t 93 J 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



FRANCE. 



Prizes prapofed by the National Inftitute, in the Sitting of 

 Germinal 15, {April ^th, 1798;) 



V, 



FIRST PRIZE. 



ARTOUS artifts have already prefented feverai • 

 models and machines, deftined for giving afliftance to- the 

 higheft ftories of houfes in cafes of fire; but the Inftitute 

 Wi filing to neglect nothing in an object of fo much import- 

 ance to humanity, has confidered it as a duty to make it the 

 iubject of a prize. 



It invites therefore ingenious men and artifts to prefent 

 either models or defcriptions of machines, or to point out 

 any means which may be ufed for giving affiftance to every 

 ftory of a houfe on fire. Thefe means mult be of fuch a 

 nature, that they can be transported with facility to different 

 quarters of a city or town ; that they can be fpeedily erected 

 before the houfe to which afliftance is to be given, and that- 

 women and children may be able to defcend by them from 

 the higheft ftories without any danger. It is defired that 

 thefe means may be as little impediment as poffible to fire- 

 engines, and to the manoeuvres deftined to check the progrefs 

 of the flames. The competitors are requefted to procure 

 information reflecting the practices followed at prefent, in. 

 different towns, in the like cafes. They are requefted alfo 

 not to neglect to point out particular means which, though. 

 not generally ufed, may be employed in many cafes ; but 

 thefe means mull be fimple, and eafy to be put in practice. 

 The prize will be a kilogramme of gold. 

 The competition will take place on the 15th of Nivofe, 

 the 7th year (January 4th, 1799), and the Inftitute will pro- 



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