The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-19 00:00:00

SOCIETY OP ARTS,

The one hundred and tenth session of this society
commenced last evening at the society's house, John-
street, Adelphi, and was numerously attended.
Since the last meeting of the institution the hall in
which the meetings are held has been remodelled,
and by the addition of the ante-room has been much
enlarged, thus materially increasing the accommo-
dation required by the members generally. Amongst
those present we noticed Vice-Chancellor Page
Wood, Sir Thomas Phillips, Mr. Harry Chester,
Mr. John Dellion, Mr. H. Cole, &c.

W. HAWES. Esq., the Chairman of the Council,
presided on the occasion.

Mr. LE NEVE FOSTER, the secretary, read the
minutes of the last meeting of the society, which
were confirmed.

The CHAIRMAN then delivered, in accordance with
the usual custom, the opening address of the session.
He commenced by expressing his regret that he had
to follow so able a chairman as his friend Sir Thos.
Phillips, and after adverting to the alteration and
improvement of the hall in which the society were
held, he adverted to the losses which the society
had recently sustained by death, alluding especially
to the late president, Mr. William Tooke, Mr.
Alderman Cubitt, Mr. Joshua Field, Mr. Joseph
Glynn, and Mr. Mulready. Mr. 'William', Tcoke
had, he remarked, filled every office of the society,
and even when he was not able to take an active
part in its affairs, he always evinced a great anxiety
for the welfare of the institution. In speaking of
the policy which the council proposed to follow
during the ensuing session, the chairman referred
to the action of the society in the cause of education.
That some system for encouragineprivate study
after leaving school had become absolutely necessary
from the universality of education, was never, he
said, so apparent as now, when the attractions of
sensation novels were, if not absolutely injurious,
tending to excite feelings and sentiments, calculated
to lower rather than to elevate the tastes and prin-
ciples of their readers. Many of the objections to
the competitive examinations did not apply to those
adopted by the society. Cramming could not be
adopted before their examiners. The examina-
tions were not entered upon to give a particu-
lar position in a college, or in military or
naval life, but were pursued by those who hoped
to gain the notice of their employers by great sacri-
fices and severe labour after their day's business
was over. The working classes formed the base
of our industrial fabric, and too high a value could
not be attached to any step which enabled them
to obtain an acquaintance with sound principles of
political economy, which would influence their own
conduct and enable them to influence that of others.
The first exhibition of specimens of wood carving
was held in June last, and a second exhibition
would be held in that room in a few days. In pro-
viding papers for their Wednesday evening meet-
ings they would endeavour as much as possible to
select subjects interesting to the members. Arts,
manufactures, commerce, and agriculture, will all
meet with attention during the session, but the
council would particularly urge the co-operation of
the members in finding good and interesting papers
to be read at these meetings. Those announced for
the evenings before Christmas were likely to be
more than usually interesting; but, besides these
papers, they had arranged three courses of lectures
by professional gentlemen eminent in theirspecial
departments. They would be delivered on Monday
or on Thursday evenings, as might be found most
convenient. The first course, by
ings, D.C.L., is on " International Law. G
and Wit's Com-
mercial Relations," and will begin before Christmas.
The others, by Mr. Crate
Calvert, F.R.S., and Mr.
Burgess, on "Chemistry
Applied to
"Fine Arts Applied to Industry, the Arts," and
will follow in suc-
cession. The council
have
this year, in conjunction
with the College of
quin-
quennial e swine Physicians, to award the Y
Prize," consisting of a silver cr..p,
value £lOO, containing
a purse of £lOO in gold., for
the best published treatise
on urispriudence. The
council will also, at the end of the session, award,
for the first time, the society's gold Albert medal for
distinguished merit in arts, ma.nufactuws) or com-
merce, the new dies the
for which are in progress,
likeness of the Prince Consort ha ving been submitted
for the
approval of her Majesty. The chairman then
adverted to the bust of the Piince Consort, by Mr.
Theed, which was placed in the room, and when the
pictures ordered were completed, they would have
in sculpture and on canvas, the, very best likeness
that could be had of the P rinca Consort, as well as
a likeness of her Majesty. The chairman then paid
a high compliment to th.e Prince Consort for his
desire to promote the riocial ond intellectual
6. s After some im-
provementfur-
ther of the working.
ther observations, the. ehairmi In , in conclusion, said
that the society had u great dmy to perform. Let
us strive, he said, to release industry from the
shackles of prejudice and ignorance —to encourage
the greatest freedom for the terci se of talent, come
from whence it may, and thus to maintain this so-
ciety in the foremost rank of th 013 e 'who are striving
to extend the operation of thcl e humanising
and
peaceful influences which inq af f
y ollow the