WoRK. (g.) Ornament carved and gilt.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work CLASS 6.-Etching and Engraving on METAL-NIELLO executed in wood, carved and gilt after a Console Table in the South Kensington Museum, No. 6947, of the period of Louis XVI. The work to be carved roughly in wood, then to be prepared in the white by a gilder, then cut up or carved in the white by the carver, then to be gilt in mat and burnished gold. As such work may probably be executed by two persons, the prize will be apportioned as the judges may determine. [Photograph-One Shilling.] CLASS 2.-REPOUSSE WORK IN ANY METAL. (a.) The Human Figure as a bas-relief.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work executed after Raphael's "Three Graces." Dimensions-The figures to be six inches high. [Photograph-One Shilling.] (b.) Ornament.-One prize of £5 for the best, and a second prize of £3 for the next best, work executed after a Tazza in silver, date 1683, the property of Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart., now in the South Kensington Museum. Dimensions-The same as the model. [Photograph-One Shilling.] CLASS 3.-HAMMERED WORK, IN IRON, BRASS, OR COPPER. Ornament.-One prize of £7 10s. for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work executed after the portion shown in the photograph of the Pediment of a Gate (German work, date about 1700) in the South Kensington Museum, No. 5,979. To be adapted for use as a bracket. Dimensions-Twelve inches deep. [Photograph-One Shilling and Threepence.] CLASS 4.-CARVING IN IVORY. (a.) Human Figure in the round.-One prize of £15 for the best, and a second prize of £10 for the next best, work executed after a miniature statuette (Italian), No. 304 in the South Kensington Museum; dimensions the same as the cast; or after a medallion portrait of Flaxman, by himself, No. 294 in the South Kensington Museum; dimensions-to be reduced in height by onehalf (linear). [Cast of Statuette and Photograph of Medallion-One Shilling each.] prize of £5 for the next best, work executed after araOrnament.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second besques by Lucas Van Leyden, A.D. 1528. No. 18.968 in the South Kensington Museum. To be engraved the height of the photograph, and, if round a cup or goblet, repeated so as to be not less than nine inches in length when stretched out. CLASS 9.-DECORATIVE PAINTING. (a.) Ornament.-One prize of £5, and a second prize of £3, for a work, executed after an ornament, from Castel R. (b.) Ornament.—One prize of £7 108. for the best, and Pandino, near Lodi, from a drawing in the South Ken sington Museum, No. 1,150. Dimensions-length 4ft. width, enlarged from the print in the same proportion. [Coloured Print-One Shilling.] (b.) Ornament.-One prize of £5, and a second prize of £3, for a work, executed after a picture frame, in the South Kensington Museum, No. 7,820. Dimensions-5 feet by 3 feet 11 inches, outside measure. The works to be executed on canvass, either with or without stretchers, in cool colours. Some lines of the mouldings may be gilt. [Photograph-One Shilling and Sixpence.] N.B.-A second set of prizes of the same amount is offered to female competitors. See conditions, Section IX. CLASS 10.-INLAYS IN WOOD (MARQUETRY, OR BUHL), IVORY OR METAL. Ornament. One prize of £5 for the best, and a second prize of £3 for the next best, work executed after a specimen in the possession of the Hon. John Ashley. Dimensions-one-third larger than the Lithograph (linear). [Outline Lithograph-Sixpence.] CLASS 11.-CAMEO CUTTING. (a.) Human Head.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work executed after Wyon's heads of the Queen and Prince Consort, on the Juror's medal of 1851. (b.) Animal.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work executed after Wyon's St. George and the Dragon," on the Prince Consort's medal. Dimensions the same as the casts. [Casts-Sixpence each.] CLASS 12.-ENGRAVING ON GLASS. Ornament. One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £3 for the next best, work executed after arabesques by Lucas Van Leyden, A.D. 1528. No. 18,968 in the South Kensington Museum. To be engraved the height of the engraving; and it round a glass or goblet, repeated so as not to be less than 9 inches long when stretched out. [Photograph-Sixpence.] CLASS 13.-WALL MOSAICS. Human Head.-One prize of 10 for the best, and a second prize of £7 10s. for the next best, work executed after Bertini, of Milan. A preparatory drawing must be male, coloured, after the lithograph, on which the lines and disposition of the tessera must be marked. The dimensions of the work should be regulated by the size of the tesseræ proposed to be used, which size may be left to the choice of the artist. Although desirable, it is not necessary to execute the whole subject in actual mosaic, but if a part only be done, the eye must be in such portion. A coloured drawing, with tesseræ, may be seen at the Society's house, and in the South Kensington Museum, and tessera of two sizes may be obtained from Messrs. Minton, Stoke-upon-Trent, Messrs. Maw and Co., Brosely, Shropshire, Messrs. Powell and Sons, Temple-street, Whitefriars, and Messrs. Jesse Rust and Co., Carlislestreet, Lambeth. [Lithographic Outline Coloured-Two Shillings.] N.B.