* FIRST REPORT 
 
 or THE 
 
 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CITY OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 OCTOBER, 1831. 
 
 NEW- YORK : 
 PRINTED FOR THE INSTITUTE. 
 
 1831. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 ive.org/details/firstreportofboaOOmech 
 
FIRST REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 
 
 or THE 
 
 MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, 
 
 OT THE 
 
 CITY OF NEW-YORK. 
 
 To the Members of the Mechanics' Institute of the 
 
 City of New- York. 
 
 The Board of Directors of the said Institute, Respectfidly Report — 
 
 That this Institution was established for the purpose of 
 instructing Mechanics and others in popular and useful science, 
 and its application to the arts and manufactures, by means of 
 lectures, apparatus, tnodels of machinery, a museum and a 
 library. 
 
 The attainment of objects so various, comprehensive and 
 important, is undoubtedly beyond the means and facilities of 
 any individual, or indeed of any few persons, however they 
 may be endowed with fortune and genius, and whatever may 
 be the extent of their enterprize and activity. In order to 
 ensure success in undertakings of this nature, the co-operation 
 of a large mass of information and talent, and an extensive 
 association embracing not only the disposition, but the ability 
 to promote those objects, are essentially necessary, — of both, 
 and all of these, your Board flatter themselves there will be a© 
 want iu this Institution, 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 Improvement in the mechanic arts, and the sciences con- 
 nected therewith, has always been regarded a great desidera- 
 tum in all civilized communities, and has excited the attention 
 of the ablest and best men. In the year 1795, Sir John 
 Sinclair published to the world, his " Plan of an Agreement, 
 among the Powers in Europe and the United States o* 
 America, for the purpose of rewarding discoveries of general 
 benefit to society." These high authorities, on whom this 
 proposition was intended to operate, were however, so much 
 engaged in settling those matters connected with the destruc- 
 tion of mankind, that they could find no time for attention to 
 this matter, which had for its object, their benefit. It therefore 
 behoves those individuals, who wish to leave the world in a 
 better state than they found it, by a particular attention to, 
 and an enconragemeut of those arts and sciences to which 
 mankind owe their prosperity, to associate together, for the 
 purpose of diffusing information among themselves and thro' 
 the community in which they live; and the more particularly 
 80, as the funds appropriated by government for literary pur- 
 poses, are applied to the support of universities and colleges, 
 which although excellent in themselves, yet afford but little v if 
 any assistance, to the mechanics and artizans of our country. 
 In making these remarks, this Board do not wish to be under- 
 stood as complaining of the distribution of the public monies 
 towards the support of those literary institutions, which they 
 regard as valuable auxiliaries in the diffusion of knowledge, 
 as far as they go ; but merely wish to call the public notice to 
 the wants of a class of citizens, who, they may be allowed to 
 say, are not among the least deserving objects of the public 
 bounty, and who have it not in their power to avail themselves 
 of the advantages held out by ihe colleges and universities 
 now in existence. 
 
 Associations for the promotion of useful knowledge, have 
 always been found highly advantageous to the communities in 
 which they have been established. Men united together, and 
 frequently meeting for the purpose of advancing science and 
 the arts, may, and do oft times suggest such hints to one 
 another, as may be improved to very important ends. While 
 
[ 5 1 
 
 On this subject, the Board would particularly recommend to 
 the notice of the Institute, a proposition made by an intelligent 
 and worthy fellow-member, which they think deserving of 
 consideration, and as promising, if properly attended to, very 
 advantageous results. It is this : Inasmuch as it is frequently 
 found that many very intelligent men can write much better 
 than they can speak, and in consequence of which, valuable 
 ideas are frequently lost to the world, from the want of a power 
 of ready utterance; and are lost in others, from a natural 
 timidity in addressing an assemblage ; that to avoid all these 
 difficulties, and to preserve to society, what may be of great 
 utility : " a book be provided for the purpose of affording the 
 members an opportunity of entering any remarks or sugges- 
 tions they may wish to submit to the consideration of the 
 Directors or the Society, and this book to be before the 
 Directors at every meeting." 
 
