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4 

Mr Cummings has ever been foremost in advancing the cause of art; many years since in connection with Morse, Inman, Durand, Dunlap, one or two other artist [[strikethrough]] he [/strikethrough]] has established a drawing association which resulted in the formation of the National Academy of Design, of which, he one of its most active members was elected treasurer and has annually been re-elected by the unanimous voice of its members ever since, being a period of nearly 20 years - last year the academy voted Mr Cummings a splendid service of plate as a testimonial of their approbation of his services as their treasurer [This was con'd up to 40 years Editor 

In 1831 Mr Cummings was elected Professor of miniature painting to the National Academy of Design and delivered two courses of lectures before that body - these lectures and are article by him in Dunlap is believed by the writer to be the best and indeed the only textbook to which the student can apply for instruction in miniature painting -

Perhaps the greatest merit we can award to Mr Cummings, is to say, that with a facility unparalleled in communicating information in relation to matters of art[[strikethrough]]s[[/strikethrough]], he combines an urbanity and generosity of deportment, that renders his instructions a pleasure, rather than a study, to his pupils and their consequent improvement in sound principles &practice[[?]] of art gives the best evidence of the truth of this statement [[strikethrough]] notwithstanding his ready [[/strikethrough]]