752 Proposals for Forming 



His Most Serene Highness the Elector Palatine, in whose service I 

 am ; for I know his sentiments on that subject. And although I do 

 not imagine that His Majesty, or His Majesty's ministers, would 

 disapprove of my giving my assistance in carrying this scheme into 

 execution, yet I feel it to be necessary that their approbation should 

 be asked and obtained ; and, if I might be allowed to express my 

 sentiments on another matter, which, no doubt, has already occurred 

 to every one of the gentlemen to whom I now address myself, I 

 should say that, in my opinion, it would not only be proper, but 

 even necessary, 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 carrying it 

 into execution ; for although it may be allowable, in this free coun- 

 try, 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 establishment should ever 

 be formed in any country without the knowledge 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 

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

 Gentlemen, 



Your most obedient and 

 Most humble Servant, 



(Signed) RUMFORD. 



BROMPTON Row,* 7th February, 1799. 



(Addressed) 



To the Gentlemen named by the Committee of the Society for Bet- 

 tering the Condition of the Poor to confer with Count Rumford 

 on his scheme for forming a new establishment in London for 

 diffusing the knowledge of useful mechanical improvements, etc. 



The committee above-mentioned having, in the mean 

 time, made their report to the Society for Bettering the 

 Condition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor, 

 that Society came to the following resolution: 



* (Thursday.) 



