136 COUNT RUMFOKD. 



actual achievements in Bavaria occupied the back- 

 ground. The first Professor of Natural Philosophy and 

 Chemistry was Dr. Thomas Garnett, while the first 

 Treasurer was Mr. Thomas Bernard. But this was not 

 enough. A home and foreign secretary, legal counsel, 

 a solicitor and a clerk, were added to the list. One 

 rule established at this time has been adhered to with 

 great fidelity to the present day. No political subject 

 was to be mentioned in the lectures. 



In a somewhat florid style Rumford (for he was 

 obviously the writer) descants on the name and objects 

 of the new project. The word Institution is chosen 

 because it had been least used previously, and because 

 it best indicates the objects of the new society. The 

 influence of the mechanical arts on the progress of 

 civilisation and refinement is pointed out, and illustrated 

 by reference to nations, provinces, towns, and even vil- 

 lages, which thrive in proportion to the activity of their 

 industry. " Exertion quickens the spirit of invention, 

 makes science flourish, and increases the moral and 

 physical powers of man." The printing-press, naviga- 

 tion, gunpowder, the steam-engine, are referred to as 

 having changed the whole course of human affairs. 

 The slowness with which improvements make their 

 way among workmen is ascribed to the influence of 

 habit, prejudice, suspicion, jealousy, dislike of change, 

 and the narrowing effect of the subdivision of work 

 into many petty occupations. But slowness is also due 

 to the greed for wealth, the desire for monopoly, the 

 spirit of secret intrigue exhibited among manufacturers. 

 Between these two the philosopher steps in, whose busi- 

 ness it is " to examine every operation of Nature and 

 art, and to establish general theories for the direction 

 and conducting of future processes." But philosophers 

 may become dreamers, and they have therefore habitual- 



