11,4. Mr. John Taylor's Prospectus 



thinking that a great deal might be accomplished by a sma.\\ 

 number of professors duly qualified. I have arranged under 

 one head, in the description of the three classes of instruction, 

 those branches of science which are not unusually attended to 

 by tlie same person ; I think, therefore, that with three pro- 

 fessors the institution would be tolerably perfect, and, if funds 

 cannot be found for so many, I even think that two would 

 produce a most beneficial effect. 



4. The proper situation for a School of Mines must neces- 

 sarily be where mines are most numerous and extensive, where 

 the trreatest variety and the largest quantity of mineral pro- 

 ducts are raised, where veins are most perfectly traced and 

 explored, where the difficulties attendant on mining most fre- 

 quently occur, and where they are overcome by the largest 

 application of the power of machinery, and by the adoption of 

 varied contrivance and skilful device. No part of England 

 that I know of presents these requisites in an equal degree 

 with that of the mining district of Gwennap and the surround- 

 ing country, Thomas's maj) of which may be refeired to as 

 confirming this opinion. The town of Redruth, nearly in the 

 centre of this map, is, I think, beyond all doubt the place 

 where such an institution should be fixed, as convenient for 

 study and for the acconnnodation of those who might (as it 

 may be expected some would do) come from a considerable 

 distance. 



5. The Expenses of such an institution should not be larger 

 than prudence woukl dictate, vvitii a proper view to the perma- 

 nency of the establishment. Such limits ought to be assigned 

 as would bring it within the probable means of support, even 

 when mining may be in circumstances much more depressed 

 than it now is ; and they ought to be such as the miners, after 

 havintr been practically convinced of the benefits to themselves, 

 mio-ht by some effort reach to, in order to support it. 



I expect that there will be no great difficulty in raising a sum 

 by donations for the buildings and the necessary apparatus for 

 proper lectures, and for a select practical library. 



The erections should be of a plain description, and all at- 

 tempts at ornament should be carefully avoided ; nor is it ne- 

 cessary that they should be large. A lecture-room for about 

 200 students, apparatus room, chemical laboratory and assay- 

 office, model-room, and a library are all that are essential. 

 Three moderate dwelling-houses for the professors would be 

 very desirable, because this would be in the nature of a per- 

 manent provision, as far as it went, towards their salaries ; and 

 in this view, and because houses are scarce in Redruth, I should 

 wish to see them added to the erection. I have at present no 



accurate 



