tics, sufficiently clear, and yet sufficiently compendious, to exemplify the method of reasoning employed in that science, and to impart an accurate knowledge of the most useful fundamental propositions, with their application to practical purposes; and treatises upon Natural Philosophy, which may teach the great principles of physics, and their practical application, to readers who have but a general knowledge of mathematics, or who are even wholly ignorant of the science beyond the common rules of arithmetic. Nor let it be supposed, that the time thus bestowed is given merely to instruct the people in the rudiments of philosophy, though this would of itself be an object sufficiently brilliant to allure the noblest ambition; for what higher achievement did the most sublime philosophy ever aspire after, than to elevate the views and refine the character of the great mass of mankind—at least in later times, when science no longer looks down as of old upon the multitude, supercilious, and deeming that great spirits alone perish not with the body? But if extending the bounds of science itself be the grand aim of all philosophers in all ages, they indirectly, but surely, accomplish this object, who enable thousands to speculate and experiment for one to whom the path of investigation is now open. It is not necessary that all who are taught, or even any large proportion, should go beyond the rudiments; but whoever feels within himself a desire and an aptitude to proceed farther, will press forward; and the chances of discovery, both in the arts and in science itself, will be thus indefinitely multiplied. Indeed, those discoveries immediately connected with experiment and observation, are most likely to be made by men, whose lives being spent in the midst of mechanical operations, are at the same time instructed in the general principles upon which these depend, and trained betimes to habits of speculation. He who shall prepare a treatise simply and concisely unfolding the doctrines of Algebra, Geometry, and Mechanics, and adding examples calculated to strike the imagination, of their connection with other branches of knowledge, and with the arts of common life, may fairly claim a large share in that rich harvest of discovery and invention which must be reaped by the thousands of ingenious and active men, thus enabled to bend their

faculties towards objects at once useful and sublime.

A

"Although much may be done by the exertions of individuals, it is manifest that a great deal more may be effected by the labours of a body, in furthering this important measure. The subject has for some time past been under consideration, and I am not without hopes of seeing formed a Society for promoting the composition, publication, and distribution of cheap and useful works. To qualify persons for becoming efficient members of this association, or co-operating with it all over the country, neither splendid talents, nor profound learning, nor great wealth are required. Though such gifts, in their amplest measure, would not be thrown away upon so important a design, they are by no means indispensable to its success. well-informed man of good sense, filled with the resolution to obtain for the great body of his fellow-creatures, that high improvement which both their understandings and their morals are by nature fitted to receive, may labour in this good work, either in the central institution, or in some remote district, with the certainty of success, if he have only that blessing of leisure for the sake of which riches are chiefly to be coveted. Such a one, however averse by taste or habit to the turmoil of public affairs, or the more ordinary strifes of the world, may in all quiet and innocence enjoy the noblest gratification of which the most aspiring nature is susceptible; he may influence by his single exertions the character and the fortunes of a whole generation, and thus wield a power to be envied even by vulgar ambition for the extent of its dominion-to be cherished by virtue itself for the unalloyed blessings it bestows."

Although it was only what was to be expected, it is gratifying to perceive that Mr. Brougham so fully appreciates the advantages to be derived from leaving the people the entire management of their own institutions, where institutions are formed for the instruction of mechanics; and that the funds pecessary for their support, must, in the main, be derived from their own savings. We cannot avoid quoting his opinions on this subject, and re

