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XV.—An Account of the Scheme for erecting a Royal Academy in England, in the Reign of King James the First. By the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2012

Joseph Hunter
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Extract

When the present Society of Antiquaries of London determined on printing from time to time communications which were made to them, in a series of volumes to be entitled Archæologia, they determined also that there should be prefixed to that work an Introduction, in which should be given a history of their own foundation, and of the attempts which had been previously made to collect the lovers of history and antiquities in associations for the prosecution of their inquiries, and for mutual assistance in their studies. It is not necessary to inquire to whom they committed the task of preparing this Introduction. It is done perhaps as well as the state of the knowledge of the literary history of the country at that period allowed. But when looked at from times when the public mind is not so easily satisfied to remain in ignorance of the minute facts in the history of great undertakings, it cannot, I fear, but be regarded as imperfect and unsatisfactory.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , 1847 , pp. 132 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1847

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References

page 134 note a The numbers are 6103, 6143, and 7579.

page 134 note b This manuscript was evidently intended to remain with the King, for whose especial information it was prepared. I can give no information how it passed into private hands, and can trace back its history only to the time of Sylvanus Morgan, the author of “The Sphere of Gentry,” who had collected many curious manuscripts. The Society's manuscript belonged to the same person. Mine was bound up by him with three genealogical tracts. Where the volume lay, after the dispersion of his library, I know not, nor any thing of its history, till about the middle of the last century, when it was in the possession of the Rev. George Ashby of Barrow in Suffolk, a Fellow of this Society and a well-known antiquary. When Mr. Ashby died, his manuscripts were bought of his executor by Mr. Deck, a bookseller of Bury St. Edmund's. Of him it appears to have been purchased by Mr. George Bird Burrell, who was a glazier living at Thetford in Norfolk, and who collected many antiquarian and natural curiosities. At the sale of Mr. Burrell's effects after his decease, it was bought by the learned Editor of Stephens, Mr. Barker, by whom, in 1828, it was presented to me.

page 137 note a Die Lunæ Mar. 5, 18 Jac. I. 1620–1.

The Lord Admiral moved, “That, forasmuch as the education of youth, especially of quality and worth, is a matter of high consequence, that therefore to provide that such persons in their tender years do not spend their time fruitlessly about this town or elsewhere, his lordship wished that some fit and good course might he taken for erection and maintenance of an academy for the breeding and bringing up of the nobility and gentry of this kingdom in their younger and tender age, and for a free and voluntary contribution from persons of honour and quality for that purpose.”

The motion was generally liked and much commended, and thereupon many grave and judicious speeches used by sundry lords, touching material points considerable in the undertaking and perfect accomplishment of this honorable project; namely, concerning the place where such academy shall be seated and erected; likewise what qualities, arts, sciences, and exercises shall there be taught and practised; also upon what persons necessity to be there brought up shall be imposed; they how to be maintained; and to what kind of young gentlemen freedom shall be left to resort or live there as they shall please; with other circumstances.

That the matters and points aforesaid might with more conveniency be opened and discussed, the Court by general consent was adjourned during the pleasure of the Lords.