facturers, in the principal centres of busi- Are we asked what should be the pecuness, to this effect, that, in engaging young niary extent of these Exhibitions, and what men to fill those positions which range the number of them granted annually? above the operative class, a preference We decline to answer either question, othshould be given to those who bring with erwise than in this general way-that the them certificates of proficiency from the larger the amount of the bestowment, and professors of manufacturing art; and that the greater the number of them annually confavour especially should be shewn to those ferred, so much the more wisely would the who have won honours at college. In the contributors consult, and so much the more lapse of time, or after an efficient professor surely promote, their own interests. Exhibihad been fulfilling his duties from his Chair tions should be of various amounts, according for three or four years, no such agreement to merits; they should, as their minimum, or understanding on the part of the employ- cover the College fees, prospective; and as ers would be needed; for it would be found their maximum, cover not only those, but a that well instructed young men, who are in young man's personal expenditure, during some moderate degree conversant with the two or three years of his College science, and who are acquainted with the analogous processes of manufacturing art, It should not be thought a chimerical supwould be well worth their cost, even at position that, by well-sustained endeavours, higher rates of remuneration than is given such as we have here ventured to suggest, to others; the article would rise in the or by endeavours much better imagined market. When this came to be understood, than these, yet directed toward the same not merely in the immediate neighbourhood ends-Owens College-a good beginning, of Owens College, but throughout the man- as it is, might, in a few years, be able to ufacturing counties, north and south, we lengthen its cords, and to strengthen its are apt to imagine that the Professor's lec- stakes to a degree which would draw ture-room would be always well filled. toward it the eyes of the industrial classes course. But there is another expedient, tending throughout the empire, and bring under its to the same issue, which the supporters of skirts youths from all quarters, and not the College would no doubt bring to bear merely British, but foreign. This would upon it, for securing its welfare, and for almost certainly be the result of the appointpromoting the ulterior purposes of the In-ment of two or more professors who should stitution. This would be the providing for, have won for themselves a European repuand the granting, College Exhibitions to tation. In that case, in the place of the foreign meritorious graduates, or to youths, who, visitors picking up what they can, and imhaving already distinguished themselves by parting nothing, there would be seen in the intelligence, diligence, and general good con- streets of Manchester the young men of duct, in the classes of mathematics, physical France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and philosophy, and chemistry, should be enabled America, sojourners there for a definite to enter with advantage the class which would purpose, contributing to the support of the confer upon them what would be equivalent College which they were frequenting, and to a professional status; in fact, the passing who, on their return home, would be doing through which with credit, would be to them what the taking a good degree is to a man leaving Oxford or Cambridge-it is capital to start with, whatever course it is to which he devotes himself. Such Exhibitions should be of sufficient amount to attract the notice of fathers whose means are limited, but who believe that a son has natural ability enough to give him a good chance of winning for himself so material an aid as an Exhibition for three years. They should also be numerous enough to render this chance, to the individual youth, not a desperate one, or only a remote possibility; a youth, conscious of energy and determination, should be warranted in thinking his success nearly certain; for it is only an assured belief of this kind that will supply the needed momentum to labour. us far more good, by diffusing the high repute of the English manufacturing system, than harm, in enabling our foreign rivals to beat us in the markets of the world. Young men who had passed with credit through the scientific and practical curriculum, and who had obtained testimonials from the professors whose classes they had attended, would, of course, retain their sta tus, as members of the College; and they would, in virtue of that connexion, be enrolled as members of the Associationwhich we have above suggested, and in which scientific and practical men-employers and employed, would periodically assemble on terms of equality, imparting and receiving helpful information. But we may now imagine as probable the putting a question of this kind-"Supposing that some such Educational Project as the one suggested in this article were ad- or a half of the amount at their disposal mitted to be desirable, why should it be might easily have been expended;-leaving connected with, or tied down to, the exist in their hands a residual fund, the proceeds of ing Owens College?" Our reply to this which would have been wholly insufficient reasonable query is of this sort. In the for effecting the purposes intended by the first place, it is an admitted rule of prudence, in any enterprise, to find, if we can, and to avail ourselves of, SOMETHING WHICH Is, and which bears some such relation to our project as that the newer may readily entwine itself with the older plant, or may meet with immediate nourishment in the same soil. testator. Owens College, if it had followed the example of some institutions, instead of profiting by such instances of mistaken ambition, might have shown a flaring frontage of architectural extravagance, hiding empty halls, and housing starved professors. Happily this has not been the fate of Owens College. A needful outlay at the comThis, so far as it goes, is a sufficient gene- mencement was met