Ix Appendix. 



hands, I propose that an exhibition, under the auspices of the Eoyal 

 Society, should be held in Melbourne, and, if approved of, in this 

 hall, during the last three or four days of December next, not only 

 of colonial gems, but of all kinds of colonial works in jewellery and 

 bijouterie, so as to bring out as far as possible into one point of 

 view all that is now being done, or that may be known to have been 

 done, in this matter in Victoria. I think we might even invite the 

 neighbouring colonies to join us, and compete for such prizes and 

 distinctions as we may be able to offer for the chef oVoeuvres in each 

 department of the jeweller's art. 



That this branch of the fine arts exists among us in a most 

 vigorous condition, no one can doubt ; and it is a matter of wonder 

 that it should have been left to me to call attention to an exhibition 

 of works, seeing that we have exhibitions of pictures, poultry, dogs, 

 grain, farming implements, aye, even flowers and fruits ; and, so 

 far as I can learn, all most successful in pecuniary results, and 

 beneficial in promoting improvements in their several directions. 



Now, what I wish to-night to urge politely on the Royal Society 

 is, that such an exhibition as I propose is, in the first place, legiti- 

 mately within the scope of the Society ; and secondly, it will help 

 largely in the development of a branch of the fine arts which is an 

 established industry among us, improve the public taste by giving 

 an opportunity for observation and comparison on a scale hitherto 

 not attempted in Victoria, and encouragement by premiums and 

 honorary certificates to colonial manufactures in materials which 

 this country produces in hitherto unknown abundance. But it is 

 only by bringing together in this way vast quantities of magnificent 

 works that the general public can obtain an idea of what is done 

 and can be done in Victoria ; and it seems that only in this way can 

 the taste of the general public be improved. 



So far, however, as it concerns the Royal Society, I may easily 

 sum up a few of the leading advantages of such an exhibition. If 

 it is the function of any body to develope our natural resources, to 

 elevate public taste in the fine arts, encourage the production of 

 worthy works of art in materials supplied by the Colony, surely it 

 is pre-eminently that of our Society. Then, again, it is out of all 

 doubt that such an exhibition will be visited by a vast multitude of 

 our fellow-citizens and strangers. And out of the moderate admis- 

 sion-fee, this Society may readily derive a handsome sum towards 

 the publication of a volume of our Transactions ; and above all, and 

 before all, convince a somewhat sceptic public that we really are 

 working for the public interest, and the advancement of our own 

 taste in the fine arts, and in the development of our natural resources 

 and local manufactures ; whilst, at the same time, we render our 

 labours a source of strength to this Society. 



In conclusion, I would add, that the exhibition should embrace, 

 by way of comparison, works of the jeweller's art from other 



