TWENTY-FIFTH COA'GBESS, 1837-39. 185 



merce, all the elements and productions and moving forces 

 of nature, all the inventions of ingenuity, all the obscure 

 movements of mining industry, all the skill of the architect, 

 all the science of the engineer, and all the productions of 

 the agriculturist, are, directly or indirectly, conducive to 

 the manufacturing and mechanical interests of the country, 

 there cannot exist a doubt of the value, to those interests, of 

 an institution for researches in practical science. 



It is by no means supposed by your memorialist that alt 

 the ramifications of each of the great interests, which have 

 now been shown to have a stake in the advancement of 

 useful knowledge, would come simultaneously under inves- 

 tigation. Eesearches in each would naturally follow in the 

 order of its relative importance, and of the facilities for its 

 examination. To obtain these facilities would be a primary 

 step in the operations of the establishment. 



The foundation of an institution for practical science is, 

 in itself, no novel project for the enlightened Government 

 of a cililized nation to entertain. What an intelligent 

 stranger mi#ht, perhaps, consider more remarkable in the 

 case, is the fact that so long a period has been allowed to. 

 elapse without witnessing an attempt to erect in our 

 country such an institution. If examples were required 

 we might find them in England, in her Eoj^al Institution 

 and Society of Arts ; in Scotland, in the Andersonian In- 

 stitution, at Glasgow ; in France, in her Potytechnic School 

 and School of Mines ; and in Prussia, in her " Gewerb- 

 verein " at Berlin. To these might be added some local 

 establishments in our own country. But even if no prece- 

 dent existed, it would be no valid argument Ugainst a 

 measure prompted by reason, recommended by utility, 

 sanctioned by our national position, and demanded by so 

 many important public interests. 



For the accomplishment of an object so comprehensive in 

 its design, a considerable amount of means would doubtless 

 be required; and your memorialist would have hesitated to 

 offer at this time his views on a plan for augmenting the 

 public expenditures, had such been deemed a necessary 

 consequence. And though firmly persuaded that, either for 

 the public or for individuals, no fund is more safe or pro- 

 ductive than that of useful knowledge, and that in none 

 other could a more judicious investment be made, yet it is 

 believed that even the admission of these truths is not 

 required in order to obtain means applicable to the purposes 

 now contemplated. 



A considerable fund has been represented as likely to be 



