speeches-literary & social-第8章
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swift conquest over ignorance and prejudice; in which no blood has
been poured out; and no treaty signed but that one sacred compact
which recognises the just right of every man; whatever his belief;
or however humble his degree; to aspire; and to have some means of
aspiring; to be a better and a wiser man? I find that; in 1825;
certain misguided and turbulent persons proposed to erect in
Liverpool an unpopular; dangerous; irreligious; and revolutionary
establishment; called a Mechanics' Institution; that; in 1835;
Liverpool having; somehow or other; got on pretty comfortably in
the meantime; in spite of it; the first stone of a new and spacious
edifice was laid; that; in 1837; it was opened; that; it was
afterwards; at different periods; considerably enlarged; that; in
1844; conspicuous amongst the public beauties of a beautiful town;
here it stands triumphant; its enemies lived down; its former
students attesting; in their various useful callings and pursuits;
the sound; practical information it afforded them; its members
numbering considerably more than 3;000; and setting in rapidly for
6;000 at least; its library comprehending 11;000 volumes; and daily
sending forth its hundreds of books into private homes; its staff
of masters and officers; amounting to half…a…hundred in themselves;
its schools; conveying every sort of instruction; high and low;
adapted to the labour; means; exigencies; and convenience of nearly
every class and grade of persons。 I was here this morning; and in
its spacious halls I found stores of the wonders worked by nature
in the air; in the forest; in the cavern; and in the sea … stores
of the surpassing engines devised by science for the better
knowledge of other worlds; and the greater happiness of this …
stores of those gentler works of art; which; though achieved in
perishable stone; by yet more perishable hands of dust; are in
their influence immortal。 With such means at their command; so
well…directed; so cheaply shared; and so extensively diffused; well
may your Committee say; as they have done in one of their Reports;
that the success of this establishment has far exceeded their most
sanguine expectations。
But; ladies and gentlemen; as that same philosopher whose words
they quote; as Bacon tells us; instancing the wonderful effects of
little things and small beginnings; that the influence of the
loadstone was first discovered in particles of iron; and not in
iron bars; so they may lay it to their hearts; that when they
combined together to form the institution which has risen to this
majestic height; they issued on a field of enterprise; the glorious
end of which they cannot even now discern。 Every man who has felt
the advantages of; or has received improvement in this place;
carries its benefits into the society in which he moves; and puts
them out at compound interest; and what the blessed sum may be at
last; no man can tell。 Ladies and gentlemen; with that Christian
prelate whose name appears on your list of honorary Members; that
good and liberal man who once addressed you within these walls; in
a spirit worthy of his calling; and of his High Master … I look
forward from this place; as from a tower; to the time when high and
low; and rich and poor; shall mutually assist; improve; and educate
each other。
I feel; ladies and gentlemen; that this is not a place; with its
3;200 members; and at least 3;200 arguments in every one; to enter
on any advocacy of the principle of Mechanics' Institutions; or to
discuss the subject with those who do or ever did object to them。
I should as soon think of arguing the point with those untutored
savages whose mode of life you last year had the opportunity of
witnessing; indeed; I am strongly inclined to believe them by far
the more rational class of the two。 Moreover; if the institution
itself be not a sufficient answer to all such objections; then
there is no such thing in fact or reason; human or divine。 Neither
will I venture to enter into those details of the management of
this place which struck me most on the perusal of its papers; but I
cannot help saying how much impressed and gratified I was; as
everybody must be who comes to their perusal for the first time; by
the extraordinary munificence with which this institution has been
endowed by certain gentlemen。
Amongst the peculiar features of management which made the greatest
impression on me; I may observe that that regulation which empowers
fathers; being annual subscribers of one guinea; to introduce their
sons who are minors; and masters; on payment of the astoundingly
small sum of five shillings annually; in like manner their
apprentices; is not the least valuable of its privileges; and;
certainly not the one least valuable to society。 And; ladies and
gentlemen; I cannot say to you what pleasure I derived from the
perusal of an apparently excellent report in your local papers of a
meeting held here some short time since; in aid of the formation of
a girls' school in connexion with this institution。 This is a new
and striking chapter in the history of these institutions; it does
equal credit to the gallantry and policy of this; and disposes one
to say of it with a slight parody on the words of Burns; that
〃Its 'prentice han' it tried on man;
And then it TAUGHT the lasses; O。〃
That those who are our best teachers; and whose lessons are
oftenest heeded in after life; should be well taught themselves; is
a proposition few reasonable men will gainsay; and; certainly; to
breed up good husbands on the one hand; and good wives on the
other; does appear as reasonable and straightforward a plan as
could well be devised for the improvement of the next generation。
This; and what I see before me; naturally brings me to our fairer
members; in respect of whom I have no doubt you will agree with me;
that they ought to be admitted to the widest possible extent; and
on the lowest possible terms; and; ladies; let me venture to say to
you; that you never did a wiser thing in all your lives than when
you turned your favourable regard on such an establishment as this
… for wherever the light of knowledge is diffused; wherever the
humanizing influence of the arts and sciences extends itself;
wherever there is the clearest perception of what is beautiful; and
good; and most redeeming; amid all the faults and vices of mankind;
there your character; your virtues; your graces; your better
nature; will be the best appreciated; and there the truest homage
will be proudly paid to you。 You show best; trust me; in the
clearest light; and every ray that falls upon you at your own
firesides; from any book or thought communicated within these
walls; will raise you nearer to the angels in the eyes you care for
most。
I will not longer interpose myself; ladies and gentlemen; between
you and the pleasure we all anticipate in hearing other gentlemen;
and in enjoying those social pleasures with which it is a main part
of the wisdom of this society to adorn and relieve its graver
pursuits。 We all feel; I am sure; being here; that we are truly
interested in the cause of human improvement and rational
education; and that we pledge ourselves; everyone as far as in him
lies; to extend the knowledge of the benefits afforded in this
place; and to bear honest witness in its favour。 To those who yet
remain without its walls; but have the means of purchasing its
advantages; we make appeal; and in a friendly and forbearing spirit
say; 〃Come in; and be convinced …
'Who enters here; leaves DOUBT behind。'〃
If you; happily; have been well taught yourself; and are superior
to its advantages; so much the more should you make one in sympathy
with those who are below you。 Beneath this roof we breed the men
who; in the time to come; must be found working for good or evil;
in every quarter of society。 If mutual respect and forbearance