THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
If there be any public Institute in Melbourne which should have respected the claims of its origin before changing its name, it is the Literary and Scientific Association now known under the pretentious designation of the Athenaeum ; for it had primarily and essentially a mechanical beginning. It yvas started by mechanics, called a Mechanics' Institution, and, no matter how the personnel of its management might have changed in after years, the name should have remained unchanged and unchangeable On the 14th February, 1839, a Union Benefit Society yvas established in Melbourne, and from this humble source sprang the Mechanics' Institution. In the course of the year the necessity for some such organization became apparent, and on the 4th October the few master-builders in town, yvho were also connected with the Union, assembled, and, with a Mr. A. Sim as their Chairman, passed the following resolution:—" That a Mechanics' Institution be formed in Melbourne for the promotion of Science in this rising colony, particularly amongst the young, as yvell as the operative classes, and that a public meeting for the formation of such an Institution will be held in the N e w Scots' Schoolroom on the first Tuesday evening in November at 7 o'clock, yvhen all persons friendly to such an object are respectfully invited to attend." The meeting yvas held, and the result yvas the issue of this announcement:— At an Adjourned Meeting held in the Presbyterian School House on the evening of 12th November, 1839 (Captain Lonsdale in the Chair) the following resolutions yvere adopted:— Moved by Mr. J. J. Peers, seconded by Mr. John Sutherland—" That the folloyving gentlemen be requested to act as Officers for the Melbourne Mechanics' Institution, being ex-officio members of the Committee:—President, Captain Lonsdale; Vice-Presidents, H. F. Gisborne, Esq, J.P, F. M'Crae, Esq, M . D , H. Yaldyvyn, Esq, J.P, T. AVills, Esq, J.P, Captain Smyth, J.P, George Porter, Esq, A. Thomson, Esq., Rev. J. Clow ; Treasurer, J. Gardiner, Esq.; Auditors, AA'. Highett, Esq, D. C. McArthur, Esq.; Secretary, Rev. James Forbes, M.A.; Assistant Secretary, Mr. W . Morrison ; Curators of a Museum, Drs. Holland and AVilkie; Librarian, Mr. Thomas Burns." Moved by Mr. George Coulstock, seconded by Mr. George Say—"That the following gentlemen form the Commitee for the ensuing year:—Messrs. Anderson, Beaver, Best, Bodecin, Brown, Burns, Caulfield, Dimvoodie, Graham, Kibble, Mayne, Murphy, McArthur, Hurlstone, Peers, Rankin, Rattenbury, Rusbton, Russell, Sim, Stevenson, Strode, Sutherland, AVintle, Breyvster, Craig, Reeves, Rucker, Welsh, and AVilliams." Moved by Mr. John Sutherland, seconded by Mr. P. Bodecin—"That the payment of an annual subscription of £ 1 , yvith an entrance fee of £ T , shall constitute membership, and shall confer all the privileges of membership ; and that a donation of £ 2 5 shall constitute membership for life, yvithout annual subscription." Moved by Mr. Rushton, seconded by Mr. Anderson—" That the Committee shall exclude all such works from the library as contain polemical, divinity, or other matter which the Committee may deem objectionable." Moved by Mr. Bodecin, seconded by Mr. Peers—"That the Committee be appointed to draw up a code of laws for the government of the Institution, subject to the approbation of a general meeting of members on an early day ; and that ten form a quorum." A n amendment " Thatfiveform a quorum " yvas carried.
THE FIRST LECTURES IN MELBOURNE. The Committee set to its yvork zealously, and prepared an elaborate code of rules in which the object of the Institution was defined to be the "diffusion of scientific and other useful knoyvledge among its members and the community generally." After considerable difficulties, an Inauguration Lecture yvas delivered on the 16th April, 1840, at the Scots' School, Collins Street East, by Mr. J. H. Osborne, a retired Presbyterian Minister, attached to the Synod of Ulster. The admittance was free, and the subject
