THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 225 



professors of the establishment ; together with mnny other objects, given in 

 great part by the members. 



The collection of minerals dates from the year 1804. In a review of that 

 period, (BiUiotlicque Britamiiqtic, t. xxviii, 1805,) it is said, with reference to 

 the Institution : 



" This establishment has not ceased to extend and prosper. A considerable 

 fund has been destined for a library, and, last year, a sum of c€4,000 was pro- 

 cured b}' private subsci'iption for the purpose of forming a mineralogical collec- 

 tion, to be attaclied to the establishment under certain conditions, with a labora- 

 tory exclusively intended for the regular assay of mines. The first idea of this 

 useful undertaking is due to Messrs. Gieville, St. Aub}T5, and Hume, distin* 

 guished amateurs of mineralogy and well known on the continent. They remark 

 in their prospectus that, while on one hand the private working of mines is con- 

 ducted in England with a combination of pecuniar}^, mechanical and chemical 

 means of which no other country affords an equivalent, on the other hand there 

 exists not a state in Europe where persons desirous of being instructed in this 

 important branch of human knowledge find so little help in public institutions. 

 This consideration leads them to propose to form by subscription : 1, a scientific 

 collection of minerals on a large scale, comprising the most recent discoveries, 

 and arranged in the order best adapted for offering complete sets and all the 

 most interesting facts in mineralogy ; 2, an office or bureau of assay, exclusively 

 destined to tlie advancement of mineralogj' and metallurgy. Each of these two 

 establishments shall be conducted by a man of the first merit in his line and 

 entirely devoted thereto, a condition necessary for the progress of science, for, 

 although private and occasional researches may produce some interesting dis- 

 coveries, the perseverance, which is always crowned by success, can only be 



expected fi'om a savant exclusively devoted to this particular branch of study." 

 # # * " * * * * 



Thus it would seem to have been in contemplation to annex to the Royal 

 Institution something like a school of mines; but this project was abandoned for 

 want of encouragement on the part of the government and the proprietors of 

 mines. 



XVII. CONTrNTTATlOSr OF THE PKESEXT ORGAJS'IZATIOX THE FINANCIxVL 



SITUATION. 



The members* after having been regularly presented, are balloted for, the 

 first Monday in each month, and pay at their admission 10 guineas, (five guineas 

 as a first annual payment, and five as a contribution to the fund of the library,) 

 or 60 guineas in place of all payments. They are admitted to all the lectures 

 given at the Institution, the libraries, the museum, the meetings on Friday, and 

 have the right of voting at the monthly reunions. They can also introduce, 

 by ticket, two friends to each of the weekly evening meetings, and their fami- 

 lies have the privilege of attending the lectures at reduced prices. Further, 

 by means of a supplementary subscription of 20 guineas once paid, or three 

 guineas a year, each member can introduce personally or by wTitten order a 

 visitor to each public lecture. » 



The annual subscribers to the Institution pay five guineas, with an additional 



.guinea to the library fund, at the time of their admission. They are admitted 



to all the public lectures given in the amphitheatre of the Institution, to the 



libraries and the journal-room, but they have not the privilege of being present 



*The Royal Institution counted, in 18()3, 17 honorary members, the Prince of Wales, 

 the King of Wurtemberg, the Prince of Hesse, and 14 learned foreigners, among whom 

 are M. Plateau, professor at the University of Ghent, and Ad. Quetelet, both elected in 1849. 

 The Prince of VVales was elected, in 1863, vice-patron of the Institution, to replace tlw 

 prince consort, Albert, who had exercised the same functions sines 1843, and who had been 

 assiduous in his attendance on the lectures and soirees of Friday. 

 15 s 



