202 THE EARLY HISTORY OF [CHAP. IV. 



The following year Davy gave in consequence his first 

 course on Agriculture. 



In 1803 the existence of the Eoyal Institution was 

 in peril. This is apparent from a letter written by Sir 

 John Hippesley, in 1820, to the President of the Board 

 of Agriculture suggesting an amalgamation of the two 

 societies. He said : ' I recollect with pain that when 

 I was of the Committee of Managers in the year 1803 

 (scarcely three years after the date of the charter) 

 our capital was exhausted and the corporation was 

 3,000. in debt, insomuch that a proposal was then 

 made at the board to shut up the house of the Institu- 

 tion and to bring all the effects to a sale for a discharge 

 of its debts. Fortunately a better determination pre- 

 vailed. A liberal subscription among the members im- 

 mediately took place. The debt was paid off and near 

 3,000. was invested for a time in the public funds. 

 I say for a time, as unfortunately the Institution since 

 that period has not been exempted from the pressure 

 of the general difficulties of the times, and has had to 

 struggle with their severity while its efforts neverthe- 

 less have not relaxed in fulfilling the great objects of 

 its establishment. To your Lordship I need not insist 

 upon the extent of these efforts nor the credit due to 

 the general management as well as to the eminent 

 talents and exertions of the able professors and 

 lecturers who have so justly maintained the high 

 scientific celebrity of the Institution in every part of 

 Europe.' 



On January 17 Lord Kinnaird, Mr. Bernard, and 

 Mr. Auriol made their first report. 