-A second set of prizes of the same amount is offered to female competitors. See conditions, Section IX. CLASS 14.-GEM ENGRAVING. (a.) Human Head.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work executed CLASS 17.-BOOKBINDING AND LEATHEr Work. (a.) Bookbinding.-One prize of £7 10s. for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work executed in bookbinding, after an Italian specimen in the South Kensington Museum, No. 7,925. The work to be bound should be some classical author of the size given. Dimensions-the same as the photograph. [Photograph-One Shilling.] (b.) Leatherwork.-One prize of £7 10s. for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, work of boiled and cut leatherwork for the outside covering of a jewel casket. Original in the South Kensington Museum, No. 7,768. Dimensions-one-half larger than the photograph (linear). [Photograph-One Shilling.] CLASS 18.-EMBROIDERY. Ornament.-One prize of £5 for the best, and a second prize of £3 for the next best, work executed, either after a German example in the Green Vaults at Dresden, or an Italian Silk in the South Kensington Museum, No. 7,468, which may be adapted to a screen. Dimensionsaccording to the taste of the embroiderer. [Photograph-German, Sixpence ; Italian, One Shilling.] CLASS 19.-ILLUMINATIONS. Ornament.-One prize of £5 for the best, and a second prize of £3 for the next best, copy made from an Altar Card, attributed to Giulio Clovio, in the South Kensington Museum, No. 2,958, or from a MS. border, date 1450, No. 3,057, in the South Kensington Museum. Dimensions-one-half larger than the Photograph (linear). [Photograph-Two Shillings.] SECOND DIVISION. WORKS TO BE EXECUTED WITHOUT PRESCRIBED DESIGNS. CLASS 20.-MODELLING. The Worshipful Company of Plasterers, London, offer the following: Ornament.-One prize of £10 for the best, and a second prize of £5 for the next best, floriated bracket or truss in the Italian Renaissance style-dimensions, 14 inches on the beam, 12 inches on the wall, and 8 inches on the face-to be designed and modelled by the competitor, or the designer and modeller may co-operate in the production, when the prize will be divided between them. Artizans' apprentices and students may compete for these prizes, but not master tradesmen, masters in Schools of Art, or those training for masters in the Central School of the Department of Science and Art. CLASS 21.-WOOD CARVING. (a.) Human figure in the round, in alto or in bas relief. Animals or natural foliage may be used as accessories. 1st prize of £25 and the Society's Silver Medal. 2nd prize of £15. 3rd prize of £10. (b.) Animal or still-life. Fruit, flowers, or natural foliage may be used as accessories. 1st prize of £10. 2nd prize of £7 10s. 3rd prize of £5. (c.) Natural foliage, fruit, or flowers, or conventional ornament, in which grotesque figures or animals may form accessories, preference being given where the work is of an applied character for ordinary decorative purposes, as representing commercial value. 1st prize of £10. 2nd prize of £7 10s. 3rd prize of £5. (By Order) P. LE NEVE FOSTER, Secretary. Proceedings of the Society. MUSICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The following is a copy of the Charter granted in 1830 to the Royal Academy of Music: George the Fourth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Whereas our right trusty and right entirely beloved councillor, Edward Venables, Archbishop of York, Primate of England and Metropolitan; our Lord Almoner; our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin and councillor, Arthur Duke of Wellington; our right trusty and well beloved councillors, John Fane, commonly called Lord Burghersh, and Sir John Leach, Knight, Vice-Chancellor of England, and others of our loving subjects, have, under our royal patronage, formed themselves, into a Society or Institution to promote the cultivation of the science of music, and to afford facilities for attaining perfection in it, by assisting with general instruction all persons desirous of acquiring a knowledge thereof; and having subscribed and collected considerable sums of money for that purpose, have humbly besought us to grant unto them and unto such other persons who are now, or who shall hereafter become, members of the said Society, our royal charter of incorporation for the purposes aforesaid. them and their successors, for the purposes