 This proposition, as before stated, is viewed by the Directors 
 as of the utmost importance, inasmuch as it affords an oppor- 
 tunity to men of ingenuity and modesty, to express their ideas, 
 and to give them to the world under the patronage of a 
 scientific association ; and as it may also be of eminent service 
 in exciting a spirit of emulation and enkindling those sparks 
 of genius which otherwise might forever be concealed. 
 
 In this age of the world, it can scarcely be requisite to 
 adduce argument to prove the necessity and usefulness of 
 institutions like this, and their certainty of success when pro- 
 perly managed. Eminent instances of their beneficial effects 
 are to be seen in the French Academy, the Royal Society, and 
 the Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and 
 Commerce in London, and many others of a similar nature in 
 other parts of Europe ; and we are not without instances in 
 our own country, as will appear by referring to the American 
 Philosophical Society, the Academy of Arts and Sciences, the 
 Franklin Institute and several similar associations. And 
 even, to use some remarks of the late Governor Clinton, in 
 his address delivered at Schenectady — without referring to the 
 inducements for exertion arising from the successful enterprizes 
 of our citizens at home, it must be sufficient to animate you to 
 active industry, by pointing out the harvest of profit and glory 
 
[ 6 J 
 
 which has been reaped abroad. West, of Pennsylvania, has 
 delighted and astonished the world, by his pictorial perform- 
 ances — Murray, of New-York, has written the best work on 
 English Grammar — Perkins, of Massachusetts, is now pushing 
 that wonderful invention, the Steam Engine, to the utmost 
 verge of perfection. Many of our enterprizing youth are now 
 traversing sea and land in the pursuit of science — some are 
 seated in the celebrated schools of medicine and natural 
 science — some are in the great cities examining the fabrics of 
 art, the machinery and processes of manufacturing, the move- 
 ments and evolutions of commerce, and the complex relations 
 of political economy — others are moving in various directions, 
 improving their information in agriculture, their taste in the 
 fine arts, and adding to their knowledge of men and things. 
 
 As soon as convenient after the election of j'our Board of 
 Directors, they proceeded to organize themselves, by the 
 adoption of rules and regulations for their government, and by 
 dividing themselves into departments on the several subjects 
 of lectures and lecturers, finance, and the library, museum and 
 reading-room, in order to afford the greater facility in the 
 transaction of all the business of the Institute, which might 
 come before them ; and during the short period of the existence 
 of this Institution, much has been done to give it a permanent 
 character. It is now completely organized as to its officers 
 and regulations; and unless some unforseen event happens to 
 change its prospects, there is every reason to believe that it 
 will be a powerful and useful Institution, wielding an exten- 
 sive and salutary influence over a large and respectable por- 
 tion of the community, long after all of us shall have left this 
 stage of action. 
 
 Ever since the establishment of this Institute, it has been a 
 verv desirable project to obtain some suitable and permanent 
 place for the meetings of the association, and for the delivery 
 of the contemplated courses of lectures. A committee was 
 appointed to select a proper location, and they on our behalf 
 petitioned the Corporation of this city, for the use of some 
 room in the public buildings. On this petition, a vote has 
 been passed in the two Boards of Aldermen, and Assistant 
 
[ 7 ] 
 
 Aldermen, giving to this Institute, for the above purposes, the 
 use of the rooms formerly occupied by the Marine Court, in 
 the basement of the City Hall, at the same time regretting 
 that they had no better apartments to ofter us. On the part 
 of this Board of Directors, there is a grateful sense of the 
 friendly disposition manifested in this matter, by the Corpora- 
 tion towards this Institute; and the Directors think that those 
 rooms can be made to meet all our present wants. They 
 would, however, suggest that we should all bear in mind, that 
 if we wish to be as useful as we can be, we must have a building 
 of our own, calculated for our own purposes : this can never 
 be effected, without the personal exertions of every individual 
 member, in soliciting and procuring subscribers to the 
 Institute. 
 
