204 Account of the School of Arts of Edinburgh. 
that would be within their reach, upon a plan similar to that of 
the Glasgow Institution Having communicated his design to 
Dr Brewster, who entered warmly into his views, a sketch of a 
plan was drawn up, such as was thought probable might be car- 
ried into effect and it was circulated among some of the most 
considerable master mechanics, with a request that they would 
read it in their workshops, and take down the names of such of 
their workmen as expressed a desire to obtain instruction of the 
kind proposed. This was accordingly done, and in the course 
of a fortnight between 70 and 80 names were put down. A 
Committee of several scientific gentlemen, and of master me- 
chanics, was immediately formed for bringing the scheme before 
the public ; it met with very general approbation, and a liberal 
subscription having been raised, a regular association was formed, 
under the title of u The School of Arts, for the instruction of 
Mechanics, in such branches of physical science as are of practi- 
cal application in their several trades.” The Institution was 
opened in October 1821, each student paying 15s. for a ticket, 
which entitled him to attend all the lectures, and have the use 
of the library for a year. Such was the eagerness for admission, 
that after 420 tickets were sold, the book was obliged to be 
closed, as the room could not accommodate a greater number. 
The lectures delivered the first year, were on the principles of 
Chemistry and their application to the arts, on the elementary 
principles of Mechanical Philosophy, on Architecture, and on 
Farriery. At the close of these lectures at the end of April, 
one lecture a w^eek on each subject having been delivered du- 
ring the preceding seven months, there was established a class for 
Architectural and Mechanical Drawing, wdiich continued for 
four months. There was established also an excellent library, 
containing nearly 500 volumes of the best elementary w orks on 
the sciences taught in the school, together with seme of the 
works of greatest authority in the mechanical arts. These 
books the students have the privilege of taking to their own 
houses, and they may be exchanged once a fortnight. The 
first session terminated very successfully ; and it appears from 
the First Report of the Directors, that the students followed 
the lectures with the most profound attention and the deepest 
interest. It is stated in that report, that 44 no audience accus- 
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