COUNT BUMFORD. 135 



proposals before His Majesty, the Royal Family, the 

 Ministers, the great officers of State, the members of 

 both Houses of Parliament, of the Privy Council, and 

 before the twelve judges.' 



On January 13, 1800, the Royal Seal was attached 

 to the Charter of the Institution. In the same year 

 was published, in quarto form, * The Prospectus, Char- 

 ter, Ordinance, and Bye-laws of the Royal Institution 

 of Great Britain.' The King was its Patron, and the 

 first officers of the Institution were appointed by him. 

 The Earl of Winchilsea was President. Lord Morton, 

 Lord Egremont, and Sir Joseph Banks were Vice- 

 Presidents. The managers, chosen by sealed ballot by 

 the proprietors, were divided into three classes of three 

 each ; the first class serving for one, the second for two, 

 and the third for three years. The Earls of Bess- 

 borough, Egremont, and Morton, respectively, headed 

 the lists of the three classes. Rumford "himself was 

 appointed to serve for three years. The three lists of 

 Visitors were headed by the Duke of Bridgewater, 

 Viscount Palmerston, and Earl Spencer respectively. 

 That Rumford possessed the power of persuasion, and 

 the infection of enthusiasm, is sufficiently demonstrated 

 by this powerful list. But neither persuasion nor en- 

 thusiasm might have been found availing had not his 

 actual achievements in Bavaria occupied the back- 

 ground. The first Professor of Natural Philosophy and 

 Chemistry was Dr. Thomas Cfarnett, while the first 

 Treasurer was Mr. Thomas Bernard. But this was not 

 enough. A home and foreign secretary, legal counsel, 

 a solicitor and a clerk, were added to the list. One 

 rule established at this time has been adhered to with 

 great fidelity to the present day. No political subject 

 was to be mentioned in the lectures. 



In a somewhat florid style Rumford (for he was 