 The Directors have been anxious to commence immediately 
 the usefulness of this association, by the establishment of a 
 popular course of lectures on Mechanical and Chemical 
 Philosophy, they deeming that to be one of the principle 
 means, by which the objects of our Institution may be attained. 
 The matter having been referred to the department on lec- 
 tures and lecturers, they applied to Professor Steele, who is 
 advantageously known to us all as an able and learned lecturer, 
 for information as to the establishment of such a course of 
 lectures and its probable cost. 
 
 The Professor, who was among the first to propose the 
 formation of this Institute, after stating in his communication 
 to the Committee, that he was aware in the present state of the 
 Society, high prices could not be given, and that impressed 
 with this idea, he would endeavor to deliver the first course of 
 lectures at as low a price as possible. He then proposes that 
 the number of lectures should be fifty — one half on Mechan- 
 ical Philosophy, the other half on Chemical Philosophy, he 
 to find an operator, apparatus, models, and materials for 
 experimenting, and that the Institute furnish a convenient place 
 near the lecture-room for his apparatus, &c, and that the 
 price for the course be five hundred dollars, to be paid either 
 by instalments or at the end of the course as may be found 
 convenient. By a provision in the constitution^ the Board 
 have not the authority to close this agreement with Professor 
 
[ 8 1 
 
 Steele, without submitting the same to the Institute, and 
 having the same ratified by it. The Professor's knowledge 
 and abilities require no recommendation from this Board — 
 but the directors would say that they view it as some impor- 
 tance to the Institute, that a man of his acknowledged talents 
 should be employed as their lecturer ; very much depends on 
 first appearances, and there is no doubt but that many flourish- 
 ing institutions in this and other countries owe their success 
 to a particular attention to this point — your Board would 
 therefore recommend that they be authorised by you to engage 
 Mr. Steele, as the lecturer on such terms and in such manner 
 as they may think proper, not exceeding those proposed by 
 him to the committee. 
 
 While speaking of the lectures, the Board would observe 
 that the subject of " Mutual instruction" has been brought 
 before them, and in several shapes has been made the subject 
 matter of frequent conversation. They now lay it before the 
 Institute more with the hope that its presence may excite 
 reflection, than with a view to carry it immediately into ope- 
 ration — the directors however believe that as soon as we 
 become permanently located, if the members enter into this 
 matter with spirit, a great deal of good will be the result. 
 The proposition made to the Board was " that it should be 
 the duty of the directors on the discovery of talent, appropri- 
 ate to any science or art, to prevail on such persons to take 
 charge of a small class of such members as present themselves 
 for such purpose — the directors aiding such purpose by fur- 
 nishing books, apparatus, accommodations for meeting, hc. f 
 and that these class exercises being rather of a private nature, 
 should be under the direction of its leader;" and also, "that 
 if practicable, the directors should organize different classes 
 in the different branches of Natural Philosophy, say Mechanics, 
 Electricity, Pneumatics, Chemistry, he. &£C, and that each of 
 these classes shall be kept separate and distinct in their appro- 
 priate meetings." 
 
 That these propositions are feasible in their operation, and 
 attended with the most beneficial effects to those concerned, 
 this Board have the experience of similar associations in 
 
[ 9 J 
 
 Europe, and indeed in our own country to warrant them in 
 asserting. They will in this instance, content themselves with 
 adducing the single case of the mutual instruction association 
 of the Glasgow Gas Light company. The following account 
 of the organization and mode of proceeding by this associa- 
 tion, is to be found in address to the proprietors of large manu- 
 factories by D. Bannatyne, Esq. — after some introductory 
 matter, he proceeds — "The Gas Light chartered company, of 
 this city (Glasgow,) in which I hold a very considerable 
 interest, and of whose committee of direction, I have for some 
 years past been a member; employs constantly between sixty 
 and seventy men in the works. Twelve of these men are 
 mechanics, and the others furnace men and common laborers 
 of different descriptions, forming, altogether, a community not 
 very promising as a body to be incited to adopt measures for 
 their own intellectual improvement." Notwithstanding all 
 these apparent disadvantages, the association was formed, a 
 library was collected, an atlas and pair of globes purchased, 
 anda committee for the management of their concerns appointed. 
 " The individuals of the committee have come under an agree- 
 ment to give in rotation, a lecture either in Chemistry or 
 Mechanics every Thursday evening ; taking Murray for their 
 text book in the one, and Ferguson in the other. They inti- 
 mate a fortnight before to the person whose turn it is, that he 
 is to lecture from such a page to such a page of one of these 
 authors. He has, in consequence, these fourteen days to make 
 himself acquainted with his subject ; and he is authorized to 
 claim, during that period, the assistance of every member of 
 the society, in preparing the Chemical experiments, or making 
 the little models of machines for illustrating his discourse. It 
 is a remarkable circumstance in this unique process of instruc- 
 tion, that there has been no backwardness found on the part 
 of any of the individuals to undertake to lecture in his turn, 
 nor the slightest diffidence exhibited in the execution. This I 
 can only attribute to its being set about without pretension or 
 affectation of knowledge, and merely as a means of mutual 
 improvement. And nothing, I conceive, could have been 
 better devised for accomplishing this end. Indeed I might 
 
