1899.] General Monthly Meeting. 193 



Count Rumford to Lady Palnierston. The following are copies of 

 Mr. Ashley's letter aud of Count Rumford's letter : — 



Dear Sir Broadlands, Romset, May 8t)i, 1899. 



Looking over some old papers I have come across the enclosed — namely, 

 a letter from Count Rumford to Lady Palmerston, dated Feb. 2nd, 17!»9, and 

 giving a sketch of the proposed scheme for a " Royal Institution." It, may 

 perhaps be of some interest to the Fellows on the occasion of their Centenary, 

 and I therefore offer it for their acceptance. 



Yours faithfully, 

 (Signed) Evelyn Ashley. 

 Count Rumford was a great friend of the Palmerstons of that day. I have 

 many letters, &c, here from him. 



Brompton Row, 2nd Feb. 1799. 



It would be difficult for you to form any just idea, my dear friend, of the 

 pleasure I should have to be able to put the affairs of your little but useful 

 Institution on the most perfect footing immediately, but that alas ! is not in my 

 power. To its being the more extensively useful it must be so arranged in ail 

 its part*, and more especially in all its mechanical contrivances to serve as a model 

 for your neighbourhood. But the model of that model is not yet quite finished, 

 — nor are all the moulds made that must serve for the castings at the founders. 

 These things are however all in hand, and the moment they shall be finished, 

 and that I shall have instructed thoroughly any one workman so that I can be 

 sure that he will be able to execute the job without committing any fault. To 

 show you that I have not been inattentive to the business I send you a drawing 

 for your new kitchen which I made as soon as I got the plan of the buildings. 

 I should have sent you the materials for it, and the workman to put them up, 

 had they been ready. 



I think if you read my Second Essay you will see that something may be 

 done en attendant. Your Housekeeper may open a day school for children ; — and 

 with the information you will find in my third Essay and that published by the 

 Society for bettering the condition of the Poor, she may contrive to give them 

 useful employment, and a good warm soup for dinner to encourage their industry. 



I wish it were in my power to give you specific directions in writing for all 

 the details of the management of your Establishments. But have I not already 

 explained these matters in my writings? 



I am just at this moment engaged in a business that may prevent my intended 

 journey to America, or at least determine to postpone it. We are considering of 

 a scheme for forming in London a Public Institution for diffusing the knowledge 

 and facilitating the introduction of useful mechanical improvements, and for 

 teaching by means of regular courses of Philosophical Lectures and Experiments 

 the application of Science to the common purposes of life. I shall depend on you, 

 and on Lord Palmerston to give your support to this most useful and most 

 interesting scheme. 



It is proposed to put the execution of the plan, and the sole management of 

 all affairs of the Institution, into the hands of seven Managers, one of whom to be 

 ■ — your most obedient Servant. As soon as the scheme shall be digested and 

 properly drawn up in writing I shall not fail to send it to you. It is proposed 

 that the subscribers of 50 guineas paid once for all should possess for ever all the 

 property belonging to the Institution, and these shares to be transferable by sale, 

 gift, legacy, &c. Each such subscriber to have two tickets, transferable, of admis- 

 sion to every part of the Institution — and also two tickets likewise transferable of 

 admission to all Public and Private Lectures and Experiments. The choice of 

 the Managers, and of a Committee of Visitors to be exclusively vested in Sub- 

 scribers of this first class. Subscribers of the second class at 10 guineas, to be 



Vol. XVI. (No. 93.) o 



