But the readiest access to books, the most unwearied diligence, and the highest ability are not enough to render one man independent in a scientific inquiry of the discoveries of another. The more the philosopher investigates the unseen causes of visible things, the more he is compelled to have recourse to a division of labour. Human life and human memory are alike unable to grasp an universal knowledge. Hence the acutest intellects devote their powers to master definite departments of science. They do not aim at an impossible omniscience. Relying on the truth and ability of their collaborators, they receive their conclusions as their own. Nor are these communicated commonly in special treatises, but through the more familiar media of lectures. On such occasions, he who is the teacher of to-day, is not too proud to be the pupil of to-morrow. Faraday, Murchison, Owen, and Herschell sit alternately at each other’s feet. But if this be true of these hierophants of nature, what shall be said of her neophytes? It is clear that to those engaged in following their craft, their trade, or their profession, time is a main object. But if they cannot unravel processes, they fain would know results. These are easily attainable by the method above mentioned. A good lecture will oftentimes simplify abstruse problems, and make intelligible the most complicated machine, when books and diagrams convey no comprehensible meaning. Perhaps no literary association in the metropolis can bear witness to this fact with a more vivid realization of its accuracy then our own. Since the publication of the last report, we have been familiarized with the wonders of creation in all the kingdoms of nature. With Mantell, we have read the records of primeval worlds, traced by the finger of omnipotence in those fossilized remains, which mock the palaces of Nineveh with their recent age. With Morris, gathered up the laws that regulate the distribution of the springs and waters of the earth, and learnt how man can call its spirit from the chalky deeps for purposes of use or ornament. With Noad, investigated the phenomena of light. With Wheeler, ranged from star to star throughout the immensity of space. With Weld, explored the coasts and channels, creeks and bays of those inhospitable regions which, clustering round the Northern Pole, guard with indomitable tenacity the Western Passage, despite the energy, endurance, and perseverance of the hardiest adventurers. With Pettigrew, examined the internal structure of the microscopic insect. With Scoresby, marvelled at the physical organization of the whole. One voice, which we had hoped to hear, was silent. Severe indisposition postponed for ever Professor Cowper’s explanation of the cotton-mill. Since then, both he and Dr. Mantell have been summoned to their rest. In the one, practical art laments its clearest elucidator; in the other, science mourns her most attractive commentator; in both, the Parochial Institute has sustained a grievous loss. Yet amongst its pleasantest associations must ever rank the recollections of their lectures. The idiomatic phraseology, homeliness of illustration, unaffected delivery, and telling earnestness of Professor Cowper, who by this very ease of manner beguiled you into the idea that you were actually learning with him, not from him, will be blended in the memory with Mantell’s graceful elocution, refined imagery, and enthusiastic love of his favourite study, by the combined force of which he carried his audience with him, and led their thoughts from nature up to nature’s God. Alike disinterested in character, alike confident in the victory of knowledge over ignorance, alike the firm and generous promoters of infant institutions founded to ensure this end, they shone as twin stars in our local firmament, bright examples to the possessors of similar endowments to consecrate their use with the same unostentatious perseverance to the cause of goodness, civilization and truth, bright examples to all as fosterers by personal exertion as well as by pecuniary sacrifice of parochial societies appealing to every moral and patriotic feeling for extension and support. For the many lectures that he delivered in Kensington, Mr. Cowper never accepted any remuneration. Dr. Mantell gave his services for half his customary fee. Not, however, that they are the sole instances of this discriminating benevolence. To Mr. Weld and Dr. Scoresby, the cordial acknowledgments of the Council are equally due and tendered for gratuitous addresses. In contrasting their generous dedication of time, convenience, and ability to the task of popular enlightenment, with the selfish spirit that repudiates whatever is not subservient to personal benefit or gratification, it is impossible to overlook the elevating influence of mental culture. Of all the pleas for indifference to, or withdrawal from an association for diffusing useful and scientific information, none is so unworthy, so sordid, or so mean as that commonest of excuses, “It does me no good.”
