134 COUNT RUMFOKD. 



of the establishment, and to all lectures and experi- 

 ments. An annual subscriber had a single ticket for a 

 single year, but might at any time become a life sub- 

 scriber by the additional payment of eight guineas. 

 The managers, nine in number, were to be chosen by 

 ballot by the proprietors. The managers were to be 

 unpaid, and, without any pecuniary advantage to them- 

 selves, they were held solemnly pledged to the faithful 

 discharge of their duties. Three were to constitute a 

 quorum, but in special cases six were required. A 

 Committee of Visitors was also appointed, the same in 

 number as the Committee of Managers, and holding 

 office for the same number of years. 



The managers were to devote the surplus funds of 

 the Institution to the purchase of models of inventions 

 and improvements in the mechanical arts, a room in 

 the Institution being devoted to the reception of them. 

 The room still exists, and, though diverted from its 

 original purpose, is still called ' the Model Room.' 

 A general meeting of the proprietors was held at 

 the house of Sir Joseph Banks, in Soho Square, on 

 March 7, 1799. Fifty-eight persons, comprising men 

 of distinction in science, members of Parliament and 

 of the nobility, including one bishop, were found to 

 have qualified as proprietors by the subscription of 

 fifty guineas each. The prelate was the Bishop of 

 Durham. The Committee of Managers was chosen, 

 and they held their first meeting at the house of Sir 

 Joseph Banks on March 9, 1799. Mr. Thomas Ber- 

 nard, one of the most active members of the society 

 from whose committee the first managers were chosen, 

 was appointed Secretary. To Rumford and Bernard 

 was delegated the duty of preparing a draught of a 

 charter ; while Earls Morton and Spencer, Sir Joseph 

 Banks, and Mr. Pelham, were requested *to lay the 



