MANUFACTURES, &c.

I. London Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, was instituted in the year 1754 by Lord Folkestone, Lord Romney, Dr Stephen Hales, and a few private gentlemen; but the merit of this institution chiefly belonged to Mr William Shipley, an ingenious mechanic; who, though deriving no advantages from learning, by unwearyed personal attendance found means to engage a few persons of rank and fortune to meet at Peale's coffeehouse in Fleet-street, and to adopt a plan for promoting arts and manufactures.

The office-bearers of this society are a president, 12 vice-presidents, a secretary, and register. Their proceedings are regulated by a body of rules and orders established by the whole society, and printed for the use of the members. All questions and debates are determined by the holding up of hands, or by ballot if required; and no matter can be confirmed without the assent of a majority at two meetings. They invite all the world to propose subjects for encouragement; and whatever is deemed deserving of attention is referred to the consideration of a committee, which, after due inquiry and deliberation, make their report to the whole society, where it is approved, rejected, or altered. A list is printed and published every year of the matters for which they propose to give premiums; which premiums are either sums of money, and those sometimes very considerable ones; or the society's medal in gold or silver, which they consider as the greatest honour they can bestow. All possible care is taken to prevent partiality in the distribution of their premiums, by desiring the claimants' names to be concealed, and by appointing committees (who when they find occasion call to their assistance the most skilful artists) for the strict examination of the real merit of all matters and things brought before them, in consequence of their premiums.

The chief objects of the attention of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, in the application of their revenues, are ingenuity in the several branches of the polite and liberal arts, useful discoveries and improvements in agriculture, manufactures, mechanics, and chemistry, or the laying open of any such to the public; and, in general, all such useful inventions, discoveries, or improvements (though not mentioned in the book of premiums) as may appear to have a tendency to the advantage of trade and commerce.

The following are some of the most important regulations of this society. It is required that the matters for which premiums are offered be delivered in without names, or any intimation to whom they belong; that each particular thing be marked in what manner each claimant thinks fit, such claimant sending with it a paper sealed up, having on the outside a corresponding mark, and on the inside the claimant's name and address; and all candidates are to take notice, that no claim for a premium will be attended to, unless the conditions of the advertisement are fully complied with. No papers shall be opened but such as shall gain premiums, unless where it appears to the society absolutely necessary for the determination of the claim: all the rest shall be returned unopened, with the matters to which they belong, if inquired after by the marks within two years; after which time, if not demanded, they shall be publicly burnt unopened at some meeting of the society. All the premiums of this society are designed for that part of Great Britain called England, the dominion of Wales, and the town of Berwick upon Tweed, unless expressly mentioned to the contrary. No person shall receive any premium, bounty, or encouragement, from the society for any matter for which he has obtained or proposes to obtain a patent. No member of this society shall be a candidate for or entitled to receive any premium, bounty, or reward whatever, except the honorary medal of the society.

The respectability of the members who compose it may be seen by perusing the list which generally accompanies their transactions. In the last volume (vol. xii.) it occupies no less than 43 pages. Some idea may be formed of the wealth of this society, by observing that the list of their premiums fills 96 pages, and amounts to 250 in number. These consist of gold medals worth from 30 to 50, and in a few instances to 100 guineas; and silver medals valued at 10 guineas.

This society is one of the most important in Great Britain. Much money has been expended by it, and many are the valuable effects of which it has been productive. Among these we reckon not only the discoveries which it has excited, but the institution of other societies on the same principles to which it has given birth; and we do not hesitate to conclude, that future ages will consider the founding of this society as one of the most remarkable epochs in the history of the arts. We contemplate with pleasure the beneficial effects which must result to this nation and to mankind by the diffusion of such institutions; and rejoice in the hope that the active minds of the people of Great Britain, instead of being employed as formerly in controversies about religion, which engender strife, or in discussions concerning the theory of politics, which lead to the adoption of schemes inconsistent with the nature and condition of man, will soon be more generally united into associations for promoting useful knowledge and solid improvement, and for alleviating the distresses of their fellow creatures.

II. Society instituted at Bath for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. It was founded in the year 1777 by several gentlemen who met at the city of Bath. This scheme met with a very favourable reception both from the wealthy and learned. The wealthy subscribed very liberally, and the learned communicated many important papers. On application to the London and provincial societies instituted for the like purposes, they very politely offered their assistance. Seven volumes of their transactions have already been published, containing very valuable experiments and observations, particularly respecting agriculture, which well deserve the attention of all farmers in the kingdom. We have consulted them with much satisfaction on several occasions, and have frequently referred to them in the course of this work; and therefore, with pleasure, societies for embrace the present opportunity of repeating our obligations. We owe the same acknowledgments to the Society for the Improvement of Arts, &c. of London.

