¶A record of the London Mechanics Institution Committee, 1829-30, by a member elected in March 1829, but who leaves a year later following a vote allowing 'ladies' to become members. With a further three pages giving a brief account of Wednesday and Friday lectures up to August, 1830. The anonymous committee member attends nearly all meetings after being elected by 87 votes. The Institute, or Institution, had been founded in 1823 by Dr George Birkbeck to provide technical training to the working classes. At the meetings recorded here, Birkbeck himself is often in the chair; speakers include Birkbeck, Toplis & Hetherington. The writer also records the lectures during the period on such subjects as fire engines, hydrostatics, galvanism, saving banks, lithography, astronomy, &c. The letting out of the Institution's theatre to Freethinkers on Sundays is a subject 'of much animadversion'. A motion that 'Radicals be not permitted to have the use of the Theatre as before' was defeated. In September 1829, there is a vote taken on Hunt and Cobbett holding a meeting; after three committee members abstain from voting as self-declared Radicals, by a majority of one those organising the meeting 'are requested to make some alterations - when if better conducted they might still hold their meetings in the Theatre.' The writer clearly has issues with some elements of the Institution and his stepping down from the Committee is not unexpected; in October 1829, he leaves 'the Literary Class on Tuesday evenings, as amongst the persons constituting it are several with whom I do not wish to come into contact... not being content with possessing infidel principles, they take every opportunity of proclaiming it...'. The admittance of women was clearly a step too far. The Institution was the foundation stone for Birkbeck College, still part of the University of London, providing facilities for mature students wishing to attain academic qualifications while remaining at work.