aforesaid, we do hereby constitute and declare to be one body politic and corporate, and by the same name to have perpetual succession, and for ever hereafter to be persons able and capable in the law, and have power to purchase, receive, and possess, any goods and chattels whatsoever, and (notwithstanding the statutes of mortmain) to purchase, hold, and enjoy, to them and their successors, any lands, tenements, and hereditaments, whatsoever, not exceeding, at the time or times of purchasing such lands, tenements, and hereditaments, respectively, the yearly value, at a rack-rent, of one thousand pounds in the whole, without incurring the penalties or forfeitures of the statutes of mortmain, or any of them; and by the name aforesaid to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all courts and places whatsoever, of us, our heirs and successors, in all actions, suits, causes, and things, whatsoever, and to act and do, in all things relating to the said corporation, in as ample manner and form as any other our liege subjects being able and capable in the law, or any other body politic or corporate, in our said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, may or can act or do; and also to have and to use a common seal, and the same to alter, vary, break, and renew, as they shall from time to time think fit. And we do hereby declare and grant that the number of members of the said body politic and corporate shall be indefinite, and that for the better rule and government of the said body politic and corporate, and for the better direction, management, and execution, of the business and concerns thereof, there shall be, from the date of these presents thenceforth and for ever, a Board of Directors, Committee of Management, and treasurer of the said body politic and corporate; and that such Board of Directors shall consist of thirty members, to be elected or appointed from among the members of the said body politic and corporate, one of which thirty mem bers shall be President, and four shall be Vice-Presidents of the said body politic and corporate, and that any four of the Directors, if either the President or one of the Vice-Presidents shall be one of that number, or any five of the Directors, if the President or one of the VicePresidents shall not be one of that number, shall be a quorum. And we do hereby nominate and appoint that the said Edward Venables, Archbishop of York, Arthur Duke of Wellington, John Fane, commonly called Lord Burghersh, and Sir John Leach, and such other twenty-six members of the said body politic and corporate as they, the said Edward Venables, Archbishop of York, Arthur Duke of Wellington, John Fane, commonly called Lord Burghersh, and Sir John Leach, or any two of them, shall appoint, shall be the first Board of Directors, and that the first President and the first Vice-Presidents of the said Society shall be likewise appointed by the said Ed ward Venables, Archbishop of York, Arthur Duke of Wellington, John Fane, commonly called Lord Burghersh, and Sir John Leach, or any two of them, out of such of the members of the said Society as shall have been previously named Directors; and that any President, Vice-President, or Director, shall have full power to re Now know ye that we, being desirous to promote sign and vacate his office by giving to the Board of Di such object, have, of our special grace, certain know-rectors one calendar month's previous notice of his intenledge, and mere motion, given and granted; and we tion so to do. do by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, And that the Board of Directors shall have the give and grant that the said Edward Venables, Arch-power of convening a general meeting of the mem bishop of York, Arthur Duke of Wellington, John Fane,bers of the said Society whenever they may deem it commonly called Lord Burghersh, and Sir John Leach, expedient. And we do further declare and grant that and such others of our loving subjects as have formed the Board of Directors shall have the power to make such themselves into, and are now members of, the said rules, orders, and bye-laws, as they shall deem useful and Society, or who shall at any time hereafter become mem- necessary for the regulation and management of the said bers thereof, according to such bye-laws or regulations body politic and corporate, and of the estates, goods, and as shall be hereafter framed or enacted, and their succes-business thereof, and for fixing and determining the sors be, and shall for ever hereafter continue and be, by manner of electing the future President, Vice-Presidents, virtue of these presents, one body politic and corporate, Directors, and Committee of Management, and the by the name of the "Royal Academy of Music;" and Chairman thereof, and the period of their continuance in office respectively, and also for fixing and