134 COUNT EUMFORD. 



posals. They agreed that subscribers of fifty guineas 

 each should be the perpetual proprietors of the Institu- 

 tion; that a contribution of ten guineas should secure 

 the privileges of a life subscriber; whilst a subscription 

 of two guineas should constitute an annual subscriber. 

 Besides other important rights, each proprietor was to 

 receive two transferable tickets, admitting him to every 

 part of the Institution, and to all the lectures and ex- 

 periments. Each life subscriber was to receive one ticket, 

 not transferable, securing free admission to every part 

 of the establishment, and to all lectures and experi- 

 ments. An annual subscriber had a single ticket for a 

 single year, but might at any time become a life sub- 

 scriber by the additional payment of eight guineas. 

 The managers, nine in number, were to be chosen by 

 ballot by the proprietors. The managers were to be 

 unpaid, and, without any pecuniary advantage to them- 

 selves, they were held' solemnly pledged to the faithful 

 discharge of their duties. Three were to constitute a 

 quorum, but in special cases six were required. A 

 Committee of Visitors was also appointed, the same in 

 number as the Committee of Managers, and holding 

 office for the same number of years. 



The managers were to devote the surplus funds of 

 the Institution to the purchase of models of inventions 

 and improvements in the mechanical arts, a room in 

 the Institution being devoted to the reception of them. 

 The room still exists, and, though diverted from its 

 original purpose, is still called "the Model Room." 

 A general meeting of the proprietors was held at the 

 house of Sir Joseph Banks, in Soho Square, on March 

 7, 1799. Fifty-eight persons, comprising men of dis- 

 tinction in science, members of Parliament and of the 

 nobility, including one bishop, were found to have 

 qualified as proprietors by the subscription of fifty 



