ght claim their own again. And not only to them,
but also to make it known to all men, as far as was consistent with
her own safety; for he said, that the great power of Almighty God
should be published to all the world. For this reason was the
chronicle written--that all men might take warning; for no deed of
wickedness is done in the dark, which shall not be dragged forth to
the light; and no oppression on the innocent shall prosper before the
right hand of Eternal Justice.'
THINGS TALKED OF IN LONDON.
_March 1852._
The lecture experiment at the Museum of Practical Geology, in Jermyn
Street, has proved eminently successful. There were a thousand more
applications for tickets than could be supplied, in consequence of
which the executive very wisely determined, that the course should be
repeated until the demand was satisfied. This fact of numbers speaks
highly in favour of the working-men of London--none others are
admitted to the course here referred to; and once having got the
knowledge, it is to be hoped they will be able to turn it to good
account. One of the lecturers told me, that the hall is always
crowded, and that a better-behaved auditory has seldom been seen in
any quarter, which we may consider to be an encouraging sign of the
times. The other courses are also going on for those who are able to
pay high fees, and attend during the day. The titles of a few of the
lectures will give you an idea of the nature of the instruction
offered; namely--The Relations of Natural History to Geology and the
Arts; On the Value of an Extended Knowledge of Mineralogy and the
Processes of Mining; On the Science of Geology and its Applications;
On the Importance of Special Scientific Knowledge to the Practical
Metallurgist; and On the Importance of Cultivating Habits of
Observation. You must remember, that the institution is a government
school of mines as well as a museum of geology.
In connection with this, it may be mentioned that the Society of Arts
are discussing a project for the 'affiliation' of all the literary,
philosophical, scientific, and mechanics' institutions throughout the
kingdom, with a view to render them less languid and more beneficial
than too many of them now are. Unity of purpose effected wonders with
the Great Exhibition; and it is thought that the same cause should
produce a similar result in the educational and recreative
establishments alluded to. There is a talk, also
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