The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-04 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

This Institution, which may be considered the parent of all
the Societies for the encouragement and diffusion of the Arts
and Sciences in this country, has been for several years in a
declining and decaying condition. The services it has ren-
dered, not alone to science in particular, but to society in
general, have been very great. Its leading object, to induce,
by rewards and honours, ingenious men to give the results
of their labours and discoveries to the world, instead of
taking out patents to confine the enjoyment of the profit of
such discoveries to themselves, has been steadily and most
successfully pursued. Many of the nobility. and especially a
Royal Duke, of great and deserved popularity, have taken a
very warm personal interest in its welfare. Nevertheless, in
spite of all those encouraging circumstances, it has fallen in
its funds so much, that its annual ordinary expenditure ex-
ceeded last year its receipts. Many causes are assigned for
this. Some think that the number of other scientific Institu-
tions, that have of late years risen up, have so divided the
friends of Science, that there arc not sufficient to support
any one Institution upon so grand a scale as the Society of
Arts has been accustomed to ba conducted. Others, how-
ever, entertain a very different opinion, and contend that the
popular taste for Science has fully kept pace with the in-
creasing means for its enjoyment; hence they ascribe the
decay of this Society to its faulty and exclusive character.
They say that the confining the publication of its transac-
tions to an annual volume, instead of allowing the world to
have the advantage of every discovery or improvement as soon
as communicated, is inconsistent with its avowed object; and
that people soon lose sight of en Institution which only comes
before them once a year. One of the latter class of reasoners
has given notice of a series of resolutions to be proposed at
the General Meeting on the 6th of December, (next Wednes-
day,) which, if carried, will popularize and give a new charac-
ter to this very valuable Institution. The following are the
resolutions to be proposed, as at present stuck up in the hall :--
" Parliament-street, Westminster, Nov. 23, 1837.

" I hereby give notice, that at the General Meeting to be
held on Wednesday, the 6th of December next, I shall movo
tho following resolutions, seriatim:7:

~ W. S. NORTHHOUSE.

" 1. That a Catalogue of the models, plans, books, &c.,
belonging to this Institution be forthwith prepared and printed.
" 2. That a copy of such Catalogue be sent, at the first
convenient opportunity, to each learned Society, Mechanics'
Institution, &c., in the kingdom, with the description of the
pictures, and the rules.
" 3. That the president and honorary secretary of every
such society or institution, shall be admitted honorary members
of this institution, and being such, shall have the power, by
letter or personally, to admit any one student or member of
such society or institution, to examine the models or peruse the
books belonging to this society.
" 4. That the president or secretary of every such society
or institution be requested to transmit to this society a copy of
the history, rulcs, or proceedings of such society or institu-
tion, with such other information as he may deem expedient,
gratuitously.

" 5. That it being a main object of this society to secure
to the public the benefit of all useful inventions and disco-
veries connected with the arts or manufactures, it would faci-
litate such object by permitting such inventions and disco-
veries to be published before, and without waiting for, the
annual volume of the transactions.

" 6, That the e.iltors or reporters of all scientific periodicals
be permitted to attend general and committee meetings,
unless special circumstances may render the publication of
the proceedings, in any particular instance, inexpedient, of
which the then existing chairman shall be the judge.
" 7. That a committee be appointed to carry the above re-
solutions into effect."

•
THE REFORM ACT.—Mr. Gracie, W.S., who
has paid a good deal of attention to the Reform Act, has fa-
voured us with his views as to the necessity, and a plan, for
amending it. They appear to be very simple, and we consi-
der it right to lay them before the public, so as to be fairly
considered nod discussed. They are as follows : —l. To
make residence an essential point of the qualification. 2. To
do away with both joint ownership and joint occupancy. And
3. To allow of no liferent qualification, save that of a husband
in right of his wife.—Scotsman.
METROPOLITAN INFIRMARY FOR THE CURE
or STRICTURE.—We regret to observe by an advertisement in
our publication of this day, that the above valuable charity
(after having been established two years) is closed for the
want of funds. We trust, however, its closure will be but
temporary, as we feel assured that it needs but to be known
to command the support of a benevolent public. This insti.
tution is solely devoted to the cure of the above distressing
malady, one which from its frequency and importance w ell
merits an exclusive establishment ; indeed, we feel assured
that many and great advantages would result both to the
medical profession and the public were it mote general in this
country to found separate medical charities ;or the treatment
of the more prevalent and serious maladies which " flash is
heir to" than has hitherto been the case ; it is by the individual
attention of men of science to some one particular branch of
their art that most improvements are made, and rarely by theft)
whose attention is distracted by a multiplicity of pursuit;.
Thus in surgery the man whose time is fully occupied in
what is termed general practice, has his mind so constantly
diverted by the continual succession of complicated and various
disorders that the human frame is liable to, that however great
his diligence, he seldom rises above madiecrity in his profession,
and it is but too often the case, we fear, that many are con-
tented to pin their faith to the dogmas of the scho)l in which
they may have been educated, without any inquiry on their
part as to the soundness of them, thus following a mere (if we
may so express ourselves,) routine of practice. In no branch
of surgery has this (we believe) been so much the case as in
the treatment of stricture. We are therefore happy to find
that the patrons of this institution in selecting a surgeon, have
chosen one who, although he has not raised himself to emi-
nence by his skill in the use of the scalpel, has earned con-
siderable celebrity by his successful treatment of this awful
malady, and is consequently well calculated to discharge the
duties of his office. We congratulate Mr. Courtenay on his
appointment, as we feel convinced that be will not fail to make
the increased opportunities he will have of witnessing this dis-
ease under all its modifications subservient to the general good.
CHELTENHAM, Nov. 29.—1 regret to have to
communicate to you the death of Lady Clayton, whose demise
took place on Thursday last, at her mansion on. Oriel-terrace.
This respected lady was the widow of the late Sir Richard
Clayton, Bart., of Adlington-ball. Lancaster. The Duchess
of Montrose has left for town. Sir Augustus D'Este has ar-
rived in Spa-building from Malvern Wells. Lord and Lady
William Somerset arc occupying one of the promenade villas.
Sir H. and the Hon. Lady Williamson, Dowager Lady
Southampton, Hon. A. Macdonald, and Sir John Woodford
arc among the latest arrivals.
_ _

'Thursday afternoon a man was driving a cab, No.
1,150, to the stand in Pickett-street at the moment that one
of the conveyances (No. 25) belonging to the Parcels Deli-
very Company was proceeding in an opposite direction at a
rapid rate. The two vehicles came in collision with such
vi)lence, that the cabman was dashed from his scat into the
road. The poor fellow fell upon his head, which was frac-
tured in a frightful manner. He wai removed to the hospital,
where he at present lies in a very dangerouS state.
Startling and perfectly unparalleled, in any state of
society in which man is confined to one mate at a time, as the
following statement may be, we are assured by one of the in.
specters of registration, &c., that it is strictly and perfectly
true. A man named Arthur Conalty, residing in Gra)son-
street, Liverpool, 79 years of age, has had 17 wives, having
been married nine times in St. Peter's Church, and eight
times in Wallasey, Church. He has been the father of so
children, and is now. "open for another match," as the :•porti:,g
people term it.—Liverpool Mercury.

The publication of ME SUN NEWSPAPER commenced this day
at 30 minutes past Three o' Clock.