1799.] THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 115 



most active members of the Society for Bettering the Con- 

 dition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor. 



This gentleman I found, on my return to England in 

 September 1798, not only agreeing with me in opinion 

 in regard to the utility and importance of the plan I had 

 proposed, but very solicitous that some attempts should be 

 made to carry it into immediate execution in this capital. 



After several consultations, that were held at Mr. 

 Bernard's apartments in the Foundling Hospital and at the 

 house of the Lord Bishop of Durham, at which several 

 gentlemen assisted who are well known as zealous promoters 

 of useful improvement, it was agreed that Mr. Bernard 

 should report to the Committee of the Society for Bettering 

 the Condition of the Poor the general result of these con- 

 sultations, and the unanimous desire of the gentlemen who 

 assisted at them, that means might be devised for making 

 an attempt to carry the scheme proposed into execution. 



The gentlemen of the Committee agreed with me entirely 

 in the opinion I had taken the liberty to express, that the 

 Institution which it was proposed to form would be too 

 conspicuous, and too interesting and important, to be made 

 an appetidix to any other existing establishment, and, con- 

 sequently, that it must stand alone, and on its own proper 

 basis ; but as these gentlemen had no direct communi- 

 cation with any persons, except with the members of their 

 own Society, they appointed a Committee, consisting of 

 eight persons, from their own body, to confer with me on 

 the subject of the plan. 1 



I had the honour to meet this Committee on this business 

 on the 31st of January, at the house of Richard Sulivan, 

 Esq., where a plan I had previously drawn up for forming 

 the Institution in question was read and examined, and its 

 principles unanimously approved ; but, as some of the 



1 The gentlemen chosen were the Earl of Wincheln -a. Mr. "\VilVr- 

 force, the Rev. Dr. Glasse, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Richard Sulivan, Mr. 

 Colquhoun, Mr. Parry, and Mr. Bernard. 



I 2 



