The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-04 00:00:00

BANQUET AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

On Saturday evening the President and Council
of the Royal Academy pre their anniversary entertainment
to a distinguiebed assemblage at their rooms in Trafalgar-
square. The presence of his Royal Highness the Prime of
Wales pre unusual Ida to the celebration.
The company began to antra soon after 2 o'clock, and
spent the interval till dinner was announced in admiring
the gems of British art which adorn the walls and form the
exhibition for the year of the Royal Academy.
. .

Sir Caanten Sumatra presided, having on his right his
RofelsHighnees the Prince of Wales, his Royal Highness
P Louis of. flame, he.
ter dinner.
The Paraingirr proposed_ the first toast "The Health
of her Majesty the Queen," which was drunk with all the
Imams, and next, "The memory of the great and good
Prince Consort." Drunk in silence.
The Pawn: mar then proposed the " Health of his Royal
Memo the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal
Family." (Loud and cootincied cheering.) The toast was
drink with all the honours.
His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES, who spoke
evidently ander deep emotion, but in a peculiarly clear sad
pleasing tow of voice and with great impressiveness of
weer, said—Sir Charles Eastlake, your Royal Highness,
my lords and gentlemen,—lt is with the most contending
feelings of pleasure, pride, and sorrow that I rime to return
you thanks in the name of myself and the royal family for
the kind terms io which you, Sir Charles. have proposed
our health, and for the very cordial way in which this dis-
tinguished assembly has received it. (Cheery) I cannot on
this OCCalise divest my niind of the sasociatioes connected
with my beloved and lamented father. His bright
example cannot fail to stimulate my efforts to tread
in his footsteps—(loud cheers)—and whatever my abort-
comings may be, I may at least presume to participate in
' the interest which ha took in every institution which tended
to encourage art and science iti this country—(ebeen)—leat
more especially in the prosperity of the Royal Academy.
(Loud cheers.) Adverting to my marriage, I beg you to
believe how grateful 1 feel for, awl I may be permitted to
add bow aoesrely 1 appreciate, the sentiment, you have
expressed with Wayne, to the Peacoat. (Loud cheers.) I
know that I am only speaking her mind ia joising her thanks
to mine on this occasioo. (Loud cheers) We neither of um
can ever forget the manner in which our colon has been
celebrated throughout the nation—(cheers)—and I should
be more than ungrateful if I did not retain the most lasting
as well as most pleasing recollection of the kind expressions
and reception which ray attendance at your anniversary
meeting has evoked this evening. (Loud and contioned
cheering.)
The PRESIDIUM then gave "The health of his Royal
Highness the Prime Louis of Hesse." (Cheers.)
Ha Royal Highness Prince Lome of Hausa .aid,—Mr.
President, your Royal Highnesses, my lords and gentlemen
—I have been much flattered by your kind invitation, which
has enabled me to spend this evening in so distinguished
an asiambily. Still more gnitified have I been by the
cordial way in which jou have welcomed me, and in
which you have drunk my health and that of the Princess.
While I return my warmest thanks in both our names, I
take this opportunity of expressing my devotion aud gra-
titude to your beloved Queens and her family, and my pro-
found admiration of this great and noble country, to which
lam most sincerely attached. (Cheers.)
The PRESMENT next proposed "The Army and Navy, and
the Volunteers."
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
. .

113;Roird117gbneee the Duke of Cambridge returned
thanks for the army, the Duke of Somerset for the nary,
and Lord Etcho for the volunteer..

▪ The Factithxter- next proposed the "Health of the noble-
men and gentlemen who this day honour the Academy with
their presence."
The Archbishop of CAIITZEBURY rose and spoke as fol-
lows,—Sir Charles Eastlake, your royal higlinessee, my
lords and gentlemen,—lt is tot always an easy matter, when
speaking in behalf of numbers with whom one has bad no
previous concert, correctly to interpret their sentiments, but
I am sure I shall not be in error when I assure you of the
high gratification which all those who have been privileged
to be your guests this evening have experienced, and while
I tender to you in their pone our united thanks for the
' courteous and splendid hospitality with which you have 1.8.
' calved us. (Cheers.) It is not, however, for the banquet
alone which you have prepared fur us that oar cordial ac-
knowledgments are due ; but also for that brilliant feast foe
the eye, that fine refreshment for the taste, which you have
furnished in such ample and happy profusion. (Cheers.)
This aimed gathering is oo many accounts memorable
but in this respect most worthy of note, as being an act of
homage paid to genius by the caret distinguished throughout
the land in the different walks of life; as their willing
tribute of gratitude to art for all the pure pleasures of which
it is to them the same. (Cheers.) Each of on will regard
that exquisite art which adorns these walls from his own
point of view. For my own part I cannot forget that in the
early days of its revival it was the constant handmaid of re-
ligion, and that those great masterpieces which seem to
have been the offspring of piety, were powerful aids to reve-
rence and devotion. (Cheers.) Altered circumstances did,
indeed, in later days, somewhat change the direction in
which the current of genius used to flow. But still art has,
and ever will have, a high and noble mission to fulfiL That
man, I think, is little to be envied who can pass through
these roams and go forth without being, io 00190 80080.
• better and • happier man ; if, at least, it he no, as I
do believe it to be, that we feel ourselves the better and
the happier when our hearts are enlarged as we sympathise
with the joys and the sorrows of our fellow men, faithfully
delineated on the carver—(cheers)—when our spirit'
are refreshed by the touching representations of the play-
fulness, the innocence, the purity, and may I not add
(pointing to Millais'. picture of "My first Sermon") the
piety of ebildhood—(cheers)—when generous emotions are
kindled by the spectacle of some great sad noble sacrifice
made at the call of duty anal of couscieuce ; or as we trace
the lineaments of the great and the good (pointing to the
portrait of Sir G. Cornwall Lewis) who have departed
from this earthly scene—(cheers)—and their rime knoweth
them no more—lineanieuts in which we recognise the
sagacious intellect, the profound thought, the trans-
parent probity there recorded, for the instruction and
admiration of those who shall come atter. (Loud cheers.)
These are a few of the obligations we owe to art, and
in the full view of them, I am sore you will all with
nee heart and mind join me in the toast lam about to
propose—" Prosperity to the Royal Academy." (Loud
cheers.) May this institution never fall below the high
level we see it has attained ; may it rather soar above and
beyond it ; and under its fostering influence may art ever
employ itself in elevating the moral tone of the conotry,
while it refines its taste, in purifying the character from
base and sordid feelings, and prompting it to all that Is
good and generous and noble. (Loud cheers.)
The PILMIDENT—Your Royal Highness, Thy Lords, mad
Oentlemien,—On the part of the members, I beg to retain
their and my own respectful thanks for the distinguished
honour conferred ow the Royal Academy. lam happy to
conclude from the opinions I liars gathered that the
present exhibition, as compared with its predeoemors,
is considered to sustain its reputation—(cheer,)—fed,
which is also most important, that it contains the
elements and promise of future advancement, sad, I
trust, of future excellence. (Cheers) Of the iostitatine
. .

it.elf it is unnecessary for me to speak, einem its prieciplae
mod ita practice its advantages sod its diScultses, are st
preterit the subject of inquiry by s romatiesion. At ell
events, this is not the moment for the Academy to stet* its
case. Paseiog from this subject to the duties Wore me, 1
have sow the beams to propose the health of one who is
entitled to the respect and gratitude of the friends of salaam