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take its enemies to its heart； and strike its best friends down …
powerful to fill the prisons； the hospitals； and the graves …
powerful for blind violence； prejudice； and error； in all their
gloomy and destructive shapes。 Whereas the power of knowledge； if
I understand it； is； to bear and forbear； to learn the path of duty
and to tread it； to engender that self…respect which does not stop
at self； but cherishes the best respect for the best objects … to
turn an always enlarging acquaintance with the joys and sorrows；
capabilities and imperfections of our race to daily account in
mildness of life and gentleness of construction and humble efforts
for the improvement； stone by stone； of the whole social fabric。
I never heard but one tangible position taken against educational
establishments for the people； and that was； that in this or that
instance； or in these or those instances； education for the people
has failed。 And I have never traced even this to its source but I
have found that the term education； so employed； meant anything but
education … implied the mere imperfect application of old；
ignorant； preposterous spelling…book lessons to the meanest
purposes … as if you should teach a child that there is no higher
end in electricity； for example； than expressly to strike a mutton…
pie out of the hand of a greedy boy … and on which it is as
unreasonable to found an objection to education in a comprehensive
sense； as it would be to object altogether to the combing of
youthful hair； because in a certain charity school they had a
practice of combing it into the pupils' eyes。
Now； ladies and gentlemen； I turn to the report of this
Institution； on whose behalf we are met； and I start with the
education given there； and I find that it really is an education
that is deserving of the name。 I find that there are papers read
and lectures delivered； on a variety of subjects of interest and
importance。 I find that there are evening classes formed for the
acquisition of sound； useful English information； and for the study
of those two important languages； daily becoming more important in
the business of life； … the French and German。 I find that there
is a class for drawing； a chemical class； subdivided into the
elementary branch and the manufacturing branch； most important
here。 I find that there is a day…school at twelve shillings a
quarter； which small cost； besides including instruction in all
that is useful to the merchant and the man of business； admits to
all the advantages of the parent institution。 I find that there is
a School of Design established in connexion with the Government
School； and that there was in January this year； a library of
between six and seven thousand books。 Ladies and gentlemen； if any
man would tell me that anything but good could come of such
knowledge as this； all I can say is； that I should consider him a
new and most lamentable proof of the necessity of such
institutions； and should regard him in his own person as a
melancholy instance of what a man may come to by never having
belonged to one or sympathized with one。
There is one other paragraph in this report which struck my eye in
looking over it； and on which I cannot help offering a word of
joyful notice。 It is the steady increase that appears to have
taken place in the number of lady members … among whom I hope I
may presume are included some of the bright fair faces that are
clustered around me。 Gentlemen； I hold that it is not good for man
to be alone … even in Mechanics' Institutions； and I rank it as
very far from among the last or least of the merits of such places；
that he need not be alone there； and that he is not。 I believe
that the sympathy and society of those who are our best and dearest
friends in infancy； in childhood； in manhood； and in old age； the
most devoted and least selfish natures that we know on earth； who
turn to us always constant and unchanged； when others turn away；
should greet us here； if anywhere； and go on with us side by side。
I know； gentlemen； by the evidence of my own proper senses at this
moment； that there are charms and graces in such greetings； such as
no other greeting can possess。 I know that in every beautiful work
of the Almighty hand； which is illustrated in your lectures； and in
every real or ideal portraiture of fortitude and goodness that you
find in your books； there is something that must bring you home
again to them for its brightest and best example。 And therefore；
gentlemen； I hope that you will never be without them； or without
an increasing number of them in your studies and your
commemorations； and that an immense number of new marriages； and
other domestic festivals naturally consequent upon those marriages；
may be traced back from time to time to the Leeds Mechanics'
Institution。
There are many gentlemen around me； distinguished by their public
position and service； or endeared to you by frequent intercourse；
or by their zealous efforts on behalf of the cause which brings us
together； and to them I shall beg leave to refer you for further
observations on this happy and interesting occasion； begging to
congratulate you finally upon the occasion itself； upon the
prosperity and thriving prospects of your institution； and upon our
common and general good fortune in living in these times； when the
means of mental culture and improvement are presented cheaply；
socially； and cheerfully； and not in dismal cells or lonely
garrets。 And lastly； I congratulate myself； I assure you most
heartily； upon the part with which I am honoured on an occasion so
congenial to my warmest feelings and sympathies； and I beg to thank
you for such evidences of your good…will； as I never can coldly
remember and never forget。
＇In acknowledging the vote of thanks； Mr； Dickens said：…＇
Ladies and Gentlemen； … It is a great satisfaction to me that this
question has been put by the Mayor； inasmuch as I hope I may
receive it as a token that he has forgiven me those extremely large
letters； which I must say； from the glimpse I caught of them when I
arrived in the town； looked like a leaf from the first primer of a
very promising young giant。
I will only observe； in reference to the proceeding of this
evening； that after what I have seen； and the excellent speeches I
have heard from gentlemen of so many different callings and
persuasions； meeting here as on neutral ground； I do more strongly
and sincerely believe than I ever have in my life； … and that is
saying a great deal； … that institutions such as this will be the
means of refining and improving that social edifice which has been
so often mentioned to…night； until； … unlike that Babel tower that
would have taken heaven by storm； … it shall end in sweet accord
and harmony amongst all classes of its builders。
Ladies and gentlemen； most respectfully and heartily I bid you good
night and good…bye； and I trust the next time we meet it will be in
even greater numbers； and in a larger room； and that we often shall
meet again； to recal this evening； then of the past； and remember
it as one of a series of increasing triumphs of your excellent
institution。
SPEECH： GLASGOW； DECEMBER 28； 1847。
＇The first Soiree； commemorative of the opening of the Glasgow
Athenaeum took place on the above evening in the City Hall。 Mr。
Charles Dickens presided； and made the following speech：＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN … Let me begin by endeavouring to convey to
you the assurance that not even the warmth of your reception can
possibly exceed； in simple earnestness； the cordiality of the
feeling with which I come amongst you。 This beautiful scene and
your generous greeting would naturally awaken； under any
circumstances； no common feeling within me； but when I connect them
with the high purpose of this brilliant assembly … when I regard it
as an educational example and encouragement to the rest of Scotland
… when I regard it no less as a recognition on the part of
everybody here of the right； indisputable and inalienable； of all
those who are actively engaged in the work and business of life to
elevate and improve themselves so far as in them lies； by all good
means … I feel as if I stand here to swear brotherhood to all the
young men in Glasgow； … and I may say to all the young women in
Glasgow； being unfortunately in no position to take any tenderer
vows upon myself … and as if we were pledged from this time
henceforth to make common cause together in one of the most
laudable and worthy of human objects。
Ladies and gentlemen； a common cause must be made in such a design
as that which brings us together this night； for without it；
nothing can be done； but with it； everything。 It is a common cause
of right； God knows； for it is idle to suppose that the advantages
of such an institution as the Glasgow Athenaeum wil