320 THE EOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. VI. 



invited by the managers of the Royal Institution to become 

 the director of their laboratory and their assistant professor 

 of chemistry. At the same time I was assured that, within 

 the space of two or three seasons, I should be made sole 

 professor of chemistry, still continuing director of the la- 

 boratory. 



The immediate emolument offered was sufficient for my 

 wants, and the sole and uncontrolled use of the apparatus in 

 the Institution for private experiments was to be granted me. 



The behaviour of Count Rumford, Sir Joseph Banks, 

 Mr. Cavendish, and the other principal managers was 

 liberal and polite, and they promised me any apparatus 

 that I might need for new experiments. 



The time required to be devoted to the services of the 

 Institution was but short, being limited chiefly to the winter 

 and spring. The emoluments to be attached to the office 

 of sole professor of chemistry are great, and, above all, the 

 situation is permanent and held very honourable. 



These motives, joined to the approbation of Dr. Beddoes, 

 who, with great liberality, has absolved me from my engage- 

 ments at the Pneumatic Institution, and the strong wishes 

 of most of my friends in London and Bristol determined 

 my conduct. 



Thus I am quietly to be transferred to London, whilst 

 my sphere of action is considerably enlarged, and as much 

 power as I could reasonably expect, or even wish for at my 

 time of life, secured to me without the obligation of labour- 

 ing at a profession. 



The Royal Institution will, I hope, be of some utility to 

 society. It has undoubtedly the capability of becoming a 

 great instrument of moral and intellectual improvement. 

 Its funds are very great. It has attached to it the feelings 

 of a great number of people of fashion and property, and 

 consequently may be the means of employing to useful 

 purposes money which would otherwise be squandered in 

 luxury and in the production of unnecessary labour. 



