THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 207 



mental physics, in wliich the propositions avo first denionstriitctl mathematically, 

 afterwards illustrated by experiments, and finally applied to the various uses of 

 the arts and domestic economy. The meetings occur three days in the week, at 

 8 o'clock in the evening." 



The professor who had charge of this course was Dr. Garnett. In Nicholson's 

 journal it is said, under the date of April 1, 1800: ''The course of physics and 

 of chemistry opened by Dr. Garnett, in the apartments of the Royal Institution, 

 is followed with the most marked attention by a numerous and distinguished 

 auditory." 



Thomas Garnett was born in 1765 or 1166, at Casterton, in Westmoreland. 

 He received the degree of doctor of medicine at Edinburgh, in 1788, and prac- 

 ticed his art successfully at London, at Bradford, at Knaresborough, and at Liv- 

 erpool. Called in 1796 to Glasgow to teach chemistry, he afterwards quitted 

 that city in order to occupy at the Royal Institution the chair which had been 

 offered him by Count Rumford. Dr. Garnett died at London June 28, 1802, in 

 the prime of life. We owe to him a compendium entitled, Outlines of a Course 

 of Lectures on Chemistry, Delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. — 

 London, 1801. 



IV. — The situation of the establishment in mat, 1801, and april, 1802, 



To M. Pictet, one of the editors of the Bibliofheque Britannique, who visited 

 London in 1801, we owe the following notices of a report made by Count Rum- 

 ford to the directors and visitors of the Institution, in the month of ]May in that 

 year : 



'^ The sums subscribed for the execution of the proposed plans amount at 

 present to 6623,000, without comprising c£7,000 generously offered by a small 

 number of the proprietors (which subvention will, however, not be needed) to 

 supply deficiencies in the cost of new buildings. Those already acquired are 

 very extensive. The ground on which the principal edifice stands was originally 

 occupied by foru' private dwellings, and the location is central to that part of 

 London to whose inhabitants the establishment most naturally appeals for an 

 enlightened interest, (Albemarle street, Piccaditly.) Professors and demonstra- 

 tors in physics, chemistry, and mechanics have been engaged* and lectures are 

 given in two spacious amphitheatres, one of which will contain 300, the other 

 900 persons. An ample laboratory having been provided, a manager and opera- 

 tor have been nominated, and negotiations are on foot with a skilful German 

 chemist to serve as assistant to those two individuals. Shops for the construction 

 of models, furnished with the most complete assortment of tools that could be 

 procured, have been placed in order, under a master-workman, who will have 

 charge of all the physical apparatus pertaining to the Institution. The opera- 

 tives engaged are : a mathematical instrument maker, a constructor of models, 

 a cabinet maker, a carpenter, a workman in brass and copper, another in tin, and 

 still another in sheet iron. To these will be added a brick maker and mason, 

 who will be instructed and rendered competent to instruct other workmen in the 

 art of constructing chimneys, ovens, furnaces, &c., upon the principles recently 

 applied to the management of fire and the economy of fuel. 



" There has been established in the apartment of the janitor a complete kitchen 

 suitable for a family of small means, with an oven for roasting of the most sim- 

 ple construction, a chimney place adapted to cottages, a steaming kettle, &c. 

 All these objects are open to the inspection of those who frequent the Institution. 

 It is proposed also to establish a principal kitchen, which shall be rendered as 

 complete as possible in every particular. It will include ovens for baking, others 

 for roasting, steam boilers of every construction; and in order that everyone 

 may leam to avail himself of this diversified apparatus daily use will be made 

 of it in the Institution, and certain persons be specially charged with showing 



