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Academies of Art:  a Discourse delivered on Thurday May 3, 1827, in the Chapel of Columbia College, before the National Academy of Design on its First Anniversary.  By Samuel F.B. Morse, President of the Academy.

(A criticism of Morse's address not the address itself - E.L.M)

We hope the name which this society has assumed, may be found hereafter more appropriate than it appears now.  A National Academy may be understood to mean a public association, founded and supported by the nation, or a private association of the first artists of a country.  This Academy is of neither of these kinds.  It is simply a Society of Artists in the city of New York, organized for the purposes of exhibition and instruction.  As such it is a respectable and praise worthy beginning; and as we heartily wish success to such an undertaking, we regret the more that they have made so great a mistake in the selection of their name.  To call themselves National Academicians, is making a claim of distinction which, we must say, is out of proportion to their merits.  Nor do we think it is quite time for them to adopt the initials of their institution as a standing title.  The N.A. would do very well in the catalogue of their own exhibitions, to distinguish the works of its members, but we find it affixed to their names in that of a private collection, given in a note to this discourse.  This though a trifle, seems to us very ill judged.  The practice has been tolerated only in Societies, which have established some reputation; and even in these cases, it is a vanity of which their members [[page torn]].  

What would be thought

Transcription Notes:
Thursday misspelled in original.... transcribed as written. A couple ?s remain. Kf