1883.] on Count Bumford, Originator of the Roijal Institution. 431 



submitted a statement of his views. These are in part set forth in 

 the title to his pamphlet already quoted. The aim of the institution, 

 furthermore, was " to excite a s^urit of imju-ovement among all 

 ranks of society, and to afford the most effectual assistance to those 

 who are engaged in the various pursuits of useful industry." He 

 begs, however, that His Majesty's Ministers may be informed of the 

 intention of the founders of the Institution to accept his services. 

 This he deems necessary because of his being, in the first place, a 

 subject of His Majesty, and also, by His Majesty's special permission, 

 the servant of a foreign prince. He recommends that the Govern- 

 ment should be fully informed not only as to the general aims but 

 also of the details of the scheme, and then asked for countenance and 

 support in carrying it into execution. 



The committee met and ratified Rumford's proposals. They 

 agreed that subscribers of fifty guineas each should be the perpetual 

 proprietors of the Institution ; that a contribution of ten guineas 

 should secure the privileges of a life subscriber ; whilst a subscrip- 

 tion of two guineas should constitute an annual subscriber. Besides 

 other important rights, each proprietor was to receive two transferable 

 tickets, admitting to every part of the Institution, and to all the 

 lectures and experiments. Each life subscriber was to receive one 

 ticket, not transferable, securing free admission to every part of tlie 

 establishment, and to all lectures and experiments. An annual sub- 

 scriber had a single ticket for a single year, but might at any time 

 become a life subscriber by the additional payment of eight guineas. 

 The managers, nine in number, were to be chosen by ballot by the 

 proprietors. The managers were to be unpaid and, without any 

 pecuniary advantage to themselves, were held solemnly pledged to the 

 faithful discharge of their duties. Three were to constitute a quorum, 

 but in special cases six w^ere required. A Committee of Visitors was 

 also appointed, the same in number as the Committee of Managers, 

 and holding office for the same number of years. 



The managers were to devote the surplus funds of the Institution 

 to the purchase of models of inventions, and improvements in the 

 mechanical arts ; and a room in the Institution was to be devoted to 

 the reception of them. The room still exists, and though diverted 

 from its original purpose, is called " the Model Room." A general 

 meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of Sir Joseph Banks, 

 in Soiio Square, on the 7th of March, 1799. Fifty-eight persons, 

 comprising men of distinction in science, members of Parliament and 

 of the nobility, including one bishop, were found to have qualified as 

 proprietors by the subscription of fifty guineas each. The prelate 

 was the Bishop of Durham. The Committee of Managers was chosen, 

 and they held their first meeting at the house of Sir Joseph Banks on 

 the 9th of March, 1799. Mr. Thomas Bernard, one of the most active 

 members of the Society from whose committee the first managers 

 were chosen, was appointed Secretary. To Rumford and Bernard 

 was delegated the duty of preparing a draught of a charter ; while 