determining the hours and places of holding any general meetings of the said body politic and corporate, and for the admission of members, and the privileges to be conferred upon them, and the classes to which they may respectively be appointed to belong, and the annual or other sum or sums of money to be paid by the members of the said body politic and corporate, whether upon admission or otherwise, towards carrying on the purposes of the said body politic and corporate; and such rules, orders, and bye-laws, from time to time to vary, alter, or repeal, and to make such new or other rules, orders, and byelaws, as they shall think most useful and expedient, so that the same be not repugnant to these presents, or to the laws of this our realm. regulation of the expenditure of the Society; and shall also have full power to draw on the treasurer for such monies as they shall require for the purposes of the Society, and shall also have full power to propose to the Board of Directors such additions to, and alterations in, the rules, orders, bye-laws, and regulations of the said body politic and corporate as they shall think proper; and also shall have full power to appoint such persons, being musical professors resident in England, or officers of any foreign musical institution, to be honorary members of the said body politic and corporate, as they shall deem expedient, every such appointment being in writing, and signed by the Chairman of the Commitee. And it is our further will and pleasure that the Committee of Management, at a meeting to be especially called for And for the further rule and government of the that purpose, of which due notice shall be given, shall said body politic and corporate, and for the further have full power to remove from the said body politic and and better direction, management, and execution, of corporate any member or honorary member of the same, the business and concerns thereof, we do further such member or honorary member having been first declare and grant that there shall be a Committee duly summoned to attend such meeting; but no member of Management, which shall consist of not more than or honorary member of the said body politic and corfifteen, nor less than seven, members, to be elected porate shall be removed except by the votes of twofrom among the members of the said body politic and thirds of the members of the Committee. And it is our corporate. And we do hereby nominate and appoint further will and pleasure that on a certain day, to be that the said John Fane, commonly called Lord Burg-fixed by the Board of Directors, in the month of March hersh, and such other members of the said body politic in every year, the Committee shall lay before the Board and corporate, not being more than fifteen, nor less than of Directors an account of the receipts and expenditure seven, other members, including the said John Fane, of the Society for the preceding year, and that account commonly called Lord Burghersh, as the said Court of shall be audited by two auditors, to be appointed by Directors shall appoint, shall be the first Committee of the Board of Directors from amongst the Directors. And Management, the said John Fane, commonly called it is our further will and pleasure that all orders and Lord Burghersh, to be the first Chairman. And it directions to the professors, masters, and subordinate is our further will and pleasure that the said John officers and servants of the Society, which shall have Fane, commonly called Lord Burghersh, shall be and been made and determined upon by the Committee of continue Chairman of the Committee of Management Management for the promotion of the objects of the for and during the term of his natural life, or until Society, shall be given and delivered by or through the he shall resign; and that every future chairman shall Chairman of the said Committee; and all, the professors, continue in office for such time as shall be declared in masters, and other subordinate officers and servants of the bye-laws or regulations of the said body politic and the Society, are hereby required punctually to obey and corporate hereafter to be enacted. And that in case observe, in the execution of the duties of their respective and so often as the said John Fane, commonly called Lord offices, all the orders and directions which shall be so Burghersh, shall, at any time during his continuance in given and delivered to them by or through the Chairman office, be absent from England, the Committee of Manage- of the Committee of Management. And it is our further ment shall elect from amongst the members of the Com- will and pleasure that the Chairman of the Committee mittee a person to be Chairman of the said Committee of Management shall have full power to call, at any during the absence of the said John Fane, commonly