Mersey Docks Institute, 1859

Mersey Docks Institute, 1859

Daily Post April 8th 1859

Mersey Docks institute

At a meeting of the committee of management held last evening Mr James SAMUELSON, president of the institute communicated the gratifying intelligence that our honoured members, J. C. EWART Esq and T. B. HORSFALL Esq, as well as Charles TURNER Esq and Frederick CAPPLE Esq had become life members through the payment of £5 each, amongst the life members he announced that Messer’s J. LISTER [Union Bank], J. P. CAMPBELL, Francis PRANGE and himself. The sum thus collected along with £15 given by the committee of the society of the ordinary members [no subscription having yet been asked for] being now sufficient to meet the preliminary expenses and the chairman, Mr COWAN, having announced that nearly 200 persons had already enrolled themselves as members, it was deemed advisable to call an early meeting of subscribers, for the purpose of passing the rules, at present under the consideration of the committee.

A fine room, fitted with every convenience [lately occupied by the Law Society] with additional accommodation for smokers, is about being engaged in the Clarendon Buildings, for the use of the institute.

Mersey Docks Institute, Peter’s Lane 1860

Mersey Docks Institute, Peter’s Lane 1860

Daily post, Jan 3rd 1860

Sermons and lectures

Mersey Docks Institute

Course of Lectures

The first will be delivered at the rooms of the institute, 33 Peters Lane, this evening, Tuesday, the 3rd inst, at half past seven o’ clock by Mr Thos E. HIGNETT, subject - “A brief sketch of Men and Manner, localities, customs and Traditions of Lancashire.”

J. P. CAMPBELL. Esq in the chair

Non-members admitted on payment of 6d - By order

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Daily Post, Jan 4th 1860

Mersey Docks Institute, Peter’s Lane

Last evening Mr Thomas E. HIGNETT delivered an able and interesting lecture entitled, “ The men, manners and traditions of Lancashire.” to the members and friends of the institute.

Mr J. P. CAMPBELL presided and introduced the lecturer to the meeting.

Mr HIGNETT alluded to the characteristics and peculiarities of the different towns and places in the large and important county of Lancashire.

Commencing with Liverpool, he said, our docks were a never ending novelty, for the busy scenes constantly being enacted there, and the immense line of docks themselves, their extent and formation might be made the subject of constant study.

The merchants of Liverpool were distinguished for their wisdom, economy, and probity, and long may they continue to be so. As it was said by a Spaniard, that he who had not seen Seville had not seen anything. So he would say, that he who had not seen Liverpool had not seen England. [ hear, hear ].

Its appearance was necessarily modern, but if it was not distinguished by its antiquities, it had still a great deal in it well worth seeing.

The manufacturers of Liverpool were, comparatively speaking not important, but, it had a large trade in the import of raw cotton, and its export in a manufactured state, while trade was carried on between this port and all parts of the globe. He then enumerated some of the manufacturers.

Then going on to the history of St Jame’s cemetery, which was once a quarry of red sand stone, having a public walk, or esplanade on its western side, and which was first called Quarry Hill, then Mount Zion, then Mount, simply, then St James, to that of Hale Hall and other places.

He then passed a warm eulogium on the Working Men’s College, then noticed the leading characteristics of Manchester, Rochdale, Wigan and other places, and quoted many amusing and quaint epitaphs of many of the churchyards of Lancashire.

He drew many amusing sketches of life in our county, but, while he commented on these, he did full justice to the perseverance, honour and sterling qualities of the men of Lancashire. He mentioned a case in which a penniless boy a few years ago, rose to be a great machine-maker, in the city of Manchester, all illustrative of the good effects resulting from the energy and perseverance, and exhorted the working men before him to inform their minds with useful knowledge.

Mr Robert COWAN, Superintendent of the Albert Dock proposed a vote of thanks to Mr HIGNETT, and Mr J. SAMUELSON seconded the motion.

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