Evening star., 1940-05-12
ence, thus contributing to the cultu
raj life of the city

ence, thus contributing to the cultu-
raj life Of the city
Society's Inception.
In 1854. the year when the fourth
intercolonial or French and Indian
War began In the American Colonies,
and 1t. Col. George Washington, a
22-year-old officer in the King S
forces, experienced his first real
battle, a little group of gentlemen
in London formed the Royal Society
for the Encouragement of Arts,
Manufactures and Commerce. It had
its inception the year before, when
William Shipley, Northampton
| drawing master, endeavored to raise
fund by subscription. TO be dis
tributed in premiums for the pro-
motion OF improvements in the
liberal arts and sciences. manu-
factures, ETC." In eight years men,
bership grew to more than $500.
| Among those who signed the first
subscription book were Horace WAL
pole, Allan Ramsay, Thomas Chip
pendale, Joshua REYNOLDS, Samuel
Richardson, Robert Give, Edward
Gibbon, Robert Adam William Ho-
garth and Samuel johnson. Edmund
Burke. David Garrick, Oliver Gold
smith and James Boswell also were
Eearly members.
The amazing variety of the new
society's activities explain its great
influence and growth, and undoubt-
edly, its present survival after 1876
years. Agriculture was Great Brit
aims most important industry in
the 18th century and hence was the
society's chief concern. New plants
were introduced, methods were i'm
proved In numerous ways.
In the 18th century and later
wood was of primary Importance
for fuel, shipbuilding and other uses
in which it is now secondary. Great
Britain was suffering an acute short
age, until the Royal Society Of Arts
made forest extension one OF its
aims. with the result that more than
SO, ,000, 900 new trees were planted
and the crisis was averted. Some OF
the lovely woods in England today
are the fruits of this forest project.
Colonies Quicken Interest.
The North American Colonies,
Great Britain's most important in
the 18th century, also quickened the
society's interest to the extent of
its establishment of the committee
mentioned earlier, Of which Benja-
min Franklin was chairman, and
did much to extend its activities in
the American Colonies.
Capt. Bligh and his mutinous crew
on the Bounty are known to every
American who reads books or
patronizes the movies. But few If
any of them know that this exciting
voyage came about because the
Royal Society of Arts offered prize
for the successful transplanting of
breadfruit trees in the West Indies.
The Bounty was on the way to coll
lect such trees in the South Sea
Islands and bring them back to the
Indies. Bligh succeeded in accom-
plishing this feat on a second voy-
age, and In another ship (the Provi-
dence) and received the Royal So
ciety's gold medal.
The society's encouragement of art
began at its first meeting. at which
1t was recognized that "the art OF
drawing is absolutely necessary in
many employments, trades and man
ufactures." On its prize lists are to
be found the names Of many subse-
quently famous artists, including
| three presidents of the Royal Acad-
emy. During the society's first 100
years, approximately 5000 awards
were made, the majority Of them
comprising money which was OF