MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.--A numerous meeting of the friends of
this project was held at the vacant rooms in Wolverhampton
Street on Tuesday week, to consider the best means of
establishing a Mechanics' Institute, adapted for all classes,
upon a solid and permanent basis. Elliott Hollier, Esq., Mayor,
was called to the chair. After some animated discussion,
entered into by those gentlemen who are usually found at their
posts in advocating and assisting the advancement of knowledge,
and the establishment of useful institutions, it was deemed
advisable to give more publicity to the project, and canvass
the merits of the question amongst all classes. In accordance
with this disposition it was at once resolved to suspend
operations till a more definite system should be agreed upon.
The most effectual way of submitting this to the inhabitants
was considered to be by petitioning the Mayor to convene a
public meeting for the especial object, and then submitting a
definite plan for approval at that assemblage. S. Blackwell,
Esq., proposed, and Dr. Browne, seconded, a proposition to that
effect: and a resolution was at once signed by the meeting
to the Mayor, who fully acquiesced in the expediency and
propriety of the movement. Amongst the various modes suggested
for effectually maintaining a Mechanics' Institution _was
one announced by Mr. Clark, which appeared to augur well for
ultimate success; and as it is a project, which, if carried
out, would affect collectively two other institutions already
established in the town, it may not be amiss to give our
Dudley readers an outline of it_. The proposition is "that
a Mechanics' Institution shall be established by 200 or 300
shares of one guinea each, and that the annual subscription
shall be 10s. The capital thus raised to be appropriated to the
purchasing of a library, apparatus, and the necessary furniture
required for the effectual carrying on of the institution.
That overtures be made to the Geological Society (now
almost defunct) and the New street News Rooms, for a mutual
amalgamation of these bodies into one large and comprehensive
Philosophical Institution, to be managed agreeably to the usual
customs of such institutions." In the event of this suggestion
being carried out, little or nothing (save a capital for
library), would be required to commence operations, for the
News Room is already in full operation, and rooms connected
with the Geological Society are partially unoccupied, and
well-adapted for the purpose. Amongst the gentlemen and
tradesmen present at the meeting, were the Rev. Dr. Browne,
Vicar; Rev. Messrs. Noot, A. Davis, Rogers, and Lewis; Messrs.
S. Blackwell, Houghton, Bateman, Hickman, J. C. Cook, Grainger,
Boddington, Clark, Rudge, Minty, Rock, Wright, Mainwaring,
&c. From an advertisement in another column, it will be seen
that at a public meeting on Monday, the mayor in the chair, a
series of resolutions were carried for the purpose of actively
promoting the institution.--_Birmingham Journal_, 1848.
February 19th, 1848. The committee appointed at the public meeting,
after mature and earnest consideration, issued the following
suggestions as a programme, upon which a sound and successful
Mechanics' Institute might be grafted; it being arranged that the
prosperous "Reading Room," which Mr. Secretary C. F. G. Clark, had
established in 1845, at the Geological Rooms in New Street, should be
incorporated with the new institution.
DUDLEY MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE RIGHT
HONOURABLE LORD WARD.
The Sub-Committee appointed at a Public Meeting of the
Inhabitants of the Borough of Dudley, convened by the Mayor,
(pursuant to a Requisition), and held at the Old Town Hall, on
Monday Evening, the 7th instant, for the purpose of taking into
consideration the best means to be adopted for the permanent
establishment of the Dudley Mechanics' Institution, beg to call
your attention to
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS WHICH WERE PROPOSED AND UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPTED:--
1.--That this Meeting, acknowledging the desirability of the
permanent establishment of the Mechanics' Institution in the
Borough of Dudley, pledges itself to promote the same by every
means in its power.
2.--That for the promotion of such an object a Sub-Committee
be appointed, for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions and
donations to establish a fund to carry out the purposes of such
an Institution to the fullest extent possible.
