Anniversary Address 2000
Simon Jervis
In 1750 our President, the Duke of Somerset, who had been elected in 1724 when Marquis Hertford died. We his place Richmond whose portrait, given by Fellow Richard Hatchwell 1995, hangs on stairs: attended St George's Day dinner but did little more for Society until death November same year. Our Vice-President Martin Folkes, President Royal since 1741 succession to Sir Hans Sloane, was Richmond's place. Folkes successfully steered towards Charter granted King George II, ‘Founder and Patron’, 2 1751, 250th anniversary we shall be celebrating next year, although that time suffered a paralytic stroke 26 September, incapable. A 1720, Folkes's main interests were Roman antiquities English coins. He not universally beloved: Stukeley called him ‘an arrant infidel loud scoffer’ ‘believes nothing future state, Scriptures revelation.’ On June 1858 what said cocked hat presented Cocked Hat Club. Late last year able purchase at Christie's reliable relic form portrait painted Jonathan Richardson 1718, which now behind President's Chair, 250 years after election office. Richardson, painter, Fellow, is worthy respect antiquarian circles: An Account Statues Bas-reliefs, Drawings Pictures Italy, France etc, with Remarks , edited from son's Grand Tour notes, first published London 1722, valued Honorary Abbé Winckelmann, French edition issued Amsterdam 1728. Library has edition, left Arthur Ashpitel 1869. The 1754 second 1728 are surely desiderata.
The Antiquaries Journal