by liberal contributions ral reply to the question above stated. But in the town, and at a later time the munisomething more definite may be said. We ficence of one of the trustees,* has conferred have already expressed a decisive opinion the mansion hired at the first for the purpose, as to the importance, which can never be upon the College as its absolute property. overrated, of preserving what we must call As it stands therefore at this time, this inthe Sanctity of Philosophy, and the Inde- stitution is recommended to the esteem of pendence of Science, as related to practical, practical men by its strict adherence to utilitarian, and money-turning operations, what is substantial, to what is real, to what of whatever kind. Practical men must not is useful; and by its avoidance of whatever think themselves free to ride rough-shod might seem ostentatious and unsubstantial. over the enclosures of Philosophy, or to Owens College is, in fact, much more than invade them as spoilers, snatching up what-you would suppose it to be, merely to look ever may be turned to any present advan- at it from the street. How much better is tage, and trampling upon what they cannot this in a public structure, than that it should appropriate. Owens College thus thought look five times over more than you find it of, is an institution auspiciously planted to be when you enter it? within the very citadel of Utilitarianism, And yet the building, though it attracts no should be maintained there as the perma- notice as one passes it, is not ill adapted to nent Representative of Non-Utilitarianism its purposes; and it is spacious enoughIntelligence. So regarded, and so treated, amply so-to admit, with convenience, more in no way could the honours of Philosophy be better conserved than by bringing around this one Institution, and by placing under its supervision and control, whatever we may wish to put in operation with an avowed utilitarian purpose. Science is safe, and literature is safe, in the keeping of the actual Professors of Owens College, and they will be so in perpetuity, if that College be broadly margined on all sides by professorships and by classes that, while aiming at confessedly lower purposes, cheerfully pay homage to what has a loftier bearing. Yet this is not all. By the will of the testator the trustees were forbidden to expend any portion of the funds of the Estate in building; the entire annual income of the monies bequeathed was to be employed in the maintenance of professorships, and the necessary charges of renting a proper building, and the ordinary attendant disbursements. Except for this well-imagined inhibition, the trustees might have thought it incumbent upon them, or at least an allowable course, to announce their intention in the "Builder," and to invite designs fora college-a palace, in the construction, completion, and garniture of which, a third than another "Chair," and more than double its actual number of students. Owens College, therefore, is in the actual possession of advantages which, taking a sober, practical, and unambitious view of the entire subject, very much outweigh those which might appear to attach to a splendid de novo conception of an institution congruous with, and proportionate in vastness of idea to, the immeasurable greatness of the British Manufacturing Interests. In setting about our scheme, suppose we were to indulge a taste for the sublime :-then let us ask the opinion of "our cousin the architect:" - let us choose a commanding site for the structure, and look out for a magniloquent inscription to be placed upon the lofty front of a Ninevehan temple-winged bulls guarding the entrance. Let us do whatever a fertile fancy might imagine as proper to a scheme which is to stand before the world as the cradle of British manufacturing art. Vastly more humble than this is the range of our conceptions as to a beginning of the scheme we would wish to see put in movement. If to do the thing "handsomely " * Mr. Faulkner. might demand contributions to the extent of half a million of money; to do it wisely and effectively to do it in a manner which would be congruous to the work to be done -to do it plainly, energetically, solidly, and to maintain it, from year to year, might require a sum equal to the cost of gas-lighting a small town. Or let us estimate the probable cost in another manner; and in attempting to do so we respectfully invite the attention of those whose interests are, in this instance, the most deeply concerned. Give us, then, for the purpose of supporting two or three professorial chairs, and for granting annually a dozen exhibitions, and for covering incidental charges-give us an amount equal to the fairly estimated annual loss and damage occasioned in any one of the larger manufacturing establishments by the continued employment of antiquated machinery, by misunderstood processes mechanical, chemical, and metallurgic, by misadjust ments subsisting between different departments, and persevered in because the head of one department understands little or nothing of what is done in another. Give us the amount of such an estimate, fairly made, and we will engage to do with it all we have mentioned, and shall show a surplus after it is done. its local range, yet unlimited in its prospects, would draw to itself far more effective pow er for the carrying its lawful purposes than would ever attach to an association feebly embracing England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. A British Association for the Promotion of Science" is right and proper in relation to its objects. But an organization adapted to the promotion of manufac turing art, inclusive of a systematic training for the manufacturing youths of its district, must be situated near its work - must understand perfectly, and in detail, its own. wants, and especially it must be animated by a consciousness the diameter of which should not much exceed a hundred miles. To those of our readers who live remote from the manufacturing district, and who are unacquainted with its economy, a large part of the preceding pages may seem to relate too much to what is local, and which can only be of partial concernment. But a second, and better thought, will, we