The Royal Institution 213 



The Society is now entrusted with the administration 

 of certain funds devoted by the Government to definite 

 purposes, such as grants towards scientific researches, and 

 the publication of scientific literature. It has been given 

 free use of its apartments, first in Gresham College, later in 

 Somerset House, and now in Burlington House. 



There is no building in the world associated with so 

 many classical and revolutionizing researches as that in 

 which the Royal Institution is housed. The idea which led 

 to its foundation is generally ascribed to Count Rumford ; 

 the earliest document referring to the matter is an account 

 of a meeting held at the house of Sir Joseph Banks, the 

 President of the Royal Society, at which Count Rumford and 

 other Fellows of the Royal Society were present. The title 

 and purposes of the institution were then defined to be " for 

 diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general intro- 

 duction, of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; 

 and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and 

 experiments, the applications of science to the common 

 purposes of life." 



The idea of research grew up in the time of Young and 

 Davy, though Count Rumford must have had it in mind 

 when through his influence the latter was appointed as first 

 Professor of Chemistry. Much has already been said about 

 the work of these two great philosophers, as well as that of 

 Faraday, who succeeded Davy. Their successors worthily 

 upheld the traditions of the Chairs. John Tyndall (1820- 

 1893) was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in 

 1854, and succeeded Faraday as superintendent of the labora- 

 tories in 1866. He spent a useful life in scientific research, 

 but will be remembered mainly as an advocate of scientific 

 principles and popularizer of science. His books have 

 inspired many young men to the pursuit of science, and the 

 one on " Heat as a Mode of Motion " still deserves to be 

 read as a clear exposition of the fundamental principles of 

 heat. 



Sir James Dewar, who now occupies the Chair held by 

 Davy and Faraday, has made his name famous through his 

 researches on the liquefaction of gases. He was the first to 

 liquefy air on a large scale, and subsequently following up 



