The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-23 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF ARTS,

A public meeting of this society took place yesterday
a' John-Arzat, Adelphi, for the distribution of priz s;
Lord Colborne, vice'-president of the society, in the
chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the day,
made n few preliminary observations congratulating the
society en its present prosperous condition.
The address of the Council was then read, which
stated that the season which had just reached its close
was th(' most prosperous the society had enjoyed for
many years. A very large increase in the number of
subscribing members had occurred. While from 1845
to 1849 the number of members had averaged
105, in the present session no fewer than
230 had joined. It was known that the project
of their first great National Exhibition, upon being
submitted by their president, his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, was deemed by the, Government to merit being
made a national undertaking. This society had resigned
the work of its realization to a Royal Commission
formed for that purpose under his Royal Highness, by
whom the idea was now being carried out, even on a
larger scale than the society had originally meditated.
This society had contributed in its several localities no
less a sum than 6,1871., in addition to a further sum of
1,1011. 123. paid into the hands of the treasurers at the
teciety's house. A great source of gratification and
congratulation was the signal success which had attended
the Exhibition of Ancient and Medimval Art which had
lately closed.
The following pr:zes were then awarded by the Noble
Chairman:--
In the Section of Trade and Manufactures:-1. To
Messrs. Risrford and Finch, for their porcelain bath in
one piece, the gold Isis medal.
In the Section of Fine Arts and Manufactures:—To
Messrs. Campbell, Harrison. and Lloyd, for their figured
silks for dresses, the gold Isis medal; to Messrs. John
Crossley and Sons, for their printed carpets, the gold
Isis medal; to Messrs. E. Henry and Sons, for their em-
broidered garment fshrics, the gold Isis medal; to
Messrs. Keith and Co., fur their silk furniture damasks,
the gold Isis medal; to Messrs. Lambert and Bury, for
their tamboured lace, the gold Isis medal; to Messrs.
Reckless and Hickling, for their machine-made lace, the
gold Isis medal; and to Messrs. Swainson and Dennys,
fer their sweet pea chintz, the grid Isis medal. Silver
medals were also given to Messrs. George Bacchus and
Sons, for table glass; to Messrs. Cornell, Lyell, and Web-
ster, for their ribands; to Messrs. Keith, Shoobridge,
and Co., for their printed shawl; to James Coulson,for
damask; to Miss Stanley, for her Norwich hand-made
lace; to Messrs Stone and Kemp, for their silk damasks;
to T. W. Wallis, for his specimens of carving in wood ;,
to E. Webb, for his horstehair damask ; to Messrs. J.
arid W. Wilson, for their carpets. The Isis silver medal
was given to Messrs. R. S. Cox and Co., for their
seven •inch ribands, and to George Cook for his speei-
nmns of carving in wood. Several honorary testimonials
were also awarded. A silver medal was also given to
Messrs. Machair and Co., for their coating fur electric
tele.roph wires.
In the section of Mechanics gold medals were awarded
to H. Besemer for his sugar-cone press ; to C. W.
Siemens, civil engineer, for bis regenerative condenser ;
to George Heaton, for his plan for preventing oscillation
in locomotives, and to W. H. Smith, civil engineer,
fur his flexible breakwater and lighthouses. Several
sheer medals and honorary testimonials were then
awarded to parties for various inventions in mechanics
and the meeting terminated a ith a vote of thseks to the
Noble Chairman.