"I have remarked, that in forming these Institutions, it is a fundamental principle to make the expenses be mainly defrayed by the mechanics themselves; it is another principle, in my opinion equally essential, that they should have the principal share in the management. This seems necessary for securing both the success and the independence of the system. Nor is there the least reason to apprehend mismanagement. If benefit societies are, upon the whole, well managed, we may rely upon institutions being still better conducted, where the improvement of the mind being the object, those only will ever take an active part, who are desirous of their own advancement in knowledge, and of the general instructions of the class to which they belong. Indeed there seems no better means of securing the continued attention of the Directors, than placing the direction in the hands of those who are alone interested in the prosperity of the concern. Neither is there any fear that the suggestions of persons in a higher station, and of more ample information, may not be duly attended to. Gratitude for assistance received, and advice offered, together with a conviction that the only motive for interfering is the good of the establishment, will give at least their just weight to the recommendations of patrons; and if it were not always so, far better would it be to see such influence fail entirely, than to run the risk of the apathy which might be occasioned among the men, and the abuse of the Institutions themselves, which might frequently be produced by excluding from the control of their affairs those whose interests are the only object in view. The opinions of patrons are always sure to have influence as long as their object plainly is to promote the good of those for whom the Institution was founded; and as soon as they are actuated by any other views, it is very fit that their influence should cease. There is nearly as little reason to apprehend, that the necessity of discussing, at

meetings of the members, the affairs of the Institution, will give rise to a spirit of controversy and a habit of making speeches. Those meetings for private business will of course be held very seldom; and a feeling may always be expected to prevail, that the continuance of the establishment depends upon preserving union, notwithstanding any diversity of opinion in matters of detail, and upon keeping the discussion of rules and regulations subordinate to the attendance upon the lectures, the main object of the establishment. The time when information and advice is most wanted, with other assistance from the wealthy and the well informed, is at the beginning of the undertaking; and at that time the influence of those patrons will necessarily be the most powerful. Much depends upon a right course being taken at first; proper rules laid down; fit subjects selected for lecture; good teachers chosen; and upon all these matters the opinions and wishes of those who chiefly contribute to found the several institutions, must receive great attention. What I have now stated, is not merely that which seems likely to happen by reasoning from the circumstances; it has in fact happened in the instances where the trial has been made on the largest scale. We have never found any inconvenience from this plan during the twelve months that our Mechanics' Institution in London has been established. In Glasgow, there is a much longer experience in its favour; with this addition, that a contrary plan having at one time been pursued there, the men ceased to interest themselves in the lecture; and the Institution declined. The extraordinary success of the new Institution, which now places it at the head of allsuch establishments, may chiefly be ascribed to its administration being in the hands of the men themselves.

"I have said that the independence of these undertakings, as well as their success, is to be considered. I really

should be disposed to view any advantage in point of knowledge gained by the body of the people, as somewhat equivocal, or at least as much alloyed with evil, if purchased by the increase of their dependence upon their superiors. They will always be abundantly thankful for the help afforded them in beginning such institutions, and quite ready to receive advice from those who render them assistance. But if the latter keep the

management entirely in their own hands, they enforce the appeal to gratitude by something very like control; and they hurt the character of those whom they would serve. For this reason, as well as for promoting more effectually and generally the establishment of these in-. stitutions, it is of the last importance that the yearly expense should be reduc. ed to such a sum as can be wholly raised by the students. What they receive in money from their superiors will then be given once for all at the outset ; what they receive from time to time in good counsel, and in teaching, either by lectures or publications, shows much real kindness, confers a great benefit, and ensures a grateful return, without bringing into action any of those feelings alike painful and injurious, which arise from the assumption of authority grounded on the mere differences of rank and wealth."

The admirable plan of self-instructing institutions, first commenced at the Glasgow Gas Work, Mr. Brougham has likewise brought into notice in this pamphlet; and we have little doubt that it will come into very general use. Indeed it is impossible to conceive any plan more capable of being generally adopted, and at the same time of being more efficient and useful than this one: and it gives us no little pleasure to be able to say, that the promulgation which the plan has already received by Mr. Bannatyne's excellent letter in our pages, addressed to the masters of public works, is likely to promote its general adoption throughout the whole of this neighbourhood, and that the plan is also spreading into England and Ireland. Persons deputed by the workmen at Mr. Dun's different works, Mr. Duncan's printing office, Mr. Todd's mills, from public works at Pollokshaws, and many other places, have made application at the gas works for copies of their regulations to be used in commencing institutions of the same kind at these several works. A letter has been received

