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copies, upon a variety of interesting subjects. That this proposition may be 

 attended with success one so eminently calculated to cause the institution to 

 be regarded as a centre, attracting to it feelings of attachment and good-will 

 on the part of all our fellow-countrymen the Trustees permit themselves to 

 expect. 



The Trustees rejoice to be able to say, also, that within the last year they 

 have been enabled to extend their operations, by commencing the establishment 

 of the Museum, and enlisting an auxiliary element of refinement. 



The sum of 2,000, voted by Parliament for that purpose, has been 

 remitted to England, for the purchase of Casts of some of the choicest Statues, 

 Busts, and Alti-relievi, by the most celebrated sculptors ; of Coins, Medals, and 

 gems the useful handmaidens of history as well as of decorative adornment 

 and representations of remarkable Architectural Objects of Europe and elsewhere, 

 taken by the process of photography. These, when received, will be placed in 

 the hall and chambers on the ground-floor. 



In this department it is proposed to adopt the plan of illustrating the 

 historic development of Art. Commencing with a few of the most striking 

 productions of Nineveh, Egypt, and Etruria ; to proceed through the Grecian 

 schools, and those of the early mediaeval, and later Italian eras, to modern 

 times ; and to obtain from each of the European studios examples of distinguished 

 merit. 



The Trustees hope that they may be able to trace the outline of a scheme 

 of public instruction to be filled up at a future time valuable in many ways, 

 by which the chief epochs of mental pre-eminence may be strongly marked ; 

 the relative and distinctive modifications of thought, power of conception 

 and demonstration, peculiarities of manner of treatment so illustrative of 

 the economy of internal domestic life as well as excellence of execution, may 

 be displayed, whereby a new stimulus may be given to intellectual culture, 

 to the general elevation of taste, and to the full appreciation of the pure, the 

 beautiful, and the true. 



This brief retrospect suffices to show to your Excellency, the degree in 

 which the advantages offered by this institution have won their way in public 

 estimation. 



It proves, moreover, incontrovertibly that our fellow-citizens are not so 

 wholly engrossed by the occupations incident to the attainment of material 

 wealth, as to remain insensible to such refined indulgence as the prudence of 

 our rulers has placed within reach, or slow to avail themselves of the increasing 

 facilities for such enjoyment. 



The perfect order which has on all occasions reigned within these walls, 

 the readiness invariably shown to conform to the few and simple rules necessarily 

 l.nposed by the Trustees, the respect shown to the valuable property committed 

 to their care, the sympathy uniformly exhibited by your Excellency and your 

 predecessors, the assistance given by the Ministry, and the generous liberality 

 of Parliament, sustain and encourage the Trustees in their efforts to make this 



