ON 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY 



AND 



THE MECHANICAL ARTS. 



LECTURE I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



IT is to be presumed, that most of those who honour the theatre of the 

 Royal Institution with their attendance, are already acquainted with the 

 nature of the objects which its founders and promoters have been endea- 

 vouring to attain : yet it appears to be by no means superfluous that I 

 should define with accuracy my own views of the utility that is likely to 

 be derived from it, and of the most effectual means of accomplishing its 

 purposes ; in order that we may be able to distinguish, without difficulty, 

 the most eligible track for our common progress through the regions of 

 science ; and that those who are desirous of accompanying me in the jour- 

 ney may know precisely what route we are to follow, and what depart- 

 ments will more particularly arrest our attention. 



Societies, which are merely literary and philosophical, have in general 

 principally proposed to themselves to enlighten the understanding by the 

 discovery of unknown phenomena, and to exercise the reasoning powers by 

 opening new fields for speculation, Other associations have been more 

 particularly intended for the encouragement of the arts, of manufactures, 

 and of commerce. The primary and peculiar object of the Royal Insti- 

 tution of Great Britain is professedly of an humbler, but not of a less 

 interesting nature. It is to apply to domestic convenience the improve- 

 ments which have been made in science, and to introduce into general 

 practice such mechanical inventions as are of decided utility. But while 

 it is chiefly engaged in this pursuit, it extends its views, in some measure, 

 to the promotion of the same ends which belong to the particular pro- 

 vinces of other literary societies ; and it is the more impossible that such 

 objects should be wholly excluded, as it is upon the advancement of these 

 that the specific objects of the Institution must ultimately depend. Hence 

 the dissemination of the knowledge of natural philosophy and chemistry 

 becomes a very essential part of the design of the Royal Institution ; and 



