THIRD
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Kensington
PAROCHIAL INSTITUTE.

1852.

President.
THE VENERABLE ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR,
Vicar of Kensington.

Treasurer—MR. HAWKES.

Hon. Sec.—REV. S. PRICE DAVIES, M.A.

Council.

KENSINGTON:
PRINTED BY W. BIRCH, HIGH STREET.
1853.

^*_*^*Subscriptions and Donations to the Kensington Parochial Institute will be received and acknowledged by the Treasurer, Mr. Hawkes, High-street, and the Rev. S. Price Davies, Hon. Sec., 17, Lower Phillimore-place.

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT.

The Council of the Parochial Institute have pleasure in submitting for the adoption of its members, and the consideration of the inhabitants of Kensington, their Third Annual Report.

Having upon former occasions detailed the circumstances of its formation, and demonstrated upon solid grounds the expediency of meeting the increasing intellectual requirements of the community, by the establishment, throughout the country, of societies for the diffusion of a healthy literature, and a cultivated taste, it will be their present purpose to recount their own success in stimulating these objects, while suggesting to their fellow residents the privilege, policy, and duty of enabling them to develop the existing agencies of mental recreation, by liberally conceding to their claims an united and comprehensive support.

Nor will such a retrospect be interesting only to those more immediately concerned in producing the results recorded.  The popular use of reading-rooms, libraries, and lectures, is not connected with questions of merely individual or local importance; it is of imperial bearing: for while their multiplication and prosperity afford criteria for determining how far the desire of knowledge animates the people, indifference to learning and incapacity for self-instruction are attested by their failure or neglect.  These are amongst the outward manifestations of those unconscious tendencies by which the philosophical observer estimates the bent and genius of the age.  As in the multitudes who throng to gaze upon the line of armies manœuvring in the pomp of mimic war, he reads the love of military glory, if not the lust of conquest; as in an inordinate devotion to games, and theatres, and spectacles, he sees the traits of frivolity; so in the steady application of the faculties to the improvement of the mind he recognises the characteristics of a wise and understanding people.  But these diversities of national choice and temperament cannot be consigned to the speculations of the theorist.  They enter largely into the deliberations of the practical statesman.  By their influence, the distribution of political power is confessedly affected.  Rights that could not be confided to an ignorant, are freely accorded to an educated population.  Already the principle of an educational qualification has been mooted as the safest mode in which the extension of the franchise could be granted; and in considering the claims of various constituencies to a participation in the representation of the country, it is far from impossible that the government would accord a preference to localities, maintaining in efficiency and prominence well organized institutions of social and intellectual progress.

It is pleasing to reflect that this neighbourhood need not shrink from such an inquiry.  For though its growth has been unprecedentedly rapid for the last ten years, private liberality and public munificence have combined to preserve its ancient pre-eminence over other suburban parishes.  It is still in truth, as well as name, “the Royal Ville” of Kensington.  But whilst it is creditable to its patriotism that it has erected, within this recent period, four new churches, has built a dispensary, and raised other public structures of much architectural merit and of great utility; whilst in these edifices, dedicated to the noblest ends, religion and humanity, evidences are shrined of an enlightened and active desire of improvement, no attempt commensurate with the importance of the town has yet been made to purchase or erect a building where neighbour may meet neighbour in a spirit of good-will and unity, and by intercourse and the exchange of daily courtesy, and the pursuit of knowledge, which civilizes and blesses parishes as well as nations, communities as well as individuals, and which ought ever to be found in alliance with religion itself.

Kensington, central Kensington, with its parks, and gardens, and palace, the birthplace and residence of monarchs, rich in historical associations, almost the home of genius; where Cromwell swayed the destinies of Europe; where William of Orange sojourned, Lord Chancellor Nottingham dwelt, Sir Christopher Wren planned and built, and Sir Isaac Newton solved the problems of astronomy; where George II.’s children played, and Queen Victoria was born; which is linked in memory with the names of Addison, Horner, Canning, Wellesley, Moore, Wilkie, and Wilberforce, and still retains within its limits some of the most distinguished authors and artists of the day, possesses no Public Museum, no Public Library, not even a Lecture-Hall.

But though it be a matter of shame and disgrace that this omission has never been adequately supplied, much of the substantial advantage attached to the Athenæums of the manufacturing towns, and the Bibliothèques of the continental cities, has been modestly provided by the Parochial Institute.

Small though its reading-rooms unquestionably are, situated in a street removed from the central thoroughfare, and of outward appearance but little in unison with the wealth, respectability, and literary reputation of St. Mary Abbott’s, they still are known and patronized.  From the date of their opening, three years ago, they have been becoming more and more frequented.  At first they were attended only by those who had joined the Institution with the wish to encourage so good a work.  Now they are subscribed to by many who