The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-27 00:00:00

half-year, the directors had succeeded in keeping
down the gross expenditure to a' figure much less
than during the corresponding period in 1864. The
expenses incurred in bringing before the public the
beautiful optical illusions which have rendered the
past year's operations of the Polytechnic so popular,
were still drawing large audiences, and there was
every likelihood of their eventuating in profit to the
shareholders. All the rooms, shops, and stalls of the
institution remained let on advantageous terms; they
were not alone sustaining their rent but making
profit on the letting. The directors testified to the
valuable services rendered to the institution by Fro-
fcssor Pepper, and declared him worthy of the most
cordial thanks of the shareholders. Notwithstand-
ing the bad season of the past half-year, the direc-
tors felt themselves justified in recommending a
dividend of 1i per cent., making, with the dividend
in June last, 4 per cent. per annum ; but they ad-
vised, as a prudential measure, that whenever au
actual loss is incurred in a half-year, so long as any
portion of the accumulated balance of £2,450 re-
mains above £l,OOO, a dividend at the maTimuni
rate of 4 per cent. per annum should be paid.
The Rev. C. MACKENZIE, hon. manager of the
education department, read a report showing a more
successful result than any previous half-year.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the three reports
above referred to be received.

Mr. MAYHEW was ready to second the reception
of the reports, with the exception of that part of the
directors' report which suggested the diminution of
the reserve fund for the equalisation of dividends/
and after some discussion the clause was expunged.

Mr. MOLYNEUX moved, and Mr. exußeg
seconded, an amendment, that the dividend be 2i
per cent. instead of 1i as proposed; and the Keg•
Charles Mackenzie supported the amendment, which
was carried by 15 to 10.
The Rev. Mr. Owen was re-elected to the board►
and Messrs. Charles Mayhew and M. Yeatman were
re-elected auditors.

On the motion of Mr. MAYIIEW, the remuncra-

tion of the directors, in consequence of the reduc-
tion in their number, was lowered from £350 to
£3OO. A suggestion that the board should be re-
duced to four members was favourably received, and
it was understood that whenever a vacancy occurs
it will not be filled up.

Votes of thanks to Professor Pepper and his AS-
sistants, and to the chairman and directors, col'
eluded the business.

Art Workmen's Exhibition at Manches'

An art workmen's exhibition the Royal Insti-
tutions enceoifn :t
ester was yesterday opened,
SMiralje.hP. Kay-Shuttleworth and a iiiiitlplur::
rous company of ladies and gentlemen, by Lord
Houghton, who spoke at some length on the ad-
vantages
popular
taste
sf t suche in artand
exhibitions, as tending to promote
improving popular wan"
ners. The present exhibition contains about 400
contributions, which are the work of 200 workmen'
It differs from a previous exhibition of a similar
kind at Manchester last year, inasmuch as most 01
the present contributions are the work of regular
-working men, produced during the ordinary hours
of work, while the former one was mainly furnished
with works by amateurs, which were the produc-
tions of their leisure hours. The aim of both ha°
been to display and stimulate the art workmanshiP
of the Manchester district. The germ of both is
said to have arisen out of a desire of the Manches-
ter house decorators, painters, and grainers to display
f
their ability and remove a prejudice in favour 0
" foreign talent." The contributors are, for the
most part, the individual artisans who have executed
the work, and their names are attached; but a
many instances the article exhibited is sent b7,,0
firm of employers, who specify if possible the riarcl'il
of the workmen engaged upon it. it has not bee
found possible to carry out this rule in some c‘.7,,
without modification, because it is sometimes dil
cult to decide whether a thin.. is a piece of art work
b or whether the one peculiar merit tha t may attach
e
to it—the merit of design—does not belong rather
to the employer than the workman, and so::netinls
_,
the whole question of merit is so inextricablyl,,un
volved in the combined talent and labour oi ,L.
entire establishment that no name more
that
tinct can have the credit of it than
of
con-
of the workshop whence it came. U. the,
tributions include panels decorated
-":tiqtion of:
utmost care of the painter or grainer in illu; _coo.
marbles or woods. The plasterers contributet_ns,
...,
original designs in their method of ornameiinlie_slloif
teriors, and there are also some good speel.
_ll,, for
gilding and cabinet work,great
in
wall papers. Stone and wood carvers appear.., con
force, and among the former is a panel, 1:
tablet
stone r4resentiwr " the Good Shepherd 7': i.,eavy.
representing " Christ inviting the Weary and .L.`
_oiled-
and original clesign
laden ;" and a bust of a girl with the face,
_1
zon.
There are some specimens of floor tiles, anu 'l', Ivry
siderable number of models and drawings
of
chinery. The contributions are from within ,tie
coi„.
of 25 miles of Manchester, and altogether tu
bition is a very interesting one,