II 



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 Thangne, 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 pei-sonal friends, but to the public at large. 



The Autumn 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 Out woods, 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 



