b THE BATH INSTITUTION. 



was to comprise, (1.) a Library and Reading-room: 

 (2.) a Botanic Garden: (3.) a Museum of Natural 

 History: (4.) a Cabinet of Mineralogy: (5.) a Cabinet 

 of Antiquities: (6.) a Cabinet of Coins and Medals: 

 (7.) a Hall for Lectures, with suitable apparatus for 

 the courses in chemistry and other branches of 

 natural philosophy: and (8.) a Gallery for the Exhi- 

 bition of Sculpture and Paintings. 



For executing this design it was proposed that 

 thirty thousand pounds should be raised in pro- 

 prietary shares of 50/. each. The money was to 

 be thus appropriated: 20,000/. in the purchase and 

 fitting-up of suitable premises; 10,000/. to remain 

 a reserved fund, the interest of which was to 

 support the annual expenses. It was further pro- 

 posed that the proprietors should be incorporated 

 under a " legislative charter ; " the management to 

 be vested in a board of directors. 



No steps were to be taken till 300 shares were 

 subscribed for. 



I hailed the announcement with great satisfac- 

 tion ; though not without misgivings that the scheme 

 was too magnificent, or rather that 30,000/. was a 

 larger sum than would easily be raised in such a 

 place even as Bath, where live so many persons of 

 easy and independent fortunes: nor could I think 

 that our own deficiencies were likely to be suf- 



