feeling, to subdue the prejudices of those who are either hostile or indifferent to the arts of their country.

After the oration, some of the most distinguished members of the Society of Artists were admitted to fellowships, in the academy, and received their diplomas from the hands of George Clymer, esquire; the President. This ceremony was witnessed with much satisfaction, not only because it exhibited the Academy as already the patroness of native genius, but because it presented thus conspicuously to public notice, so many of our meritorious artists.*

Our anxiety to extend the reputation of the academy, has induced us to trespass on our usual limits, by inserting the whole of this eloquent oration. We have been moreover enabled to embellish it with an elegant engraving of the present tomb of WASHINGTON, which the pathetic description of the orator will compel every American to view, with a mingled feeling, of pride for the country which produced such a man, and shame for the thankless nation which leaves him to such a tomb.

On the various subjects touched by Mr. Hopkinson, we forbear to dilate, because the discourse itself will fully reward the public curiosity: but, we can omit no opportunity

* The names of the gentlemen on whom this honour was conferred are: Wm. Rush, Thomas Sully, James Peale, Geo. Murray, Benjamin Tanner, John Vallance, Edward Miles, John I Barralet, Moritz Furst, D. A. Volozan, Thos. Birch, Robt. Miles, Alex. Lawson, Cornelius Tiebout, David Edwin, John Dorsey, John Reisch, B. H. Latrobe, Washington, G. Jairman, A. Anderson, N. York, W. S. Leney, NewYork.

of commending, with enthusiasm, the liberal purposes of this institution; and of impressing on the country, at large, that the cultivation of the arts has far higher objects than the mere indulgence of personal vanity. These should, indeed, be among the first to share the national munificence, since they are always the best and brightest honours of a free people. But to a young nation, at that dangerous age, when the passions are seduced, by recent wealth, over the limits of former temperance, when luxury is added to comfort, and convenience ripening into elegance, at such a moment, it is of fearful importance to fix the wavering taste of the people to wean the misguided passions from habits of low expense, or mean indulgence, to the more liberal and generous pursuits of letters and the arts. If we regard merely individual hap piness, these sister studies are the purest sources of enjoyment: they calm the turbulence of political disscussions ; like the air we breathe, their influence reaches every object that can contribute to our comfort or satisfaction, till their diffusive light sheds over national manners, a softened beauty, which, like the mellow colouring of the painter, forms no feature of the landscape, but is the charm of the whole. If we seek the glory of the nation, these pursuits will again present us with the most brilliant objects of ambition; they strengthen the infancy of a nation, because they purify its morals; they give lustre to its maturity; they enliven its decay; and cheer even its ruins with the proud vestiges of ancient renown. Are we, then, too young to cultivate the arts, and is it true that their fastidious visits are reserved for the latest stage of refinement? Yet, while some of the richest countries of Europe possess scarcely a single artist, our riper age seems already anticipated by the number and the excel

lence of the American painters. Are we too poor? The answer may be seen in the growing prosperity which surrounds us, and the expensive habits which have excited the alarms of more timid moralists. Are our numbers too few? But in the brightest æra of the arts, in those days from which we have received the models whose very fragments excite at once the admiration and the despair of posterity, the free population of Athens did not probably exceed, if it even equalled that of Philadelphia. We are unjust in thus imputing to ourselves these imaginary deficiences. The genius and the materials are abundantly spread throughout our country: : they languish only for want of taste, and spirit, and patronage. But the progress of the Academy is a most auspicious omen that we shall soon cease to merit these reproaches; and we again repeat our obligations to that institution, for its zealous labors to diffuse a spirit for the arts, and the liberality with which it fosters the exertions of American artists.

ANNUAL DISCOURSE.

MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS.

ONE of the articles of our association, pursuing the plan of other similar societies, directs that a discourse shall be annually delivered, on some subject connected with the views of the institution.

Owing to the difficulties and embarrassments which always oppose the establishment of any institution, especially when it is so entirely new, the Directors have heretofore been obliged to give all their attention to fixing the foundations of the Academy, and arranging those parts which are essentially necessary to its existence. Those ornaments which are to decorate the superstructure and invite the observation of the public, as well as many of the uses finally to proceed from it, were necessarily postponed.

After five years of experiment, not, indeed, without much laborious effort and occasional despondency, the directors have infinite satisfaction, mingled with some pride, in being able to say to those gentlemen by whose liberality this house of the arts; this school of our native genius, has been erected and sustained, that the "PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS" may now be considered as completely formed and established; about to unfold the important uses for which it was designed, and beginning already to add some bright beams of lustre to the reputation our city has always enjoyed in the support of liberal and public institutions.

We now begin to find ourselves sufficiently at leisure to look to those parts of the scheme which are calculated to give character to the undertaking and extend its utility. Among the most important of these is the establishment of schools for the improvement of young artists; the devising of inducements to excite a laudable emulation amongst them, by encouraging and stimulating superiour merit with honours and rewards. All this, at least in a degree, will speedily be done. Large and commodious additions have been made to our building, which now furnishes ample room for the exhibition of works of art, and convenient apartments for the necessary schools.

The delivery of an annual discourse to the members of the academy is another part of the original plan. The direc tors have honoured me with the appointment at this time. I am not unconscious that an attempt of this sort is wholly beside my usual pursuits, and that to be qualified to accomplish it properly, requires information which I do not possess, and