206 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



ing, as well as in those of digestion ; tlie chemical principles involved in the 

 tanning of leather, with the olrjects to which artisans, who may seek to perfect 

 so important a process, should direct their efforts ; the chemical prinicples of the 

 art of making soap, of bleaching, of dyeing, and, in general, of all the mechan- 

 ical arts which bear a relation, more or less direct, to manufactures. 



'' There shall be five classes of contributors : 1, subscribers at 50 guineas, pay- 

 able once for all ; 2, subscribers at 10 guineas, likewise pajmble but onco ; 3, 

 subscribers at two guineas; 4, testators or benefactors; 5, persons who pay the 

 ticket of admission. Of these, the first class are the proprietors of the estab- 

 lishment. They alone elect the directors and visitors, and can alone exercise 

 office. The establishment will be gratuitously conducted by nine directors. 

 There shall be also nine visitors." 



" Such an institution," adds the editor of the BihIiotMque Britannique, "is 

 calculated to form an epoch in the history of civilization." In the month of 

 July, -1799, there were already 138 subscribers at 50 guineas a head, 103 at 10 

 guineas, and 97 at two guineas. The capital of the society, therefore, was at 

 that time 7,950 guineas, besides 194 guineas contributed by annual subscrip- 

 tion. The first meeting of the proprietors had taken place April 20 previous. 



III. — Situation of the establishment at the beginning of 1800 — dk. 



GAENETT, THE FIEST PKOFESSOE OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 



The charter of the new corporation, wlricli by permission of George III bad 

 assumed the title of Royal Institution of Great Britain, bears date January 15, 

 1800. It was published witli a new prospectus, mainly of a descriptive charac- 

 ter; the indefatigable activity of Count Rumford having hastened the execution 

 of the ideas contained in his first appeal to the public. It is here'said: 



* * * " The tardiness with wliicli improvements of every kind are intro- 

 duced, even such as are of the most evident utility, is a remarkable fact; it stands 

 in striking contrast with the avidity of the public in adopting the frivolous 

 changes created by caprice or folly, and which circulate in society under the 

 auspices of fashion, * # * The Royal Institution has two principal objects: 

 one, to spread promptly and introduce into all the ramifications of society a 

 knowledge of inventions and useful improvements, draA\Ti from the experience 

 and practice of all nations ; the other, to make known the applications of wliich 

 scientific discoveries are susceptible, to the advantage of the arts and manufac- 

 tures of this country, and the augmentation of domestic enjoyment and con- 

 venience. * * * The directors have pm'chased (June, 1799) a commodious 

 and spacious edifice on Albemarle street, where large and airy apartments are 

 in course of preparation for exhibiting such mechanical inventions or improve- 

 ments as may be tbouglit to merit public attention. Particularly will those 

 inventions be exemplified which tend to increase domestic comfort and economy, 

 to improve the taste, or advance the industry directed towards objects of utility. 



''An amphitheatre will be arranged for lectures and demonstrations, accom- 

 panied by a laboratory and complete collection of instruments of experimental 

 physics and chemistry. This branch of instruction will be confided to savants 

 of the highest merit. * * * ^ place has been provisionally i)rei)ared in 

 which tbree courses are given : First, a course of natural philosu})hy on the 

 principles of astronomy, electricity, magnetism, mechanics, hydrostatics, pneu- 

 matics, and optics. The meetings take place every Tuesday, at 2 o'clock, and 

 this course is particularly directed to the instruction and amusement of persons 

 wlio, without having leisure or opportunity to explore thoroughly these diflerent 

 branches of natural knowledge, still desire to know whatever most strongly 

 provokes curiosity. Second, a course of chemistry and its application to the 

 arts, to manufacttu'es, and the requirements of life. The meetings take place 

 Wednesdays at 2 o'clock. Third, a complete and scientific course of experi- 



