There are also several honorary members of the Royal Academy, namely, a professor of ancient literature, a professor of ancient history, a chaplain of high rank in the church, an antiquary, and a secretary for foreign correspondence; these, who are always persons of eminence in literature, are elected by the general assembly and approved by the queen.
All persons are admissible as students of the Academy. Nothing but indication of talent and a respectable character are required from them. Their names remain unknown till judgment is passed on the specimens which they send in, and when admitted they receive a gratuitous education from the beet masters. All painters, sculptors, or architects, whose works show sufficient merit, are allowed to exhibit with the Academy, and, being admitted exhibitors, they arc immediately eligible as associates.
The executive government of the Academy passes in rotation to all the academicians, and half the council retires, and is renewed annually.
The schools of drawing, painting, and modelling are open daily from ten to three and from six to eight, under the direction of the keeper and visitors. A practical course of lectures on perspective is given during the spring. The lectures on anatomy are delivered before the Christmas recess; those on painting, sculpture, and architecture aro given twice a week, from January to the end of March. The library is open three times a week.
Prizes are annually given to encourage meritorious students, and those who have gained the biennial gold medal have from time to time an opportunity of being sent abroad to study for three years at the expense of the Academy.
The library of the Academy contains all the best works on art, besides a considerable number of modern prints and a valuable collection of engravings of the Italian school from the earliest period, formed by George Cumberland, for which they paid 600/. On the death of Sir Thomas Lawrence, the Academy purchased his collection of archi tectural cubs for 2501. (although their apartments could not accom modate them) : they are at present deposited in the South Kensington Museum.
Considerably over two thousand students have been reared under the tuition and auspices of the Royal Academy, and among them are included by far the greater number of those who have distinguished themselves as painters, anti sculptors in this country.
The attention which the Royal Academy has uniformly shown to unfortunate artists in general, and the liberal aasistance they have.
bestowed to such out of their funds, should not be omitted. It appeared in evidence before a committee of the House of Commons, in 1836, that the gross sum which they had expended in pensions to dis tressed members amounted to 11,1061., and the donations to artists, not members, and their to 19,2491.; and since then, with
increased funds, the Academy has acted with still greater liberality.
With this generosity the Academy has combined a prudent degree of economy in the management of its funds, both for the purpose of providing against casualties and for the gradual improvement of the establishment. Notwithstanding the large sum they have expended in atrrying out the objects for which they were associated, the academicians have accumulated a reserve fund sufficient, as they informed the Chancellor of the Exchequer 'when the question was mooted of the removal of the Academy to Burlington House, to erect a new building more adequate to their requirements than their present apartments, provided the government would furnish the necessary site.
It will appear from what has been stated, that the Royal Academy owes its corporate existence entirely to the crown, and is neither sup.
ported nor aided by any public) funds. It has also been shown in what wanner It became entitled to accommodation in the National Gallery. Though the exertions of the Academy have been directed to a public object—the improvement of the arts—it differs in no respect from any other body incorporated for literary or scientific purposes, such IA the Astronomical Society for instance, and others, which sup port themselves by their own funds.
Accordingly when in the year 1834 the House of Commons had addressed the king, William IV., requesting him to direct the Royal Academy to furnish them with certain returns explanatory of the constitu tion of the body and its proceedings, the Academy, though protesting against the attempt to withdraw the Royal Academy from its immediate connection with the crown and to bring it under the control of the House of Commons, having first asked the permission of the king, gave the House all the information that was desired. But in 1839, when an order was made to furnish the House with similar returns in continuation, as well as with the particulars of their domestic expenditure, these returns were not made, and a petition was presented to the House, in which the position and claims of the Royal Academy were fully explained. The petition seems to have produced its effect, and the order was rescinded.
Within the last few years it has seemed on more than one occasion probable that the question of the position of the Academy, both as a private institution and with reference to the public benefit, would come under discussion in parliament, but it has been deferred. This question it does not fall within our province to consider, nor the various attacks made on its constitution and administration. It is sufficient here to have stated what these are.