The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-19 00:00:00

• .le2,
The winter session of the SacietilOf Art
Wednesday ovening,-at the society's house, Adelphi. The
opening address was delivered by Lord Henry LErfleox.
His lordship, when commencing, noticed in terms of
regret the loss the society had sustained by the
deaths of three of its most distinguished mem-
bers—Dr Roget, Professor Graham, and Sir Wentworth
Dilke. The labours of the Food Committee were next
noticed. The committee had come to the conclusion that
the only efficient mode of preserving meat for exportation
was by means of ice. Live cattle had, it was true, been
brought from Rio Janeiro, but the dread of introducing
new cattle plagues deterred the committee from encour-
aging live importation from South America. India, its
trade fabrics and productions, were dealt with at con
siderable length, and great expectations were held out as
to the extent to which the growth of tea, cotton, and silk
might be extended by judicious encouragement. The
chairman next proceeded to sketch out the future
programme of the society. A mechanical committee Was
being appointed, in -which mechanical inventions of
secondary importance would be examined and discussed.
The patent laws would undergo a searching investigation,
and in the course of the session a paper on the subject
would be read by Sir Joseph Whitworth. Prizes weuld
be offered for specimens of art-workmanship, and
examinations would be held in various branches
of practical knowledge and . industry. The great
subject of national education would be warmly taken
up by the society, whilst at the same time a position of
perfect impartiality would be maintained. In the matter
of technical education a great deal might, he thought, be
done without interfering with prejudice or opinion.
Turning to the outcry which had been raised against the
French treaty, he asked those manufacturers who cow.-
plaincd most of French competition whether they had
done their utmost to emulate French taste and excel-
lence of workmanship. Teclitical education would effect
much improvement in that direction. The next
portion of the address was devoted to a eulogistic descrip-
tion of the Jewish free school in Bell-lane, of which an
especial feature was the immense amount of teaching
power employed. The remaining topics of importance,
treated were cheap postage, respecting which and
its working in all foreign countries where it existed the
society would collect all possible information ; and the
Channel passage. The Chairman congratulated his hearers
on the prevalent wish to facilitate intercourse between
England and France, and pointed out that a sea service
of powerful vessels like those plying between Kingstown
and Holyhead, offered the most feasible solution of the
problem of quick and easy transit. The hope of the
society was that piers sufficient to accommodate large
steamers would be thrown out on both sides of the Channel.
In conclusion, he had only to state that the society pro-
posed to offer premiums to stimulate improvement in the
construction of cabs, and to prepare a new catalogue and
other improved arrangements for the library.

At the conclusion of the chairman's address the Prince
Consort's prize was delivered to William John Wilson, for
having for three successive years obtained the certificates
of the society.