Modern commentators, therefore, manifest but an equivocal kindness to the ancients, when they endeavour to press their fables into the service of allegories. When they stand as plain naked tales, they give us more accurate conceptions, and more just ideas of the manners of antiquity, than can possibly be done by allegorical interpretation. The philosopher may be amused by observing the retreat of those inhospitable phantoms; for many of the fables, which Virgil mentions with all the solemnity of fact, are sneered at in the pages of Juvenal. The christian derives a new argument in support of the indispensable necessity of the religion he professes, when he reads of the horrible vices patronized and adopted by the polytheism of the ancients. Virgil, when he borrowed so literally from Homer, did not always observe in so doing the identity of characters, to whom those passages were to be applied. It suited perfectly well with the ferocious and inexorable nature of Achilles to sacrifice twelve Trojan. captives to the manes of his belov From the London Monthly Magazine, May, 1807. AN ACCOUNT OF THE LONDON INSTITUTION. THE chief purposes of the London Institution are, the speedy and general diffusion of science, literature, and the arts, by means of lectures and experiments, and teaching the application of scientifick discoveries to the improvement of arts and manufactures in Great-Britain; the acquisition of a valuable and extensive library, consisting of books in all languages both ancient and modern, and giving an easy access to the use of it; and the establishment of reading rooms, where the foreign and domestick journals, newspapers, and other periodical works, and the best pamphlets and new publications, may be provided for the use of the proprietors and subscribers. In the execution of this plan, the principal gentlemen and merchants of the metropolis, to the number of one thousand, subscribed the sum of seventy-five guineas each, towards forming the necessary funds; and appointed a committee to prepare a set of by laws for the government of the In stitution. As these by-laws explain the nature of this establishment in detail, it will be necessary to give them in a classified form, in order that they may be more easibly understood by those persons who may have it in contemplation to establish similar institutions in the large and populous cities, and manufacturing towns of the United Kingdoms. It may be necessary to premise that the London Institution is a body, politick and corporate, being so created by royal charter, granted to the managers and proprietors in January, 1807. Of the Direction and Administration of the Institution. All the affairs of the Institution are directed and administered by a committee of managers, consisting of the president, four vicepresidents, twenty managers, and the secretary, chosen by and from among the proprietors. One fourth of the presidents and managers annually vacate their office, but are eligible to be re-elected to other offices of the institution. Of the Proprietors. The number of proprietors is limited to one thousand, and the. whole property of the Institution is vested solely in that body, who have complete authority to control and dispose of the same, and no sale or mortgage of any real property belonging to the Institution, or of any stock of money perma nently invested, can be made, but with the approbation and concurrence of a general meeting of proprietors convened for that express purpose. Every candidate for election as a proprietor must be proposed by a manager at one of their meetings, and his name is then hung up in the manager's room, and at the next meeting he is balloted for. No person can be elected unless two-thirds, at least, of the managers are in favour of his admission. There is a general meeting of proprietors annually, on the last Thursday in April, for the purpose of electing the officers of the Institution, and receiving the report of the managers, containing a general statement of the matters with which it may be necessary the proprietors should be acquainted, in order that they may form an opinion of the actual state of the Institution, in respect to its pecuniary concerns, and the accomplishment of its objects. The minutes of the transactions at every general meeting of the proprietors are entered in a book by the secretary, and read over at the next meeting for approbation as to their correct entry, and after being approved are signed by the president, or in his absence by the chairman. Previously to the general meeting in April, printed alphabetical lists of the proprietors, and the names of the professors, lectures, &c. are to be provided at the house of the Institution. The votes of the proprietors for the election of the offices of the Institution are always given by balfot; and all business brought forward at any general meeting of proprietors, is decided by a majority of members present, unless a ballot be required on any specifick question, by fifteen or more of the proprietors present, which ballot must take place on one of the five ensuing days after such general meeting. No new law, alteration, or repeal of any existing law, can originate in a general meeting of proprietors, unless after special notice to the secretary in writing, by fif teen proprietors or upwards, at least fourteen days previously to such general meeting; nor can any new law, alteration, or repeal, be proposed by the managers to the proprietors, unless approved by two-thirds of the managers present at a meeting to be summoned for that special purpose. If, at a meeting of proprietors, any question should arise during the course of an election, respecting the forms thereof, such question shall be decided by a majority of proprietors present. Of Life and Annual Subscribers. Every candidate for election, as a life or annual subscriber, must be proposed at a meeting of the managers, and his name entered in the list of candidates, and at the next meeting of the managers the question of admission shall be decided on.. Subscribers to particular courses of lectures, or to the library, shall be admitted thereto, upon the terms from time to time fixed by the managers. Ladies are admissible as subscribers to the lectures only, under such regulations as may be fixed by the managers. Rights and Privileges of the Pro prietors and Subscribers. The proprietors, life and annual subscribers, and honorary members, have right of admission to the library,lectures, reading-rooms, and all other publick parts of the house of the institution, at all hours from eight o'clock in the morning until eleven at night, Sundays, Christmas day, Good Friday, and Fast and Thanksgiving days by proclamation, excepted; and on Saturdays the doors close at three o'clock. The proprietors have each one transferable ticket, which admits the bearer to the library, the reading-rooms, and lectures. Of the Mode of Proceeding at Elections. The president, one vice-president, five managers, three visitors, the auditors, treasurer, and secretary of the Institution, are elected annually by the proprietors at the general meeting in April. On the day of the annual election, after the president or chairman shall have taken the chair, and a balloting glass being placed on the table, two scrutineers are to be appointed