856 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



USEFUL PROJECTS. 



Slcetch of a Plan for improving 

 the Roiled Institution, and erect- 

 ing it on a permanent Founda- 

 tion. 



THE basis of this plan is to be 

 found in the following sen- 

 tence, copied from the last report 

 of the managers to the visitors, 

 20th March, J809. 



*• If it should be thought advis- 

 able to endeavour to attract the in- 

 terest of scientific men in this coun- 

 try, and to induce them to form 

 an active union for the support of 

 the Royal Institution, something 

 must be done to give it more the 

 form of a public establishment, 

 than of private and hereditary 

 property. It can hardly be ex- 

 pected that a general interest should 

 ever be excited fer the improve- 

 ment of the inheritance of a few 

 individuals. The managers, how- 

 ever, have no doubt, but that the 

 friends of science will be ready to 

 come forward, and give the insti- 

 tution a powerful and adequate 

 support, whenever it shall obtain 

 such a shape and character, as is 

 calculated to interest the country 

 at large ; and while they express 

 their own sentiments and wishes, 

 they have no doubt of anticipating 



the sentiments of the body of the 

 proprietors, that it will be deserv- 

 ing of any sacrifice which it may 

 be necessary to make of personal 

 interjitand advantage, to erect on 

 this basis, a public, national, and 

 permanent establishment, devoted 

 and dedicated to the cultivation of 

 science, and to the promotion of 

 every improvement in agriculture, 

 manufactures, and the useful arts 

 of life, that may be conducive to 

 the happiness and prosperity of 

 the Britisli Empire." 



The property of the Roj'al In- 

 stitution has been gradually im- 

 proved since its foundation, and a 

 number of sources of scientific and 

 literary interest have been daily 

 adding to it. It has been furnished 

 with a mineral collection and an 

 extensive library, which were not 

 in contemplation when the estab- 

 lishment was formed. The scien- 

 tific lectures have not only exhi- 

 bited views of the actual state of 

 science, but have likewise assisted 

 in its progression ; and investiga- 

 tions connected with improvements 

 in chemical philosophy and the che- 

 mical arts, have been continually 

 carried on in the laboratory. 



The origin of the peculiar dif- 

 ficulties of the Royal Institution, 



must 



