1NSTITUT, NATIONAL. 



INSURANCE, FIRE. 



of sucking U generally considered instinctive, and, in a barbarous 

 tote, the first coming together of the sue*. The Utter howi 

 been denied by Hartley, as the former ha* by Priestley, who considers 

 - purely mechanical, like the action of breathing, which Hei.l luu 

 iBoorrecUy ohvssed among instinctive actions. Besides these there are 

 eeruin extraordinary instinct* which are evoked by diseases, 

 sequence, it would seatu, of a change in the mixture of the organic*! 

 elements of the body. It U thu* that the instinctive taste for acid 

 drinks in the feverish patient, and the ravening of children for chalk, 

 Ac , which has been already notion!, are to be explained. 



But it i* in the brute creation that we meet with the most numerous 

 example* of thi* original quality. The wasp, which doe* not iUeli 

 feed upon fleah, and which knows not that a larva is to proceed from 

 the egg which it has deposited in the sand, collect* a number of green 

 wor.i.s, and having rolled them up in a circular form, fixes them in the 

 hole in such a manner that they cannot escape. The number of the 

 worm* so deposited is exactly proportioned to the time necessary for 

 the growth and transformation of the wasp-worm into a fly, when it 

 issue* from the hole and i* capable of procuring iu own food. An 

 instance of what we have termed extraordinary instinct is afforded by 

 the nyinphw of the iJu-yyuminr , commonly called the caddis worm, 

 which cover themselves by mean* of gluten with piece* of wood, straw, 

 mull shells, or gravel. It is necessary that they should always be 

 nearly iu equilibrium with the water iu which they live. To 

 accomplish this, when their covering i* too heavy they add a piece of 

 wood ; when too light, a bit of gravel 



Mr. Smellie, from whose work on the ' Philosophy of Natural 

 IlUtory ' our examples have been drawn, distinguishes two classes of 

 instincts : those which, independent of all instruction or experience , 

 instantaneously produce certain actions when particular object* are 

 presented, or under the influence of peculiar feelings ; and those which 

 can accommodate themselves to peculiar circumstance* and iutuatioiis. 

 Oi the latter he gives as an instance the adaptive instinct of the 

 ostrich, which, in Senegal, neglect* her eggs during the day, but sit* 

 upon them in the night ; whereas at the Cape of Good Hope, where 

 the heat is less, the ostrich, like other birds, sits upon her eggs both 

 day and night. The distinction however seems unnecessary. By the 

 uniformity of instinctive operations nothing more i* meant than that 

 the actions of all the individual* of the specie* are similar when the 

 circumstance* are the same. Under different circumstance* the same 

 species may act differently, but the correspondence of individual 

 operations will still continue. 



While some writers have gone the length of reducing all the 

 faculties of the human mind to certain instinctive principles of action, 

 others have elevated the animal instinct* to a level with rational 

 deliberation. Lock* and Lord Brougham hold that nimu possess 

 some of the faculties of reason. Descartes holds that all their actions 

 are mechanical Lord Brougham founds hi* belief on the fact that all 

 animal* have perception, and a* thi* implies consciousness, it must 

 lead in some degree, however restricted, to the possession of reason. 

 This is worked out at considerable length in the dialogue mentioned 

 above. Instinct however differs from intellect by the unerring 

 certainty of the means it employs, the uniformity of its result*, and 

 the pertection of it* works prior to and independent of all instruction 

 or experience ; and lastly, by the pursuit of nothing beyond what con- 

 ducts directly either to the continuation of the individual or the 

 propagation of the kind. But the art* of rational creatures proceed 

 slowly through diversified and oft-repeated experiment*, while the 

 means they employ are always various, and seldom the best and most 

 appropriate ; and in then- works, though falling far short of perfection 

 in many respect*, the difficulty is increased by a voluntary combination 

 of the beautiful with the merely useful 



INSTITUT, NATIONAL. The various academies of learning in 

 France having been dispersed during the first storms of the Revolution, 

 decree of the Republic, dated 3rd Brumaire of the year IV., esta- 

 blished a national academy, called the Institut, consisting of three 

 ehssss, namely, 1, physical and mathematical sciences; 2, moral and 

 political sciences ; , literature and the fine arts. The object was to 

 promote the progress of learning, to publish memoirs, to make the 

 nation acquainted with the new discoveries, and to correspond with the 

 learned of other countries. Each claw consisted of a certain number 

 of members residing at Paris, and a number of associates in diHurent 

 parts of France, with a small number of foreign honorary members. 

 C Compte rendu et presente au Corps Li'gislalif le ler jour oompld- 

 Baataire de 1'an IV., par 1' Institut National dee Sciences et Arts,' evo., 

 Paris, an V., ( 1 77). Bonaparte, after he was made first consul, gave a 

 ew organisation to the National Institute, by a decree dated St. 

 Cloud, January, 1809, and made it consist of four classes : 1, physical 

 and mathematical sciences, divided into eleven sections, namely, geo- 

 metry, mechanic*, astronomy, geography, and navigation, general 

 physics, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, rural economy and the vete- 

 rinary art, anatomy and xoology, and lastly, medicine and surgery. 

