Life of Count Rumford. 387 



cessary, to inform Government of the nature of the scheme 

 that is proposed, and of every circumstance relative to it, and 

 at the same time to ask their countenance and support in carry- 

 ing it into execution ; for although it may be allowable in this 

 free country for individuals to unite in forming and executing 

 extensive plans ,for diffusing useful knowledge, and promoting 

 the public good, yet it appears to me that no such establish- 

 ment should ever be formed in any country without the knowl- 

 edge and approbation of the Executive Government. 



" Trusting that you will be so good as to excuse the liberty 

 I take in making this observation, and that you will consider my 

 doing it as being intended rather to justify myself by explaining 

 my principles than from any idea of its being necessary on any 

 othei account, I have the honour to be, with much respect, 

 Gentlemen, 



" Your most obedient and Most humble Servant, 



"RUMFORD. 



" BROMPTON Row, 7* February, 1799. 



[Addressed] " To the Gentlemen named by the Committee 

 of the Society for bettering the condition of the Poor, to confer 

 with Count Rumford on his scheme for forming a new Estab- 

 lishment in London for diffusing the Knowledge of useful Me- 

 chanical Improvements, &c." 



The committee above named had in the mean while 

 held a meeting on the ist of February, the Bishop of 

 Durham in the chair, and, after reporting their confer- 

 ence with the Count, gave their full approbation to the 

 proposed project. In order to provide funds for initi- 

 ating the society, it was proposed* that subscribers of 

 fifty guineas each should be the perpetual proprietors 

 of the Institution, and be entitled to perpetual trans- 

 ferable tickets for the lectures, and for admission to the 

 apartments of the Institution ; and that as soon as 

 thirty such subscribers should be obtained a meeting of 

 them should be called for the consideration of a plan, 



