Life of Count Rumford. 381 



useful Mechanical Inventions and Improvements, and 

 for teaching, by courses of Philosophical Lectures and 

 Experiments, the Application of Science to the Common 

 Purposes of Life." This copy, bearing the autograph 

 of Count Rumford, was presented by him " To his 

 Excellency John Adams," as from " one of the Man- 

 agers of the Institution," and was printed in London 

 in 1799.* The Introduction, signed by Rumford, is 

 dated from Brompton Row, 4th March, in that year, 

 and makes nearly half of the pamphlet, giving a very 

 admirable account of the origin of the Institution. Dr. 

 Franklin himself never wrote an essay indicating a more 

 practical sagacity, or expressed in a more direct and 

 forcible style of lucid composition,' than characterize 

 this piece of Rumford's. His aim, he says, is to bring 

 about a cordial embrace between science and art, by 

 enlightening and removing prejudice against changes, 

 inventions, and improvements, and by establishing re- 

 lations of helpful intercourse between philosophers and 

 practical workmen. He would engage their united 

 efforts for the improvement of agriculture, manufac- 

 tures, and commerce, and for the increase of domestic 

 comfort. He says: "The pre eminence of any people 

 is, and ought ever to be, estimated by the state of taste, 

 industry, and mechanical improvement among them." 

 " The vivifying rays of science, when properly directed, 



* Dr. H. Bence Jones, the Secretary of the Royal Institution, has kindly sent 

 me a copy of the reprint of these "Proposals, &c." which was published in May, 

 1870. 



He introduces this reprint with the following prefatory note : 



" No copy of this Prospectus, printed in 1799, exists in the Library of the Royal 

 Institution. Happily two copies have been preserved, the one at Althorp, and the 

 other at the British Museum." 



" Through the kindness of Earl Spencer, the Managers have been able to order this 

 very early Record of the Institution to be reprinted." 