time, an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Directors, called Lord Burghersh, and no longer. And it is our and also a meeting of the Committee of Management, further will and pleasure that any member of the Com- whenever he shall deem it expedient. mitee shall have full power to resign and vacate his whereof we have caused these our letters to be made office by giving to the Board of Directors one calendar patent. Witness ourself, at our Palace of Westminster, month's previous notice of his intention so to do; and this twenty-third day of June, in the eleventh year of that the Committee of Management shall nominate and our reign. appoint, out of the members of the said body politic and corporate, a fit and proper person to be treasurer of the said Society who shall continue in his office during the pleasure of the Committee, unless he shall resign or vacate the said office. And it is our further will and pleasure that no business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Committee unless three members of the Committee shall be present; and that at the Committee of Management the person in the chair shall, in addition to his privilege of voting with the other members of the Committee, have a second or casting-vote on all questions where the votes shall happen to be equal. And it is our further will and pleasure that the Committee of Management shall have the whole and exclusive direction, management, and superintendence of the students, and of the Academy for the education of the students; and also shall have the appointment and removal of the principal musical professor, and of all the other musical professors, and of all the music and other masters, and the subordinate officers and servants of the Society, and shall define and regulate their respective duties, and fix and pay out of the funds of the Society their respective salaries, and shall also have, in every other respect, the entire management and By writ of the Privy Seal. In witness SCOTT. The following dimensions of the principal rooms at the Royal Academy of Music have been kindly supplied by Mr. Lucas: Governesses Room-21ft. 7in. by 15ft. 4in.; height, 15ft. Concert Room-71ft. Sin. by 28ft.; height, 15ft. Committee Room-18ft. 6in. by 14ft. 3in.; height, 15ft. Letter A. (Gentlemen's Waiting Room)-19ft. by 14ft. 7in.; height, 10ft. 6in. Letter G.-22ft. 7in. by 9ft. 6in.; height, 7ft. 11in. Secretary's Office-23ft. by 11ft. 10in. and 17ft.; height, 14ft. Library-20ft. by 19ft. 6in.; height, 10ft. Letter D.-15ft. lin. by 11ft. 9in.; height, Sft. lin. Ladies' Waiting Room-23ft. by 11ft. 10in. and 17ft.; height, 15ft. Besides the above, there are sleeping rooms for the Governess and servants, also offices, &c. ment, but will not suffice for the least additional outlay. For instance, everyone remarks the awkwardness displayed on the boards by young debutants from the London school, and the na ural remedy would be to prepare them properly in a theatre; but for want of funds a courtyard, which formed part of the premises of the Academy, and ON THE IMPERIAL CONSERVATOIRE OF PARIS AND which might have been easily converted into a theatre, THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC, LONDON. BY MANUEL GARCIA. In comparing the Imperial Conservatoire of Paris with the Royal Academy of Music in London, we are forced to observe that the former has two immense advantages in its favour:-It is entirely supported by the State; its course of study is distinctive and complete. Hence arises a radical difference between the two schools, both as to their appliances and results. The Conservatoire, as a national institution, has been allotted a suitable locality, which includes in its area various halls, class rooms, and three theatres. Two of the latter are exclusively devoted to the use of the dramatic pupils and those who propose qualifying them selves for the lyric stage. The third and largest theatre is used for the public competitors, and is the well-known hall of the Conservatoire where operas are performed. Endowed with the necessary funds, the Conservatoire bestows a gratuitous education on nearly 600 pupils, besides presenting annually a purse with £40 to each of its ten most gifted students. All those pupils who are crowned in the public competition receive a prize worth £12. Formerly boarders of both sexes were accommodated in the Conservatoire, but it is now thought advisable to admit only non-residents. Three times a year the pupils are subjected to an examination before a jury, and those who are not considered sufficiently promising are dis missed. At the same time a summons is sent through all France to supply the vacancies, and the influx of candidates is so great that frequently three hundred are examined at once, thus rendering it easy to make good selections. Each candidate is obliged to read tolerably a piece