The Shade of an old Sculptor to y^e body Academic in
Trafalgar Square
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Hints for the Crisis
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1^st
Elect a new President! You have never had a Sculptor, take
Westmacott! he will give you Dinners, make speeches, has a high
reputation with the Public, (no matter how he got it) has nothing to do
but wait on you, and is too old to be envied by the rest. At Rome
they always choose Old popes. Age gives dignity to a position without
extinguishing hope in the governed. If the Court will not approve;
Eastlake is your only alternative, but will he relinquish his salaries?
I only mention these two, because I am sure you will select the one
most suitable under all circumstances as your Officer, not the mere
man of Genius.

2^nd
"Open ye your doors that they be not opened by your enemies;
for enemies there are to your exclusiveness, though they be
patient ones; and if ye goad them too long, they will turn upon
you, and smite you:- therefore open ye your doors, that they be
not opened by your enemies." Apocrypha (a Work recently pub
-lished down here below in numbers, on things which are in the womb
of time & Known to us, though hidden to you). Let the RA's be
extended to 50, and the A's to 30. This is the very least
concession you can or ought to make. Beware of outward
pressure! provoke it not; lest you find "not one stone left on
another." This increase in numbers cannot derogate
from your dignity as an Aristocracy of Talent. It will silence
parliamentary grumblers and save Sir Bobby an unpleasant
job. Elevate a few artistic expectants & neutralize the others.
If you wish your Reform to suffice for the next half century
let your numbers be 60 RA's and 40 A's(s). thus you
will preserve your own, onward, without fear.

3^rd
Allow one Varnishing day to the Exhibitors.

4^th
"Ask for the Rooms of the National Gallery and they shall be
ceded unto you." (apocrypha)

If you take my advice like dutiful terrestrials you
will set about these things forthwith.
Remember you are on a Volcano
Think of Gatton & Old Sarum
I smell sulphur_ adieu.
My time is come
Phidias in ye Shades