Note 42 — Chapter III

This society was first projected by Mr. William Shipley, who was very active in his endeavours to establish it. Their original proposal was, to "give premiums for the revival and advancement of those arts and sciences which are at a low ebb amongst us; as poetry, painting, tapestry, architecture, etc." The plan, in the latter end of the year 1753, was laid before Dr. Hales and Mr. Baker, by whom it was introduced to Lord Romney and Lord Folkestone, who warmly patronized the institution.

In March 1754, they met at Rathmell's Coffeehouse, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Their first premium for the best drawing by boys and girls under fourteen years of age was £15; but as the subscribers were then too few in number to raise the proposed sum, the two above-named noblemen made good a considerable deficiency. They next met at the Circulating Library, in Crane Court, Fleet Street, and on the 10th of January 1755 at Peele's Coffeehouse, where the first premium of £5 for the best drawing by boys under the age of fourteen was adjudged to Mr. Richard Cosway.