When we recollect, that from the time of Henry VIII. learning began to be more generally diffused throughout all ranks of people, and that Leland, Stowe, Camden, Dugdale, Speed, Sir Robert Cotton, and many other eminent antiquarians, used every endeavour to rouse their country men into a relish for their pursuits, a may be readily supposed that attempts were made to form a society, which might more effectually promote individual views; that such attempts occurred we have suffi cient evidence, but that some adverse cause existed to prevent their fruition equal proof exists, in the fact, that the society did not receive the royal sanction till 1751, when George II. granted the infant association a charter of incorpora tion, dated November 2, in the above year : this instrument declared the monarch to be the founder and patron of the society, which is enabled to receive and hold in perpetuity any antiquities, books, ma nuscripts, &c. and lands, tenements, and hereditaments, not exceeding the yearly value of one thousand pounds, which the generosity of individuals may prompt them to bestow on the members collectively ; or the society may purchase property of the same description, to the same amount, without license of aliena tion in mortmain.
The government of the society consists of twenty-one persons, of whom one is constituted a president; and the first so honoured was the celebrated Martin Folkes, Esq. who held that office till the 23d of April, the day appointed for all subsequent elections, which the charter declares shall be annual. The first coun cil under the act of incorporation contain ed the names of Viscount Fitzwilliam, Lord Willoughby of Parham, James West, Esq. Mr. Gale, Mr. Wray, Dr. Browne Willis, Dr. Rawlinson, and Arries, and Vertue, names that reflected honour on the nation, and were well calculated to confirm the credit and stability of the so ciety, which the King ordained should be composedof me nof acknowledged abilities judging from the following excellent cri terion of their pretensions; "by how much any person shall be more excelling in the knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other nations ; by how much the more they are desirous to promote the honour, business, and emoluments of this society ; and by how much the more emi nent they shall be for piety, virtue, inte grity, and loyalty ; by so much the more fit and worthy shall such person be judged of being elected and admitted into the said society." Their transactions, as a body, are under the control of an elective director, who superintends the progress of intended works, of which the society have publish ed fifteen quarto volumes, under the title Archeologia, illustrated with engravings, three of Vetusta Monuments, and a very oonsiderable number of separate prints, and particularly of elevations of cathe drals.
The general meetings of the society are held on every Thursday evening, between the months of November and July, and im mediately before the sitting of the Royal Society, whose apartments are separated by an anti-room, common to both, from those belonging to the Antiquarians in So merset House ; in the left wing of which the latter have an excellent library, open to the fellows from ten till four o'clock every day, who have the further privilege of borrowing books for any time not ex ceeding a month, by a written application at a general meeting, or to the secretary during the recess.
Similar to the proceedings of the Royal Society, all communications must be made to the secretary, who reads those thought to possess sufficient merit, and in the same manner exhibits fragments of anti quity and drawings, all which are heard and examined in profound silence.
Socirri for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture*, and Commerce. This insti tution originated from the truly patriotic views of several worthy members of the community, who were sensible that re wards from a society formed of the noble, the rich, and the learned, were better cal culated to produce emulation in every de partment of the pursuits mentioned in the title of it, than the mere prospect of advan tage to be derived from the employment of individuals. The idea seems to have met the approbation of the public, and a very short time elapsed, ere sufficient sums of money were procured to set this useful and respectable body in motion : we now find them fixed in a superb man sion, part of the Adelphi Buildings, splen didly adorned with paintings presented by the late Mr. Barry, the work of his own pencil, and surrounded by numerous mo dels of articles, which render their inven tors memorable, and their patrons more honourable members of society than the most adventurous military heroes of an cient or modern times.
Subscriptions for life, and by the year, and some other resources, supply the wants of th e institution, which are confined to the actual expenses of their hall, their officers and servants, and the rewards honorary and pecimiary. In explaining their motives, they say their object is to promote the arts, manufactures, and com merce of this kingdom, by giving rewards for all such useful inventions, discoveries, or improvements as tend to that purpose; and in pursuance of this plan, the society has already expended between forty and fifty thousand pounds, advanced by the voluntary subscription of their members, and legacies bequeathed. The manner in which the above vast sum has been distributed is most honourably explain ed, by the secretary and other officers, at the hall ; and the register, exhibited at the same time, will show the very great advantages which the public derives from the institution. The meetings of the so ciety are held every Wednesday, at seven o'clock in the evening, from October to June, and the various committees on other evenings during the session. Each member has the privilege, on any weekly meeting, of proposing a candidate for ad mission, provided three members sign the written instrument prescribed for that purpose. Peers of the realm, or lords of parliament, are ballotted for immediately upon being proposed; but the names of all others must be inserted in a list which the secretary suspends in the meeting room ; the person is then ballotted for, and if two-thirds of the members present vote in his favour, he becomes a perpetual member on paying twenty guineas, or a subscribing member upon payment of any sum amounting to not less than two gui neas per annum. Every member is ad mitted to participate in all the transac tions of the society, and may attend and vote at the several committees ; besides which, he has the privilege, at the weekly meetings. of proposing two persons as au ditors of general accounts, and, by ad dressing a note to the registrar, of introdu cing his friend to examine the numerous models, machines, and productions, in different branches of arts, manufactures and commerce, for which rewards have been bestowed ; and to inspect the mag nificent series of moral and historical paintings, so happily contrived and com pleted by James Barry, Esq. which with some valuable busts and statues, decorate the great room. He has also the use of a valuable library, and is entitled to the annual volume of the Society's Transac tions.