

1808.] THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 281 



specimens for the collection of minerals, and that he 

 wished William Payne, the attendant on the laboratory, 

 to accompany him. It was resolved that William 

 Payne's expenses in the journey, and those incurred by 

 Mr. Davy in collecting the specimens, should be defrayed 

 by the managers. 



In October Davy made his great discoveries, 1 and the 

 last week of November he was laid low with fever, 

 caught whilst disinfecting Newgate Prison. 



On December 7 the following notice was ordered to 

 be sent round to the proprietors and subscribers : * Mr. 

 Davy having been confined to his bed this last fortnight 

 by a severe illness, the managers are under the painful 

 necessity of giving notice that the lectures will not 

 commence until the first week of January next.' 



The lectures began on January 13, but Davy did 

 not lecture until March 12. 



This interruption of the lectures stopped the income 

 of the Institution in the autumn. The difficulties 

 regarding the finances became urgent. From the time 

 when Davy's support was temporarily removed until 

 the reign of Faraday was far advanced the Institution 

 remained in a state of great poverty. 



In 1808 the visitors made the following report on 

 the state of the Institution : 



' Since 1803 the bills of each preceding year have 

 been paid out of the subscriptions received in the 

 beginning of the succeeding year. The amount has 

 varied in different years, and is now about 2,000. This 

 was not attended with inconvenience until this year, 

 1 See below, p. 350, Life of Professor Davy* 



