THE BATH INSTITUTION. 13 



this period lent important aid. The Duke of York 

 accepted the office of Patron, the Marquis of Lans- 

 downe of President, and several noblemen consented 

 that their names should appear as Vice-Presidents. 

 The Corporation of Bath gave a donation of 100 

 guineas. Several of the more zealous friends of the 

 design took two, three, four, and even five shares. 



This was the state of things early in the year 

 1823. At a general meeting of subscribers it was 

 announced that the number of shares actually taken 

 was one hundred and sixty. An announcement more 

 gratifying followed, — namely, that a few gentlemen 

 who were anxious for the completion of the design, 

 and desirous that the building should be proceeded 

 with in the course of the then ensuing summer, were 

 willing to engage themselves to take the remaining 

 forty shares, provisionally that these shares should be 

 the first disposed of when there was any call for them. 

 This completed the preliminary arrangements, and 

 the agents of Lord Manvers proceeded at once to the 

 erection of the building. 



A trust-deed was now prepared giving all neces- 

 sary security to the subscribers ; and a lease of the 

 premises was granted by Lord Manvers to Sir John 

 Cox Hippesley, Sir John Palmer Acland, Sir John 

 Keane, the Keverend Thomas Leman of the Crescent, 

 Mr. C. Dumbleton, Mr. Francis Ellis, and Mr. 



