On the left of the stair-case is the room which was lately the small lecture room, now fitted up for a valuable library and collection of books of reference. This is one of the branches of the Institution which does the promoters of it considerable honour.

The library, which is fourteen feet high, and 48 feet long, is fitted up with a gallery for the conveniency of reaching the books. It is furnished with a great number of scarce and valuable historical, classical, and scientific works. By the death of Thomas Astle, Esq. an opportu nity presented itself of enriching the collection with his inestimable library, consisting of all the most valuable, books relating to the typography, antiquities, parliamentary, and numismatic history, and subjects that relate to the history of Great Britain, which the patrons purchased of his ex

ecutors.

On the basement story is the chemical laboratory, fitted up according to the plan of one of the managers, on a scale of magnitude hitherto not attempted in this country, with suitable accommodations for the subscribers, who may attend the experimental lectures delivered here by the Pro fessor of Chemistry.

Mr. BRANDE, the Professor of Chemistry, reads lectures on philosophical chemistry three days in the week to crowded audiences. He is the author of some elaborate papers in the Philosophical Transactions, and he has made himself particularly celebrated by his experiments on life, and other physiological subjects.

In addition to these lectures of Mr. Brande, the managers every season engage other gentlemen, who have rendered themselves conspicuous by their lectures on various subjects; as Sir J. E. Smith in Botany, &c. &c.

The repository, containing the models of various curious and useful machines and productions of the arts, is extremely interesting. This promises to become a highly valuable branch of the Institution, and the managers at present occupy themselves with increasing the collection by every means which the laws and funds of the Institution permit them to employ.

The Institution has of late years undergone a very considerable change in its constitution. In consequence of

pecuniary embarrassments, it was proposed to the proprietors to relinquish their proprietory claim by an Act of Parliament, and to take the place of life-holders alone: with an additional proposal, that those who were unwilling to accede to such terms should sell their respective shares to the Institution for a stipulated sum. These points were carried; and an Act has been obtained, but the funds are still very small; and the income derived from annual subscriptions, which is the chief source of dependence, is not adequate to the annual expence.

The London Institution.

The London Institution was formed in the autumn of 1805, by the exertions of a few public-spirited individuals. The temporary house, till a suitable building is erected, was first in the Old Jewry, and has since been transferred to a house in King's Arms Yard, and will soon remove into an elegant stone building in Moorfields.

This building is erected partly by the funds of the society, and partly by voluntary contributions of those members who were friendly to the measure. The first stone was laid in the presence of and by the Lord Mayor, accompanied by the Aldermen, and a large body of proprie tors. The length of the building is 108 feet, exclusive of the wings, each of which extend 16 feet. The theatre, or lecture room, is 63 feet by 44, the library 97 feet by 42, with a gallery on each side.

This institution is at present confined to three objects, viz. the acquisition of a valuable and extensive library; the diffusion of knowledge by the means of lectures and experiments; and the establishment of a reading-room, where the foreign and domestic journals, and other periodical works, and the best new publications, may be provided for the use of the subscribers.

The lecture department has not yet commenced; partly owing to want of sufficient funds, from the capital having been largely entrenched upon for the foundation of a most valuable and extensive library, and partly from want of a permanent residence. A Committee of Inquiry, lately instituted, has nearly, if not altogether, remedied the first evil, by introducing a salutary system of economy into the interior management of the institution; so that its perma

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nent income is now considerably superior to its expenditure; and it is probable that the whole of the objects for which it was incorporated, will in a few years be carried into execution upon a magnificent scale, befitting its name and character.

A large room is fitted up for reading the English news papers; the room on the left for the English monthly publications and modern popular books, and that on the right for the foreign journals and newspapers.

The library contains a numerous and extremely wellselected variety of scarce and valuable classical, historical, and miscellaneous books. The collection relative to English topography, and that relating to the fine arts, is very valuable.

The Surrey Institution.

