1 68 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



And let his province be, at certain seasons, and under 

 certain regulations, to give lectures, advice, and assistance, 

 to those who wish to obtain a better knowledge of these arts. 

 ' Lastly ; let the expense necessary to open and to 

 support the scheme be defrayed by a subscription : and 

 let every subscriber have the power of nominating one, or 

 more, to receive the advantages of this Institution. . . .' 



1 This mechanic school would serve as a proper step of 

 transition, from thence to the warehouse ; and, perhaps, it 

 might become a regular part of a young gentleman's pre- 

 paration for business. How desirable a part it would be I 

 will not here say. Other gentlemen present are much better 

 qualified to decide upon the question. . . . 



' Objections will, perhaps, have already arisen, which 

 may appear strong, I hope not unanswerable. That of 

 the expense I cannot allow to be of this number. Nor 

 the difficulty of finding a proper person to superintend the 

 Institution. Nor the regulations necessary to its internal 

 management and conduct. If no objections stronger than 

 these be found against it, I shall not deem it altogether 

 Utopian. 



' Something similar to this has been done by the Society 

 of Arts. But the two plans are essentially different. They 

 give premiums : but they have no lectures, or modes of 

 instruction. Our plan would be desirable in every large 

 town, and particularly in the centre of every important 

 manufacture. . . . 



He then adds : ' When I was engaged thinking on the 

 plan, and, like the artist, enamoured of its imaginary beauty, 

 I met with the following passage in Sully 's Memoirs. My 

 feelings in reading it I will not attempt to describe. 



' He tells us that among the great designs of Henry 



