Socleij/for the Improvemeni of Arts, &c. Z^h 



premiums and rewards, at their house in the Adelphi, his 

 grace the duke of Norfolk, president, took the chair ; and 

 the meeting was honoured by the presence of the baroues? 

 de Tott, count Woronzow (late ambassador from Russia), 

 the Swedish, Portuguese, and Hessian ambassadors; and 

 as many persons of distinction, and ladies of fashion and 

 beauty, were also present as the great room of the society 

 could hold, to the exclusion of many of the members, who 

 handsomely gave up their places on this occasion. At twelve 

 o'clock the chair was taken, and the business commenced 

 with an oration by Dr. Charles Taylor, rhc principal secre- 

 tary, on the patriotic views and laboursof this societysinccits 

 establishment in 1 754 ; in the course of which he noticed 

 the principal objects of public utility, which the premiums 

 and bounties, from time to time given by the society, had 

 brought to light and perfected j and entered into minute de- 

 tails on the design and objects of the premiums awarded in 

 the present session. The worthy secretary observed, that 

 the permission which the society gave in 17fiOjor the artists 

 of that day to exhibit their pictures ia the society's rooms, 

 gave rise to that noble annual exhibition, since made in the 

 Koya! Academy's apartments in Somerset-house ; and 

 he cook the opportunity of paying a just tribute of re- 

 spect to the memory of the late Mr. James Barry, the sub- 

 lime productions of whose pencil decorated the society's 

 room, and whose remains were now deposited in St. Paul's 

 cathedral, between those of sir Christopher Wren and sir 

 Joshua Keyuolds. 



After the difiercnt premiums. Sec. had been adjudged, 

 his grace rose, and, in a short speech, thanked the company 

 for their polite attention to the details of the business; and, 

 adverting to the distinguished foreigners present, concluded 

 with a handsome compliment to the attention paid by the 

 ICmpcror of Russia to the arts of peace, and particularly to 

 the talents and productions of Englishmen. 



In our next number will be found a list of the names of 

 those to whoiti medals or premiums were delivered at the 

 above atmlversary. 



IMPERIAt 



