1411 
Greeks 
SOH16 
centuries 
had elapsed, 
amidst 
HO 
before they obtained 
the arts, 
emulation in 
little 
an Apelles. In modern Italy, without going as 
far back as we might, it took up a centmy 
from the appearance of Massaccio to the 
perfection of a Raphael. If", then, the British 
school has risen so much more speedily to that 
celeb1'ity in art, which itlis too well known and 
established to need any illustration here, what 
should hinder her professors from becoming the 
most distinguished rivals of the fame acquired 
by the Greeks and Italians, with a due perse- 
verance in the studies which lead to perfection, 
and with 
those 
encouragements and support 
of 
are 
patronage_whic11 
due to genius ? 
 As the source of that patronage, We look 
up with aifectionate gratitude to the benign 
and flattering attention of our most gracious 
Sovereign, to whose regard for the elegant arts, 
and munificent disposition to cherish every 
enlargement of science, and improvement of, 
the human mind, his people are indebted for 
this public seminary, his own favoured Insti- 
tution, and the first which this eountry has ever