356 THE KOYAL INSTITUTION. [CHAP. VI. 



battery, worthy of a national establishment and capable 

 of promoting the great objects of science. 



Already in other countries public and ample means have 

 been provided for pursuing these investigations. They 

 have had their origin in this country, and it would be dis- 

 honourable to a nation so great, so powerful, and so rich 

 if, from the want of pecuniary resources, they should be 

 completed abroad. 



An appeal to enlightened individuals on this subject can 

 scarcely be made in vain. It is proposed that the instru- 

 ment and apparatus be erected in the laboratory of the 

 Royal Institution, where it shall be employed in the 

 advancement of this new department of science. 



The Managers' Minutes then say : 



The above paper having been laid before the board of 

 managers, they felt it their indispensable duty instantly to 

 communicate the same to every member of the Institution, 

 lest the slightest delay might furnish an opportunity to other 

 countries for accomplishing this great work, which origi- 

 nated in the brilliant discoveries recently made at the 

 Royal Institution. 



Lord Dundas, W. Watson, Thomas Bernard, and C. 

 Hatchett, the managers present, agreed to subscribe to this 

 undertaking, and ordered that a book be opened at the 

 steward's office for the purpose of entering the names of all 

 those who may wish to contribute towards this important 

 national object. 1 



The sum wanted was soon raised, and Davy thus 

 described the battery : 



' It consists of 200 instruments, connected together 

 in regular order, each composed of ten double plates, 

 arranged in cells of porcelain, and containing in each 



1 The voltaic subscriptions amounted to 5201. 



