11 
under farther obligation by increasing the number to one hundred 
and thirty pictures for the Summer Exhibition. This admirably selected 
collection of works of art has been an immense attraction, and is to 
remain in the Gallery until the close of the year. The warmest thanks 
of the Committee and of the Council are due to Mr. Cotes, and also 
to the Corporation of Oldham, who lent to the Gallery for the Spring 
Exhibition their grand picture, “The Last Farrow,” by Mr. H. H. 
La Thangue, A.R.A. The Summer Exhibition was completed by a 
collection of pastels and black and white drawings executed by the 
late Mr. Arthur J. Cox, of Derby, which were a source of interest 
not only to his many personal friends, but to the public at large. 
The Antumn Exhibition now open has been well attended up to 
the present. In view of the fact of Mr. Cotes’s pictures remaining, 
it was decided to invite artists to contribute water colours only, and 
a very good collection is the result. The Art Union, usually held 
in December, is to be omitted this year. 
The four cases belonging to the authorities of the South 
Kensington Museum had their contents changed at the usual 
time, and such objects as are likely to be most useful to art 
students and to the art industries of the town have again been lent. 
The Museum officials have always shown themselves most anxious to 
meet the wishes of the Committee as to the class of objects sent. 
Mr. W. T. Key, who has almost invariably had charge of the annual 
change, has recently retired from the service, and the Committee 
cannot but regret the severance of a connection which has always 
been a most pleasant one, and hope that Mr. Key will enjoy for many 
years his well-earned leisure. A most interesting case of art objects 
is now on loan from Mr. Councillor Arthur Wilson, to whom the 
thanks of the Committee are due for this proof of his interest in the 
welfare of the Gallery. 
Early in the year, the Committee received the welcome intel- 
ligence that Colonel Sale, R.E., intended to bequeath a portion of his 
splendid collection of pictures to the Gallery; and later, Colonel 
Noel, of the Outwoods, has announced his intention of giving 
some valuable antique tiles. Mr. Councillor Winter has presented a 
series of photographic portraits of the County and Borough 
Magistrates holding office at the time of Her Majesty’s Diamond 
Jubilee, in 1897—very interesting now, and likely to become more 
