He begins by focusing on the figure and reputation of
Albrecht Dürer through his own experience of recently seeing a Durer self-portrait.
He states that the Academy awared this year's prizes in a state of unprecedented unanimity; he is pleased to note an improvement in the drawings from the antique academy; he says the top prize frmo the painting school has not been awarded as the painting submitted is not finished; he has been reliably informed that the drawings from the architecture school are better than have previously been shown.
He is sad to say that the Council did not feel able to award the gold medals in painting or sculpture; he defends the selection of a scene from Milton for the gold medal premium subject; he concludes with a heartfelt tribute to the work and character of [
Henry Thomson], the retiring Keeper.