ROYAL INSTITUTION AND SOCIETY OF ARTS. 669 



imports as were capable of discovery, manufacture, and culture, at 

 home. 



Cobalt was discovered in Cornwall ; buff leather and its manufact. 

 ure improved ; copper and brass vessels were tinned ; and hemp, flax, 

 and madder, were cultivated for the use of our manufacturers. "Saw-- 

 mills were built; our fish-supply improved; and the curing offish 

 encouraged. Upon the fish-trade alone the Society expended many 

 thousands of pounds, and succeeded in establishing a regular supply 

 to the London markets." 



During the greater part of its career the Society thus addressed 

 itself to the task of fostering the useful arts. One condition, how- 

 ever, was, in the early days of the Society, rigidly insisted uoon. The 

 inventor who sought to obtain recognition of his discovery was obliged 

 to forego the idea of patenting his work. What was given to the 

 world by the assistance of the Society of Arts was to be given freely 

 and openly for the benefit of all. Although this principle would find 

 many and eloquent advocates at the present day, a period intervened 

 during which it was found necessary to make concessions to patentees. 

 The introduction of steam as a motive power led to a sudden and 

 immense development of mechanical ingenuity, and swelled the pros- 

 pective reward of a successful inventor to such large proportions that 

 it was no longer probable that men would work for honor and glory 

 alone. Eventually patentees were permitted to read papers before the 

 Society of Arts, which, during the greater part of a century, continued 

 to take an active interest in advancing the interests of science, and in 

 afiordimr aid and countenance to the other societies of less catholic 

 tendencies, which sprang rapidly into existence. As has been already 

 pointed out, the Royal Academy in its youth owed much to the Society 

 of Arts ; and it is worthy of note that, not only was the first exhibition 

 of the works of rival artists held in the Society's rooms, but the first 

 collection of photographs exhibited there in 1853. The Society still 

 maintains a liberal tone, and is generous enough to grant the use of 

 its handsome room to many societies for the purpose of holding their 

 various meetings. 



If the Society in the Adelphi merit a place of honor as a promoter 

 of other societies, still more does it demand notice as the mother of 

 exhibitions. Its exhibitional maternity was shown in this wise : In 

 the year 1841 the Society of Arts, like many other originally active 

 bodies, had shown signs of falling into decrepitude. For many of the 

 purposes for which it was originally established, its office had been 

 filled by other institutions, which, being less expansive in their views, 

 appeared likely to act toward the mother-society like young ducks 

 hatched by a barn-door hen, and to take to the stream of the future 

 without consulting the feelings of their foster-parent. The Society 

 was obviously falling into the sere and yellow leaf, and it was clear 

 that something had to be done to rejuvenate it. A committee was 