think, incline such readers to grant, as we said at the first, that there is not a British subject—there is no eater of bread in these islands-there is no owner of any sort of property-there is no one who holds dear his political, civil, and religious privileges, that is not, more or less, directly concerned in the prosperity and the continuous advancement of the British Manufacturing Interests. This point, then, we assume as certain, and do not intend to argue it as if it were in question. We have not allowed ourselves, in these pages, to look beyond the district bounded by Birmingham and Kidderminster towards the south, and by Leeds northward. In so confining our view it has not been in oblivion of the great establishments that are found in There is, however, a supposition which is and around London; or of those which are very likely to occur to some parties, and it scattered throughout the west of England is of this sort. It will be said, "These manand South Wales, or of those of Scotland. ufactures, connected as they are with the But in movements of a clearly practical kind commerce of the country, have already we put a high value upon concentration within reached, and they are now in the secure posthose limits over which individual know-session of, an undisputed supremacy as comledge, familiarity, and personal intimacy easily extend, and may exert a useful influence. Let London, and let Scotland, take their own course, but those central counties of which Manchester may fairly claim to be the Metropolis, let them act for, and by themselves. The London establishments, next door as they are to "Government," may, if they please, combine and seek aid from it; and they may invite inspection and control from that quarter. But the mind of the manufacturing district is distinguished at once by self relying energy, and by a sturdy independence-a resolution to help itself in its own way. Let it do so, and as to Gov-must be in progress; or, if not, at the instant ernment, two words will convey everything which need mark the relationship between the one and the other-Laissez faire. Might we whisper the suggestion that a compactly concentrated scheme, limited in pared with those of other countries. Why need we be anxiously concerned about them as if they were always in jeopardy?" The point assumed in this query we shall not dispute, but are willing, just now at least, to grant it as unquestionable. Yet there is an aspect of the subject which is not likely to have attracted the attention of any but those who, in some way, have to come to stand in near proximity to manufacturing operations. It is of the very nature of manufactures that they must always be moving forward and enlarging themselves, and must be gaining aid from successive improvements; they when they cease to grow they begin to die. These vast bodies can never attain the equilibrium of rest; the equilibrium of motion is the only condition under which they can exist at all. Improvement necessitates further improve- unexpected peculiarity in the material emment. Every method which tends to effect ployed, when brought together in so large a economy in the process of production, and mass as was necessary for Mr. Nasmyth's every augmentation in the productive pow- purpose. It seems that wrought-iron, so ers of machinery, must, after a short season tractable under all ordinary conditions of of monopoly prices, put before the consumer working, cannot be welded together in very either a cheaper article or a much better one large masses without undergoing a change in for the same money; usually it is both. its molecular arrangement, exceedingly inThis state of things throws an advantage, at jurious to its tenacity. As we understand a rapidly increasing ratio, into the hands of the explanation we have received on this the capitalist, who has already covered acres point, an immense mass of iron like that of ground with his factory, his sheds, his mills. which Mr. Nasmyth has welded together, Vast amounts of goods turned off-profits continues so long in an incandescent or soft infinitesimally reduced-mere skimmings of state, that a process analogous to crystalliza gain-hard to be calculated upon single pieces tion takes place within its substance, whereor packets of goods, yet they yield enormous by the fibrous texture, from which it derives annual amounts; so that, in good times, the its tenacity, is destroyed, and it becomes partners divide fortunes every year. But even less capable than cast-iron of resisting the realizing of fortunes any where stimulates the explosion of a heavy charge of gunenterprise, maddens energies, emboldens powder. speculation, and brings anew to bear upon "We understand that, in addition to the the inventive faculty of a class of men an unfavourable result obtained by Mr. Naintensity of thought. The result is sure to smyth at Patricroft, another experiment of a be, in this or that quarter, some felicitous similar nature, made under the direction of mode of saving costs of abridging labour- Government, has proved a complete failure of substituting unskilled for skilled labour from the peculiarity in the material to which -of accelerating chemical processes, and of we have alluded; and a large gun which had urging machinery to a speed which turns the been completed, was found utterly unfit for brain to look at it. Cheaper goods-larger use. Indeed, we believe it burst into many quantities of them-lower profits-such is pieces on the first trial. Mr. Nasmyth's exthe perennial course of manufactures, or such periment has consequently been abandoned." it must be in a country where boundless This great and no doubt very costly exwealth has been accumulated - where the periment, has, it seems, entirely failed: perrate of interest is low, and is descending-haps it may be renewed under conditions where the energies of a people are developed more likely to secure success. Yet assuredly to the utmost by the full and secure enjoy- it has not failed from any want either of ment of civil and political liberty, and such means or of assiduity, or of intelligence on it must be, especially in a country which, while its stores of fuel and iron are inexhaustible, has, by its commerce, and