3. Society for working Mines, an association lately formed on the continent of Europe. This institution arose from the accidental meeting of several mineralogists at Skleno near Schemnitz in Hungary, who were collected in order to examine a new method of amalgamation. Struck with the shackles imposed on mineralogy by monopolizers of new and useful processes, they thought no method so effectual to break them, as forming a society, whose common labours should be directed to fix mining on its surest principles; and whose memoirs, spread all over Europe, might offer to every adventurer the result of the researches, of which they are the object. By these means they supposed, that there would be a mass of information collected; the interests of individuals would be lost in the general interest; and the one would materially assist the other. Imposture and quackery would, by the same means, be banished from a science, which must be improved by philosophy and experience; and the society, they supposed, would find, in the confidence which they inspired, the reward and the encouragement of their labours. They design, that the memoirs which they publish shall be short and clear; truth must be their basis, and every idle discussion, every foreign digression, must be banished; politics and finance must be avoided, though the disquisitions may seem to lead towards them; and they oblige themselves to oppose the affectation of brilliancies, and the ostentation of empty speculation, when compared with plain, simple, and useful facts.

The object of the society is physical geography; mineralogy founded on chemistry; the management of ore in the different operations which it undergoes; subterraneous geometry; the history of mining; foundries, and the processes for the extraction of metals from the ores, either by fusion or amalgamation, in every instance applied to practice. The end of this institution is to collect, in the most extensive sense, every thing that can assist the operations of the miner, and to communicate it to the different members, that they may employ it for the public good, in their respective countries. Each member must consider himself as bound to send to the society every thing which will contribute to the end of its institution; to point out, with precision, the several facts and observations; to communicate every experiment which occurs, even the unsuccessful ones, if the relation may seem to be advantageous to the public; to communicate to the society their examination of schemes, and their opinions on questions propounded by it; and to pay annually two ducats (about 18s. 6d.) to the direction every Easter. The society, on the other hand, is bound to publish every novelty that shall be communicated to it; to communicate to each member, at the member's expense, the memoirs, designs, models, productions, and every thing connected with the institution; to answer all the necessary demands made, relating in any respect to mining; and to give its opinion on every plan or project communicated through the medium of an honorary member.

The great centre of all intelligence is to be at Zellerfield in Hartz, Brunswick: but the society is not fixed to any one spot; for every particular state some practical mineralogist is nominated as director. Among these are the names of Baron Born, M. Pallas, M. Charpentier, M. Prebra, and M. Henkel. Their office is to propose the members; to take care that the views of the society are pursued in the different countries where they reside; to answer the requests of the members of their country who are qualified to make them; in case of the death of a director, to choose another; and the majority is to determine where the archives and the strong box is to be placed.

All the eminent mineralogists in Europe are members of this society. It is erected on so liberal and so extensive a plan, that we entertain the highest hopes of its success; and have only to add, that we wish much to see the study of several other sciences pursued in the same manner.

4. The Society for the Improvement of Naval Architecture, was founded in 1791. The object of it is to encourage every useful invention and discovery relating to naval architecture as far as shall be in their power, both by honorary and pecuniary rewards. They have in view particularly to improve the theories of floating bodies and of the resistance of fluids; to procure draughts and models of different vessels, together with calculations of their capacity, centre of gravity, tonnage, &c.; to make observations and experiments themselves, and to point out such observations and experiments as appear best calculated to further their designs, and most deserving those premiums which the society can bestow. But though the improvement of naval architecture in all its branches be certainly the principal object of this institution, yet the society do not by any means intend to confine themselves merely to the form and structure of vessels. Every subordinate and collateral pursuit will claim a share of the attention of the society in proportion to its merits; and whatever may have any tendency to render navigation more safe, salutary, and even pleasant, will not be neglected.

This institution owes its existence to the patriotic disposition and extraordinary attention of Mr Sewell a private citizen of London, who (though engaged in a line of business totally opposite to all concerns of this kind) has been led, by mere accident, to take such ocular notice of, and make such observations on, the actual state of naval architecture in this country, as naturally occurred to a man of plain understanding, zealous for the honour and interest of his country, and willing to bestow a portion of that time for the public good, which men of a different description would rather have devoted to their own private advantage. His attention was the more ferociously excited, by finding that it was the opinion of some private ship-builders, who, in a debate on the failure of one of our naval engagements, pronounced, that such "would ever be the case while that business (the construction of our ships of war) was not studied as a science, but carried on merely by precedent; that there had not been one improvement in our navy that did not originate with the French, who had naval schools and seminaries for the study of it; and that our ships were not a match for those of that nation either singly or in a fleet," &c. &c.

In a short time the society were enabled to offer very considerable premiums for particular improvements in the construction of our shipping, &c. &c. and also to encourage our philosophers, mathematicians, and mechanics, to make satisfactory experiments, tending to certain Societies for certain the laws of refinance of water to solids of different forms, in all varieties of circumstance. On this head the reward is not less than one hundred pounds or a gold medal. Other premiums of 50, 30, and 20 guineas, according to the importance or difficulty of the particular subject or point of investigation, are likewise offered, for different discoveries, inventions, or improvements. The terms of admission into the society are a subscription of two guineas annually, or twenty guineas for life.

