To the Council of the City and County 

 of Bristol. 



IReport of tbe Committee, 



|N looking back upon the twelve years that have 

 elapsed since the Museum Committee was first 

 appointed by the Council, the feeling is irresistible that 

 the past year has been the most important of them all. 

 By the establishment of the Art Gallery in connection 

 with the Museum, the hopes and dreams of many were 

 more than realised, because it could not at one time have 

 been anticipated that so beautiful a structure would be 

 provided for the purpose, by one of Bristol's citizens. 

 Judging by the immediate results of the opening of the 

 Gallery, popular estimation was at once assured, and if 

 the establishment of this institution may be likened to 

 the planting of a tree, it may be concluded that this is 

 a tree that will strike its roots deep into our Municipal 

 life, and will spread its beneficent branches over a new 

 and wide field. Not only have enormous numbers of 

 persons been attracted to what has been provided for 

 them, but those who have been at the pains to observe 

 the character of those who have come and gone, are 

 quite satisfied that all classes of the community have 

 been both pleased and benefited. This will, perhaps, be 

 the most gratifying result to the generous donor of the 

 building, and to the Council, as it certainly has been to 

 the Committee. Mingled with this gratification there 



