388 Life of Count Rumford. 



and for the election of managers. The report of the 

 committee was approved, and they were requested to 

 take measures for carrying its suggestions into effect, as 

 well as to draw the outlines of a plan for the Institution. 



This preliminary work being accomplished, the com- 

 mittee circulated among their friends and others whom 

 they thought likely to favor the scheme, a paper of 

 proposals soliciting subscriptions, and requested them 

 to reply by letters addressed "To Thomas Bernard, Esq., 

 at the Foundling." 



Fifty-eight most respectable names had been sent in 

 before arrangements could be made for a meeting of the 

 subscribers ; and this hearty response induced some 

 change in the plan in respect to the first choice of 

 managers, and in regard to an application for a char- 

 ter before any further organization. 



Count Rumford, at this stage of the business, and 

 before a meeting of the subscribers had been held, ad- 

 dressed to them a pamphlet containing all the matters 

 that have been thus summarized. It was dated from 

 Brompton Row, 4th March, 1799, and was intended 

 to prepare them for the meeting soon to follow. He 

 expressed his readiness to take any part that might 

 be desired. 



" The Proposals, &c.," evidently from the pen of 

 the Count, are then set forth in the pamphlet, and con- 

 tain a complete plan for the organization, administra- 

 tion, and support of the Institution, with minute speci- 

 fications of its objects, when carried into details. 



Those objects, first stated comprehensively, are " the 

 speedy and general diffusion of the knowledge of all 

 new and useful improvements, in whatever quarter of 

 the world they may originate ; and teaching the ap- 



