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LETTER VII.

In my preceding letters the circumstances which led to the establishment of the "National Academy of the Arts of Design" have been briefly related; I now proceed to give a short account of its present state, and future prospects. 

Immediately after the organization the New Institution, measures were taken to open its First exhibition, and notwithstanding the many difficulties under which they labored in this commencement of their undertaking, such as the want of a convenient and properly lighted room, &c. the artists succeeded in collecting together such a display of talent as surprised every visitor of their just-formed Gallery, consisting of works of living artists only ; which had never before been exhibited, and which, by the rule of the Institution, can never be included in any future exhibition ; a plan which insures hovelty at least. The expenses of this, their first year of existence as an Academy, were somewhat greater than the proceeds of their exhibition, and the deficit was provided for by a small assessment upon the members, which was promptly and cheerfully paid. Not discouraged by this result, they immediately determined on another effort in the the ensuing year ; and to defray the expenses of the school they concluded to receive from every student a small sum, sufficient to meet the expenses of lights and fuel. In their Second annual exhibition (in which was found a more splendid display of living talent than had ever before been presented in this City) they were more successful ; their receipts not only defrayed their expenses, but left them something in their treasury. Now, however, their greatest difficulty arose-the room in which the students assembled to prosecute their studies, had been, till this time, loaned to them ; but now the Society which had so generously befriended the AScademy, could spare the room no longer. No alternative, therefore, was left to them, bu to hire a room,or break up their school. An application for assistance to the common Council, was not listened to ; they therefore resolved to incur the risk of hiring for the year, the room in which they had made their exhibition, over the Arcade baths in Cham-