many also – and some of them the most distinguished for enlightenment – who agree with me in these views; and I am pleased to know that the number increases daily, and that popular working-men’s reading-rooms are becoming common everywhere. There is one established at Dover, which (D. V.) I intend inspecting on my return home, next week. We can’t expect men who have been toiling all day to sit down and listen to some prosy-reader who, probably, would send his audience to sleep in ten minutes. We must coax the labouring population into our reading-rooms, and lead them by degrees till they attain to that love of truth – particularly Christian truth, without which it had been better for us that we had never been born. I have written hurriedly today, but the subject of amusements for the people is not new to me. Our people require more recognised amusements. I have been requested by the London Mechanics’ Institute to lecture on this subject, and this I have promised to do shortly. As I am also under an engagement to lecture on the same subject, shortly, in Hastings, I shall conclude this hastily written letter, which I have not time to correct; but the sentiments expressed are the deep convictions of my mind.” – “J. Alton Hatchard. Hotel de Louvre Rue St. Honore, Paris, Dec. 4, 1860.”
The Room Established. At a meeting held on the 11th of December at Mr. Rock’s factory with Mr. Rock, sen. himself as chairman, it was decided to establish a “Working Man’s Reading-room and Leizure Association”, to which 1d per week would entitle to membership. The officers appointed were J. Rock, sen., Esq. president, Mr. G. A. Thorpe, treasurer, and H. Roberts, Esq. secretary. There was to be a committee of twelve, half of whom were to be working men. A room had been hired at 72 High street at a weekly rent of 6/6. Mr. Alderman Rock (son of the chairman) announced the receipt of £10 as a donation from a lady. The room was opened on the 17th of December, with a supply of daily and illustrated papers, some periodicals and a Bible, the last named being presented by the president. At the end of the first week it was reported that 25 working men had availed themselves of the privileges of spending their evenings there, of whom 6 had become members There are some other interesting items in connection with the new society, including an important letter from “Clericus”, which might with advange(sic) find a place here, but as they come at the end of the year and at the end of this volume, they are reserved for the next volume.
