n 



Your Council are precluded, by obvious considerations, 

 giving any expression of their opinion, or pf the scntiment3 

 of the Society at large, in reference to the ability displayed 

 by the lectures of its own members. They may be allowed^ 

 how.ever, to indulge the cpnfident hope, that they have pro- 

 duced an impression on the public mind in every respect 

 favourable to the growing reputation of the institution. 



In the course of the present month, (May,) seven 

 lectures on the Arts of Design have been delivered to your 

 Society, by Mr. E. V. Rippingille, of Bristol, a gentleman 

 .who has attained considerable eminence by his graphic pro- 

 ductions. Though a subject not strictly included in the 

 objects of your institution, it was conceived that a series of 

 lectures on Painting, an art, which forms at once the surest 

 test of the progress of civilization in past ages, and the best 

 illustration of modem refinement, was on every account suit- 

 able to a Society, which should account nothing foreign from 

 its design connected with the amelioration of taste, or the 

 progress of intellect. They rejoice, however, that the bril- 

 liant success of another institution, formed especially for the 

 promotion of the Fine Arts, leaves them nothing to hope 

 for in lihese respects, but to express their ardent wishes that 

 the Northern Society, whose establishment forms one of the 

 brightest eras in the intellectual history pf Leeds, may long 

 pursue its useful and honourable career, and prove a spurce 

 of the most refined pleasure, as it is a monument of the most 

 .enlightened taste. 



In consequence pf a Resolution, imanimously carried ^t 

 a special General Meeting, in the course of the preceding 

 Session, convened in compliance with the solicitation of tl^^ 

 friends of the Mechanics' Institute, at th^t time npt fully 

 matured and organized, the Hall of your Society has been in 

 weekly requisition by the lecturers of th^t excellent es^b- 

 iishment, whose unanticipated measure of success must afford 

 genuine satisfaction to every member of your institution. 

 You will reflect with pleasure that you have had an opjppr- 



