§ Mr. Humethen rose to move
An humble Address to Her Majesty, That, as Patroness and Comptroller of the Royal Academy of Arts, She will be graciously pleased to take into consideration the Laws and Regulations of that Institution, with a view of rendering it more conducive to the advancement of the Fine Arts, better suited to the spirit and circumstances of the present age, and more consonant with the original intention of its Royal Founder, George the Third.The hon. Member said, that the Royal Academy, which was instituted by George III. with a view of promoting the Fine Arts in this country, had become a complete monopoly, and was in fact an impediment rather than an aid to the progress of the arts. He hoped, therefore, that the House would sanction this Motion, with a view of introducing such reforms into the Institution as might be deemed necessary. The Royal Academy was founded by George III. in 1769, in order to promote the interests of artists generally; but it had, in the progress of time, become a self-elected monopolizing body. According to the original rules, it was required that there should be an annual exhibition of painting and sculpture, at which all artists of distinguished merit should be allowed to exhibit their works, such exhibition to be open to the public for six weeks or longer, under the regulations set forth in the bye-laws. It was evidently intended that this exhibition should be open to the public free of charge; for, according to one of the rules, if any expense was incurred beyond what could be defrayed from the annual subscriptions, it should be provided for from the King's Privy Purse. At a subsequent period, however the Academicians required the payment of admission-money, on the ground that this regulation was necessary to prevent the rooms from being filled with improper persons; and they had realized a large sum of money by these payments—to the amount, he believed, of upwards of 80,000l. The hon. Gentleman was proceeding to argue, that it was most desirable the public should have free admission to such exhibitions as that of the Royal Academy, whenThe House was counted out, and adjourned at a quarter before eight o'clock.