REPORT. 



During the past year the Institution has pursued its course of 

 usefulness to the utmost extent which the resources and space at 

 the disposal of the Committee have enabled them to go. 



A new feature has been introduced since the date of the last 

 report, in the Exhibition of Pictures during the Autumn. The 

 cessation of the Annual Exhibitions which formerly were held in 

 the town had for a long time been a soui'ce of regret to all lovers 

 of Art. 



This Institution, in the Act of Parliamant under which it has 

 been established, is denominated "The Library, Museum, and 

 Gallery of Arts " ; and although the last object has hitherto, owing 

 to deficient means, not been caiTied out to any extent in relation 

 to modern pictorial art, yel it has never been lost sight of. 



In considering this subject, it appeared to the Committee that 

 the time had arrived when an effort ought to be made to wipe off 

 the reproach which had attached to the town for its neglect of a 

 public recognition and encouragement to the living and working 

 artists of the day. It was also thought that this could be more 

 easily carried out under Corporate sanction than by the efforts of 

 private individuals. Some risk had necessarily to be run ; but the 

 Committee were of opinion that a portion of the funds at their 

 disposal could not be better applied than in providing a guarantee 

 for any possible loss which might be sustained in making the 

 experiment. 



Happily, this has not been necessary. The success of the 

 Exhibition has been beyond their most sanguine expectations. 

 The expenses, which were necessai-ily heavy, have been defrayed, 

 leaving in hand a handsome surplus to be devoted to the purposes 

 of Ai-t. 



Four rooms were appropriated to the Exhibition, two of them 

 abstracted for a time from the Museum. It is satisfactory to state 

 that, in point of light and arrangement, the rooms were everything 

 which could be desired. 



