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It is proposed, that the Government shall be open and liberal ; 

 and that Laws and Regulations may flow from the Members. 



As far as the diffusion of Science by the T^ectures, the Collections, 

 and the Libraries can be extended, it is intended to offer every 

 facility of admission to the public : but with respect to the Election 

 into the Body, as it is to be a mark of respect, so it will depend upon 

 the will of the Members to bestow it. It has been conceived indeed 

 by some zealous friends of the Institution, that in order to remove 

 the present financial difficulties, it would be proper to render the 

 admission of Memliers very open, and to hold out temptations to 

 induce persons to offer themselves : but the very opposite plan will, 

 1 doubt not, both as to immediate and permanent effect, be the most 

 efficacious. No society can be dignified, that is not select : a 

 Scientific Establishment must owe its reputation to the reputation of 

 its members. Its glory must be derived from their labours, their 

 respectability and their character. It is nothing without a Name, 

 and it depends entirely upon the principle of selection or free 

 admission, whether that name be honourable or despised. Candidates 

 for honorary distinctions, are never wanting ; and these distinctions 

 are the more sought for in proportion as there is more difficulty in 

 procuring them. The principle is universal in its effects upon the 

 human mind. What every one can attain, every one is indifferent 

 to ; create obstacles which it is honoural)le to overcome, and you 

 create a stimulus to exertion. In every department of life, every 

 branch of human labour : this is a constant source of activity, useful- 

 ness, and greatness. It is the moving spirit of society, a living 

 spring of its improvement, a strong impulse which directs it towards 

 perfection. 



The original scheme of the Institution, by making the proprietary 

 interest perpetual, left no means for the renovation of the funds ; 

 except by adding new burdens to the Establishment. In the New 

 Plan, the common laws of mortality will be subservient to their 

 support ; and without rendering the Body too numerous, the election 

 of new Members will afford a considerable fund, and a constant 

 supply of income. From the extended use and popularity of the 

 Establishment, it may be expected, that the annual and life sub- 

 scriptions will increase rather than diminish ; and that the liberal 

 and disinterested, will be disposed to assist an undertaking, which in 

 the form that it is proposed to assume, cannot be made subservient 

 to any selfish or interested views, and must be a public benefit. For 

 the present exigencies of the establishment, for the purpose of making 

 C(jnipensation to those Proprietors who do not wish to belong to the 

 new Scientific Body, a fund is providing, on the plan of a loan with- 

 out interest ; which in a short time, it may be trusted, will be amply 

 sufficient for all the purposes required ; and which, as it has com- 

 menced upon a magnificent scale (already exceeding £12,000) so it 

 may be hoped, that it will be continued, not only for use, but as 





