An Exhibition of the Recruiting and Draft Posters used in the City of New York during the War of 1861-1865 will be placed on view in the rooms of the Society beginning November 1st, 1919. The next lecture before the Society will be given on November 11th next. Mr. Reginald Pelham Bolton will speak on "Mansions of Upper Manhattan and Vicinity" illustrated with stereopticon views. On December 2nd Mr. Le Roy Jeffers will lecture on "National Wonders of the United States and Canada." Miss Elizabeth G. Stillman has been elected to membership in the Society. Captain Howland Pell presented to the Library a complete file of "The Watchdog" a newspaper published by the men and officers of the First Provisional Regiment, New York Guard from September 22, 1917 to June 1, 1918. Mr. Victor Wilbour presented an oil painting representing a remnant of Rutgers College, 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, painted by him in 1903. Miss Mary M. Greenwood presented the engraving "The Last Days of Webster at Marchfield" and a plan and view of the City of Quebec, Canada. Mr. Charles G. Hine presented to the library several hundred directories of American Cities which are a valuable addition to our large collection of directories. WAR INSIGNIAS Through the generosity of Mr. Samuel V. Hoffman, the Society was enabled to secure specimens of the various insignias worn by the officers and enlisted men during the War. They included the metal emblems worn on the coat collar, hat cords and campaign ribbons. Mr. Oscar T. Barck presented a collection of the buttons worn on the Uniforms of the Army and Navy and the War Workers. Past experience has shown that these small details in depicting the Uniforms of previous Wars are difficult to learn and often prove very essential to Artists and Sculpturers. REVOLUTIONARY DRUM Through the kind efforts of our member Mr. Reginald Pelham Bolton, the Society has come into the temporary possession of a revolutionary drum used in the British Army. The Drum has been preserved in the family of Mr. John Vreeland Brickell since the days of the Revolution. It has been cut down from its original size and the Royal Insignia which it originally bore has been scraped off. No other specimen of a British Revolutionary drum is on record. CONSTITUTION ISLAND Messrs. W. L. Calver, R. P. Bolton, W. S. Thomas and A. J. Wall of the Field Exploration Committee of the Society visited Constitution Island on August 9th at the invitation of Mrs. Charles E. Tracy of the Martelers' Rock Association to meet certain officers from West Point, who are interested in marking and preserving the Revolutionary defences erected on Constitution Island. Mr. Calver conducted the party around the historic sites and suggested various clearings and improvements to preserve what is left of the old forts on the Island. The reproduction of Stuart's portrait of Egbert Benson published in this number is one of the finest paintings by Gilbert C. Stuart known, and forms part of the Society's extensive collection of American portraits. Egbert Benson, who was the first president of The New-York Historical Society, 1805-1815, sat for this portrait in 1807. Mr. John Hill Morgan is making a study of the American portraits owned by the Society and will deliver a lecture on this subject in April, 1920. CORRECTION In our last issue we reproduced the print "Distinguished Americans at a Meeting of The New York Historical Society" with the further caption "held in the Chapel of the New York University, 1854." This should have read published in 1854 as the studies for the portraits were made prior to 1852. NECROLOGY George W. Betts, a life member since 1857 died June 17, 1919 in the 78th year of his age, at Englewood, N. J. Benno Loewy, a member since 1894, died August 19, 1919 in the 65th year of his age. Mrs. James M. Lawton, a member since 1900, and Fellow since 1904, died August 22, 1919 at Elizabethtown, New York. Theodore Cooper, a member since 1895, died August 24th, 1919 in the 81st year of his age. Prof. Adolph Werner, a member since 1865, constituted a Life member 1916, died August 26, 1919 in the 80th year of his age. Charles Frederick Hoffman, a member since 1897, member of the Executive Committee, 1901-1902, died August 28th, 1919 in the 63rd year of his age, at Newport, R. I. Augustus Cortlandt Van Rensselaer, a member since 1908, died September 3rd, 1919 at Pittsfield, Mass. in the 71st year of his age. NOTES ON AMERICAN ARTISTS BY WILLIAM KELBY, LATE LIBRARIAN OF THE SOCIETY V Of the Mode for effectuating the Institution of the Academy of Polite Arts, in New York. BY ALEXANDER MARIE QUESNAY I. That on the first of January, 1785, all the subscribers of the Society Assembly will meet in the Academy of Polite Arts for the purpose of electing twelve gentlemen Councellors, Trustees and Patrons; also seven managers for the Academy, to which Mr. Quesnay shall be added. II. The said Alexander M. Quesnay and his successors, shall be obligated to pay the greatest deference, respect, regard and consideration to the advice and direction of the said councellors, patrons and trustees for any matter, that will tend to the improvement of the scholars of the said academy, and see that all the masters, attendants and persons employed by him or them shall do the same. III. The twelve Councellors, Patrons and Trustees will meet |