Plymouth is particularly distinguished for the number of its charitable institutions. Among these may be men tioned, the General Dispensary, the Eye Infirmary, Kel way's Trust for educating boys at the Grammar School and at Oxford ; Hele and Lanyon's Charity, and orphan's aid fur educating and clothing poor boys ; alms houses for the reception of infirm and aged women. The Grey School for the education of children of both sexes ; Lady Rogers' School for the education of girls in household arts ; the School of Industry ; the Household of Faith ; the public subscription schools, and many Sunday Schools; the Lying in Charity ; the Female Benevolent Society ; the Merchant's Hospital ; the Female Penitentiary ; the Nisericordia : the Corpus Christi Society ; the Provident Society; the Auxiliary Bible Society ; the Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews ; the Religious Tract Society ; the Peace Society ; Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and several auxiliary missionary societies. To the credit of the town it may be stated, that, in general, these societies arc actively supported. In few places are the wants of the poor better attended to, or the sufferings of humanity more effectually alleviated. olencc is the general characteristic of the inha bitants, and the exercise of Christian philanthropy no in considerable object of their lives.
Within the last twelve years, Plymouth has been much improved. A taste for architecture has contributed to the appearance of the town ; and several splendid bundmzs evince the public spirit of the inhabitants. Of these, the Royal llotel and Theatre may be mentioned first, on account of their magnitude and beauty. The northern front of this noble building extends 275 feet ; and in the centre is a magnificent portico of eight Ionic columns. At the eastern end is another portico of smaller dimensions, but of the same beautiful proportions. A superb ball-room is adorned with columns of the Corin thian order ; and the classical observer will perceive, that the taste of the architect has directed him to the chorasic monument of Lvsicrates, at Athens, for the model of the capital and entablature. The ceiling is enriched by the pencil of Ball, a native artist of considerable talent. The theatre occupies the western division of the building, and for beauty is rivalled by none out of the metropolis. The scenic decorations are of the most excellent kind. To guard against the effects of fire, the roof is entirely con structed of wrought iron ; and the frame-work of the in terior, together with the pillars supporting the tiers, are of cast iron.
The public library is also another elegant and spacious building. It is of the Doric order, and contains a valuable collection of books. A news-room is also connected with the institution ; and the stranger finds ready and imme diate access to it. The inhabitants are indebted to the ac tive exertions of Mr. Eastlake, for this useful establish
ment. This gentleman was the friend of genius in its most enlarged and liberal sense.
The Athenxum is a chaste and beautiful building, dedi cated entirely to the purposes of literature and science. It is of the Doric order, the portico being formed on the model of the temple of Theseus at Athens. The interior is adorned with splendid casts from the Elgin collection, presented by the king. Casts also from the Apollo Bel videre, the Medicean Venus, and the young Antinous, add to the beauty of the building. A society, consisting of 40 ordinary, and 150 extraordinary members, meet weekly, from October to March, when lectures are delivered on subjects of a literary and scientific nature. The lectures are always discussed, and generally with liberality and candour. The essays delivered are mostly of a literary nature ; but occasionally papers of considerable scientific merit are read. At some future period, the society, from its possessing several members of known talent and ability, may look forward to the publication of a volume of Trans actions, and which, from the number of local objects me riting a particular examination, could not fail to be ac ceptable to the public. The formation of this society has had a sensible influence on the habits and pursuits of the inhabitants ; and the same may be perceptibly traced even in the surrounding villages. The love of literature has increased, and a taste for the sciences been displayed, which, before this useful institution was formed, had scarcely an existence. The investigations of Newton and Laplace become more extensively diffused by the crea tion of societies of this kind ; and the splendid discoveries of the nineteenth century are melted down, in their inge nious and instructive discourses, into the simplest and most elementary forms, ultimately becoming blended with the ordinary realities of life.
In the month of August, an exhibition of paintings is opened in the hall of the Athenaeum, consisting of the works of artists and amateurs of the town and neighbour hood, and pictures of the Italian, Flemish, Dutch, and British schools, furnished from the collections of the neighbouring nobility and gentry. This also has had a powerful influence on public taste, and contributed es sentially to the improvement of the town.
Some attempts have also been made to establish an ob servatory ; and although it has not hitherto been success ful, the same energy and zeal that has created so many useful institutions within a few years, may raise an edifice consecrated to the stars, and by its means, perhaps, add a a fragment to the lofty pyramid of astronomical science. In a great naval establishment, indeed, the practical utility of such a structure would be of immense importance. At the present moment, ships take their chronometers to sea without knowing the exact longitude of the place for which their time is determined.