Such an allegation can only arise from a most short-sighted policy. For, let individual preference be what it may, the time is past for saying to the advancing tide of scientific inquisition, “Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther.” The incessant discoveries and inventions of modern years have quickened with the throes of mental energy the masses of the nation. Its strong sense is alive to the power of knowledge, and circulates from the head to the extremities of the social body. The magnetic experiments, to which the whole philosophical world is looking with the most intense curiosity, are conducted by one who entered life a shop-boy. The solution of deep metaphysical propositions is not without attraction to the hard-headed ratiocination of the operatives of Lancashire. There are those who have wrestled out; by abstract reasoning, the cardinal verity of the immortality of the soul. The mechanics of London number in their ranks many ardent thinkers. When the recent lecture on cohesion and gravitation was delivered at the Museum of Practical Geology, so large an audience of working men was collected, that, though the issue of tickets had been purposely increased, upwards of two hundred persons were refused admission at the door. Now it is folly to ignore this spirit of investigation. You may guide, you may control, but can neither deny nor crush it. Wisely, therefore, has the government recognised its prevalence; wisely has the Queen recommended in her speech from the throne, its association with practical art; and wisely will those towns and cities act which avail themselves of whatever facilities the legislature may decide upon offering, to give it salutary scope and exercise. In a circular forwarded from the Society of Arts to the different Institutes of England, a series of questions was proposed in reference to this end. The answers returned by the Council will be found in the Appendix, for the information of members and others, who will then understand how real the movement is, and how great is the expediency of frankly and heartily ensuring its success. Should the suggestions contained in this document be approved and carried into execution, they can hardly fail to give an impulse to self-instruction; while the annual exhibition of models, inventions, and machinery, would afford an opportunity for the social intercourse and mutual improvement ordinarily attached to the pleasant enjoyment of an evening conversazione.
But are these aids to rational recreation really brought within the reach of the industrial population? Can the apprentices and shopmen of Kensington afford to join the Institute? Is not the cost of membership too expensive for their purse? Such can hardly be the case. Admission to the reading-room, library, and lectures is accorded to subscribers of half-a-crown a quarter; while a yearly payment of one guinea gives its donor a voice in the government of the society. The analysis of these sums shows a result of less than a half-penny a day for the former, and of under sixpence a week to the latter class of contribution. Frugality itself cannot object to such a scale. Taken individually, the advantages are worth their price;—collectively, they are emphatically a bargain.
Subsidiary to the main channels of intellectual culture, are the Elementary Evening Classes, held at the Church-court school, under the superintendence of two masters from Battersea College. They were instituted for the sake of the young persons who are unable to attend the day schools, and include a due proportion of adults. The class for young men and boys meets upon Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; that for young women and girls on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The attendances to the close of 1852 were very satisfactory; 120 girls and 40 boys having enrolled themselves upon the books. An interesting peculiarity connected with the female class is its use by servants whose education has been neglected. Several who could neither read nor write on their first entrance, have attained a tolerable proficiency in these subjects; and of those who have grown up to age for service, and taken situations, some have been wise enough to return during their intervals of employment, to pursue the studies with which the duties of their place had necessarily for the season interfered. The subjects now taught are limited to reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography. But it is proposed to add music; and should the Society of Arts carry out its principles in this parish, linear drawing, languages, geometry, and mathematics would also be encouraged, were a sufficient number of names inscribed to constitute a remunerating class. The payment for the present course is two-pence weekly, in advance; but proportionably higher fees would be required to ensure the services of masters capable of conducting the higher branches of education.
If these facilities for instruction are not accepted to the full extent that might, prior to experience, have been expected, it ought not to check the genial philanthropy by which they are provided. All that we can do is to offer privileges. It rests with others to turn their use to profit. And if, in the attempt to raise the social and mental position of those who minister to our daily wants, we are unable to achieve all that we desire, it is still a noble and a worthy ambition, warranting the sacrifice of some prejudices and the risk of many disappointments, to endeavour so to order the arrangement of our literary and scientific agencies that
“Our needful knowledge, like our needful food,
Unhedged lie open in life’s common field,
And bid all welcome to the vital feast.”
APPENDIX.
The chief advantages which might be expected to result from a combination of the Provincial Institutes with the Society of Arts would be, in our opinion, the following:—
α. The formation of a Central Library, from which Local Institutes might, from time to time, borrow supplies of Books on the same or more reasonable terms than they can now procure them from the large circulating libraries of the metropolis.
β. A staff of Lecturers might be provided by the Society of Arts, competent to give interesting and instructive information in a popular form; such staff to be selected by a Council, who, from their position and attainments, would be entitled to general confidence. Each Provincial Institute might be allowed to choose its own Lecturers from this staff, without being necessarily restricted to it.