The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-23 00:00:00

ART-UNIONS SUPPRESSED.

The Art-Union lotteries, after having been tolerated and
encouraged for eight years, have been brought to a termi-
nation by an interdict from the Attorney-General to the
Art-Union of London. The following is a copy of the
notice sent to the secretaries :

" Treasury, April 12, 1844-
" Sirs,-1 am commanded by the Lords Commissioners
of her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, that an las
tution, called the Art-Union of London, having for its
object the chance distribution of prizes of works of art,
i
has been brought under the notice of their lordships, and
that they are advised that it is illegal ; and I am also to
acquaint you, that the further continuance of the same
will render all parties engaged in it liable to prosecution.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" W. R. REYNOLDS.
" To G. Godwin and Lewis Pocock, Esirs.,
4, Trafalgar-square, Charing-cross.'
memornatureial was
The committee immediately met, and a
of
addressed to Sir R. Peel, setting forth the le the
tter
association. The memorial was accompanied by a _or,
from the honorary secretaries, asking for an interTite
Sir G. Clerk, on the part of Sir R. Peel, having appom
to receive the committee, Mr. Godwin and Mr. Pocoeir.
with several members of the committee, attended 8b
Downing- street.
Mr. G. Godwin, on the part of the committee, stated
that the Art-Union of London, since its establishment ill
1837, had distributed about £30.000, independently of the
present year's receipts, in the purchase and preparation of
works of arts. The association had correspondents not
merely throughout the United Kingdom, but in our In-
dian possessions, Nova Scotia, Hobart Town, Mexico,
and New York. The society had now been in operation
for eight years, increasing in usefulness, and the com-
mittee were confirmed in their views of its legality
by numerous facts. Her Majesty the Queen was
patron of more than one such association, and his
Royal Highness Prince Albert had very recently ex-
pressed to the Committee of the Art-Union of Lon-
don, through Mr. Eastlake, his approbation of its objects.
Among the vice-presidents of the Irish Art-Union were
several of the judges. The committee now found them-
selves with £14,000 in their hands, a large increase over
the subscription of any former year, on the very eve of
the distribution. All the elaborate arrangements conse-
quent on the largeness of the body acted for had been
made; artists had filled the exhibitions about to be opened'
and great distress and embarrassment would be the result
of their not being able to complete their present schemes:
In addition to the Art-Union of London, there were a vast
number of similar institutions throughout the countrif
upon whom the fiat of the law officers would operate simi;
larly. They prayed, therefore, earnestly that they
at least be protected in completing their existing engage-
Meats.

Sir G. Clerk said that the attention of the TreasurY
having been directed to the subject, they had submitted a
case to the Attorney and Solicitor-General, and, in their
opinion, the whole of the associations referred to were il-
legal, and it was thought due to the committee to give then%
early intimation of the fact. Sir R. Peel could not interfere
in the matter—all he could do was to inform them of the
law. He was himself a subscriber, as were many other°
connected with the Government ; still for the TreasurY to
give any sanction for further proceedings is quite out (/`
the question. The most prudent course he thought'
would be to postpone the meeting, giving the subscriber.s
notice to that effect, and suspend proceedings until tt
could be ascertained whether the Legislature would 10°-
feet that and similar societies.
The deputation then withdrew.
The committee have thought it lesirable to postpone
the general meeting; at the same time they assure the
subscribers that their interests will not be allowed t°
suffer.