by its improved modes of communication, brought itself and its wares to the very doors of a thousand millions of the human family, most of them being "consumers of goods.' These pages had already passed through the press when an announcement appeared which, we presume, is authentic, and which, if it had presented itself a month earlier, we should have introduced above, where we are referring to those peculiarities that make themselves known to the worker in metals, and of which little notice, or none, is taken in scientific works. We copy it from the Manchester Guardian of September 6: "We regret to learn that Mr. Nasmyth's wrought-iron gun has proved a complete failure, and this not on account of the mechanical difficulties which had to be encountered, formidable as they were, but from a most Yet the part of those concerned. We should not Not to insist upon the large amount of scale that must be embedded in the mass by the oxidization of so much surface, at a white heat-it is a fact of which the instances are of constant occurrence, that the molecular condition of large masses of solids, metals or rocks-witness the metamorphic rocks-undergoes an entire change through the action of causes which might seem wholly insufficient for the purpose. Much less then the alternate heating and cooling of a mass of metal will suffice for bringing it over from a fibrous to a crystalline condition; and vice versa. These changes may take place without affording any visible indication of their being in progress, or of their having actually occurred. However little we may know of the ultimate constitution of bodies, we are almost compelled to imagine-and let us now confine ourselves to the malleable and ductile metals, that each of its atoms floats at the centre of a sphere, or spheroid, of balanced attraction and repulsion; and that, respectively of its neighbour atoms, it may shift its position in every direction (as in fluids) or that it may do so until the moment when these atoms, in sets, arrange themselves in obedience to magnetic or electric forces in some fixed geometric relation. The fibrous juxtaposition of atoms is the result of mechanic forces the crystalline of the magnetic or the electric, brought into activity by high temperature. What is it then which is needed to forefend courses of experimentation which may be enormously costly, but which are undertaken in default of knowledge, partly that of the Shop, partly that of the Philosophy Chair? It is a better understanding between the two the "Shop" and the "Chair." ART. II.-1. The Poetical Works of Samuel 2. The Poetical Works of Samuel Butler. posed between him and us is increased by the advance of time, the less of him remains vital, and the more nearly is he reduced to his true and permanent essence. And hence not alone for the sake of the young fellows in question-may it be worth while to devote a few pages to what otherwise might be thought a somewhat fusty subject. If Dryden, Addison, Swift, and Foote, are deemed worthy of resuscitation, even in the midst of a war with Russia, and a hundred other grave contemporary matters, who will have the heart to object to an hour's gossip by the way about old Samuel Butler ? One peculiarity about Butler, as one of our British authors, is that he was fifty years of age before he was so much as heard of by his contemporaries. He was born in 1612, and it was not till the end of 1662 that the first part of Hudibras was given to the world. This is the more remarkable when we remember through what a busy age of literary production Butler thus contrived to remain silent. He had twenty-eight clear years of life before the outbreak of the Civil Wars-years during which he might actu ally, as a young man, have welcomed into print the last literary performances of such surviving veterans of the Elizabethan age as Ben Jonson, Donne, Drayton, Chapman, and Ford; but though other young Englishmen of this time, such as Waller, Davenant, Suckling, Milton, Denham, and Cowley, made good their entrance into literature before these giants of the elder generation had finally quitted the stage, Butler saw them vanish without so much as attempting to put himself in any other relation to them than that of an ordinary reader. Then came THROUGH either of these editions of Butler's the period of the Civil Wars and the ComPoetical Works the new generation of monwealth, coinciding with all that portion book-buyers and readers have a good oppor- of Butler's life which elapsed between his tunity of becoming acquainted with a writer twenty-ninth and his forty-ninth year. This who, though two hundred years have elapsed period, being one of turmoil and political since he lived, is still, in some respects, excitement, as well as of Puritan governunique in our literature. The age is past, ment, was not so favourable to the purer indeed, in which any one would be likely to kinds of literary production, i.e., to imagintake Butler's poems, as some rough country ative and calm speculative or historical litergentleman, of last century, is said to have ature, as the age which it had succeeded. done, as his sole literary companion and Still it had an ample literature, peculiar to general cabinet of wisdom; and most read- itself-a literature, at least, of satire and ers who have reached their climacteric have incessant theological and political discussion; already a copy of Butler on their shelves, and, in one way or another, some at home and have pretty well made up their minds and others in exile, such writers as Hobbes, as to what the man was, and as to the amount Herrick, Izaak Walton, and the dramatist of service for any good purpose that is still Shirley, all of whom had been past middle to be got out of him. Young fellows, how-age before the civil wars began, and such ever, who have to complete their education, younger writers as Waller, Davenant, Suckcannot do so without at least dipping into ling, Milton, Denham, and Cowley, who, as Hudibras; and, besides, the farther an old has just been mentioned, had taken their deauthor such as Butler recedes into the past, gree in literature before the same revolu and the more the miscellany of things inter- tionary ontburst, continued, during the era |