[ io ] 
 
 with confidence say, that under this simple system of mutual 
 instruction, which has grown out of the train of circumstances 
 above mentioned, these persons, many of whom, when they 
 joined the society, were in a state of complete ignorance, 
 have acquired ideas, and more perfect knowledge of the sub- 
 jects which have been brought under their consideration, than 
 would be found to have been attained by any similar number 
 of students, who had been attending the courses of lectures 
 given in the usual way, by the most approved lecturers. " 
 With such experience before us, can this system of mutual 
 instruction be for a moment regarded by us as visionary ? 
 
 Before dismissing the subject of mutual instruction, the 
 directors would remark, that the members of the Franklin 
 Institute in Philadelphia, have found great advantage in the 
 discussion of mechanical and scientific questions at their 
 monthly meetings. As it is proposed to have monthly meet- 
 ings of this Institute, the Board suggest that a similar practice 
 be adopted by us. It might be done in this manner. Any 
 member may offer a question, mechanical or scientific, to the 
 consideration of the Institute, if they accept it, the President 
 shall declare it to be the subject of discussion, at the next 
 monthly meeting, and during the interval, any of the members 
 knowing the subject, may prepare themselves to take part in 
 the debate, which will unquestionably be a very interesting 
 and a very profitable mode of disposing of part of the time 
 of our monthly meetings, or of any other evening which may 
 be appropriated for that purpose. 
 
 Another mode of conveying knowledge has also been made 
 a subject of consideration by this Board, viz : — voluntary 
 lectures, on such subjects connected with general science as the 
 lecturer may select. On this subject, it may be remarked that 
 our kindred association, the Franklin Institute, having been at 
 their first organization placed in a similar situation with our- 
 selves, that is to say, poor in purse, though rich in spirit, they 
 resorted to these voluntary lectures which resulted very much 
 to their satisfaction, and were very instrumental in placing 
 them on the proud eminence, which they now occupy among 
 the Literary and Scientific Institutions, of our country. 
 
[ 11 ] 
 
 Believing that there are many distinguished men in the com- 
 munity, who would readily accord their assistance to an Insti- 
 tution, which promises so much benefit to a very important 
 class of citizens as this, your Board respectfully invite them 
 to assist us in our undertaking, and in making this appeal to 
 the voluntary aid of those gentlemen, the Board feel confident 
 that it will not be made in vain. 
 
 In -immediate connection 'with our lectures, are the library 
 and museum. These were justly considered of so much 
 importance by the framers of our constitution, as to induce 
 (hem to place an appeal to the public ©n the face of that 
 instrument, in the following language : "The Institute will 
 gratefully receive donations in money, books, apparatus, 
 models of machinery, drawings, or natural and artificial 
 curiosities, which donations together with the names of the 
 donors, shall be registered in the books of the Society, kept 
 for that purpose." 
 
