set up. Who will say, that an invention cannot be carried to a 

 higher state of excellence ? Who will pretend to set limits to 

 human ingenuity ? That which is deemed admirable to-day may be 

 imperfect to-morrow, and consequently no collection of models 

 could be permanent : — the articles composing it, would be liable to 

 monthly, weekly, or perhaps daily, change, and an expense and labour 

 would be required to keep it up, for which the object afforded no 

 compensation. 



The very principle of commercial prosperity, is this progression 

 in the useful arts : this change, whether resulting from improve- 

 ment, from the love of novelty, or from fashion. In consequence 

 of this, the manufacturer is constantly active ; every faculty is 

 employed to produce new combinations ; emulation is preserved 

 alive. The security that talent will be rewarded, brings talent into 

 the market ; the idea that invention is fettered by no fixed rules, 

 guided by no unalterable models, leads to enterprize ; hence arise 

 new objects of discovery in industry ; new branches of manufacture, 

 new or improved arts, which perpetuate and exalt the commercial 

 empire of the country. 



That part of the plan of the Eoyal Institution connected with the 

 establishment of a collection of models in the arts, failed in conse- 

 quence of the circumstances that have been described ; and the 

 object which at first was only secondary, that of teaching the 

 principles of the sciences, and the application of the sciences, by 

 Courses of Public Lectures, soon became the prime object. This, as 

 it could not fail to be of advantageous and useful to all classes of the 

 community, could not fail of being carried into effect ; and the only 

 difficulty resulted from the nature of the audiences, which are always 

 to be expected in the lecture rooms of the metropolis ; and in which 

 students, men of science, persons in search of amusement, persons in 

 search of information, are necessarily associated together. 



To afford satisfaction to all, by one series of subjects, was 

 impossible. Numerous courses were consequently established, in 

 the rotation of which it was conceived the most different tastes 

 might be gratified. Science, Literature, and even the Fine Arts, 

 were alternately made the objects of illustration. 



By the exertions and contributions of a few noble-minded and 

 enlightened individuals, a great Library of Reference was added to 

 the Institution, containing the best authors in all current languages, 

 and equally calculated to unfold to the public, the treasures and 

 benefits of science, and the graces and elegancies of literature ; and 

 the Catalogue of this Library, which, in the opinion of the best 

 judges, has been skilfully and ably drawn up, will afford no incon- 

 siderable aid to the extension of its utihty. 



A Mineral Collection has likewise been formed, chiefly composed 

 of British specimens ; and calculated to afford to students the means 

 of acquiring mineralogical and geological information ; and to 