3.--That a Sub-Committee of the following Gentlemen be
appointed for the purposes referred to in the preceding
resolution:--The Rev. Dr. Browne, Vicar; Mr. Elliott Hollier,
Mr. S. H. Blackwell, Mr. William Bourne, Mr. John Bateman, the
Rev. John Raven, the Rev. George Lewis, and Mr. Henry Johnson.
4.--That in order to afford all classes an opportunity
of attending, and deriving the greatest benefit from the
establishment of this Institution, it be recommended that two
classes of Subscribers be adopted, consisting of Honorary
Members at One Guinea, and Ordinary Members at not less
than Ten Shillings each per annum, which may be received
fortnightly, in advance.
5.--That the Sub-Committee be requested to solicit the
patronage of the Right Honourable Lord Ward to this
Institution, and that of the Members for the Borough, the
Eastern Division of Worcestershire, and the Southern Division
of the County of Stafford, and also the support of all parties
who, though not residing in, may have property or an interest
in Dudley and its neighbourhood.
The want of an Institution of this character in Dudley, has
been so long acknowledged, that the Sub-Committee cannot but
hope that such general support will be given to it as will
render it effective for the objects it proposes to carry out,
and ensure its being established upon a permanent basis.
These objects are, the establishment of a READING ROOM AND
LIBRARY;--the diffusion of general information on the various
Branches of Science and Literature by LECTURES;--and especially
the providing its Members with opportunities of acquiring
good and useful instruction by means of CLASSES in WRITING,
ARITHMETIC, DRAWING, MUSIC, &c., &c.
The Sub-Committee regard the establishment of these
Institutions as most important, and as having a direct
and immediate bearing upon the great question of National
Education. They are calculated indeed to furnish almost the
only means by which the ends proposed to be effected by
our various schools can be fully carried out, for, unless
facilities are afforded to those whose education has been
commenced in these schools, of continuing and perfecting that
education, the advantages already obtained must be, to a
certain extent, lost.
The Sub-Committee therefore appeal with confidence, upon this
ground, to all those who recognize the importance of General
Education to all Classes, and who, feeling that the question
has long been decided whether Education is to be general or
not, are anxious to render it as sound and comprehensive as
possible.
Some of the neighbouring Towns of smaller population, and
of less manufacturing importance than our own, are already
in possession of Mechanics' Institutions affording all
the advantages proposed by this; and when the extent and
character of the population of Dudley, and its position as the
_Centre_ of a great Manufacturing District are considered, it
must be acknowledged that it possesses ample means for the
establishment of an Institution that shall be at least equal to
any in the neighbourhood.
To ensure this, general support alone is required, and
therefore the Sub-Committee venture to solicit your individual
patronage and active assistance; at the same time they have
much pleasure in announcing a Donation of Fifty Pounds from
the Right Honourable Lord Ward, with an Annual Subscription of
Five Guineas, and also a Donation of Ten Pounds, and an Annual
Subscription from John Benbow, Esq., M.P.
(Signed) on behalf of the Sub-Committee,
ELLIOTT HOLLIER, Mayor.
_Dudley, February, 19th, 1848._
Died February 12th, 1848. Mr. John Allen, who held the office of Parish
Clerk in St. Edmund's Church for the lengthened period of thirty-seven
years. Aged 86 years.
1848, February 22nd. A sanguinary and destructive Revolution broke out
in Paris, which lasted six days, ending in the abdication and flight
of Louis Phillippe, King of the French, and his family to England,
wherein he afterwards died. A Republic was established on the wreck of
this criminal revolution.
On the 25th of February, 1848, a large and influential meeting of all
classes of the inhabitants of Dudley was held at the old Town Hall
(Mr. Elliott Hollier, the mayor, in the chair), "for the purpose of
petitioning the Legislature against the Income Tax, and in favour of a
Property Tax alone."
The following placard issued by our old Chartist leader, (Mr. Samuel
Cooke), gives the public a pretty good notion of his views on this
European calamity.