414 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
wrote to Cook. ‘The drawing referred to is a panoramic view of 
Plymouth, taken, I think, from Mount Batten. A still finer work 
of Cook’s, an evening effect at Polperro, is also the property of 
Lord Selborne. 
It has already been said that two features in Cook’s life deserved 
especial mention. I have referred to one of them; namely, his 
recular out-door studies from Nature, which served to keep his eye 
familiar with colour, form, and effect, and, having a good memory, 
these studies from Nature contributed much to the truthfulness of 
his representations. 
The second noteworthy feature in Cook’s life was his place in 
the Plymouth Society of Artists and Amateurs—a society which 
originally existed long before Cook came to Plymouth. I remember 
as a young boy in about the year 1830 this society existed, and as 
a mere child was allowed to look on at several gentlemen collected 
together of an evening, all making drawings. Amongst these were 
Col. H. Smith, Wm. Jacobson, Mr. Ball, George Wightwick, A. B. 
Johns, a Mr. Scanlan, Mr. Holmes, a drawing-master, Mr. J. L. 
Colley, Mr. Norman, the banker, and an art connoisseur of Devon- 
port—who had a fine gallery of old masters—Mr. C. C. Whiteford, 
and my father. Of these, all have passed away except Mr. Colley 
and Mr. Whiteford. The little society for some unexplained cause 
died out, and a considerable interval elapsed, when, about the 
year 1848 (by which time Plymouth had acquired several new 
artists, who were residents, including Cook, Opie, Talfourd, Mitchell, 
Penson, Lane, Luscombe, Giles, Williams, and others) Col. Smith 
and Mr. Johns, with some others of the survivors of the old society, 
set to work to reconstitute it, and did me the honour to ask me to 
act as Honorary Secretary. The new society was accordingly formed, 
and for about ten years was well maintained, both by artists and 
amateurs. We met at each others’ houses once a fortnight, and the 
rule was for everyone to make a drawing and leave it at the house 
of the member where it was made. We drew from eight till ten, 
and then had supper and much artistic gossip till about twelve, 
The genial fraternity of this little society can only be understood 
and appreciated by those who at the time belonged to it. Need I 
say that Cook was the facile princeps of our club? that he was the 
one of all others, whether artists, amateurs, or visitors, that we all 
looked up to as the ruling spirit and genius of our party + Consider- 
ing his delicate health Cook was very regular in his attendance on 
