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, Requisition by eight Academicians to Benjamin West to summon a Council

Sir

We the undersignd Academicians request
You to summons a Council to ascertain & make known
to the members of the Society, whether the regulation
that prescribes that all the works intended for Exhibition
shall be delivered at the Royal Academy on the days
annually appointed for that purpose by the Council,
Which for the present year are to be 6th & 7th April?
We are induced to make this request because
it is known from the report of members of the Council
that Mr Copley, a member of the Council, has solicited for an extension of time
beyond the limited period.
A strict adherence to the regulation was
insisted upon by the Council in the years 1801 & 1802,
& the advantages of it have been sensibly felt;
& it is our desire to support it; but it must be

, Requisition by eight Academicians to Benjamin West to summon a Council

obvious that an indulgence in any single instance
wou’d be unjustly partial, & woud eventually render
the regulation of no effect.
We cannot conclude without expressing our
concern that the Academy is so circumstanced, as
to have reason to apprehend a breach of a good
regulation by those who are in a situation which
requires from them a particular attention to all
its laws & regulations.
We are Sir, with great respect
your most Obedient Servants

John Hoppner
Martin Asher Shee
Jos: Farington
Robt Smirke
Thos Daniell
Rich. Westall
John Opie
Thos Lawrence

April 2.d 1803
To Benjamin West Esq.re
President of the Royal Academy

Requisition by eight Academicians to Benjamin West to summon a Council

RA Collection: Archive

Reference code

RAA/SEC/2/94/1

Title

Requisition by eight Academicians to Benjamin West to summon a Council

Date

02 Apr 1803

Level

Item

Extent & medium

2pp.

Previous reference codes

M 5, 1184

Historical Background

Discussed at meeting of Council of 4 April 1803 and quoted in full in the minutes, together with a note of comments by Benjamin West. Council decided to grant Copley's request "as a peculiar indulgence".

Content Description

The requisition is signed by John Hoppner, Martin Archer Shee, Joseph Farington, Robert Smirke, Thomas Daniell, Richard Westall, John Opie and Thomas Lawrence and calls for a Council to discuss John Copley's request to receive an extension to the time appointed for delivery of works by him intended for the exhibition.