5. Society of Artists of Great Britain, which consists of directors and fellows, was incorporated by charter in 1765, and empowered to purchase and hold lands, not exceeding 1000l. a-year. The directors of this society, annually elected, are to consist of 24 persons, including the president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary; and it is required that they be either painters, sculptors, architects, or engravers by profession.

6. British Society for Extending the Fisheries and Improving the Sea-Coasts of this Kingdom, was instituted in 1786. The end and design of this society will best appear from their charter, of which we present an abstract.

The preamble states, "the great want of improvement in fisheries, agriculture, and manufactures, in the Highlands and Islands of North Britain; the prevalence of emigration from the want of employment in those parts; the prospect of a new nursery of lemen, by the establishment of fishing towns and villages in that quarter. The act therefore declares, that the persons therein named, and every other person or persons who shall thereafter become proprietors of the joint stock mentioned therein, shall be a distinct and separate body politic and corporate, by the name of The British Society for Extending the Fisheries and Improving the Sea-coasts of this Kingdom: That the said society may raise a capital joint stock not exceeding 150,000l. to be applied to purchasing or otherwise acquiring lands and tenements in perpetuity, for the building thereon, and on no other land whatever, free towns, villages, and fishing stations: That the joint stock shall be divided into shares of 50l. each: That no one person shall in his or her name possess more than ten shares, or 500l.: That the society shall not borrow any sum or sums of money whatsoever: That the sums to be advanced for this undertaking, and the profits arising therefrom, shall be divided proportionally to the sum subscribed; and that no person shall be liable for a larger sum than he or she shall have respectively subscribed: That one or two shares shall entitle to one vote, and no more, in person or by proxy, at all meetings of proprietors; three or four shares to two votes; five, six, or seven shares, to three votes; eight or nine shares to four votes; and ten shares to five votes and no more: That more persons than one inclining to hold in their joint names one or more shares shall be entitled to vote, by one of such persons, according to the priority of their names, or by proxy: That bodies corporate shall vote by proxy under their seal: That all persons holding proxies shall be proprietors, and that no one person shall hold more than five votes by proxy: That the affairs of the society shall be managed by a governor, deputy governor, and 13 other directors, to be elected annually on the 25th of March, from among the proprietors of the society, holding at least one full share, by signed lists of their names to be transmitted by the proprietors to the secretary of the society: That five Societies proprietors, not being governor, director, or other officer, shall be in like manner annually elected to audit the accounts of the society: That there shall be one general meeting of the proprietors annually on the 25th of March: That occasional general meetings shall be called on the request of nine or more proprietors: That the general meetings of the proprietors shall make all bye-laws and constitutions for the government of the society, and for the good and orderly carrying on of the business of the same: That no transfer shall be made of the stock of the society for three years from the 10th of August 1786: That the cash of the society shall be lodged in the bank of England, bank of Scotland, or the royal bank of Scotland: That no director, proprietor, agent, or officer of the society, shall retain any sum or sums of money in his hands beyond the space of 30 days on any account whatsoever: That all payments by the society shall be made by drafts on the said banks, under the hands of the governor or deputy-governor, countersigned by the secretary or his deputy, and two or more directors: And that the books in which the accounts of the society shall be kept shall be open to all the proprietors."

The institution of this public-spirited society was in a great measure owing to the exertions of the patriotic John Knox; who in the course of 23 years traversed and explored the Highlands of Scotland not fewer than 16 times, and expended several thousand pounds of his own fortune in pursuing his patriotic designs.

7. British Wool Society. See British Wool Society.

SOCIETY Isles, a cluster of isles, so named by Captain Cook in 1769. They are situated between the latitudes of 16. 10. and 16. 55. south, and between the longitudes of 150. 57. and 152. west. They are eight in number; namely, Otaheite, Huaheine, Ulietca, Otaha, Bolabola, Maurua, Toobouci, and Tabooyamanoo or Saunders's island. The soil, productions, people, their language, religion, customs, and manners, are so nearly the same as at Otaheite, that little need be added here on that subject. Nature has been equally bountiful in uncultivated plenty, and the inhabitants are as luxurious and as indolent. A plantain branch is the emblem of peace, and exchanging names the greatest token of friendship. Their dances are more elegant, their dramatic entertainments have something of plot and consistency, and they exhibit temporary occurrences as the objects of praise or satire; so that the origin of ancient comedy may be already discerned among them. The people of Huaheine are in general flouter and fairer than those of Otaheite, and this island is remarkable for its populousness and fertility. Those of Ulietca, on the contrary, are smaller and blacker, and much less orderly. Captain Cook put on shore a Cape ewe at Bolabola, where a ram had been left by the Spaniards; and also an English boar and sow, with two goats, at Ulietca. If the valuable animals which have been transported thither from Europe should be suffered to multiply, no part of the world will equal these islands in variety and abundance of refreshments for future navigators.