(11.) From what has been said it is manifest that space is abundant; that articles not specially frail in texture may be sheltered from the inclemency of the weather; and that articles of value may be protected by the exercise of due care on the part of the owner or his representative;-and further, that in cases in which the Exhibition is worth resorting to for trade purposes, the charges for covering and protection are not a very heavy addition to the cost of transit and attendance. It may be added that the principal railways have hitherto been liberal in their dealings with the Exhibitors; and that it is a real pleasure to the officers of the Society to provide for the personal comforts of the Exhibitors as far as it is in their power to do so. SPECIAL PROVISION FOR DELICATE WORKS. (12.) The only subject which appears to require special consideration, as transcending the bounds of the Society's actual experience, is the best mode of providing for the display of artistic and other delicate works. Two special circumstances affect this department :- 1st. The security for perfect dryness and good light must be more absolute for this department than for ordinary manufactures. 2ndly. Works of art in the sense here referred to are to be expected chiefly from exhibitors whose capital is their eye, their hand, and their genius. The expense incurred for frames, for packing, and for carriage, if thrown upon the exhibitors, would be a heavy set-off against any advantage to be derived from exhibition. A broad distinction may be drawn between the case of artists exhibiting the work of their own hands, and the case of dealers exhibiting the works of others purchased with a view to sale and profit. The propriety of inviting amateurs to lend their works, or of admitting them if offered, and on what conditions, involves other questions to be separately considered. (13.) Special arrangements must be made to meet these circumstances; and after careful inquiry, I have reason to believe that they can be made. The building for the Artistic Department must be in the showyard. To hire a building in the town would be to deprive both the exhibitor and the public of nearly all the benefit which is anticipated from putting objects of beauty before the thousands of persons attracted to the showyard by the animals, the poultry, and the music. The building should be wider than 20 feet, and should be well lighted from above through glass. I think it probable that, in order to overcome the reluctance which artists would naturally feel to incur expense for such an exhibition, the Society may be able to make arrangements for receiving portfolios of mounted drawings, and to place them under glass by a very simple method at a small charge to the exhibitor or to the purchaser. I only mention these details to show that matters of this kind have not escaped notice, and will be attended to. (14.) The practical conclusion as to the terms which can be offered to exhibitors by the Society is That exhibitors of manufactured goods may select for themselves from the four following kinds of accommodation : For hanging artists' pictures, the work of the exhibitors, wall space might be assigned by the Committee. The usual course at exhibitions is to give the required space gratis, subject to a percentage on sales effected in the Exhibition. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. (15.) We may now pass on to the important question, To whom shall the execution of arrangements be intrusted, so as to ensure the confidence of exhibitors? Exhibitors of delicate works will require the security of a Committee of persons specially qualified by experience for dealing with such matters. To a well-constituted Sub-Committee the Council will probably not be unwilling to delegate sufficient power, subject to certain limits as to expenditure. Such Sub-Committee need not consist exclusively of Members of the Council. A special subscription to the new experiment, membership of the Bath and West of England Society, or professional time freely given, might be accepted as a sufficient pledge of interest in the success of the new undertaking. It is possible that a Guarantee Fund may be required to guard against the risk of too great expense; but this, I think, may be dispensed with, if full powers of admission or rejection are delegated to the Sub-Committee, and if the limits of the experiment are well defined.* (16.) Exeter presents great advantages as the place of meeting for such a Committee; its position is central with reference to Plymouth and Barnstaple, as well as to all that lies eastward; but, what is more important, several persons reside at or near Exeter who have taken an active part in promoting the progress of the Arts, as testified by the flourishing condition of the School of Art and the Graphic Society. I am enabled to state that gentlemen specially qualified by experience in Exhibitions, and publicly known to take an interest in the Arts, are prepared to give their assistance gratuitously to the Society, on the basis of the suggestions contained in this Memorandum. Sprydoncote, Exeter, Jan. 7, 1859. T. D. ACLAND, Jun. Copy of the Letter referred to in page xxxiii. DEAR SIR, I am desirous to repeat, for the information of the members of the Society of Arts generally, the statement which I made from the