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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Drawing by Rumford, illustrating his Experiment as to Nature of Heat. 



involving the provision of the most costly and complicated apparatus. 

 No institution in the world can boast such a record of original research 

 and important discoveries as that of the Eoyal Institution for the last 

 one hundred years. Public lectures by eminent investigators are given 

 in the lecture room. Weekly meetings are held by the members. 

 There is a library of 60,000 volumes, and a reading room containing 

 journals, magazines, etc. Here are preserved the historical apparatus 

 of Davy, Faraday and others. Some of the models of Eumford's 

 inventions are to be seen and his portrait, as founder of the institution, 

 appears as frontispiece of the society's pamphlet. 



In 1801 war with France had paralyzed industry in England, and 

 Eumford interested himself in practical methods for relieving the poor. 

 On his recommendations, public kitchens were established in all the 

 great towns of England and Scotland. Sixty thousand people were 

 fed daily from the public kitchens in London. The same plan for 

 feeding the poor was adopted in Paris, and the name of Bum ford was 

 printed on the tickets issued to the poor authorizing them to receive 

 food. In Geneva the tickets contained Eumford's portrait as well 

 as his name. He, at this time, wrote to his daughter — " My greatest 

 delight arises from the silent contemplation of having succeeded in 

 schemes and labors for the benefit of mankind." 



Eumford left England for the last time in May, 1802. His in- 

 tentions to return were defeated by the obstacles of war, and the next 

 two years were spent between Paris and Munich, finally making h's 

 permanent residence in Paris. 



He was made a member of the Institute of France, and read more 

 than a dozen papers before that body on the subjects of light, heat, 

 combustion, illumination, etc. His lectures before the Academy of 

 Sciences were beautifully illustrated by drawings of his own execution. 

 Napoleon granted him the favor, as a distinguished man of science, to 



