B:oyal Instituiioii\ 2«? 



evfery benefit froiti the Institution, it was proposed, in addi- 

 tion to the advantages presented by the lectures, the ose of 

 the library, and the collection of mineralogy, lo put then? 

 in possession of the result of all scientific investigation that 

 niight be pursued, as well as of the proceedings of the Iii- 

 stiiution, by a quarterly publication of its li^bours. 



To one class of proprietors, namely, the possessors of 

 landed property, the Institution might prove eminently use- 

 ful. ■ The value of the n)ineral productions of their estates 

 might be ascertained, without exposing them to the impo-i 

 Bitions someiinies practised by adventurers, who, for the 

 selfish purpose of promoting their own interests, recommend 

 the working of mines, wilhout any prospect of advantage 

 to any one but the individuals employed upon the undertak+ 

 ing. Several instances, Mr. Davy observed, might be 

 mentioned of benefit which had already accrued to persons^ 

 ■who, before engaging in expensive enterprises of this kind, 

 had transmitted specimens of the productions of their cstatee 

 to the Institution, in order that they might be analysed'; 

 and the report which was returned to them enabled them to 

 avoid the unprofitable hazards to which such speculations 

 are exposed. One gentleman conceived he had discovered a 

 valuable coal mine on his estate. Upon examining the sub- 

 stance, however, it was at once ascertained that it was de- 

 stitute of all bituminous properties, and the working of a 

 mine of this quality would have been attended only with 

 expense, i^. nother gentleman supposed he had discovercfd 

 on his estate a stratum of alumina ; but, upon its analysis, 

 it was found to be a clay of inferior value. Instances of 

 this description might, if necessary, be easily multiplied. 

 To landed proprietoir^, therefore, the* Institution might 

 prove eminently beneficial. 



If had also its claim upon princes and statesrtjen for their 

 support. Even the materials of war, which in these times 

 may be of the highest importance to the state, might, from 

 new results of scientific investigation, be esscniially and 

 effectively improved. But there is another point of view 

 in which it has still a superior claim to their attCraion and 



• patronage. With the progressive advancement of sciences 

 and arts, the increasing prosperity of the couf.try is closely 

 and inseparably interwoven. Of this no one was more 

 sensihi'^than the great Colbert. He knew how to appre- 



• ciate tneir importance, and cherished them with the utmost 

 assiduity and care. Nor was he disappointed in the expecta- 

 tion of their natural effects ; for the prosperity of France, 

 in the reign of Louis the Fourteenth, was most r^pvdly ac- 



P 2 cch rated 



