144 THE EAELY HISTOEY OF [CHAP. III. 



deficient education, and that it was no easy matter to find 

 those who could understand either drawings or directions ; 

 one had also frequently to contend with a species of 

 perverseness and conceit often the result of ignorance. In 

 attempting our improvements in fire-places, &c., I felt 

 this the more as this kind of work demanded a superior 

 class of artificers. Knowing from previous experience 

 what it was possible to effect in their improvement, I con- 

 ceived the idea of giving to mechanics for this purpose a 

 species of scientific education suited to their condition, and 

 I believe I was the first person in this country who took 

 active steps for effecting so desirable an object. I was 

 not unacquainted with the political feelings of that time, but 

 I did not think a little learning was a dangerous thing if 

 judiciously bestowed, although without due caution it might 

 be capable of doing more harm than good. My idea was 

 to make good mechanics, not to force them like hot-bed 

 plants out of the sphere in which they are so useful. 



I proposed, then, to found a school for mechanics in the 

 house of the Royal Institution, in which they should be 

 taught such principles of science as would be useful in 

 their several occupations, which I considered would in a 

 great degree promote the * application of science to the 

 common purposes of life.' In the house of the Institution 

 itself the men would be under the eye of the higher classes, 

 and anything wrong would easily be put a stop to. With 

 this view I wrote a long letter to Count Rumford, detailing 

 my views and plans. He was delighted with them, and he 

 read my letter to the board of managers ; the idea was 

 favourably received, and my letter was inserted upon the 

 Minutes of the Institution, where of course it may be seen 

 (Managers' Minutes, Sept. 14, 1799); Some difficulties 

 were, however, suggested. It was thought that Sir Joseph 

 Banks, then president, would object, and I was requested 

 to take the minute book to him and do what I could to 

 win him over. I accordingly saw Sir Joseph, and, by ex- 