 It is impossible for us to make the formation of a library 
 for an institution of this description, too important a matter. 
 Great exertions should be made to procure a collection of 
 such works as will facilitate our enquiries after knowledge. 
 De Witt Clinton, than whom no man labored more for the 
 real good of his country, in speaking of the benefits to be 
 derived from an attention to the means of education, observed 
 that " equally striking are the benefits of the extensive 
 libraries, where in the words of the immortal Bacon, the relics 
 of the ancient saints of literature, full of true virtue and 
 without delusion or imposture; and the oblations and offer- 
 ings of the votaries of learning in other times are preserved/' 
 The consideration of this important subject, was referred by 
 the Directors to their department on the library and museum, 
 who after due consideration of the same, reported an address 
 to the inhabitants of the city. In which they say that " there 
 is no truth more universally acknowledged, nor one more 
 conclusively exemplified by experience, than that in the same 
 proportion as the producing classes of a country are intelli- 
 gent, in that proportion are they virtuous and important 
 members of society. And that experience has demonstrated 
 
12 
 
 that nothing m ore ^^terially tends to produce those beneficial 
 effects than the acquisition of knowledge in the arts and 
 sciences." That in order to attain this important end, "they 
 make this appeal to their fellow citizens for the donation or 
 loan of books to establish a library for the use and instruction 
 of those who attend the lectures ;" and that they " feel confi- 
 dent that this appeal will be responded to by the same spirit 
 of liberality which has so amply contributed to the Mercantile 
 and other public libraries in this city." 
 
 The most extensive libraries now in existence, have had 
 their origin in small beginnings, and not unfrequently in the 
 unwearied exertions of one or two public spirited individuals. 
 The "Advocates Library" in Edinburgh, Scotland, at this 
 time one of the most celebrated and valuable libraries in the 
 world, was founded in the 17th century by Sir George 
 McKenzie. Like other establishments of this nature, its com- 
 mencement was inconsiderable; its funds were uncertain; 
 and its progress in utility was slow. But frequent contribu- 
 tions augmented the number of volumes ; and a settled fund 
 was, after great exertion, at length established ; and the result 
 has been most triumphant for the cause of science and litera- 
 ture. Such instances should encourage us to do likewise. 
 
 Connected with most public libraries is a reading room, 
 and it has been agitated before this Board to open a Reading 
 Room for the use of our members. The Board viewing this 
 room as a means of inducing the members to associate 
 together more frequently than they would otherwise, and thus 
 tend to the diffusion of information as well by reading as by 
 the interchange of ideas, have thought it a proper subject to 
 be laid before the Institute for their consideration. The 
 proposition is to appropriate one room peculiarly for reading, 
 and another for conversation. As to the rules and regulations 
 requisite for the government of those rooms, the Board think 
 they cannot do better than offer to the Institute those which 
 have be»m tested by experience in the Franklin Institute of 
 Philadelphia, which are as follows : The Reading Room to be 
 open daily from 3 to 10 o'clock, P. M. No conversation 
 permitted in the rcad'ng room, but a room appropriated for 
 
[ 13 ] 
 
 that purpose. Members may introduce strangers to the 
 reading room who have free access for one month. A book 
 k:pt on the table of the reading room for the registering of 
 donations, which is subject to the inspection of the members. 
 
 The Directors have now touched upon the principal objects 
 connected with this Institution, and the subjects to which our 
 attention has been particularly directed. There is, however, 
 yet another subject to which the Directors would call the 
 attention of the Institute ; and that not of the least importance, 
 as on its flourishing state, must in a great measure, depend the 
 success of all our operations, viz : the financial concerns of 
 this Institute. The Committee who have the especial super- 
 vision of this branch in their Report to this Board, under ihe 
 date of Sept. 19, 1831, state that there were then 112 members 
 of this Institute who paid their initiation fees amounting to 
 S224 ; of this sum had been expended by the Treasurer for 
 the expenses necessarily incident to the organization of this 
 association, the sum of $49 42, leaving a balance in the hands 
 of the Treasurer unappropriated, amounting to $174 58, and 
 that there was now due the Institute from its members for 
 semi-annual dues, $224, making in all an available sum of 
 $398 58. That they were of opinion that the Institute might 
 reasonably anticipate an accession of one hundred members 
 in a short period. In relation to this anticipation, this Board 
 think their finance committee very reasonable in their calcu- 
 lation. It is the opinion of the Directors that with a moderate 
 degree of personal exertion on the part of the members of this 
 Institute, lour times that number might be added within the 
 space of three months. By the 4th article of the 5th section 
 of the constitution of this Institute, it is provided that " in order 
 to make the Institution as generally useful as possible, any 
 person shall be entitled to the privilege of reading from the 
 library, and attending the lectures, or any other course of 
 instruction that may be given in the Institution, for one year, 
 on paying such sum as the Society shall determine*" In the 
 view of this article the finance committee recommended that 
 the charge for a course of ten lectures to those adults who are 
 wot members be $1 50, and for the same number of lectures 
 
