1800.] THE KOYAL INSTITUTION. 151 



staircase led from the street. The whole of this was 

 built: > 



On January 15 Count Eumford wrote to Sir Joseph 

 Banks from Broadlands : 



I certainly am in much hetter health than I was when 

 I came here, which I attribute as much to my having 

 left off taking medicines as to the salubrious air of the 

 country. I think that I shall stay here about a fort- 

 night longer, and shall then return to Brompton, and 

 shall be at the disposal of the managers of the Institu- 

 tion for the remainder of the winter. I am very glad 

 indeed that you like Webster. I am much deceived if he 

 does not turn out to be a very useful acquisition. I hope 

 Dr. Garnett will do well, but I must own that I am not 

 as prepossessed in his favour as I am in favour of Webster. 



If more active and more useful men could be found to 

 serve as managers in lieu of two or three of ours who 

 seldom or never attend, I think it would be advisable to 

 accept their resignation. One has privately offered me to 

 resign whenever I may wish it, and I should think it would 

 not be difficult to persuade two others to follow the ex- 

 ample. But we will talk this matter over when we meet. 



I have been very busy here for the last fortnight putting 

 up a public kitchen in the town of Romsey. It is now 

 nearly finished, and begins to attract public curiosity. As 

 it contains a complete well-arranged kitchen for a private 

 family as well as cottage fire-places, German stoves, nests 

 of small ovens, large soup boilers, &c., it almost deserves the 

 name of a public repository, and I have no doubt but it will 

 be useful as such. If Webster were here for a few days, he 

 might take drawings of the whole for the use of the Royal 

 Institution. 



1 This gallery staircase has left its mark in the Institution, and is 

 drawn in the old plans of the house. There was originally no door into 

 the theatre under the gallery. 