This establishment is intended to promote the same ob jects as the two preceding institutions. The building lately occupied as the Leverian Museum, on the south end of Blackfriars Bridge, is fitted up for the use of the proprietors and subscribers, and the reading-rooms were opened on the 25th of March, 1808. It includes a valuable and extensive library; and an arrangement for lectures on the different branches of philosophy and science.

There are two rooms open, one in which the London daily papers are upon the table, and the other where the reviews, magazines, foreign journals, and popular pamphlets are read.

The proprietors of this institution are limited to 700, and they pay 30 guineas for each share, for which they are entitled to personal admission, and to a transferable ticket. The library comprizes a collection of works of reference, and also contains all modern publications, which are to be circulated among the proprietors and subscribers at their own houses.

The Russel Institution.

The elegant building devoted to the purposes of this establishment, in Great Coram Street, near Russel Square, is worthy of attention, the centre having a handsome portico with four pillars. It was built a few years since for an assembly-room, &c. One wing being appropriated to

billiard-rooms, and the other to hot and cold baths, fitted up in a very neat and commodious manner.

It has since been devoted to the purposes of the Russel Institution, and contains an extensive and valuable library, consisting of the most useful works in ancient and modern literature; and is also provided with periodical publications and pamphlets on literary and scientific subjects. It is a noble and spacious room, and has lately been fitted up with great taste and elegance. The books, however, are not extensive, nor have the funds been large enough to admit of lectures, though the lecture room is completed. There is also an elegant news-room, in which is taken all the morning and evening papers.

The books in the library are circulated among the subscribers, under certain regulations. The proprietors are limited to 700, at twenty-five guineas each, and the annual subscribers pay three guineas.

Gresham College.

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This college now pulled down, was founded and endowed by Sir Thomas Gresham, for professors of seven liberal sciences, viz. divinity, law, physic, astronomy, geometry, music, and rhetoric. But the lectures are still given gratis, twice a day, in a small room over the Royal Exchange, during the terms; but they are ill attended, and almost useless. The trustees of this college have deviated in the time of delivering the lectures from the will of the founder, but it is hoped that they will be induced by a further deviation to apply to parliament for authority to have them and the funds appropriated to their support, transferred to the London Institution, in order that they may be more efficient, and answer the design of Sir Thomas in the original foundation of them, by making the college a living school of science and philosophy The business is transacted at Mercers' Hall.

Sion College

Is situated near London Wall. It was founded in the year 1603, by Thomas White, rector of St. Dunstan's in the west, for the improvement of the London clergy. The whole body of rectors and vicars within the city are fellows of this college, and all the clergy in and near the metropolis may have free access to its very extensive and

valuable library. The edifice is plain and neat, consisting of brick buildings, surrounding a square court; and under the library are alms-houses for twenty poor per

sons.

The College of Physicians,

Was instituted by Henry VIII. with full power to examine and license all persons practising physic within seven miles of London. No person can legally practise within that space as a physician without a license from the college. Physicians' College is in Warwick Lane, and is a large and elegant building. The fellows had some time ago an intention to build a fine college on part of the new street leading from Carlton House to Piccadilly, and intended to lay out from 30 to 40,0007. on the building; but the commissioners for the street demanded a high ground-rent, which the fellows of the college justly thought they were entitled to from the crown on a more liberal footing. They therefore determined to remain where they are.

Royal College of Surgeons.

The surgeons were incorporated by the same king, in conjunction with the barbers, but afterwards as a separate company; and in 1800, they received a royal charter con- . stituting them a separate college.

The surgeons have their own hall, now called a college, a splendid building in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, in which they have arranged, and have added to it very considerably from other quarters, the valuable museum of the late John Hunter, purchased by government, and committed to their care.

This collection of comparative anatomy must be considered as a proof of talents, assiduity, and labour, which cannot be contemplated without surprise and admiration. Mr. Hunter's design was to exhibit the gradations of nature, from the most simple state in which life is found to exist, up to the most perfect and complex of the animal creation. By his art and care he was able to expose and preserve, in a dried state, or in spirits, the corresponding parts of animal bodies, that the various links in the chain of a perfect being, may be readily followed and clearly understood.