[ I* J 
 
 to apprentices and other minors §1, and for single lectures 25 
 cents, and they also reported that they were of opinion that 
 the money received for single lectures would defray the 
 incidental expenses of the lecture room, such as lights, 
 fires, he. 
 
 It has been thought by some of the members that the sum 
 of §50 to constitute a life member is too large, and that 
 we would probably find it to our advantage to reduce it one 
 half, say §25, which is the amount required for that purpose 
 in the Franklin Institute. All will agree that it is desirable to 
 have as many life members in our association as possible, if 
 for no other reason than that it gives the Institution an addi- 
 tional permanency. With the view of having the matter fairly 
 determined on, this Board lay before this association a copy of 
 the article from the constitution of the Franklin Institute on 
 this subject, which is as follows : "The payment of $25 shall 
 constitute a member for life, with an exemption from all annual 
 payments," 
 
 This Board feel as if they could not leave the general 
 subject matter of this soeiety, without reiterating its impor- 
 tance, and without urging upon every individual, if he places 
 any value on the Institution, the necessity of exertion to ensure 
 complete success. Every one should work as if it depended 
 on himself personally, whether this association sunk or rose. 
 It is a matter worthy of such an exertion : a particular atten- 
 tion to the diffusion of knowledge, and to the support of 
 Institutions of this character, is the more important, because, 
 to use the language of Judge Story, — " in our country, the 
 highest man is not above the people ; the humblest is not below 
 the people. If the rich may be said to have additional protec- 
 tion, they have not additional power, nor does wealth here 
 form a paramount distinction of families. Those who are 
 wealthy to-day, pass to the tomb, and their children divide 
 their estates. Property thus is divided quite as fast as it accu- 
 mulates. No family can without its own exertions, stand erect 
 for a long time, under our statute of descents and distributions. 
 It silently and quietly dissolves the mass heaped up by the toil 
 and diligence of a long life of enterprise and industry. 
 
[ 15 J 
 
 Property is continually changing like the waves of the sea — 
 one wave rises, and is soon swallowed up in the vast abyss, 
 and seen no more. Another rises, and having reached its 
 destined limits, fall gently away, and is succeeded by yet 
 another, which in its turn, breaks and dies gently on the shore. 
 The richest man amongst us may be brought down to the 
 humblest level ; and the child, with scarcely clothes to cover 
 his nakedness, may rise to the highest office in our govern- 
 ment ; and the poor man, while he rocks his infant on his 
 knees, may justly indulge the consolation, that if he possesses 
 talents and virtue, there is no office beyond the reach of his 
 honorable ambition." 
 
 Of how much importance therefore are all Institutions which 
 propose qualifying mankind, for any situation or any office 
 which they may be called to fill, in a couutry where they are 
 excluded from none, even the highest ? Can any reasonable 
 degree of exertion for the support of such Institutions, be 
 esteemed too great a burden ? Certainly not by those who 
 place a proper estimate on the value of knowledge. 
 
 In taking this view of the subject, and in hazarding those 
 anticipations of the future which we have, we think we have 
 been careful not to indulge in exaggerated estimates. We 
 have, it is true, some difficulties to surmount ; but a Franklin, 
 a Rittenhouse, and a host of others, the master spirits of the 
 land bid us follow on, and assure us by their examples that in 
 perseverance we shall find success. 
 
When you leave, please leave this hook 
 
 Because it has heen said 
 "Ever thing comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned book." 
 
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