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Leader (1850-1860), 15th January 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 21, LORD BROUGHAM AND THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE.

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      .No/480} January Is, 1859.1 T K E !L E A...

      . No / 480 } January IS , 1859 . 1 T K E ! L E A D E B . 85

      The" Times" And Lord Brougham, Falsehood...

      THE" TIMES" AND LORD BROUGHAM , FALSEHOOD AND MENDICANCY . { To the Editor of the Leader . } gIB _ The public was astonished on Monday by reading in the Times a leading article and _ a ciroular recommending a public subscription for Lord Brougham to relieve him from , the possibility oi future pecuniary liabilities on account of the London Mechanics' Institute . Those acquainted with the history of the Institute were still more : astonished to find the recommendation based , both m the circular and in the leader of the Times , on an often refuted and now admitted falsity . In both ,

      and especially in the leadiugarticle , the statement was reiterated , that Lord Brougham established , and that Lord Brougham was the founder of the first Mechanics' Institute . As I knew this to be a gross error , and as it was due to the real founders of the Institute , to the public , and to posterity , deeply interested in having the truth on this as on every subject known , I immediately wrote the following letter to the Times to correct the misstatement . The accuracy might have been tested by a reference to its own columns , in which the nroceedino-s concerning the foundation of the Institute were recorded . As I also knew that such personal

      topics are speedily forgotten , when I saw , on Wednesday , that the Times took no notice of the letter , I informed the Editor that if it did not appear on Thursday I should endeavour to procure the publication ol ' it elsewhere ; and in consequence , as it lias not appeared , I now respectfully request that you will do me the favour to publish it in your columns . The press of our country , to which as a reporter , a sub-editor , and editor I have long contributed , lias now aeknowledgedly beeo tie a great power in the world . It is more mighty than kings , and tlie public have the deepest interest in its truthfulness and honesty . By details it must be judged of , and it would be for the public a most fearful prospect

      if the press may emblazon falsehood in its columns and thrust the truth contemptuously , as the Times has done in this instance , into its . waste ^ basket . In the hands of the press are now the issues of peace and war on those momentous topics the Times writes leaders day after day , and no words Can exaggerate the importance to the public of the conviction that the writers of those leaders are to be implicitly trusted ; or , as in this instance , cast aside with contempt and horror , as the unshamed and wilful promulgators of falsehood . _ On public frounds , ; therefore , quite as much as private feelings , most respectfully request that you will do me the favour of inserting in your journal the following correction of the misstatemient of the Times . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , Thomas Hodgskin .

      Lord Brougham And The Mechanics Institute.

      tween him , Mr . Robertson , myself , and others , several o f them working mechanics , to realise Mr . Robertson ' s idea . After the preliminary labours necessary to achieve success , a public meeting was held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern , over which-Dr . Birkbeck presided , and that meeting , at which Lord Brougham was not present ,, at which a considerable sum was subscribed , was the actual foundation of the Institute . It gave into the hands of Dr . Birkbeck , Mr .. Robertson , and myself , the joint secretaries to the Institute , and the committee then formed , of which Lord Brougham was not a working member , the means of bringing the

      Institute into existence . Amongst the subscribers were the late Sir E . Burdett , the late Mr . Place , and the late Mr . Cobbett , who placed his subscription in my hand with a little sneer at those who sent their name without sending their money , and many others . The earliest meetings were held in a chapel in Monkwell-street , and it Was long after the end of 1823 that it was transferred to Southampton-buildings , or any debt incurred . Lord Brougham might have made a jaunty speech or two on some anniversaries , but his contributions , if any , of money or assistance to the success of the Institute , were in the first few years of its existence amazingly small . Dr . Birkbeck , whose name the circular places after that of Lord Brougham , was president from the beginning . He was incessant 111 his exertions . He contributed largely of his

      pecuniary means ; he advanced the greater part of the money for building the theatre ; he was present at most of the meetings ; he lectured frequently on mechanical science , on p hysiology and anatomy * and never till death did he " cease , by all the means in his powerj to promote the success of the Institute . Were the public now asked to reimburse his family with- ample interest for his great pecuniary ¦ sacrifices in this cause , or to erect a statue to him as a benefactor to the working classes , the appeal would be just . Whatever may be Lord Brougham ' s pecuniary enthralments at present with the Institute , which require elucidation before his friends solicit public aid , I assert from knowledge that Lord Brougham lias ho claim whatever to T > e called the founder or projector of the first Mechanics' Institute . .

