The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-16 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS.

The annual meeting of the Society of Arts, for the
distribution of prizes and rewards for designs, inven-
tions, and essays on various subjects of fine arts, menu-
'colcfekthbeysoh
factures, and commerce, contributed during the past or
95th session, was held on Thursday, at the society's house,
John-street, Adelphi, and was attended by an unusually
large number of members and visitors. The chair was
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EarlHhe the Bishop
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Chevaliernis
Norwich,
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society.
Amongst Highness
A
L
the day, expressed, in warm terms, the satisfaction he
re‘m(Ani ennbnmicosaetosßiA shortlylbe Albert,
,atfht after
President twelve o
fdt at being able to attend to his duties that day as
i&nge.the business of
President of the Society, a pleasure which, in the pre-
ceding year, he regretted much to have been deprived of.
He congratulatad the society on the progress it had
been the means of effecting, not only in the manufac-
turing processes, but also in originality of design, which
was, in his opinion, the great point to be arrived at, in
the advancement, at the present day, of British decora-
tive manufactures. It was only necessary, he thought,
to have examined the magnificent exhibition of this year
of works in every branch of recent art, to perceive that
a marked improvement had taken place, both in the de-
.igu and in the execution, and also that manufacturers
had manifested a more general desire of exhibiting their
best works. He would conclude his address by a few ob-
ervations on the subject of two medals which he
had offered for competition, on matters of considerable
importance. The one was for the best cement for unit-
ing glass, particular attention being had to perfectly
cementing glass pipes and glass roofihg. The idea of
offering a medal for this discovery was suggested to him
by its importance is the construction of glass conduits
for water, whereby the health of large towns would be
promoted. The other was offered" For the best account
of any new and improved machinery or process em-
employed in the cultivation or preparation of sugar in
the British colonies, designed to economise labour and
increase production. Attention especially to be directed
to the more perfect extraction of the juice from the cane
to the simplest and most effective apparatus for boiling
of the crushed cane, when used as manure, or when
and preparing the sugar, also to the comparative quali-
tiesused as fuel. The effect of railways and other modern
improvements, and the comparative expense and effi-
eiency of steam and water power, on production and cost
should also be investigated ; and in each case the special
circumstances of each colony or estate should be speci-
fied." When they only considered the present distressed
state of the West Indian colonies, arising, no doubt, is
a great degree, from the want of a system of division
of labour, the importance of the subject would be appre-
ciated as it ought. With regard to the first prize, no
one had yet successfully carried out his experiments; but
the second, as would be seen presently, had been produc-
tive of a great deal of valuable information. Ills Royal
highness, after passing a handsome eulogium on Mr.
Etty's paintings, which surrounded the room, resumed
the chair.

The Secretary then read a report on the general pro-
gress of the society in its endeavour to cultivate a taste
for design and fine arts, in which it was stated that the
ircome of the society had increased from 8001. to 1,6001.
a year, and its means of usefulness in the proportion of
8 to 1.

The report was received with general satisfaction, and
the distribution of the medals and rewards immediately
took place.
IN TUE SECTION OF TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.—

Ti; Mr. J. A. Leon, for his paper on the "Cultivation
and Manufacture of Sugar," the large gold medal pre-
sented by his Royal Highness the Prince Albert. To
Dr. Mitchell, for his " Essay on Improved Processes in
Op Manufacture of Sugar," the gold Isis medal. To Mr.
;,Littledale, for his " Essay on the Processes in the Ma-
itimeufdaal
et.ureToofmSnugwray,
in
arinthaeckCnoolwonleiedsg,l the large silver
ent of the merit
~of his printed work on the "Manufacture of Sugar," the
large silver medal. To Mr. James Johnson, for a sam-
ple of Cashmere wool, and his efforts to introduce the
culture of the same in New South Wales, the large silver
medal.