Among the objects of this society there is one which promises to be of extensive use to Scotland, namely. to investigate all those natural productions of the country which are connected with the useful arts and which have been most unaccountably overlooked. A systematic attempt will be made to explain the hidden treasures of our mountains and valleys, and the advan tages of such an examination cannot be more strongly pointed out than by briefly mentioning Dr. Hibbert's discovery in Shetland, of masses of chromate of iron, a rare and valuable ore, which Europe formerly im ported from North America, and which is now an article of active traffic between Shetland and the most distant countries of Europe.
Till within these few years the cultivation of the fine arts in Scotland had been left to urge its way, by the efforts of individual enterprise alone, aided by the scanty protection of a very limited individual patron age. Au attempt, however, was made early in the year 1818, to extend somewhat of national patronage to those engaged in its professional pursuits, by an association of those noblemen and gentlemen who were disposed to assist the advancement of the fine arts in this portion of the empire. Originating from the same motives which had given rise to the British Institution, and having the same patriotic and exten sive objects in view, namely, the promotion in general of art, and the consequent benefit of artists, the asso ciation was established on the 15th April 1818, with the title of " The Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland." The names of most of the principal nobility and gentlemen of Scotland were soon added to the list of members, of whom the greater part, exceeding 100 in number, became life governors, by payment into the funds of the institution of a certain amount of contri bution. And to complete its auspicious establishment his majesty graciously signified his pleasure to ho nour the institution by becoming its patron and pre sident. Very distinguished success has hitherto at tended the exertions of this establishment, conducted by a committee of eight directors, with a treasurer, honorary and assistant secretaries, and a manager. Six public exhibitions have already taken place under their auspices; two consisting of the works of ancient masters alone, and four of those of the living artists of the united kingdom. And the satisfaction expressed on these occasions by the public, together with the increasing demand for works or art, which evinces itself in the annually increasing amount of purchases effected at these exhibitions, sufficiently prove their utility. A very elegant structure, comprehending an
ample suit of galleries and accommodations for the In stitution has been lately erected in a style suitable to the extensive objects contemplated, and was opened on the 13th February 1826, on which occasion the Institution gave an elegant entertainment to the prin cipal inhabitants. Here the annual exhibitions of both classes will in future be displayed, that of the ancient school supplied by the liberality of pro prietors of these valuable works, who thus contribute an important service to their country, in affording the means of improvement and diffusion of taste; the modern pictures consist of the works of existing Bri tish artists or others resident in Britain, accompanied by a note of the prices when intended for sale. The institution has already laid the foundation of a library of works connected with the fine arts which will be progressively augmented; it is intended besides to dedicate the funds (which are already respectable) to whatever may appear most conducive to the advance ment of art, the encouragement of artists, and the necessary aid and protection to young aspirants in that study.
See our article EDINBURGH, for an account of vari ous other.societies and public institutions.
Owing to her mountainous surface, and to the na ture of her coasts, Scotland possesses many public works, which have been visited and admired by tra vellers of all nations. Many of these works are unique in point of magnitude and extent, and evince the mu nificence of the government, and the skill of our civil engineers. As these works have been fully described in other articles of this Encyclopxdia, we shall now merely refer the reader to the different heads under which they have been given.
ALTHOUGH many meteorological registers have been Although many meteorological registers have been kept in Scotland, and many observations made rela tive to the condition of its climate, yet it is by no means an easy task to give a comprehensive and satis factory view of the subject. The early meteorologi cal registers consisted of records of the temperature at hours of the day which were very unfit to give its mean temperature; and consequently the mean temperature of the year had been ascertained only in a very few places. These observers seem to have attached a particular interest to the observations of the highest and lowest temperatures, two elements which are of very little service in meteorological speculations.