SOCIETY for the encouragement of arts, manufactures, and commerce. The public spirit of this age is nowhere more remarkably shewn, than in the flourishing condition of this valuable society, whose object is the improvement of the polite, useful, and commercial arts, in all their various branches, by exciting industry and emulation among all who can be stimulated by honorary or pecuniary rewards. It was set on foot in the year 1753, by the Lord Folkestone, Lord Romney, Dr. Hales, and seven or eight private gentlemen, who were brought together by the unwearied pains of Mr. William Shipley, who had long laboured to reduce into practice a scheme he had formed for this purpose. This society, at their second meeting, determined to make a beginning, by proposing rewards for the discovery of cobalt, for the encouragement of boys and girls in the art of drawing, and for the planting of madder in this kingdom. And now money being wanted, a voluntary subscription was begun; soon after which a plan was drawn up for forming, regulating, and governing the society: and now the utility of such a society became so well understood, that immediately several noblemen and gentlemen offered themselves as members; and ever since that time, its increase has been so extraordinary, that it consists of several thousand members, among whom are most of the nobility, and persons of large fortunes in the kingdom. The officers of this society are, a president, eight vice-presidents, a register, a secretary, and an assistant-secretary, who are all chosen by ballot annually on the first Tuesday in March. Every person desiring to be a member of this society must be proposed by three members: his name, addition, and place of abode, being read aloud by the secretary, he is balloted for at the next meeting: he shall be deemed a perpetual member upon payment of twenty guineas, or a subscribing member upon payment of any sum not less than
than two guineas annually. Ladies are also admitted members, and foreigners are likewise admitted as honorary or corresponding members. The money of the society is placed in the bank of England, in the name of the president and vice-presidents, three of whom are empowered to draw any sum the society shall order to be paid. The society's office is opposite to Beauford buildings in the Strand, in London, where their meetings are held every Wednesday evening, from the second Wednesday in November, to the last Wednesday in May, and at other times every first and third Wednesday of every month.