to examine and declare the result of the ballot. A complete list of all proprietors who may have signified their intention to the managers to become candidates for any office, and also balloting lists, containing the names of those persons recommended by the managers and visitors, for such office, are to be prepared and ready for delivery to each proprietor, at least eight days before the annual election. Every proprietor who votes at an election is to deliver his ballot. ing list, folded up, to the president or chairman, who, in his presence, is immediately to put it into the balloting glass, and the name of each proprietor, who so delivers in his list, shall be marked on a printed list by the secretary or clerk of the Institution. When the ballot is closed, the scrutineers are to cast up the number of votes for each person, and report the same in writing, signed by them, to the chair, when the president or chairman will declare those who have the majority of votes to be the persons elected to the respective offices. If the number of votes, in favour of two or more candidates, should be equal, the president or chair The managers are to engage suitable persons as professors and lecturers, and cause courses of lectures in experimental philosophy, and on chemistry, and on different departments of literature and the arts, to be given annually or oftener at the Institution. They are to take care that no subjects be treated of, at the lectures, but such as are connected with the objects of the Institution. They are authorised, under certain restrictions, to elect and admit proprietors, life and annual subscribers, and also to elect honorary members of the Institution. They are to elect and appoint, either annually or otherwise, the assistant secretaries, professors, lecturers, librarians, and other of ficers, and remove them when they see cause; and engage and dismiss the domestick servants of the house. They have the direction of the house of the Institution, and make such regulations for the preservation of order and decorum therein as they may think proper. They are to cause fair and accurate accounts and registers, in writing, to be kept of all receipts, payment, and transactions, by them, their officers, and agents respectively, and annually make up the same to the 31st of December in every year, and lay them, with the vouchers, before the auditors on or before the 25th of March following. They have power to admit to the lectures, and to the library, and the other rooms of the Institution, foreigners of high rank, or of distinguished scientifick acquirements, during their temporary residence in the metropolis. Their meetings are to be held in the house of the Institution on the first Wednesday in every month, and no meetings are competent to the transaction of business, unless three or more members be present. The president, or two vicepresidents, or any three managers, may, by requisition in writing to the secretary, call a special meeting of managers. The president presides at all meetings of the managers, and in case of his absence, one of the vice-presidents, and if neither be present one of the managers. When the votes at any meeting of the managers shall be equal, the president or chairman shall have the casting vote. The Visitors. A committee of visitors, consisting of the president and twelve visitors, such visitors not being members of the committee of managers, shall be chosen from among the proprietors at the general meeting on the last Thursday in April, three of whom shall annually vacate their office, but do not thereby become ineligible to the same, or to any other office of the Institution. The visitors have authority to inspect, at all times, every depart ment of the Institution, and they make their reports, either to the managers, or to the court of proprietors, as they may prefer. Any five of the visitors may con❤ vene a general meeting of propri etors, giving eight days notice thereof to the managers. The visitors meet quarterly in the house of the Institution, and no meeting is competent to the transaction of business, unless three or more members shall be present. Special meetings of the visitors may be held, as often as any three of the visitors, or managers, shall express in writing to the president their request that such meeting shall be called. Whenever a special meeting of the visitors shall be called, the object of such meeting shall be mentioned in the notice, which is to be sent to each member, at least eight days previously to the meeting. The visitors elect their own secretary, and may make such regulations respecting the mode of transacting their business, as they shall think necessary or useful, provided such regulations are not repugnant to the charter, nor to the by-laws of the Institution. Of the Treasurer. The treasurer is elected annually at the general meeting in April, by and from among the proprietors. His appointment is hon orary. All monies belonging to the Institution shall remain in the hands of the bankers appointed by the managers; and all receipts and payments shall be entered in the banker's book, under the direction of the treasurer, which book is to be laid on the manager's table at all their meetings.. The treasurer shall order payment of such drafts as shall be made on him by the managers, as also of such bills and other disbursements, as they shall specially direct to be paid by him. He shall enter into a bond with two approved sureties, in the sum of 50001. on condition that he duly account and pay all such money or other property and effects beJonging to the Institution, as shall come into his possession as trea surer. He shall make up his accounts to the 31st of December in every year, and lay them before the man agers, in order to their being prepared for the inspection of the auditors. Of the Secretary. The secretary is elected annually by and from among the proprietors. He is a member of the committee of managers, and his appointment is honorary. He attends the general meetings of the proprietors and the meetings of the managers; and shall enter in a book, for that purpose, the minutes of the proceedings of those meetings; give instructions to the secretary of foreign correspondence, and directions to the assistant secretaries and clerks, in every thing relating to the business of his office, and see that due notice is given by the clerk of the general meetings of the proprietors, and of the meetings of the managers. Of the Auditors. At the general meeting in April, five auditors shall be appointed by and from among the proprietors, who shall examine the accounts of the Institution, which shall be made up to the 31st of December following, and shall report thereon, with a general statement of the accounts signed by the major part of them, to the general meeting in the succeeding April; and their report shall be printed and ready for delivery at the house of the Institution,eight days previously to such meeting. Of Honorary Members. Persons of distinguished rank or qualifications, whether natives or foreigners, may be elected honorary members of the Institution. Persons proposed as honorary members, must be recommended by three at least of the managers, and be proposed and balloted for, with the interval of one month at least, between the proposal and |