36 THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. I. 



fact is what I am most anxious to make appear IN THE 



CLEAREST AND MOST SATISFACTORY MANNER. 



Cuvier says : c II convient lui-meme que cet acte 

 spontane de reconnaissance religieuse en faveur d'un 

 homme d'une autre communion lui parut la plus 

 touchante des recompenses j mais il ne se dissimulait 

 pas qu'il en avait obtenu une autre qui sera plus 

 durable. En effet, c'est en travaillant pour les pauvres 

 qu'il a fait ses plus belles decouvertes . . . 



' Chacun sait que dans ses plus belles esperances on 

 eut pour objet la nature de la chaleur et de la lumiere, 

 ainsi que les lois de leur propagation ; et c'etait la 

 effectivement ce qu'il importait le plus de bien con- 

 naitre pour nourrir, vetir, chauffer et eclairer avec 

 economic un grand rassemblement d'hommes.' 



Other measures for the benefit of the country were 

 carried out at the same time. 



A Military Academy was formed, principally with a 

 view to bring forward extraordinary talents and employ 

 them in the civil or military public service. Anyone 

 was admissible. The children of the meanest mechanics 

 and day-labourers, provided they had very extra- 

 ordinary natural genius, a healthy constitution, and 

 a good character, were educated. It was an establish- 

 ment designed for the encouragement of genius, and 

 for calling forth into public utility talents which 

 would otherwise remain buried and lost in obscurity. 



Measures were adopted for improving the breed of 

 horses and horned cattle in Bavaria and the Palatinate. 

 An attempt was made to put an end to usury in 

 Munich and to improve the highways and public 



