FINE ARTS.
ROYAL ACADEMY.
DANIEL M.CusE and Sow:km*1 Haar were elected Associates, and SAMUEL COUSINS Associate Engraver, of the Royal Academy, on Monday last. These elections do honour to the Academy, and afford evidence that a better spirit prevails in this body. CousiNs is the first engraver in mezzotint, and eminently entitled to this distinction. M'Cuse and HART are two of the most promising young painters of the day in the historical class ; and the choice of them shows that the Academy is alive to the necessity of having among its members men of inventive talent. We understand, moreover, that one of these artists is a Catholic and the other a Jew ; and that neither is indebted to per- sonal favour for his election. This is a gratifying proof that the old system of nepotism and private interest is at an end ; and we hail it joyfully as a sign that hereafter the conduct of the Academy will be, as it is in this instance, worthy of the professors of a liberal art. We owe this change to public opinion. It is a popular act, and occurs at a time when it will be useful to the Academy. We doubt not but that the election next spring of two Academicians in the room of STOTIIARD and NEWTON will be equally judicious. Now that inquiry into the uses and privileges of the Academy is pending, and it is about to take possession of its share of the National Gallery, every manifestation of its improved system of action will be valuable as "evidence to cha- racter."
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