chair on Wednesday the 8th instant, to those who remained in the room after the interesting discussion on Mr. Halkett's paper, namely, that a large Agricultural Society (the Bath and West of England) is about to extend its Exhibitions so as to include arts and manufactures, as well as objects of agricultural interest. The Exhibition for 1858 took place at Cardiff, on special invitation from that town, which contributed 800l. towards the expenses, besides 1500l. paid at the gates in three days. The Exhibition for 1859 will take place at Barnstaple, in the heart of North Devon, in which district a local subscription of 1500l. has been raised to secure a visit from the Society. In compliance with the wishes of the Exhibitors of agricultural implements, competition for prizes in that department is to be discontinued. The meeting will take the form of a Great Western Bazaar for exhibition and sale. The regulations for such an arrangement have been submitted to a large number of the Implement Exhibitors assembled at the Smithfield Show, and they have promised to support the Barnstaple meeting by sending their best goods. The prizes for cattle and poultry remain as usual. The Society possesses a plant of waterproof shedding (on a plan invented by Mr. Jonathan Gray, and adopted for hospital tents in the Crimea) capable of covering 40,000 square feet (2000 feet run * A very important suggestion has been made by a gentleman who is prepared to exert himself in carrying it out; namely, that an "Art-Union fund" should be raised, to be dispensed in prizes, the amount of the prizes to be expended on works of art sent to the Exhibition. d of 20 feet wide), for which the Implement Exhibitors pay cheerfully 2s. per foot run (20 square feet). Arrangements will be made for more complete protection of articles exhibited, provided that Exhibitors are willing to contribute to the expense in proportion to their several requirements. The Society does not desire to make any profit by the shedding. ...... The object of the extended Exhibition is, to engraft on the rapid improvement in agricultural produce and machinery a corresponding improvement in taste, and, thereby, to extend the local demand for works of art and manufactures, whether useful or ornamental, of the highest quality and the best design. The want of a better market is acknowledged in all the Schools of Design. The Art-Union has already taken one step-we hope to take another. The retail shopkeeper is often unable-sometimes even unwilling -to step in advance of the taste of his own district. In order therefore, to try our experiment with any hope of success, we must invoke the favourable consideration of enterprising and intelligent men at a distance. Is it too much to hope that some members of the Society of Arts will be disposed to enter, as a memorandum for the end of May, 1859, "Westward, Ho!"? The show will be open from Monday, 29th May, to Friday, 3rd June, both inclusive. The Secretary is H. St. John Maule, Esq., 2, Wood-street, Bath, from whom further particulars may be obtained. I shall also be happy to give any explanation which may be required, as far as my time permits. -I am, &c., THOMAS DYKE ACLAND, JUN. To the Editor of the Journal of the Society of Arts. IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND. SECOND LETTER TO THE SOCIETY OF ARTS. Sprydoncote, Exeter, March 28, 1859. DEAR SIR,-The facts that H. R. H. the Prince Consort has become a member of the "Bath and West of England Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, founded 1777, A.D.," and that the Committee of Council on Education have made a special exception in favour of the Society, in order to allow the selection of decorative works of art from South Kensington Museum to be exhibited at the North Devon Meeting at Barnstaple, may justify me in asking you to allow me again to invite the attention of the members of the Society of Arts to the objects of that meeting. The Council of the Society, building on the steady progress of their agricultural gatherings, on the increased business done in the sale of agricultural implements, on the improved demand for education and scientific instruction, which has arisen in the West of England, and on the complete organisation and harmonious action of the Society, have opened a new department of "Arts and Manufactures" for exhibition and sale. A special fund has been raised for a moveable building, to be used next year at Dorchester; an admirable plan has been furnished by Mr. Nicholson, agricultural engineer, of Newark; and the support of the principal local dealers and manufacturers has been obtained. The idea of the Exhibition, confessedly a novel one, gains ground in public estimation. It is recognised as not only good, but practicable. The idea is this, that the summer gatherings of thousands of persons attracted by the sight of live animals, steam-ploughs, poultry, and music, may be made to minister to improvement in taste, if good and beautiful objects are placed before the visitors. The migratory meetings of the British Association for the advancement of science, of the Royal Agricultural Society, the local examinations of the Universities and of the Society of Arts, have all tended to show that the civilizing action of railways must, in order to produce full results, be centrifugal as well |