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The Art Union in connection with the last Autumn Exhibition 
was a great success, realising £110, against £88 16s. last year. The 
Committee intend having an Art Union again this year. 
The Spring Exhibition was one of exceptional merit, as a few 
attractive pictures by prominent London artists were again added to 
the usual local exhibits. The President and Council of the Royal 
Academy lent Professor Herkomer’s picture of the ‘Chapel of the 
Charterhouse,” which was a very great attraction. 
The Summer Exhibition consisted of works in black and white. 
Beside those coming direct from the artists, the Committee were 
indebted to the following gentlemen for valuable contributions :-—The 
Proprietors of the Graphic and Art Journal, Messrs. Boussod, Valadon, 
& Co., Messrs. Cassell & Co., Messrs. H. Graves & Co., and Mr. J. P. 
Mendoza. ‘These loans were locally supplemented by pictures kindly lent 
by Messrs. A. O. Deacon, H. Gregory, G. Holme, Jun., F. J. Robinson, 
and W. W. Winter. The result was a very attractive Exhibition. 
The Autumn Exhibition now on view was opened on September 
15th. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Councillor Heathcote, J.P.) gave the 
customary Conversazione on October 29th, when about six hundred guests 
assembled. The gathering was a most successful one, and the Com- 
mittee’s best thanks are due to the Mayor for the kindly interest taken 
in the Institution. The present Exhibition already outstrips all its 
predecessors in the numbers visiting it, over 7,000 having already 
passed the turnstiles. 
The objects on loan from South Kensington were changed in 
December last. The Museum authorities showed, as usual, their ready 
inclination to meet the wishes of the Committee as to the class of 
objects sent, and beside a case of beautiful electrotypes, have sent 
woodcarvings, wrought iron work, Oriental tiles, and specimens of lace. 
These have all been of great value, and have been made the fullest 
use of by the students of the School of Art and others for copying 
purposes. 
The fifth annual series of Saturday Evening Concerts consisted of 
15 concerts only, but these were well attended, and created the usual 
interest. 2369 persons attended, who paid £29 6s. 3d. for admission. 
The expense attending the concerts was £13 13s. 6d., so that they 
yielded a profit of £15 12s. 9d. The Curator, and all those ladies 
and gentlemen who so kindly assisted him in organising and carrying 
these pleasant evenings to a successful issue, deserve the hest thanks 
of the Committee. 
