THE SECRETARIES' REPORT. 
Ixi 
sadly want cleaning, and their frames regiiding \ and if we cannot 
find funds to renovate the whole at once, it will be better to have 
two or more done at a time ; but there should be as little delay as 
possible. As to the removal of casts now in the Library, which 
has been suggested by the Council, to make space for books, some 
might be placed on brackets in the stairs, others on pedestals in 
the Art Gallery, temporarily, until better situations can be found 
for them. 
" Two pictures by a late local artist, Mr. Francis Lane, for some 
years a member of this Institution, have been purchased, by sub- 
scriptions raised amongst friends, and presented to our Art Gallery. 
I have every reason to believe that this example will be followed 
by similar contributions. 
"The exhibition of Oil and Water-colour Pictures held last 
autumn, comprising the works of the Plymouth Art Club, and 
their invited friends, w r as much better than usual, and formed the 
chief attraction of the conversazione at the opening of the session. 
The number of pictures sold was greater than at any former exhi- 
bition, not only paying expenses, but handing over a portion of 
the surplus as a donation to the Institution. The exhibition of 
the Plymouth Art Club must be now looked upon as annual. 
" Great efforts will be made this year to exhibit more important 
pictures. Many suggestions have recently been made for increasing 
the contributions to the Art Gallery. Among them is one that 
must commend itself to all ; that is, that the donations hitherto 
given by the Plymouth Art Club to our Institution should in 
future be devoted to a fund for the purchase of pictures by our 
deceased local artists." 
