The Royal Institution in Mosley-street is open twice every year, during the exhibitions of paintings; one being limited to those of old masters and deceased artists; the other restricted to those of modern and living artists. The entrance hall and sculpture gallery are worth notice. Admission a shilling.
Nearly adjoining, at the back of the Royal Institution, is the Manchester Athenæum, now in process of erection, the members of which at present occupy the lower wing of the Royal Institution, with an entrance in Bond-street. The front of the Athenæum is also in Bond-street, and when it is finished the two buildings will form a very pleasing proof of the architectural resources of Mr. Barry, the architect of the two new houses of parliament.
The Manchester Mechanics’ Institution is a spacious brick edifice in Cooper-street, with large lecture theatre, good library, and commodious class rooms. To the Athenæum and the Mechanics’ Institution there is no difficulty of access.
The Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, one of the oldest and most celebrated of provincial institutions, having been founded in 1781, has distinguished itself by its annual volumes of published memoirs, and is now distinguished in the person of its President, the venerable Dr. Dalton. Its Hall is in George-street, nearly opposite St. James’s Church; but as the sittings of the society are not daily, little information can be given as to the admission of strangers. Scientific men would doubtless find no difficulty in obtaining an introduction.
The Museum and Hall of the Natural History Society, in Peter-street, can only be entered on presenting an order from a subscriber. The Museum is very rich in almost every description of natural history; we believe in ornithology it is particularly so; its collection of British birds is said to be unequalled, and its entomological department is becoming exceedingly extensive.
The Concert Hall, at the top of Lower Mosley-street, is an elegant building, especially in the interior; having a neat stone front.
In Mosley-street are the Assembly and Billiard Rooms, with a plain and somewhat dingy exterior; but the Ball Rooms are spacious and elegant.
Opposite is the Portico, so called from its large Ionic portico fronting the street,—a Subscription Library and News Room.—There are two other Subscription Libraries in the upper floors of the Exchange, and a fourth in Newall’s Buildings, Market street, all of considerable extent.
In an old low building, (north of the Collegiate Church) to which entrance is had by a small gate adjoining the Palatine Buildings, Hunt’s Bank, the stranger will find what will amply repay even a hurried and hasty visit. This building is named the College; in it are educated a number of boys who, from their dress, are distinguished as the Blue Coat Boys. In the upper floor of the building is a long corridor, traversing three sides of the building, two of which are converted into a library, the books generally being deposited in bays, or enclosed recesses, and locked up. This library, which contains upwards of 20,000 volumes, was founded by Humphrey Cheetham, who lived in the 17th century, and is wholly free; but the books are not to be removed from the place. There is a spacious reading room at the further extremity of the library, where the student may take his worm-eaten folio, and seating himself in an old carved chair, may easily transport himself in fancy, two centuries back; for the room is of oak, panelled and carved, with old tables, chairs, and other furniture corresponding to the period; and several old pictures of the founder and other worthies. In the library, above the books, are suspended various specimens of stuffed reptiles, and other objects, which are shown to the visiter by one of the blue coat boys, for a small gratuity; the chief curiosity in the exhibition being the broad Lancashire dialect, and strange mode of description, given by the little showman.
To the Botanic Garden, Old Trafford, Stretford Road, (to which omnibuses convey visiters to Market-street,) the admission is by an order from a member or subscriber; the secretary is Mr. S. E. Cottam, Brazennose-street. The garden covers 17 acres, and contains in its noble conservatories, some of the rarest and finest exotics and tropical plants to be seen in the kingdom.