one perfect copy of the Pro- 

 vincial Geologist's Reports. 



2nd. Books, Maps, Apparatus, &c. 



The Rev. T. S. Howson. M. A., (Liverpool,) thought it might bo of 

 the greatest possible advantage to the whole country, if a permanent 

 exhibition of educational apparatus could be established in London. 

 He had learned more on the preceding evening by looking at the ap- 

 paratus exhibited at the Mansion-house, than lie could nave done by 

 reading a dozen catalogues. 



Dr. Booth said, it was in contemplation by the Society of Arts to 

 get up an Exhibition of Educational Apparatus not limited to the 

 models produced in this country, but comprising those, many of them 

 much superior, made on the continent, and especially in France and 

 Germany. In fact what the Great Exhibition had done for manufac- 

 tures they wished now to do for education ; they would get the best 

 models from different countries, and then gentlemen interested in the 

 subject would be able to visit the Exhibition, and select such appara- 

 tus as they found best fitted for the purposes of instruction. 



Mr. Pond (Southampton) said, in reference to the question of inter- 

 fering with trade, the booksellers at Southampton had, unasked, made 

 a reduction to the Polytechnic Institution there ; and provided they 

 were properly secured from private individuals getting books at 

 the reduced rate, he felt sine that booksellers generally would readily 

 agree to the arrangement. 



Mr. Redgrave said that the Committee intended to take precautions 

 that private persons should not be able to avail themselves of the ad- 

 vantage of the reduction, and booksellers would in point of fact be 

 benefited by books getting noticed in quarters which they did not be- 

 fore reach. 



The following Resolution was then moved, and carried unani- 

 mously : — 



" That this meeting approve the steps already taken by the Institutes' 

 Committee of the Society of Arts, respecting the cheapening of books, 

 maps, diagrams, and apparatus ; and request them to continue their 

 labours." 



With respect to books, maps and apparatus for educational 

 purposes, the Canadian Institute has nothing to do, the duties cf 

 that department being most efficiently executed by the Education 

 Office. In this particular, indeed, Canada is already far in ad- 

 vance of all probable results arising from the exertions of the 

 Society of Arts. In 1851, the Chief Superintendent of Schools, 

 in his Address to the Governor General upon the occasion of the 

 opening of the new Normal and Model Schools, remarked that 

 " the facilities for furnishing all our schools with the necessary 

 books, maps and apparatus, will soon be in advance of those of 

 any other country." The spirit of the resolution above quoted, 

 is well worth the careful consideration of all literary and scientific 

 bodies in Canada. It has already been carried into very suc- 

 cessful and active operation by the Chief Superintendent of 

 Schools for the formation of school libraries. Why should it not 

 bo adopted by self-sustaining schools ' of larger growth' ? 



3rd. News rooms and reading-rooms. Fiscal regulations re- 

 tarding the spread of knowledge, scarcely exist in Canada. The 

 following resolution has, therefore, no application in this country, 

 except in relation to foreign books : — ■ 



" That this meeting is of opinion that the fiscal restrictions on paper, 

 advertisements, news, and foreign books, have an injurious effect on 

 the Institutions in Union with the Society of Arts, and that the Coun- 

 cil be requested to proceed with their investigation on the subject, with 

 a view to the abolition of all such restrictions." 



One indignant speaker said that — 



" It gave him a sense of shame at times when he saw the advertise- 

 ments of professors of other countries announcing instruction at such 

 low rates as 6d. per lesson, to think that for each of those announce- 

 ments these gentlemen mrfst pay Is. 6d. to the English Government. 

 He thought this was a question therefore on which the Chancellor of 

 the Exchequer ought to know their opinion." 



The following resolutions on the subject of lectures and class 

 instruction, were carried unanimously : — • 



" That this Conference do ex-press its confidence that the Society of 

 Arts will make the best possible arrangements lor facilitating the sup- 

 ply of Lecturers to the Institutions in Union ; and does not deem it ex- 

 pedient to attempt to define the modes by which such arrangements 

 should be made," 



"That the infusion of science and art into elementary instruction is 

 required by the people generally, and is desirable for the ultimate suc- 

 cess of Mechanics' Institutions, which could then advance science and 

 art more efficiently by systematic class instruction." 



" That it is desirable that the trainiug-schools of this country should 

 introduce into their courses of study a more thorough knowledge of 

 the natural and physical sciences, and a system of instruction in art ; 

 ai el that the Council of the Society of A.rts be requested to forward 

 this Resolution to the President of the Council of Education, and to 

 the various training Institutions." 



The legal positioii of the Institutions in England is peculiar, 

 and all discussion on that subject possesses, consequently, a local 

 interest only. It is worthy of remark that one of the members 

 stated that " he thought the experience of by far the greater num- 

 ber of Institutions, not only in London, but throughout the 

 countiy, would show, that unless those who were now subject to 

 taxation had some hope of immediate relief, the disruption and 

 close of many of them would take place." 



"The Chairman, in concluding the proceedings, said the Conference 

 had been sitting five hours and a half; 10G speeches had heen made, 

 and eacli had occupied on an average three minutes and a half. He 

 thought that was a statistic worth recording." 