 This class consisted of 43 resident members, who could appoint 100 

 correspondent*, including foreigners ; 2nd clam, French language and 

 literature, consisting of 40 members, like the old Academic r'raneaise; 

 8rd clans, ancient history and literature, which corresponded to the old 

 Academic dei Inscriptions et Belfee LeUres. This das* consisted of 

 40 member* and 8 foreign associate*, beside* 00 correspondent*, native 



and foreign ; 4th oU*>, fine arU, divided into five section*, namely, 

 luinting, sculpture, architecture, engraving, and music. This clasa 

 consisted of 28 member* and 8 foreign associates, and 36 oorres- 

 pondenU, native and foreign. The class of moral and political science* 

 wa* suppressed : Bonaparte was never partial to those studies (Thibau- 

 deau, ' Histoire du Conaulat.') The vacancies in the respective elms* 

 were filled up by the members of each class, but the choice was subject 

 to the approbation of the first consul An annual allowance of 1500 

 francs was fixed for each resident member, and a salary of 6000 franc* 

 to each of the five perpetual secretaries, of whom time \\ , iv two for 

 the first clan, and one for each of the other three. Annual prises 

 were also awarded. Bonaparte was named member for the sect 

 mechanics. When he became emperor the Institut took the name of 

 Imperial 



After the Restoration, Lous XVIII., by an ordonnanoe, 91st March, 

 1816, without changing the arrangement of the departments of each 

 clasa, restored the old names of Academic de Sciences, Acodemie 

 Franchise, Academic des Inscriptions et Belle* Lettrec, and Acade- 

 mic de* Beaux Arts, giving to each a more independent organisation, 

 but still keeping them united in one academical body called the 

 Institut. Louis Philip|>e, by a royal ordonnanoe, October 26, 1882, 

 added a fifth class, or ' Academy of Moral and Political Science*,' 

 divided into five Motions, and consisting of 30 resident members and 

 5 foreign associates, beside* about 80 correspondent*. ('Almanach 

 Royal et National,' for 1837.) This constitution has been continued 

 under the Emperor Napoleon III. These various classes or academies 

 have published many memoirs and report* ; those of the Aoademie 

 des Inscriptions, styled ' Memoires de 1' Institut par la classe d'Uiatoire 

 et de Literature ancienne,' 4 vols. 4to., Paris, 1818, contain many 

 valuable papers. See also the annual ' Compte Rendu,' on the state of 

 science in France, and the ' Discount,' or orations pronounced at the 

 reception of every new member. 



INSTITUTION. [Bran 



INSTRUMENTS, ASTRONOMICAL,' are described under several 

 1 ..!-. 



l'.>i- .Meridian and Vtrlinit circles see ClRCLI. 



For the repeating circle (Borda'i and Reichenbaoh'a) see REPEATING 



For the nextatil and other rejUctiny instruments see SIXTAKT. The 

 TRANSIT, EQUATORIAL, ZKMTH'BCCTOR, and COLLIMATOB, are described 

 under their respective titles. 



For the ap]>aratu* used in measuring small quantities and sub- 

 divisions, see MICROMETER ; VERKIKR. 



The machines for meaturiiuj time are described under HOROLOGY ; 

 PENDULUM. 



See alo (In .VOCATION ; TiLE&coPi; OBSERVATORIES. 



INSTIU'MENTS, MUSICAL, are, 1. Keyed, as the org*n, piano- 

 forte, Ac. ; 2. Stringed, as the violin, violoncello, Ac. ; 3. Wind, a* the 

 flute, horn, Ac. ; and 4. of Ptrcutnan, a* the drum, cymbal*, Ac. See 

 the various instalments under their respective name*. 



INSULATION. [ ELECTRICITY, COMMON.] 



INSURANCE, FIRE. Associations for securing individual- 

 the ruinous consequences of accident* beyond their own control now 

 form almost a necessary part of our social institutions. Among such 

 combinations for the security of individuals, companies for assuring 

 the owner* of property from loss arising from fire are among those 

 of most obvious utility, and have long been successfully establish. -I in 

 this country. It might have been expected that the great advantage 

 to society of individuals providing against their ruin by means of 

 trifling annual contributions would have been felt and acknowledged 

 on the part of the government, to far at least as to prevent the im- 

 posing of a tax upon the prudence of the people. Such however i* not 

 the fact, and a duty is levied at the rate of St. per cent, per annum 

 upon the amount of pn.j. r:y in.-iired against destruction l.y fire, 

 which rate is, in all case*, equal to 200 per cent, upon the premium 

 demanded by the insurance offices, and which is found .- 

 cover all lenses, as well as to defray the expenses of management, and 

 to afford an adequate return to capitalists who embark their pi 

 iu the undertaking. This rate is 1*. 6</. pr cent, for all property 

 deemed non-hazardous; for property considered hazardous, higher 

 rates of insurance are taken, and iu some cases by special agreement 

 only, or are wholly refused, as iu the case of powder-mills. How far 

 tli.- iui]M>sition of this tax prevents insurances being effected it i* not 

 possible to determine. That many persons neglect to insure against 

 the risk of fire from being compelled to pay 4. 6ti. for each 

 value of their property, who would not neglect such precaution if 

 they could attain security by payment of 1. 6rf. for a like amount, 

 will be readily acknowledged; and the propriety of repealing this tax 

 ha* been frequently urged. But this tax produced to tin- 

 1868 the sum of l,5U3,nlO/., and as the amount is raised without troul.lo 

 and at little coat, the tax offers to the minister of the day an induce- 

 ment for its continuance which it will be difficult to overcome. There 

 is besides no individual who can complain ofspeci.il injury or grievance 

 from the tax, and the insurance offices, by which it in collected an<t 

 paid over to the government, have a special advantage in its con- 

 tinuance, in respect of the discount or allowance which is made to 

 i!i' in ..n the amount. During a period of distress experienced by the 

 agriculturist*, the landowners and farmers of the United Kingdom, 