MEMORIAL TO THE LATE SIR R.
PEE DAY.)
A numerous meeting of the inhabitants of the West
End wes held this afternoon, in Willie' Rooms, for the
purpo,es ef promoting sonic scheme for perpetuating the
memory of the late Sir Robert Peel. Amongst the dis-
tinguished individuals present were—his Grace the
Duke of Wellington; the Earl of Aberdeen; Lord
Claud Hamilton, M.P.; Lord Btlonteegle; General Sir
Adolphus Dalrymple; Col. Thomas Wood; Hon. Charles
Herdinge; the R;get Honourable H. Corry, M.P.;
Viscount Ebr;ngton, M.P. ; W. Beckett, Esq , M P.)
Sir John Niche!, M.P.; Sir Charles Douglas, M.P.;
Lieut. Colonel Estcourt, M.P.; Mr. Eliot Lockharr,
M.P.; Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Rice Trevor, M.P.; Sir
Thomas Hastings; Lord Forester; Sir J. W. Hoge,
M.P.; Hon. E. Leseellea, M.P.; Sir Win. Verner, M.P.;
Mr. Push, M.P.; Colonel Wood; Sir Thomas Herbert;
alr. H. A. Herbert, M. Y. ; .Admiral Gordon, M.P.; Lieut.-
Colonel Gordon; Mr. Cardwell, M.P.; Lord Ashley,
M.P.; Mr. Gladstone, M.P.; Lord Wharncliffe; the Earl
of Si. Germans; Lord Ashburton; the Esrl of Ripon;
Sir James Graham, M.P.; Mr. Sydney Herbert, M.P.;
Lord Jocelyn; Mr. Clive, M.P.; Mr. Gladstone, M.P.;
and Sir George Clerk, M.P.
On the motion of the Duke of WELLINGTON, the Earl
of Aberdeen was called to the chair.
The Noble CHAIRMAN readily consented to obey the
resolution, though he could not help regretting that the
post of chairman had not been undertaken by his
Noble Friend-the Illustrious Duke, who sat near him. It
was needless for him to advert at any length to the
object which had called them together., There might,
however, be souse persons present who did not concur in
all the views which the late Sir Rhea Peel held, and
he should therefore abstain from entering into any de-
tailed review of his long political career, but confine his
remarks to the private virtues of that eminent statesman.
No one could do otherwise than but admire the tran-
scendent abilities, the untiring industry, the patriotic mo-
tives which influenced his conduct, and the spotless in-
tegrity of his public and private character. The
two Houses of Parliament had already awarded that
honour to his memory which his former patriotism en-
titled him to, and it now only remained for the inhabi-
tants of these realms ;to add something to that tribute
of respect which should induce others to emulate his
worth, and, if possible, rival his virtues.—(Cheers.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON moved the first resolution
as follows:
" That this meeting desires to express a deep sense of
the irreparable lots which this country has sustained by
the death of Sir Robert Peel, and to perpetuate by some
enduring memorial the recollection of his eminent
talents, his unremitting and laborious exertions in the
service of his country, and his exemplary private
virtues."
lle would most readily have taken the chair bad he not
been afflicted with deafness, but it atm not necessary for
him to do anything to convince the world that in Parlia-
ment he had been a warm admirer of the unrivalled
telenta of the late Sir Robert Peel.—(Cheers.) In an-
other place he had recorded his opinion of the loss
the country had sustained in his death, and it
would, therefore, be a waste of time for him to dwell now
upon that point. It would be enough for him to say
that no man more highly appreciated the merits of the
late Sir Robert Peel than he did; he had closely watched
his career, extending over more than a quarter of a century,
and he could most confidently declare that no statesman
had devoted more time, more energy, and more ability to
the service of his country than had his late lamented
friend.--(Cheers.) He heartily concurred in the object
of this meeting, and he experienced a melancholy plea-
sure in being permitted to take part in its proceedings.
Lord ASHLEY gladly seconded the resolution, and
expressed a siecere belief that this movement would
meet with the energetic sympathy of the entire people
of England.—(Cheer'.)
The resolution was put, and carried unanimously.
Lord IIAnDINGE moved the second resolution in a
brief but emphatic address. It was as follows:
" That a committee be appointed to collect subscrip-
tions, end to consider the best means of carrying the
foregoing resolution into effect, and that the committee
do consist of the following noblemen and gentlemen,
with power to add to their number:—Lord ilardinge,
Mr. Estcourt, the Duke of Wellington, Sir J. Graham,
Mr. Cardwell, and others.
Mr. ESTCOURT seconded the resolution, and took
the opportunity of condoling with the widow and family
of the lamented deceased at the affecting loss they had
sustained.
The resolution, like the former one, was carried

ncm. con.
Thanks were then voted to the Noble Chairman, on
the motion of Lord ASHBURTON, seconded by Mr.
COTTON.
The Noble CHAIR3IAN briefly returnel thanks, and
the meeting separated.