On the 2d of December, 1823, the London Mechanics’ Institution was
formed, and on the anniversary of the day, in 1824, the first stone of
its theatre for the delivery of the lectures, in Southampton Buildings,
Chancery-lane, was laid by Dr. Birkbeck. In a cavity of the stone was
placed a bottle, wherein were sealed up a book of the laws of the
institution--the tenth number of the “Mechanics’ Magazine,” which
contained an account of the first meeting of the members--a vellum roll,
on which was inscribed the names of the officers of the
institution,--and a portrait of Dr. Birkbeck, the president. The bottle
having been deposited, the president proceeded to lay the stone, which
bears the following inscription, with the names of all the officers of
the institution:--
This Stone, the first of the Lecture Room,
was laid on the 2d of December, 1824,