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from Wigan in Lancashire, requesting a copy of the regulations to be sent there for the information of those commencing an institution in that town on the same principles, to which, however, the mechanics belonging to all the public works in the town are to be admitted. A copy of the regulations, and a list of the books originally forming the library of the gas work, has been sent to Ireland; and we have ourselves received another letter with the same request from Cork.-— Heaven grant that this excellent plan may find its way into that unhappy country: how much real good, both moral and political, it not do? From its extreme cheapness, as well as its efficacy, no plan is equal to it for the education of the working classes, especially in Ireland. We sincerely trust that proprietors of large manufactories, and gentlemen residing in the neighbourhood of country villages, will see the advantages in every point of view, arising to mankind from the scientific instruction and intellectual improvement of the working classes in their employment or in their neighbourhood; and that as the best mode of assisting them in this, they will see the advantage of promoting, as far as in their power, the admirable plan of Self-instructing Mechanics' Institutions. When these shall have become general, as we doubt not they will soon be, Glasgow may well be proud, that as she gave the first example to the world of a professor lecturing to mechanics, so she gave the first example of mechanics meeting for mutual instruction, and for the improvement of one another.

As connected with this, and as being in itself not uninteresting, we have obtained, from one of the workmen at the gas work, a copy of a lecture on the Atmosphere, delivered by

the air will contract to its former size. The air which is discharged at a chimney-top appears to be a great deal more than what could enter at the door and windows when they are all shut: the reason of this is, the air which enters the room is cold, and by the heat of the fire it is expanded, and occupies, as you saw in the instance of the bladder, a greater space; consequently, the discharge must be more, in appearance, than what enters in. If, again, I take the bladder, which has contracted to its former size, and place it under the receiver of the airpump, and then exhaust the air from the receiver, by doing so I take away the external pressure of the air from the bladder. The air within it, therefore, immediately begins to expand, and to extend the bladder as when formerly we heated it over the chaffing dish. This shows that the air at the surface of the earth is compressed by the weight of the incumbent atmosphere. It is evident, from this, then, that the higher we go above the surface of the earth the air will be found the lighter. This has been fully proven by those who have ascended to the tops of high mountains, and in balloons; for, by taking a barometer with them, they were enabled to measure the height they went above the surface of the earth. You know that it is by the pressure of the air that the barometer works; for the mercury in the tube is compressed and expanded by the different weights of the column of air which presses upon it. These facts are necessary to be known by every person, but especially by those who begin to try experiments, for they will be ready to form wrong ideas, or in danger of breaking vessels, if they have no knowledge of the expansion and contraction of the atmosphere.

The chemical properties of air

are those of supporting combustion and respiration. The nature, or cause of combustion, was not known until Doctor Priestley and Scheele discovered air to be a compound consisting of oxygen and nitrogen; and that oxygen alone was the supporter of combustion, while nitrogen was not. Lavoisier was

the first who discovered the nature or cause of combustion. He said that when a combustible body was raised to a high temperature, the oxygen which is in the atmosphere combines with the combustible matter, and light and heat are evolved. I can show you this by a very simple experiment. I hold this candle above the glass of that argand burner, at a certain distance from the flame. The wick, which is combustible matter, will be raised to a high temperature, combustion will immediately commence, and light and heat will be evolved. If, upon the other hand, I place this candle upon the shelf of the pneumatic trough, which is, you see, filled with water, and invert over it this bell glass full of air, the candle will immediately go out, for the quantity of oxygen which is in this small portion of air is soon exhausted, and what remains now is nitrogen, which is no supporter of combustion.

In respiration it is the oxygen which is taken up for the support of the animal economy, which I can likewise easily illustrate to you.--Let us take this jar filled with water and invert it upon the shelf of the trough, and then fill it with air from the lungs. Upon introducing a lighted match into it, you see it immediately goes out, thus showing that the oxygen is gone. Air which has been deprived of its oxygen by combustion, cannot be breathed. There are many instances of people shutting themselves up in a close room at night, and going to bed,