The speech was delivered to the general meeting of Tuesday, 6 June 1769.
Kirby congratulates the membership on the success of the last exhibition and announces the presentation to the Society of Artists of £100 by
the King, which he had presented to the treasurer, to be used for charitable purposes. Kirby hopes that this mark of royal favour will encourage them to adopt a "cautious and prudent" attitude toward the Royal Academy. He goes on to remind them of the need to respect the final decision of the Exhibition Committee on the hanging of members' works; advises them to propose new members with care, especially in view of the recent loss of membership; and feels that it is necessary to make the future mode of admission of new members more dignified, in line with the practice of other institutions. He also feels that it is necessary to define more precisely the business of the officers, particularly the President. He concludes by exhorting them to be "orderly, friendly and regular" in their method of proceeding.