432 Professor TyndaU [May 3, 10, and 17, 



Earls Morton and Spencer, Sir Joseph Banks, and Mr. Pelbam, were 

 requested "to lay tlie proposals before His Majesty, the Koyal 

 Family, the Ministers, the great officers of State, the members of both 

 Houses of Parliament, of the Privy Council, and before the twelve 

 judges." 



On the 13th of January, 1800, the Royal Seal was attached to the 

 Charter of the Institution. In the same year was published, in 

 quarto form, ' The Prospectus, Charter, Ordinance, and Bye-laws of 

 the Royal Institution of Great Britain.' The king was its Patron, 

 and the first officers of the Institution were appointed by him. The 

 Earl of Winchilsea was President. Lord Morton, Lord Egreraont, 

 and Sir Josei^h Banks were Vice-Presidents. The managers, chosen 

 by sealed ballot by the j^roprietors, were divided into three classes of 

 three each ; the first class serving for one, the second for two, and the 

 third for three years. The Earls of Bessborough, Egremont, and 

 Morton, respectively, headed the lists of the three classes. Rumford 

 himself was appointed to serve for three years. The three lists of 

 Visitors were beaded by the Duke of Bridgewater, Viscount Palmer- 

 ston and Earl Spencer, respectively. That Rumford possessed the 

 2)owcr of persuasion, and the infection of enthusiasm, is sufficiently 

 demonstrated by this powerful list. But neither persuasion nor en- 

 thusiasm might have been found availing had not his actual achieve- 

 ments in Bavaria occupied the background. The first Professor of 

 Natural Philosophy and Chemistry was Dr. Thomas Garnett, while 

 the first Treasurer was Mr. Thomas Bernard. But this was not 

 enough. A home and foreign secretary, legal counsel, a solicitor 

 and a clerk, were added to the list. One rule established at this time 

 has been adhered to with great fidelity to the present day. No poli- 

 tical subject was to be mentioned in the lectures. 



In a somewhat florid style Rumford (for he was obviously the 

 writer) descants on the name and objects of the new project. The 

 word Institution is chosen because it had been least used pre- 

 viously, and because it best indicates the objects of the new 

 society. The influence of the mechanical arts on the progress of 

 civilisation and refinement is pointed out and illustrated by reference 

 to nations, provinces, towns, and even villages which thrive in pro- 

 portion to the activity of their industry. " Exertion quickens the 

 spirit of invention, makes science flourish, and increases the moral 

 and physical powers of man." The printing-press, navigation, gun- 

 powder, the steam-engine, are referred to as having changed the 

 whole course of human afiairs. The slowness with which im2:)rove- 

 ments make their way among workmen is ascribed to the influence of 

 habit, prejudice, suspicion, jealousy, dislike of change, and the narrow- 

 ing effect of the subdivision of work into many petty occupations. But 

 slowness is also due to the greed for wealth, the desire for monopoly, 

 the spirit of secret intrigue exhibited among manufacturers. Between 

 these two the philosopher steps in, whose business it is " to examine 

 every operation of nature and art, and to establish general theories for 



