The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-19
Virginia HI.sovicai Society.

ITS ATTRACTIVE EXHIBIT in THEIR ROOMS !,
| THE wEsTMOHELASD. CLUB H0Usg-ITs VAL
UABLE COLLECTIONS or BOOKS. PORTRAITS
&J.-wITHOUT frxD OR INCOME-ACTIvI
MEMBERSHIP ANT sUsrHNANcE-A PAPzI
| UPON The SURRENDER OF LoEp CORNWALL
LIS AT YORKTOWN r. 1881 TO BE READ BY
JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, ESQ.
A meeting Of the Executive Committee oI
the Virginia Historical Society was held
Friday evening at their rooms In the West.
moreland.Club house-present Messrs.
Curry. Henry, CabelI, or. Barney, and
Brock. DIR. Curry was called to the chssf
and Mr.. Brock requested to act as recording
secretary IN the absence OF that officer, Ma.
ior Barksdale.
Letters were read from vaYious friends
and members OF The Society. among them
one from John Austin Stevens, ESQ.,. The
learned editor OF the Magazine of American
History, New York city. kindly Offering to
read paper before The Society on the sur
render OF Lord Cornwaliis at Yorktown in
1881, which was thankfully accepted; and
1t was resolved that be be requested to
read the paper at such time as may be con-
venient TO himself" which will probably be
at some time during the ensuing January OF
February. A large number OF gifts OF
books, relics, autograph letters, &C., were
reported. Bills for the expenses incurred
In furnishing the new rooms OF the Society,
for the reparalion Of portraits, &C., land in
elusive Of $50 appropriated at the meeting
In June last towards the erection OF memo
rial window to Sir Woiter Raleigh in West
minister Abbey,) amounting to S599.96,
were ordered TO be paid. Additional in
surance OF $4,000 on the portraits belonging
TO the Society was also authorized. The
accommodations OF the Society are now
more ample than any hitherto vouchsafed II
during an existence OF forty-six years, and
its collections are more attractlyely dis
played than at any time 10 the past In Its
noble library OF quite 10000 volumes, as
semblage Of portraits OF distinguished per-
sonages, manuscripts, relics, DC. Surely
now, when the exhibit is an honor and an
ornament 10 the city, our people-Dot only
of Richmond, but OF the State at large
will come TO its assistance, and enable II
to the proper exercise OF its highly-im-
portant and most useful functions. Tan
gble pecuniary assistance-nOt mere
words OF admiration or commendatiOD-
| is imperatiyely essential to its vitality.
IL Is now without fund or income. The So
ciety veriiably appears TO be more valued
every NWHeGt tINt, EuIOpc lDCiuuCu, tuau az
home in this State. Those with ample
means could not more worthly or appro.
prafely bestow their benefactions, and
from the nearly two hundred members
borne upon the rolls OF the Society re-
sumption OF the payment Of the annual
subscription of So due by them is expected
as well rs their active efforts in securing ad
ditional membership, patronage, and gifts
Duly aided. he Society will at once pro-
ceed to quarterly and yearlt publications oi
valuable historical matter and important
documents; but this it cannot do without
means. The question Is, "Sball il continue
to be a by-word Of derisiOn and reproach ir
its inefectiveness It's corporaPs guart
Of officers have stood s:eadfaStly by the So
Getty thus far, not only tbanklessiy, but un
der discouraging fire 0! criticism from tb'
many who were willing to extend nothing
ese--as unworthy as it was unjust
Mr.. Edward Y. Valentine was elected ;
member OF the Executive Committee tic
Hon. William Green, LII. D.. deceased
Hon. A. j. Beresford-Hope an honorary
member, Henry b. Dawson, Esq, a CORE
spending member, and Captain X. X. Car
ter, Of Shirley, an annual member OF th
Society.
The following nominations were made
For corresponding member, Rev. Beaye
II. Blacker, Nj. A., Stroud. Gl0ucestersbire
England; for annual members, Messrs. Ed
ward Cohen, Morrell Bruce, and Alexande
II. Sands.
The next meeting OF the Society wa
fixed for the first Friday evening in Feb
ruary, 1891, and it was determined that th
meetings be held regularly hereafter at sue
stated period IN each month.
Adjourned.