      Mr . Robertson separated from the Institute at an early period of its existence . I continued connected with it for sonic years , and , in common with Dr . Birkbeck , contributed to its success by lectures on Political Economy , on General Grammar , and on the Progress of Society . Of living men I have a much better claim than Lord Brougham to be regarded as the founder . I , however , make no claim . I request respectfully to rectify a misstatement which ascribes to the noble Lord , already rich in public approbation , a merit which belongs to others . You enforce with great vigour and eloquence the claims of art and science on the respect of mankind . ; they , Sir , are founded on facts —they are worthless unless they embody and diffuse great truths , and their noble characteristics now arc , and often have been , assumed by quackery and humbug . The application of the distinction I leave to others , and am , Sir , Your obedient servant , Thomas Hopgskin .

      LORD BROUGHAM AND THE MECHANICS ' INSTITUTE . ( To the Editor of the Times . ) 16 , Claremont-row , Islington , Jan . 10 , 1859 . Sir , —I trust entirely to your sense of justice for the publication of this letter to rectif y some statements in your journal of this day , in which the public and posterity have a deep interest . In a leader you say that " the founder of the London Mechanics' Institute has been neglected : " that " it is a shamo Lord Brougham should be positively punished for founding the first Mechanics' Institute with a forced penalty of 3500 / . " "You also quote from a circular the phrase , " In the year 1823 the Xiondon Mechanics * Institute was established by Lord Brougham and Dr . Birkbeck , " and after referring to " contributions" which may bo paid into the bank of Messrs . Ransom , Bouvqrie , and Co . to the account of the London Mechanics' Institute on behatf of Lord Brougham , you ask , " Arc \ yo to drop the founder of Mechanics ' Institutes P" On Lord Brougham ' s merit with regard to other subjects I am silent , but I beg to atatc , in order to inform the public correctly , that ho hud very little to do with founding tho first Mechanics' Institute , tho history of which foundation I shall briefly give . Tho projector of this Institute was tho lato Mr , Josoph Clinton , Robertson , tlic originator , and at that time tho oditor of the Mechanics' Magazine . With him I was associated , and after froquontly talking over the pvbioot with him , I wrote the first paper or address published in tho maga / ano whioh announced the sohemo , nud invited tho assistance of tho public . It brought a communication from Dr . Birkbeok , and led to a cordial co-operation bo-

      Tub Lksskps Sciiismis And The Poute.—A L...

      Tub Lksskps Sciiismis and the Poute . —A letter from Constantinople states that tho Porto is much annoyed at the impulse given to the Sues Canal scheme by Af . do Lessops . The Mlnistora state that tho opening of tho canal would bo attended with moro inconvenience to tho Porte than advantage , and that if it depended on them it should never take place , and that , at all events , tho firman will never be granted for it until a formal and ununitnoua demand bo mado by all tho Powers . Moantime , tho Porto lias repeated its order to tho Viceroy of Egypt not to allow oven tho preliminary works to bo commenced without tho express authorisation of tho Sultan * HKPKE 3 I 5 MTATIVB ! MisN . —A letter from Cannes of tho 2 nd , says : — " > Voro tho inon of England , Franco , arid Germany callod upon to oloct throe representatives who should personify high mental powor , wisdom , pure philanthropy and patriotism , their ohoico could not possibly fall upon moro worthy objects than on tho throo distinguished men whom circumstances have brought togothor in this petty town . , 1 apoak of Henry Lord Brougham , who radiantly , stares time out of countenance ; of Alexis do Tdoquovlllo , Juki lqw by disease , but daily parrying with greater vigour tho assault of tho fatal scythe ; of the Chevalier do Bunson , who has deserted his favourite retreat and abandoned hli beloved occupations in order to bostow his entire attention and affectionate oaro on his stricken friend . "

      Original Correspondence. ¦ —— -?¦ • ¦¦ '...

      ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE . ¦ —— - ?¦ ¦¦ ' ¦

      Rbance. [From Our Own Correspondent.") P...

      rBANCE . [ From our own Correspondent . ") Paris , Thursday , 6 £ >? m . APPEAL OF THE GOVERNMENT TO THE LEGISLATURE . Amid the universal disquietude and very general dissatisfaction which at the present time reign from one end of France to the other , men turn , as drowning swimmers clutch at straws , to the imperial decree which appeared in Sunday ' s Moniteur , convoking the Senate and Legislative Body to meet on the 7 th of next February . On that occasion the speech from the Throne is expected to be clear and explicit , to frankly tell the nation and Europe whether the issue is to be war or peace , and whether the tinsel ornaments of the imperial mantle have ceased to be mere bumble-bees or are now changed to wasps . . - ¦ - ¦¦ ¦

      There is no use in disguising , the fact that a panic , more disastrous and more extensive than the one which , resulted from the commercial crisis of 1857 , has seized upon the mind of France , and is wrecking private fortunes every day . The clouded phraseology of the official journal has increased the confusion and diminished public confidence instead of restoring things to the state that existed before the imperial amenities of New Year ' s-day . The non-official organs of the Government exhaust their rhetoric in vain attempts to prove that there is no reason for this universal distrust and apprehension , but the public , who are told to be comforted , to put their trust in the " providential wisdom and ineffable goodness" of the Emperor— -font la soufde oreille , and persist in realising their securities at increased the fail

      losses day by day ^ Finding usual means to influence public opinion , the Legislature ha 3 been convoked , in the hopes that people will pause until the day of meeting before continuing their downward course . For a day or two the new move had this effect , which is analogous , I suppose , to what electricians call retardation , but when men reflected what mere puppets are the senators and legislators , what a hollow figment is the supposition that they can exercise any influence upon the acts of the Government , seeing that they are its ^ salaried creatures , carefully selected from among the lowest intelligences and most sordid spirits of the nation , the panic acquired even greater proportions ; and the Three per Gents , declined upwards of 4 per cent , on Tuesdav in addition to their previous fall .

      The announcement of cpnvbcatidn , following so closely upon the declaration in the Moniteur that there was no cause to fear political disturbance , is looked upon as a forced but indirect homage to the principle of representative government j it is also regarded as convincing proof of the -weakness of the present system , of the slender bold it has on the popular mind , and to show evidence of weakness is the precursor of defeat . Supporters fall away and partisans are quickly metamorphosed into unrelenting foes . Had the slightest reality of parliamentary government existedt even though it were no better than the one which lasted through the Restoration ' and , July Monarchy , the astounding panic which prevails would have been impossible . Among the

      council of the nation , some wisdom would have been heard , some courage shown , and some abiding trust displayed in the future . But now the present is hopeless , and in the distance loom the scourges of humanity—war abroad and at home . The greatest despotic power the world has yet seen , the course whereof has been unchequered by tho shadow of a reverse for nearly ten years , the power that hasrgone from success to triumph , that has moulded the will of forty millions to its purpose , that has driven into silence and obscurity the intellect of the nation , and that boasts the " visible protection of Providence , " grows craven nt the approach of the spirit

      it has wantonly evoked , and hastens for succour to that authority which it has sought to destroy arid replace by a IioUqw semblance . It is from what should be the representatives of the nation , of its intelligence and independence , that tho Empire seeks to gather s trength and prestige to preserve its exterenco by allaying the fears of its subjects . To your readers , who can appreciate tho magnitude and importance of moral victories , this involuntary recognition of tho truth of parliamentary government , and this homage to its superior strength , will appear of greatest moment and of good onion for tho now year .

      OAUSK 3 OF THIS VAMO . Tho opinion expressed in my last lotter , that the unusual language addressed to tho Ambassador of Austria at tho Now Year ' s lovoo , was the roault of manoeuvres to facilitato certain Stock Exchange transactions , is very generally credited , and I am assured that the instigators of this sortie arc those who now most bitterly regret it-They . thought to bo able , oleverly and quiotly , to do a little " Bulling , '' but they have nearly achieved their own ruin and endangered the syatom by which they live , ' and on . ' the destruction , of which they will become nothing . However great may bo the powor possessed by tho Emperor and direct tho influenco ho exorcises upon public affairs , It would bo impossible for his moro discourtesy to bring about such a panic as we now witness . Even wore thoro prospect of immediate war

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 15, 1859, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15011859/page/21/