of music at sight and sing something he has studied. This trial serves to prove whether he possesses a good voice, correct ear, and musical feeling. Besides these qualifica tions the pupil must be pleasing in appearance, and not more than twenty years old. The English Royal Academy is a private institution, always uncertain of its future, and deriving its chief sources of income from the pupils, who pay the somewhat onerous sum of thirty-five guineas annually, besides an entrance fee of five guineas. This amount being much too large for the poorer classes (from which the pupils are almost exclusively drawn), it so reduces the number of aspirants that in its best days the Academy has never contained more than 120 pupils, and at the present moment can count but 72. Most of the scholars, eager to remove such a burden of expense from their families, curtail as much as possible the duration of their studies, and leave as soon as their talents, however incomplete, can be rendered in any measure available as a means of livelihood. To the above-mentioned chief source of income may be added the voluntary subscriptions, which have greatly diminished since the death of Lord Westmoreland; next the proceeds of a concert, and lastly a grant of £500 recently obtained from parliament. For its scholarships the Academy is obliged to depend entirely on private donations. Such are The King's Scholarship......... 35 guineas. Mr. Porter's...... 10 12 - Total......... 57 For a has been given up in order to decrease the rent. similar reason the Academy is forced to a certain degree of laxity in the choice of candidates, accepting nearly all those who present themselves, without much regard to age or aptitude. What success can possibly be hoped for under such conditions? We proceed now to an examination of the studies. The Conservatoire forms, at the same time:-Composers, singers, instrumentalists for orchestra, pianistes, organists, comedians, and tragedians. The studies are superintended by a director and 73 professors, the management of the establishment devolv ing exclusively on the director. At the time I belonged to this staff of professors, it comprised Masters for composition. 16,, for solfeggi. 7 singing masters. Masters for deportment. The pupils who make singing their principal study (the only class with which I propose occupying myself in this paper) if unable to read music with facility, are sent into one of the 16 classes for Solteggi, and there receive elementary instruction. They are then removed into a singing class, where they remain two or three years. and undergo during that period several examinations. The places left vacant by departing or dismissed pupils are appropriated to the new comers, and if there are more accepted candidates than can be located they are admitted as listeners while waiting for a vacancy. When the pupil is sufficiently advanced he joins to the study of singing that of deportment-superintended by a ballet master, who teaches him to walk and move gracefully, also to express in action all possible situations and emotions. The declamation class then follows, in which the pupil recites the parts he has learnt by heart. These successive exercises habituate him so completely to the stage that at his first appearance he presents himself to the public with the ease and confidence of an accomplished actor. Besides all this a student of merit has commonly before quitting the Conservatoire to pass through the trying orde of a public competition, both as to singing and taking parts in an opera. One meeting is held for the singers alone, and at this a first and second prize are awarded. The jury always consists of ten or twelve musicians of eminence, who are all, with the exception of the director, strangers to the Conservatoire. Their judgment is there. fore disinterested, and a powerful recommendation to the pupil who is crowned. He who on such an occasion obtains the first prize both for singing and declamation has a right to three débuts at the Opéra Comique. The public com petitions terminate with the performance of an opera. these representations the holders of first prizes figure, and it is not unusual to find, on quitting the stage, the manager of some theatre awaiting them with the other of an engagement. If from an examination of the French Conservatoire we pass to that of the English Academy, we find that nearly all the advantages of the former are wanting to the latter. In the first place, at the Academy, Solfeggi are not studied, to the serious detriment of progress in its early stages, and, finally, of thoroughness in the acquirements The net income derived from all these sources is large of the artist. It is true that at the Academy there is a enough to cover the ordinary expenses of the establish-class for reading at sight, but in it the notes are not named, |