COUNT RUMFORD. 137 



ly to be called back -to the study of practical questions 

 which bear upon the ordinary pursuits of life. Science 

 and practice are in short to interact, to the advantage 

 of both. This object may be promoted by the offering 

 of premiums, after the manner of the Society of Arts,* 

 by the granting of patents ; and, finally, by the method 

 of the new Institution the diffusion of the knowledge 

 of useful mechanical inventions, and their introduction 

 into life. 



One of the first practical steps taken towards the 

 realisation of these ideas was the purchase of the house, 

 or rather houses, in Albemarle Street in which we are 

 now assembled, and their modification to suit the objects 

 in view. Eumford's obvious intention was to found 

 an Institute of Technology and Engineering. Mere de- 

 scription was not sufficient. He demanded something 

 visible and tangible, and therefore proposed that the 

 Institution should be made a repository for models of 

 all useful contrivances and improvements : cottage fire- 

 places and kitchen utensils; kitchens for farm-houses 

 and for the houses of gentlemen; a laundry, including 

 boilers, washing, ironing, and drying-rooms; German, 

 Swedish, and Russian stoves; open chimney fireplaces, 

 with ornamental grates; ornamental stoves; working 

 models " of that most curious and most useful machine, 

 the steam-engine " ; brewers' boilers ; distillers' coppers ; 

 condensers ; large boilers for hospitals ; ventilating appa- 

 ratus in hot-houses; lime-kilns; steam-boilers for pre- 

 paring food for stall-fed cattle ; spinning-wheels ; looms ; 

 agricultural implements; bridges of various construc- 

 tions; human food; clothing; houses; towns; fortresses; 

 harbours; roads; canals; carriages; ships; tools; 

 weapons; &c. Chemistry was to be applied to soils, 

 tillage, and manures ; to the making of bread, beer, wine, 

 * Founded in 1753. 



